Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual Change 2 TM 9-1240-313-34 for M32, M32C, and M35 Tank Periscopes, May 1966
This U.S. Army publication is Change 2 to field-maintenance manual TM 9-1240-313-34 for the M32, M32C, and M35 Tank Periscopes. Issued in May 1966, it updates the original manual dated June 8, 1964. This listing is for the Change 2 update only. It does not include the complete original manual, Change 1, a periscope, optical assembly, mount, weapon, or tank.
Purpose of Change 2
Army change publications were issued to replace, correct, or add selected pages in an existing technical manual. Change 2 expanded the publication’s listed coverage to include the M35 along with the M32 and M32C. It was intended to be filed with the original June 1964 manual and applicable earlier changes, so it does not serve as a complete maintenance manual by itself.
Manual Coverage
The “34” suffix identifies the original publication as a field-maintenance manual. It supported trained personnel performing work beyond routine crew care, including inspection, troubleshooting, disassembly, cleaning, repair, assembly, optical adjustment, and final testing. Change 2 contains only the material added or revised in May 1966.
About the M32 and M32C Tank Periscopes
The M32 and M32C were gunner’s fire-control periscopes used for observation and direct-fire aiming. Their optical systems provided a unity-power view for wide, close-range observation and an 8-power system for viewing distant targets. Army technical data records an 8-degree field of view for the magnified system and a unity-power field measuring about 30 degrees 32 minutes horizontally and 5 degrees 48 minutes vertically. The equipment also supported active-infrared night sighting when used with compatible tank equipment.
About the M35 Tank Periscope
The M35 was another gunner’s periscope used in the M60-series tank fire-control system. It could be installed in place of the M32 using the M118 Periscope Mount and also supported active-infrared viewing. When paired with the M14 Reticle Image Projector, the M35 placed aiming information inside the gunner’s optical view, helping connect the sight to the tank’s fire-control calculations.
Vehicle Application
The M32 family is documented with M60 and M60A1 tanks and infrared-equipped M48-series tanks, including the M48A3. The M35 is specifically associated with the M60-series fire-control system and its 105mm main gun. Vehicle equipment and federal stock numbers changed during later upgrades, so this listing does not claim that every tank used all three periscope models or the exact early FSNs printed for this update.
Historical Background
Change 2 was published during the Cold War as the U.S. Army improved the day and night fighting ability of its armored forces. Active-infrared systems used an infrared searchlight and compatible viewing equipment to help crews identify and engage targets after dark. Adding the M35 to the manual reflected the development of internally projected reticles and closer links between optical sights and fire-control equipment. Later M32E1, M32CE1, and M35E1 models continued this development with updated optical and night-vision systems.
Publication Details
This change publication is identified by the following military manual and federal stock information:
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-313-34
- Change number: Change 2
- Change publication date: May 1966
- Original manual date: June 8, 1964
- Previous update: Change 1, July 1965
- Subjects: M32, M32C, and M35 Tank Periscopes
- Manual level: Field maintenance
- M32 Federal Stock Number: 1240-980-9288
- M32C Federal Stock Number: 1240-792-9068
- M35 Federal Stock Number: 1240-967-3353
- Federal Supply Class: 1240, Optical Sighting and Ranging Equipment
- Item included: Change 2 update only
Collector and Research Value
This Change 2 publication is a specialized reference for military-optics collectors, tank restorers, museums, and historians. It documents the addition of the M35 to an established M32-series maintenance manual and helps show how U.S. tank fire-control equipment developed during the 1960s.
Ideal For
This original military change publication is well suited for the following collections and research projects:
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M32, M32C, and M35 periscope research
- M60 and M60A1 restoration references
- M48-series tank research
- Cold War military-optics displays
- Armored-vehicle fire-control collections
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .2lbs.
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