Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual Change 9 TM 9-1300-203 for Artillery Ammunition, April 1969
Item Overview
This official U.S. Army Change 9 publication updates TM 9-1300-203, Artillery Ammunition. Issued in April 1969, it replaces or adds selected information in the base manual dated April 6, 1967. This listing is for the Change 9 publication only. It is not the complete manual and does not include ammunition, fuzes, weapons, tools, vehicles, or other equipment.
Publication Details
Change 9 was prepared to keep Army ammunition personnel, artillery crews, maintenance specialists, and supply units current on approved equipment, technical data, and safety guidance.
- Manual number: TM 9-1300-203
- Change number: Change 9
- Change date: April 1969
- Base manual date: April 6, 1967
- Subject: Artillery Ammunition
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Publication type: Official technical-manual change packet
- Required reference: Base manual with applicable earlier changes
- Item included: Change 9 publication only
Purpose of Change 9
Army change publications corrected outdated material and supplied new pages without replacing an entire manual. Change 9 was meant to be filed with TM 9-1300-203 according to its change instructions. The packet is incomplete when used by itself because unchanged chapters and pages remain in the original manual and earlier updates.
Material Updated by Change 9
The pages marked for Change 9 revise several ammunition families, but the most important addition is expanded coverage of conventional 152mm ammunition for the M81 and XM162 gun-launchers.
- 40mm dummy cartridge M25 and selected 75mm gun M3 ammunition material
- 90mm M332-series HVAP-T and M333- and M317-series target-practice cartridges
- 152mm ammunition for the M81 and XM162 gun-launchers
- XM625 canister cartridge for close-range antipersonnel use
- XM657E2 high-explosive tracer cartridge
- XM409E5 multipurpose HEAT-T cartridge
- XM411E3 and XM411E4 target-practice tracer cartridges
- Selected primer and propelling-charge information for 155mm guns M2 and M46
- Selected point-detonating and point-initiating fuze information
About TM 9-1300-203
TM 9-1300-203 was a broad Army reference for conventional ammunition used with guns, howitzers, recoilless rifles, and mortars. The 1967 manual covered weapons ranging from 37mm through 280mm, along with 60mm, 81mm, and 4.2-inch mortars. It explained ammunition identification, construction, authorized applications, packing, storage, care, handling, safety, and emergency destruction.
152mm Gun-Launcher History
The M81 and XM162 were lightweight 152mm weapons designed to fire conventional ammunition and guided missiles. The M81 became the main armament of the M551 Sheridan armored reconnaissance and airborne assault vehicle. The XM162 was developed for the M60A1E2 tank program, which led to the M60A2. Change 9 focuses on conventional cartridges for these weapons and is not an operating manual for the MGM-51 Shillelagh missile.
Historical Background
This update appeared during the Vietnam War and a major period of change in Army firepower. Older 75mm, 90mm, and 155mm weapons remained in service while newer gun-launcher systems were entering the field. Change 9 records this transition by combining updates for established ammunition with new information for the M551 Sheridan and the developing M60A1E2 weapon system.
History of Use
Army personnel used change packets by removing outdated pages and inserting the revised sheets into working copies of the base manual. Change 9 followed the M551 Sheridan’s combat introduction in South Vietnam in January 1969, where its conventional 152mm ammunition supported armored cavalry and reconnaissance missions. During the same period, 90mm tank guns and 155mm artillery continued to provide direct and long-range fire support, making current ammunition and fuze information important to both combat and support units.
Collector and Research Value
Change 9 provides a dated record of Army ammunition development during the Cold War and Vietnam era. It is especially useful for research into the early M551 Sheridan, the M60A1E2 program, combustible-case 152mm ammunition, experimental XM-series cartridges, military fuzes, and the process used to update field technical manuals.
Condition
This vintage military change publication may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, loose sheets, or other signs of age and storage. Page count, printing details, and condition may vary between available copies. Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This Change 9 publication is well suited for collections, research projects, restoration references, and historical displays related to American artillery and armored-vehicle ammunition.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- Vietnam War ammunition research
- M551 Sheridan restoration and displays
- M60A1E2 and M60A2 weapon-system research
- 152mm gun-launcher ammunition studies
- Military fuze and cartridge research
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", 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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