NOT TO BE PUBLISHED The information given in this document is not to be communicated, either directly or indirectly, to the Press or to any other person not holding an official position in His Majesty's Service. HANDBOOK FOR THE PROJECTOR, ROCKET, 3-INCH No. 2, MARK I LAND SERVICE (Provisional) 1942 THE WAR OFFICE, July, 1942. Offered for auction here is this original WWII 1942 handbook for loading, operating & maintaining the 3-inch anti-aircraft No.2 Mk I rocket launcher. During WWII, organisations such as The Home Guard manned what were known as "Z Batteries". The Z Battery was a short range anti-aircraft weapon which launched 3-inch diameter rockets, used in ground-based single and multiple launchers for the air defence of the United Kingdom in World War II. They were used mainly against German dive bombers & directly approaching low level aircraft. Anti-aircraft rockets or Z Battery manned by the Home Guard on Merseyside, 6 July 1942 This old handbook - dated July, 1942 - also comes with an amendments booklet dated May, 1943. The handbook itself is 33-pages long and contains a pull-out illustration of both sides of the launcher as well as a good number of other diagrams, illustrations etc & text. It was originally issued to 102 A.A. Z BATTERY - as shown in the last photograph of the listing. Size of handbook : 24.5cm x 15cm (approx 9.5" x 6"). Condition of handbook is good overall. As you can see by the photos, the front & rear covers are somewhat grubby/soiled, but internally the pages are all clear & clean. The twin staples are rusting away after 70-odd years of age, and the centre page has come away from the staples. This happened today to be honest - when I opened the book for photographic purposes. I took as much care as I could, but a gust of wind caught it and the centre page came away from the staples. No big deal of course, but I counted to ten before expletives filled the air! Other than that minor point though, the handbook is a lovely scarce survivor from the era & a nice addition to anyone's library, collection, display... or for the author & military historian. It is offered for a very low price & will be sent - as always - extremely well packaged to the winning bidder. If in any doubt - CHECK OUT MY FEEDBACK!!! Thanks for looking & happy bidding. |