Description
Technical Manual (TM 9-1240-308-35) for M114 Elbow Telescope October 1965 FSN 1240-963-0839
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-308-35 for M114 Elbow Telescope, October 1965, FSN 1240-963-0839
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual covers higher-level maintenance for the M114 Elbow Telescope, FSN 1240-963-0839. Issued as TM 9-1240-308-35 in October 1965, it was prepared for military personnel responsible for maintaining and repairing this optical fire-control instrument.
This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include an M114 telescope, fire-control quadrant, howitzer, carrying case, or other optical equipment.
About the M114 Elbow Telescope
The M114 was an optical sight designed primarily for laying the M102 105mm Light Towed Howitzer during direct fire. Direct fire required the crew to aim at a target that could be seen from the gun position.
Its angled or “elbow” optical path allowed the gunner to view the target from a practical position beside the weapon. The telescope worked with the howitzer’s fire-control quadrant to follow changes in gun elevation and keep the sight correctly aligned.
The M114 was not a panoramic telescope. The separate M113 panoramic telescope was used mainly for directional laying during indirect-fire missions.
M102 Howitzer Application
The M114 elbow telescope was part of the fire-control equipment for the M102 howitzer. The M102 was a lightweight artillery system designed for airborne, air-assault, and mobile field-artillery units.
The howitzer could be towed by a vehicle or transported by helicopter and cargo aircraft. Its circular firing platform allowed the weapon to traverse through a full circle after emplacement.
The M114 helped give the M102 a direct-fire capability against visible targets. Later M114A1 versions continued the same basic role, but this manual specifically covers the earlier M114 model identified by FSN 1240-963-0839.
Historical Background
TM 9-1240-308-35 was issued during the early production and fielding period of the M102 howitzer. Rock Island Arsenal developed the M102’s carriage in the early 1960s, and more than 12,000 M102 howitzers were produced from 1963 through 1970.
The M102 saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, where its light weight and air mobility were valuable in remote firing positions. Accurate fire-control instruments such as the M114 telescope were essential for using the weapon effectively.
This October 1965 manual represents the maintenance system created to support the M102 and its original optical equipment as the howitzer entered wider Army service.
Publication Details
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-308-35
- Publication date: October 1965
- Subject: M114 Elbow Telescope
- Official equipment type: Telescope, Elbow
- Federal Stock Number: 1240-963-0839
- Equipment drawing: F8626440
- Related military specification: MIL-T-46385
- Manual level: Direct support, general support, and depot maintenance
- Primary role: Direct-fire sighting
- Documented weapon system: M102 105mm Light Towed Howitzer
- Item included: Technical manual only
Collector and Research Value
This manual is a specialized addition to a U.S. Army technical-publication, artillery, or military-optics collection. It provides useful historical information for studying the M102 howitzer and its original Vietnam-era fire-control system.
Ideal For
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M102 105mm howitzer research
- M114 elbow telescope restoration references
- Vietnam War artillery displays
- Military optics and fire-control collections
- Museum and archival reference libraries
- Direct-fire sighting-system research
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .35", Approx weight .5lbs.
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