Description
Technical Manual Change 1 (TM 9-1240-276-34) for T176E2 and T176E3 Elbow Telescopes January 1963
Technical Manual Change 1 (TM 9-1240-276-34) for M118/T176E3 and M118C/T176E2 Elbow Telescopes – July 1969
Item Overview
This July 1969 publication is Change 1 for U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-276-34. It updates the original manual dated January 14, 1963, covering the M118/T176E3 and M118C/T176E2 Elbow Telescopes.
The listed FSN 1240-819-4520 identifies the M118C Elbow Telescope. This listing is for the Change 1 publication only. It is not the complete January 1963 manual, an elbow telescope, or a telescope mount.
Purpose of Change 1
A technical-manual change provided corrected or updated information without replacing the entire original publication. Army personnel inserted the revised pages or instructions into the base manual and removed any pages marked for replacement.
Change 1 should be kept with the original January 14, 1963 edition of TM 9-1240-276-34 to form the updated maintenance reference.
Historical Background
The T176E2 and T176E3 telescopes were developed during the introduction of a new generation of tracked, self-propelled artillery. The T176E3 was standardized as the M118, while the T176E2 became the M118C configuration.
The M118 was associated with the M108 105mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. The M118C was used with the M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. The two telescopes performed similar jobs but used reticles suited to their intended weapon systems.
These elbow telescopes gave the gun crew a magnified optical line of sight for aiming at visible targets. They were important during direct-fire missions, when the howitzer was aimed directly at a target instead of using normal indirect-fire procedures.
By July 1969, the M108 and M109 had seen several years of Army service. Change 1 reflects the continued maintenance and improvement of their optical fire-control equipment during the Vietnam War era.
Manual Coverage
The original TM 9-1240-276-34 provided direct-support and general-support maintenance instructions for the covered telescopes. Its subjects included:
- Inspection and troubleshooting
- Disassembly and reassembly
- Cleaning and repair
- Optical and mechanical components
- Reticle and lens assemblies
- Adjustment and alignment
- Final inspection and testing
- Maintenance tools and equipment
Change 1 updates selected information within that original manual. It does not replace every page of the January 1963 publication.
Identification
- Publication: Technical Manual Change 1
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-276-34
- Change number: Change 1
- Change date: July 1969
- Original manual date: January 14, 1963
- Covered equipment: M118/T176E3 and M118C/T176E2 Elbow Telescopes
- M118C Federal Stock Number: 1240-819-4520
- Equipment type: Artillery fire-control optics
- Maintenance level: Direct support and general support
Ideal For
- Completing an original TM 9-1240-276-34 manual
- M108 and M109 restoration research
- M118 and M118C telescope owners
- Military-optics collections
- Vietnam War artillery displays
- Museum and technical-library collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .1lbs.
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