Description
U.S. Army M103/T191 M48 Patton Gunner’s Telescope Mount, P/N 8201500, NSN 1240-00-344-4676
Item Overview
This U.S. Army Mount, Telescope M103 carried and aligned the gunner’s straight direct-fire telescope on early M48 Patton tanks. Originally designated T191, the mount was installed beside the 90 mm gun and allowed the telescope to remain aligned with the weapon. This listing is for the mechanical mount only; the optical telescope is not included.
Identification and Features
Military specifications, Army publications, and federal supply records identify this assembly as the M103 telescope mount. The photographed example is marked with serial number 9104. Its construction includes the telescope support, locking hardware, and adjustment mechanisms needed for mounting and boresighting the compatible optical sight.
- Official name: Mount, Telescope M103
- Earlier designation: T191
- Part number: 8201500
- Historical FSN: 1240-344-4676
- Later NSN: 1240-00-344-4676
- Serial number: 9104
- Documented vehicles: M48 and M48A2 Patton tanks
- Compatible optics: T156, T156E1, and later M97-family telescopes, including the M97H
- Included: Mechanical telescope mount
- Not included: Optical telescope
How the Telescope Mount Worked
The mount held the straight telescope at the gunner’s station on the right side of the 90 mm gun recoil system. Its locking hardware secured the telescope, while the azimuth and elevation adjustments aligned the sight with the gun’s bore. Once boresighted, the telescope provided a secondary direct-fire aiming system if the tank’s primary periscopic sighting equipment could not be used.
Weapon and Vehicle Applications
The T191 mount was developed to support the T156 telescope in the 90 mm Gun Tank M48. The T156E1 was later installed in the same position, and Army records show an M97H telescope retained in an M103 mount on the M48A2. These sights worked with the M48’s 90 mm M41 main gun, allowing the gunner to aim directly at visible targets.
- M48 90 mm Gun Tank
- M48A2 90 mm Gun Tank
- 90 mm Gun M41
- T156 and T156E1 direct-fire telescopes
- M97H and related M97-family telescope installations
Historical Background
The M48 entered U.S. Army service during the early 1950s and became an important American tank of the Cold War. Its original models carried the 90 mm M41 gun and used a group of optical and mechanical fire-control devices. The telescope mount was called T191 during development and had been standardized as the M103 by the late 1950s. It remained in use as sighting equipment changed, showing how the Army updated tank optics while keeping proven mounting hardware.
Compatibility Limits
This mount is documented for the M48 and M48A2 sighting installations described above. It should not be advertised as fitting every M48 variant. Later M48A3 installations used the different M105 telescope and M114 telescope mount. Part numbers and mounting requirements should be checked before considering this assembly for restoration work.
Condition
This is a military-surplus mechanical sight mount with the optical telescope missing. Its clean paint and original-looking packaging are consistent with long-term warehouse storage. It may show scratches, paint wear, oil residue, oxidation, storage marks, or other signs of age and handling. Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This M103 mount is well suited for displays and restoration projects covering early M48 Patton fire-control equipment, Cold War tank optics, and the development of U.S. armored-vehicle sighting systems.
- M48 and M48A2 restoration projects
- Cold War armored-vehicle collections
- 90 mm M41 gun displays
- Historic tank fire-control exhibits
- Military optics research
- Museums and educational displays
Approx length 12", Approx width 12", Approx height 10", Approx weight 28lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item’s general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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