Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual Change 2 to TM 9-1290-325-35P for M36 Radar Chronograph Set W/E, December 1971
Item Overview
This U.S. Army publication is Change 2 to TM 9-1290-325-35P, the direct support, general support, and depot maintenance repair parts and special tools list for the M36 Radar Chronograph Set W/E, FSN 1290-861-7105. Issued in December 1971, it updated the original technical manual dated January 28, 1969. “W/E” means “with equipment.” This listing is for the Change 2 update only. It does not include the complete base manual, an M36 radar chronograph, weapon, replacement parts, tools, or accessories.
Publication Details
This change was issued for Army maintenance and supply personnel responsible for supporting the M36 and keeping its parts information current.
- Publication: Change 2
- Manual number: TM 9-1290-325-35P
- Change date: December 1971
- Original manual date: January 28, 1969
- Subject: M36 Radar Chronograph Set W/E
- Federal Stock Number: 1290-861-7105
- Later National Stock Number: 1290-00-861-7105
- Manual type: Repair parts and special tools list update
- Maintenance levels: Direct support, general support, and depot
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Change 2 update only
About Change 2
Army change publications were used to keep technical manuals accurate after their original issue. They provided filing instructions and replacement, added, or deleted pages for selected parts of the base publication. Change 2 was intended to be filed with the January 1969 manual. Because this item is an update rather than a complete manual, it may not provide all of the illustrations, parts listings, indexes, or introductory information found in the original publication.
Manual Coverage
The “35P” suffix identifies the base publication as a higher-level repair parts and special tools list rather than an operating or repair-instruction manual. It helped personnel locate authorized repair parts, special tools, and support equipment for the M36. Publications of this type commonly used functional groups, illustrations, item numbers, Federal Stock Numbers, reference numbers, and maintenance codes to support identification and ordering.
About the M36 Radar Chronograph
The M36 was a portable continuous-wave Doppler radar system used to measure projectile velocity. It transmitted a radar signal toward a moving projectile and detected the change in frequency when that signal reflected from it. Electronic circuits converted the Doppler shift into a velocity reading displayed in meters per second. The M36 could measure projectile velocities from approximately 75 to 1,860 meters per second and could operate during the day or at night.
Development History
The Army developed the M36 during the 1960s as a faster and more portable way to measure artillery projectile velocity. Confirmatory testing took place at Aberdeen Proving Ground from September 1966 through August 1967. The equipment underwent laboratory, environmental, and firing-accuracy tests. Testing identified issues in parts of the digital-display electronics and led to recommended equipment corrections and document revisions. The January 1969 manual and its later changes supported the improved equipment after it entered service.
Artillery Calibration System
The M36 was not a weapon and was not limited to one gun model or caliber. It was artillery test and fire-control equipment used to check the velocity produced by a weapon and its ammunition. The portable set could be placed on a ground or vehicle mount beside the weapon and aimed parallel to the gun tube. Unlike older chronographs that required optical screens along the projectile’s path, the M36 used radar and could collect velocity data while regular firing was being conducted.
History of Use
Army field-artillery organizations used the M36 to gather velocity data for weapon calibration. Differences in projectile velocity could affect range, so accurate readings helped firing personnel correct their data. The December 1971 date places Change 2 during the Vietnam era, when mobile artillery units required dependable calibration and maintenance support. This update also shows that the Army continued revising the M36 parts information as the equipment remained in use.
Collector and Research Value
This Change 2 publication is a specialized reference for studying Cold War radar, artillery calibration, Doppler velocity measurement, and Army supply practices. It may help collectors determine whether a January 1969 base manual has been properly updated. It is also useful for museums and restorers documenting surviving M36 components, repair parts, and support equipment.
Condition
This vintage military technical-manual change may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, loose pages, or other signs of age and storage. Change publications may consist of filing instructions and a limited number of replacement pages. 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, restoration work, and displays covering military radar and artillery technology.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M36 radar chronograph research
- Cold War artillery displays
- Vietnam-era fire-control collections
- Doppler radar history research
- Museum and archival reference collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .15lbs.
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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