Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual Change 1 TM 9-1240-311-34 for M127 and M127A1 Articulated Telescopes, December 1973
This U.S. Army publication is Change 1 to TM 9-1240-311-34, dated December 1973. It updates the direct-support and general-support maintenance manual for the M127 and M127A1 (M127E1) Articulated Telescopes and the associated Hanger Assembly. The original manual was issued on June 13, 1972. This listing is for the December 1973 Change 1 update only. It is not the complete 1972 manual, a telescope, a hanger assembly, or any M551 vehicle equipment.
Purpose of Change 1
Army change publications kept technical manuals current after their original issue dates. They could replace selected pages, revise maintenance procedures, correct technical data, or add information about updated equipment. Change 1 was intended to be filed with the original June 1972 manual. Both publications are needed to form the manual as updated in December 1973.
Manual Coverage
The “34” suffix identifies this as a direct-support and general-support maintenance publication. It was prepared for trained military personnel performing work beyond normal crew and organizational maintenance. The base manual includes guidance for:
- Troubleshooting and inspection
- General maintenance
- Telescope disassembly and repair
- Cleaning and reassembly
- Optical and mechanical adjustments
- Testing and final inspection
- Maintenance of the associated Hanger Assembly
About the M127 Articulated Telescope
The M127 and M127A1 were hermetically sealed, dual-power fire-control telescopes used by the gunner of the M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle. The telescope was supported by an M149 telescope mount and the associated hanger assembly. It was installed in line with the Sheridan’s 152mm M81 gun-launcher. Its articulated joints kept the eyepiece within reach as the weapon moved through elevation and depression. The optical system offered selectable 8x or 12x magnification. Separate projected reticles supported conventional 152mm ammunition and the MGM-51 Shillelagh guided missile. Other features included adjustable focus, selectable filters, parallax adjustment, and a 24- to 28-volt electrical reticle system.
Historical Background
The M551 Sheridan entered U.S. Army service during the Vietnam War. It was designed as a lightweight, amphibious, and air-transportable armored vehicle with a combined gun-and-missile armament system. The M127 allowed the gunner to aim conventional ammunition and the Shillelagh missile through one optical instrument. The M127A1, previously identified as the M127E1, was an updated version of the design. TM 9-1240-311-34 replaced an earlier maintenance publication from April 1966 when used with the related parts manual and depot maintenance work requirement. This December 1973 change documents continued Army support for Sheridan fire-control equipment after the vehicle entered active service.
Publication Details
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-311-34
- Publication type: Change 1 update
- Change date: December 1973
- Original manual date: June 13, 1972
- Maintenance level: Direct support and general support
- Primary subject: M127 Articulated Telescope
- M127 FSN: 1240-437-1254
- Additional subject: M127A1, formerly M127E1
- Associated equipment: Hanger Assembly
- Hanger Assembly FSN: 1240-906-7945
- Parent vehicle: M551 Sheridan
- Weapon system: 152mm M81 gun-launcher and MGM-51 Shillelagh missile
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Item included: Change 1 publication only
Collector and Research Value
This specialized update is an excellent addition to a U.S. Army technical-manual, M551 Sheridan, military-optics, or Cold War fire-control collection. It also provides useful original reference material for museums, restorers, researchers, and historians studying the Sheridan’s combined gun-and-missile system.
Ideal For
- M551 Sheridan collections and displays
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- Cold War military-optics research
- Military fire-control system studies
- Museum and restoration reference libraries
- Vietnam War armored-vehicle exhibits
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