Description
Technical Manual (TM 9-1240-258-34) for M17C Range Finder July 1960
This Technical Manual TM 9-1240-258-34 covers the M17C Range Finder and is dated July 1960.
Issued as a field-maintenance publication, it supports the inspection, troubleshooting, adjustment, repair, and servicing of this coincidence-type fire-control range finder.
Historical Significance
The M17C was an optical fire-control range finder used with the M60 main battle tank and associated with the transition from stereoscopic ranging to coincidence ranging in U.S. Army armored-vehicle fire-control systems.
By bringing two target images into coincidence, the operator could determine target distance in meters for the tank's fire-control solution. The instrument could measure ranges out to approximately 4,400 meters, helping improve the probability of a first-round hit.
What This Manual Covers
This -34 field-maintenance manual provides technical guidance for maintaining the M17C beyond the operator and organizational levels. Its scope supports field-maintenance personnel responsible for diagnosing faults, servicing the instrument, making adjustments, and performing authorized repairs.
The M17C served as a key optical component in tank fire-control systems, where accurate range information was essential for setting up a firing solution. The range finder was used with the 105 mm Gun Tank M60 and was also specified for the 90 mm Gun Tank M48A2C fire-control system.
Key Features
- Official publication number: TM 9-1240-258-34
- Publication date: 1 July 1960
- Equipment covered: M17C Range Finder
- Equipment type: coincidence fire-control range finder
- Maintenance scope: field maintenance
- Federal Stock Number: 1240-676-2173
- System applications: M48A2C and M60 tank fire-control systems
Why This Manual Matters
TM 9-1240-258-34 preserves the Army's maintenance terminology and service approach for a major optical component of early Cold War tank fire-control technology. It is especially useful for understanding how the M17C was kept aligned, serviceable, and ready to provide accurate range data.
For collectors and researchers, the manual connects the range finder itself with the maintenance practices that supported the M60-era shift toward faster and more reliable target ranging.
About This Manual
Published by the Department of the Army on 1 July 1960, TM 9-1240-258-34 is the field-maintenance manual for the M17C Range Finder. It is a maintenance publication rather than a repair-parts-only list.
Ideal For
This manual is a strong fit for:
- U.S. Army technical-manual collectors
- M48 and M60 tank researchers and restorers
- Military optical and fire-control equipment specialists
- Armored-vehicle museums and reference libraries
- Historians studying Cold War tank gunnery and range-finding systems
Approx length 8", Approx width 11", Approx height .25", Approx weight .5lbs.
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