Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-314-35P for M36 Tank Periscope, July 1964
This original U.S. Army technical manual is the repair-parts and special-tools publication for the M36 Tank Periscope, FSN 1240-980-9291. Issued as TM 9-1240-314-35P on July 7, 1964, it helped military maintenance personnel identify and order components for this Cold War fire-control instrument. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include a periscope, mount, optical parts, tools, weapon, or vehicle.
Manual Coverage
The “35P” suffix identifies this as a direct-support, general-support, and depot maintenance repair-parts and special-tools list. The manual covers replacement parts, special tools, test equipment, and support equipment required for higher-level M36 maintenance. It is a parts-identification reference rather than an operator’s guide or full repair manual.
Parts Identification and Organization
The publication uses illustrated parts breakdowns to help readers match components with their official names and stock information. Parts are arranged in disassembly order and supported by figure numbers, item numbers, reference numbers, quantities, and maintenance codes. Covered assemblies include the periscope body, optical cells, eyepieces, elbows, housings, reticle equipment, dial controls, covers, and related hardware.
About the M36 Tank Periscope
The M36 was a tank commander’s observation and fire-control periscope used on the U.S. Army M60 and M60A1 tanks. It was installed in the commander’s cupola with the M119 Periscope Mount. The sight helped the commander observe the surrounding area and aim the cupola-mounted M85 .50-caliber machine gun while remaining protected inside the vehicle.
Optical System and Features
The M36 combined a wide observation view with a magnified daylight optical system and an active-infrared night channel. Illuminated reticles, electrical connections, and adjustment controls supported sighting and alignment. Active-infrared equipment required an infrared light source to illuminate the area ahead, allowing the sight to form a usable image in darkness.
Historical Background
TM 9-1240-314-35P was published during the early service life of the M60 tank family. These tanks became a major part of American and allied armored forces during the Cold War. The M36 reflected the Army’s growing use of combined day-and-night observation equipment during the 1960s. Later versions, including the M36E1, used improved passive night-vision technology that did not depend on projected infrared light. A revised edition of this manual was issued on July 10, 1970, and formally replaced the July 1964 publication.
Publication Details
- Manual number: TM 9-1240-314-35P
- Publication date: July 7, 1964
- Official subject: Periscope, Tank: M36
- Federal Stock Number: 1240-980-9291
- Manual type: Direct-support, general-support, and depot maintenance repair-parts and special-tools list
- Companion maintenance manual: TM 9-1240-314-34, dated June 23, 1964
- Associated periscope mount: M119
- Primary vehicle applications: M60 and M60A1 tanks
- Later documented application: M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle
- Item included: Technical manual only
Collector and Research Value
This manual is a specialized reference for military-optics collectors, M60 tank restorers, museums, and historians. It documents the parts-support system behind an important commander’s sight and provides a useful record of early Cold War day-and-night fire-control technology.
Ideal For
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M60 and M60A1 tank restoration research
- M36 periscope parts identification
- Cold War military-optics displays
- Active-infrared night-vision research
- M85 machine-gun fire-control studies
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .2", Approx weight .25lbs.
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