Rocket, Air-to-Surface, 5-inch, HVAR

Cylindrical, with four fixed rectangular fins with rounded edges arranged in cruciform pattern; ogival nose; overall, gray, with blue nose with gray tip, scratched, dirty, rust areas; eight depressed circles around main nozzle in back, circles and nozzle opening painted red; electrical igniter wire jutting out of hole in back; three suspension bands; black stenciled letters and numbers on side of rocket body, nose, and fins.

The 5-inch caliber HVAR (High Velocity Aircraft Rocket), also called the Holy Moses, was a very effective U.S. Navy air-to-surface rocket. It began service in World War II and continued until 1955. Largely fired by Navy airplanes, such as the F4U Corsair, the HVAR was however first used by the Army Air Forces against German targets near Lo, France in July 1944. About a million HVARs were produced.

The loaded weight of the rocket was 61 kg (134 lb )including 11 kg (24 lb) of propellant and a 20 kg (45 lb) payload with 3.5 kg (7.8 lb) of high explosive. It reached a velocity of 1530 km/h (950 mph), and had a range of about 5 km (3 mi).

The U.S. Marine Corps transferred this rocket to the Smithsonian.