This Technical Manual TM 3-4240-216-35 covers the M13 20 CFM Tank Gas-Particulate Filter Unit and is dated March 1963. For collectors of U.S. Army technical manuals, Chemical Corps material, Cold War protective equipment, and military support-system literature, this is a strong period reference tied to a specialized and less commonly encountered Army filtration system.
Because this is a -35 technical manual, it belongs to the higher-level maintenance side of Army documentation rather than basic operator use. Manuals in this category were intended to support more advanced servicing, inspection, repair, and technical support functions than a simple field-use booklet. That gives this publication a strong technical and workshop-oriented value for collectors, researchers, and restorers.
The M13 20 CFM Tank Gas-Particulate Filter Unit
The M13 belongs to the broader family of U.S. military gas-particulate filtration and collective-protection support equipment. As identified by its nomenclature, it is a 20 CFM tank gas-particulate filter unit, placing it squarely in the support side of Army chemical-defense and protected-environment operations rather than in the category of conventional weapons or vehicles.
A filter unit of this type was associated with the need to provide filtered airflow for armored or enclosed protected spaces, helping support personnel operating in environments where airborne chemical or particulate hazards were a concern. The 20 CFM rating identifies it as a compact but purpose-built military filtration unit intended for protected systems where clean airflow and contamination control mattered.
For collectors, that makes this manual especially interesting because it documents the technical side of Cold War protective systems rather than more commonly seen combat equipment. It is a useful example of the Army’s broader readiness infrastructure during the chemical-defense era.
What This Manual Covers
As a -35 technical manual, TM 3-4240-216-35 would have been intended to support higher-level maintenance and technical service functions for the M13 20 CFM Tank Gas-Particulate Filter Unit.
In practical terms, a manual like this is especially relevant for:
That makes it valuable not only as a collectible, but also as a practical reference for anyone studying how the Army maintained filtration and protective-support equipment during the early Cold War period.
Historical Significance
The date March 1963 places this publication in the early Cold War period, when the U.S. military maintained extensive technical literature covering chemical defense, filtration, decontamination, and protected-environment support systems. Manuals like this reflect a period when Army documentation extended far beyond weapons and vehicles to include the equipment required to help units remain operational in hazardous conditions.
For collectors and historians, this manual is especially relevant to subjects such as:
Because it covers a specialized filtration unit rather than a more common vehicle or weapon system, it also adds variety to collections that already include standard ordnance or maintenance manuals.
About This Manual
This listing is for Technical Manual TM 3-4240-216-35 for the M13 20 CFM Tank Gas-Particulate Filter Unit, dated March 1963.
It is especially well suited for:
Because manuals were working documents, surviving examples are valued not only for their content, but also for their connection to real military maintenance and support practice.
Why This Manual Matters
Many military manuals focus on weapons, vehicles, or combat systems. This one documents the support side of military readiness, specifically equipment tied to filtration and protected environments. That makes it especially useful for collectors who want to preserve the broader technical and logistical picture of Army Cold War preparedness rather than only front-line hardware.
For collectors, it is a solid stand-alone Cold War technical manual with a specialized subject focus. For researchers, it offers a useful reference point for Army filtration and protective-support equipment. For museums, it helps explain the behind-the-scenes systems that supported operations in hazardous or contaminated environments.
Ideal For
This manual is a strong fit for:
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.
Please visit our page about order lead times here: Order Lead Times