Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual Change 1 for TM 9-1240-331-34, M51 Tank Periscope, March 1974
Item Overview
This official U.S. Army Change 1 update applies to TM 9-1240-331-34, the direct support and general support maintenance manual for the M51 Tank Periscope and associated equipment items. Issued in March 1974, it updates the original manual dated February 20, 1973. This listing is for the Change 1 update only. It is not the complete base manual and does not include an M51 periscope, tank, weapon, mount, or other equipment.
Publication Details
This update was issued for military personnel responsible for maintaining the M51 commander’s periscope and its related equipment.
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-331-34
- Change number: Change 1
- Change date: March 1974
- Original manual date: February 20, 1973
- Primary subject: M51 Tank Periscope and associated equipment items
- National Stock Number: 1240-00-950-3412
- Manual level: Direct support and general support maintenance
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Change 1 update only
Purpose of Change 1
Army change publications corrected or replaced selected information in an existing technical manual. Change 1 was intended to be used with the February 1973 edition of TM 9-1240-331-34 so maintenance personnel could keep their copies current. The replacement pages, corrections, and instructions contained in the update do not form a complete maintenance manual when used alone.
Manual Coverage
The base manual supported inspection, troubleshooting, repair, adjustment, assembly, and testing at the direct support and general support levels. It treated the M51 as part of a complete sight installation and also addressed the associated equipment needed for proper mounting, protection, operation, and maintenance. Change 1 revised selected portions of that technical guidance.
About the M51 Tank Periscope
The M51 was a commander’s day-and-night periscope developed for the M60A2 tank. Designed during the 1960s, it provided unity-power viewing for general observation and high-power viewing for day and passive low-light sighting. The periscope was mounted at the top of the commander’s cupola, allowing the commander to observe terrain and search for targets while remaining protected inside the vehicle.
M60A2 Weapon-System History
The M60A2 was an advanced Cold War tank built around the M162 152mm gun-launcher. This weapon could fire conventional ammunition and MGM-51C Shillelagh guided missiles. Its fire-control installation included the commander’s M51 periscope, the gunner’s M50 periscope and M126 telescope, an AN/VVS-1 laser range finder, and an M19 ballistic computer. The commander’s cupola and the main turret were stabilized in both elevation and azimuth, making the M51 part of a complex observation and fire-control system.
History of Use
The M60A2 was first accepted by the Army in 1973, placing this March 1974 update near the beginning of the tank’s service life. The M51 gave the commander protected day and night observation from the cupola and helped with target detection and battlefield control. M60A2 tanks served mainly during the 1970s before the model was withdrawn, making surviving M51 publications useful records of a short-lived but important weapons program.
Collector and Research Value
This Change 1 publication is a specialized addition to an M60A2, military-optics, or U.S. Army technical-manual collection. It is useful for comparing revisions to the February 1973 manual and for studying how the Army maintained advanced day-and-night tank sights during the Cold War.
Condition
This vintage military technical-manual update may show edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, or other signs of age and storage. Page count, printing details, and condition may vary between available copies. Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This publication is well suited for collections, research projects, and exhibits covering Cold War tanks and military optical equipment.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M60A2 tank research and restoration
- M51 Tank Periscope documentation
- Shillelagh weapon-system exhibits
- Military optics and fire-control research
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 11", Approx height .5", Approx weight 1lbs.
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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