Description
Own a strong Vietnam War-era technical manual update for one of the most recognizable heavy machine gun mount systems ever fielded: the M55 Quad .50 Machine Gun Mount. This Technical Manual Change 2 for TM 9-1005-209-34 is dated December 1968 and updates the original TM 9-1005-209-34, issued May 29, 1958.
This is the Change 2 update only, not the full base manual. For collectors, that makes it a useful companion piece for completing a full TM 9-1005-209-34 manual set.
Historical Significance
The M55 Machine Gun Mount belongs to the famous Quad .50 family. These mounts carried four .50 caliber Browning machine guns and became known for heavy firepower, convoy defense, and ground-support use.
The original TM 9-1005-209-34 was a Department of the Army field maintenance manual for the Multiple Cal. .50 Machine Gun Trailer Mount M55. The manual identifies the M55 as being composed of the M45C .50 caliber machine gun mount and the M20 1-ton machine gun mount trailer. It also notes that the 1958 manual superseded TM 9-1223 dated June 1, 1944.
This December 1968 Change 2 has strong collector appeal because it falls directly in the Vietnam War period. By that time, Quad .50 systems were closely associated with convoy protection, base defense, and the heavily armed gun trucks used to protect supply routes in Vietnam.
The M55 Quad .50 Connection
The collector appeal is simple: this update is tied to the M55 Quad .50.
The Quad .50 concept began as a World War II antiaircraft solution. The Museum of American Armor notes that Maxson developed the M45 Quadmount, which added two more guns to the earlier twin .50 mount concept and was adopted in 1942.
By Vietnam, the M55 had become famous in a different role. U.S. Army history describes Vietnam gun trucks equipped with M55 quad .50-caliber machine guns, with four .50 caliber guns operated electronically and fired together by one gunner. The same Army account notes that M55-equipped trucks were used to add heavy firepower to convoy security operations.
What This Change Covers
As Change 2 for TM 9-1005-209-34, this publication updated the Army’s field maintenance manual for the M55 Machine Gun Mount and related Quad .50 documentation.
This manual change is especially relevant for:
- M55 Quad .50 documentation
- TM 9-1005-209-34 revision history
- M45C mount and M20 trailer research
- Vietnam War gun truck collections
- .50 caliber Browning support-equipment displays
- Korean War and Cold War ordnance collections
- collectors completing a TM 9-1005-209-34 manual set
Manual changes are often harder to find than base manuals. They were working updates, and many were separated from the original publication over time.
Key Features
- Technical Manual Change 2 for TM 9-1005-209-34
- Covers the .50 Cal M55 Machine Gun Mount
- Dated December 1968
- Updates the original manual issued May 29, 1958
- Strong M55 Quad .50 collector subject
- Connected to the M45C mount and M20 trailer system
- Excellent reference for Vietnam War gun truck displays
- Great companion piece for a complete TM 9-1005-209-34 manual set
- Desirable for .50 caliber Browning, ordnance, and field maintenance collections
About This Manual Change
This listing is for Technical Manual Change 2 for TM 9-1005-209-34, covering the .50 Cal M55 Machine Gun Mount, dated December 1968.
This listing is for the Change 2 update only unless otherwise stated. No complete base manual, machine gun mount, trailer, firearm, ammunition, tools, repair parts, storage case, or additional accessories are included unless specifically shown or noted.
Ideal For
This manual change is a strong fit for:
- U.S. Army technical manual collections
- M55 Quad .50 reference libraries
- Vietnam War gun truck displays
- M45 / M55 machine gun mount collectors
- Korean War and Cold War ordnance collections
- .50 caliber Browning support-equipment displays
- museum and archival reference libraries
- collectors completing a TM 9-1005-209-34 manual set
Approx length 9", Approx width 6", Approx height .2", Approx weight .5lbs.
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.
Please visit our page about order lead times here: Order Lead Times