Description
Add a specialized piece of Cold War U.S. armor documentation to your collection with this Technical Manual Change 2 for TM 9-1005-219-35, covering the M1 Commander’s Machine Gun Cupola. Dated March 1963, this change notice updates the original TM 9-1005-219-35, issued November 17, 1961.
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 9-1005-219-35 manual set.
Historical Significance
The M1 Commander’s Machine Gun Cupola is closely tied to the M48 Patton tank family. The base manual identifies the M1 cupola as installed on 90mm gun full-tracked combat tanks M48A1, M48A2, and M48A3. It gave the tank commander a protected station for observation and for operating the Cal. .50 M2 heavy barrel machine gun.
That gives this March 1963 Change 2 strong collector appeal. It sits in the early Cold War period, when the M48 series was a major American tank family and the cupola-mounted .50 caliber machine gun was an important part of the commander’s fighting position.
The M1 Commander’s Cupola
The M1 cupola is one of the features that helps define the look of the M48A1, M48A2, and M48A3 Patton tanks. It was more than a hatch. It was an armored commander’s station with observation equipment, machine gun support, and manual controls for positioning the weapon.
The original TM describes the cupola as a cast armor, turtle-shaped assembly built around a body and cradle. It housed the .50 caliber machine gun, used prism blocks and/or a periscope for observation, and allowed the commander to position the gun in azimuth and elevation.
For armor collectors, that is the cool factor. This manual change is tied to the armored machine gun station that gave the M48 Patton its classic Cold War profile.
What This Change Covers
As Change 2 for TM 9-1005-219-35, this publication updated the field and depot maintenance manual for the M1 Commander’s Machine Gun Cupola.
This manual change is especially relevant for:
- M1 Commander’s Machine Gun Cupola documentation
- TM 9-1005-219-35 revision history
- M48A1, M48A2, and M48A3 Patton reference collections
- .50 caliber tank machine gun mount research
- Cold War armored vehicle maintenance libraries
- U.S. Army field and depot maintenance manual collections
- museum and archival reference displays
- collectors completing an M48 Patton technical manual set
The base manual covered maintenance beyond normal using-organization support, including removal, disassembly, inspection, repair, rebuild, and assembly of the Commander’s Cupola M1. It also superseded an earlier April 1958 cupola manual.
Key Features
- Technical Manual Change 2 for TM 9-1005-219-35
- Covers the M1 Commander’s Machine Gun Cupola
- Dated March 1963
- Updates the original manual issued November 17, 1961
- Field and depot maintenance manual update
- Associated with M48A1, M48A2, and M48A3 90mm gun tanks
- Connected to the Cal. .50 M2 heavy barrel machine gun
- Strong Cold War armor collector subject
- Excellent companion piece for a complete TM 9-1005-219-35 manual set
- Desirable for M48 Patton, tank cupola, turret, and .50 caliber mount collectors
About This Manual Change
This listing is for Technical Manual Change 2 for TM 9-1005-219-35, covering the M1 Commander’s Machine Gun Cupola, dated March 1963.
This listing is for the Change 2 update only unless otherwise stated. No complete base manual, tank, cupola, machine gun, mount, 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:
- M48 Patton collectors
- Cold War U.S. Army technical manual collections
- M1 commander’s cupola reference libraries
- tank turret and cupola research collections
- .50 caliber machine gun mount displays
- armored vehicle restoration research
- collectors completing a TM 9-1005-219-35 manual set
Approx length 10", Approx width 8", Approx height .2", Approx weight .2lbs.
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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