Description
Technical Manual Change 1 (TM 9-1240-276-50) for M118/T176E3 and M118C/T176E2 Elbow Telescopes October 1969 FSN 1240-819-4519
Technical Manual Change 1 (TM 9-1240-276-50) for M118/T176E3 and M118C/T176E2 Elbow Telescopes – October 1969
Item Overview
This October 1969 publication is Change 1 for U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-276-50. It updates the original depot-maintenance manual issued on January 21, 1964 for the M118/T176E3 and M118C/T176E2 Elbow Telescopes.
The M118 is identified by FSN 1240-819-4519. The M118C is identified by FSN 1240-819-4520.
This listing is for the Change 1 publication only. It does not include the complete January 1964 manual, an elbow telescope, a telescope mount, tools, or replacement parts.
Purpose of Change 1
Change 1 provided corrected or updated depot-maintenance information without replacing the entire original manual. Army personnel followed its instructions to add, remove, or replace selected pages in the base publication.
This update should be kept with the January 21, 1964 edition of TM 9-1240-276-50 to form the revised maintenance reference. It is not a complete manual by itself.
Historical Background
The T176E2 and T176E3 telescopes were developed for a new family of tracked self-propelled artillery. The T176E3 was standardized as the M118, while the T176E2 became the M118C.
The M118 was associated with the M108 105mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. The M118C was used with the M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. The telescopes performed similar aiming functions but used reticles suited to their assigned weapons.
Both models provided 4-power magnification and a 10-degree field of view. They gave the gun crew a magnified optical line of sight for aiming at visible targets, making them important during direct-fire missions.
The M108 and M109 entered Army service during the 1960s. Published during the Vietnam War era, this October 1969 update reflects the continued maintenance of their precision fire-control equipment. Later M118 variants remained in service with the M109 howitzer family.
Depot-Maintenance Coverage
The original TM 9-1240-276-50 provided advanced repair and overhaul instructions for the covered telescopes. Its subjects included:
- Inspection and troubleshooting
- Complete disassembly and reassembly
- Cleaning and repair procedures
- Optical and mechanical assemblies
- Reticle, lens, and eyepiece components
- Adjustment and optical alignment
- Final inspection and performance testing
- Depot-maintenance tools and equipment
Change 1 updates selected information within this manual. It does not replace the complete January 1964 publication.
Identification
- Publication: Technical Manual Change 1
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-276-50
- Change number: Change 1
- Change date: October 1969
- Original manual date: January 21, 1964
- Covered telescopes:
- M118/T176E3: FSN 1240-819-4519
- M118C/T176E2: FSN 1240-819-4520
- Manual type: Depot maintenance
- Equipment type: Artillery fire-control optics
- Associated systems: M108 and M109 self-propelled howitzers
Collector and Research Value
This Change 1 publication is useful for completing and updating an original TM 9-1240-276-50 manual. It also documents the continued Army support of M118-series fire-control optics during the Vietnam War era.
Ideal For
- Completing an original TM 9-1240-276-50
- M118 and M118C telescope restoration
- M108 and M109 howitzer projects
- Military-optics collections
- Vietnam War artillery displays
- Museum and technical-library collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .2lbs.
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