Description
Technical Manual Change 5 (TM 9-1005-249-14) for 5.56mm M16, M16A1 Rifles, M3 Rifle Bipod, and 40mm XM148 Grenade Launcher January 1968
Add a strong piece of Vietnam War-era U.S. small-arms documentation to your collection with this Technical Manual Change 5 for TM 9-1005-249-14. This change notice covers the 5.56mm M16 Rifle, 5.56mm M16A1 Rifle, M3 Rifle Bipod, and the 40mm XM148 Grenade Launcher.
This is a Change 5 update for the original TM 9-1005-249-14, issued August 1, 1966. It is not the full base manual. For collectors, it is a valuable companion piece for completing an early M16 / M16A1 / XM148 technical manual set.
Historical Significance
The M16 and M16A1 became defining U.S. infantry rifles of the Vietnam War era. DARPA notes that the AR-15/M16 program used a high-velocity 5.56mm cartridge instead of the heavier 7.62mm M14 cartridge, and that field trials in Southeast Asia helped support major M16 procurement for Vietnam deployment.
The original August 1, 1966 TM 9-1005-249-14 was part of a major documentation period for the M16 system. The M16 Rifle Review Panel report notes that this manual superseded the earlier 1964 manual, received initial distribution in October 1966, and that 19,236 copies were sent to Colt for packaging with XM148 grenade launchers en route to Vietnam.
That gives this January 1968 Change 5 added historical value. It belongs to the period when the M16 system, its cleaning guidance, support equipment, and grenade-launcher accessory documentation were being actively revised through official Army technical publications.
The XM148 Grenade Launcher Connection
The XM148 was one of the most important early attempts to give the M16 rifle an attached 40mm grenade launcher capability. The GLAD program sought a suitable 40mm grenade launcher attachment for the XM16E1, which later became the M16A1. Colt’s CGL-4 design was selected and designated XM148.
The XM148 is closely tied to Vietnam War field testing. In January 1967, a New Equipment Training Team arrived in Vietnam to train personnel in the care and use of the XM148 grenade launcher. The same program history notes that field evaluation later found the launcher unsuitable for operational use in Vietnam, helping lead toward later M203 development.
For collectors, that makes this manual change especially desirable. It connects the early M16 rifle, the M16A1 transition, the M3 bipod, and the experimental XM148 grenade launcher into one Vietnam-era technical publication family.
What This Change Covers
As Change 5 for TM 9-1005-249-14, this publication updated the original August 1966 manual for the early 5.56mm rifle and 40mm grenade launcher equipment group.
This manual change is especially relevant for:
- M16 Rifle documentation
- M16A1 Rifle documentation
- M3 Rifle Bipod reference
- 40mm XM148 Grenade Launcher research
- 5.56mm rifle technical manual sets
- rifle-mounted grenade launcher documentation
- collectors completing a TM 9-1005-249-14 manual set
Military technical manuals were official working documents intended to support identification, use, servicing, and field support of the equipment they covered. That makes publications like this useful to collectors, historians, researchers, and restorers seeking authentic military reference material.
Key Features
- Technical Manual Change 5 for TM 9-1005-249-14
- Covers the 5.56mm M16 Rifle
- Covers the 5.56mm M16A1 Rifle
- Covers the M3 Rifle Bipod
- Covers the 40mm XM148 Grenade Launcher
- Dated January 1968
- Updates the original manual issued August 1, 1966
- Vietnam War-era U.S. Army technical manual update
- Excellent companion piece for early M16, M16A1, M3 bipod, and XM148 manual collections
- Desirable reference for Vietnam War small-arms and grenade-launcher documentation
About This Manual Change
This listing is for Technical Manual Change 5 for TM 9-1005-249-14, covering the 5.56mm M16 and M16A1 Rifles, M3 Rifle Bipod, and 40mm XM148 Grenade Launcher, dated January 1968.
This listing is for the Change 5 update only unless otherwise stated. No complete base manual, rifle, firearm, receiver, barrel, bipod, grenade launcher, magazine, ammunition, sling, 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:
- M16 Rifle collectors
- M16A1 Rifle collectors
- XM148 Grenade Launcher reference collections
- M3 Rifle Bipod documentation sets
- Vietnam War small-arms displays
- early 5.56mm rifle documentation libraries
- museum and archival reference displays
- collectors completing a TM 9-1005-249-14 manual set
Approx length 11", Approx width 8", Approx height .25", Approx weight 1lbs.
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