Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-315-35 for M37 Periscope, January 1963
This U.S. Army technical manual covers field-and-depot maintenance for the M37 Periscope. Issued as TM 9-1240-315-35 on January 14, 1963, it was written for trained personnel responsible for inspecting, repairing, and overhauling this armored-vehicle vision device. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include an M37 periscope, periscope holder, tank, weapon, tools, or other optical equipment.
Manual Coverage
The “35” suffix identifies this as a field-and-depot maintenance publication under the Army’s technical-manual system of the period. Its chapters cover the periscope’s construction, technical data, common tools, inspection, limited disassembly, assembly, repair, final inspection, refinishing, sealing, and packaging. The Army directed maintenance personnel to use the IROAN method, meaning “Inspect and Repair Only As Necessary.” This is a maintenance manual rather than an operator’s guide or parts-only catalog.
Maintenance Information
The manual explains how to inspect the housing, windows, mirrors, crash pad, mounting surfaces, trunnion pins, adjustment segment, clamping knob, finish, seals, and optical field. It states that no special tools were required for field-and-depot maintenance. Repairs were limited mainly to the external mounting and adjustment parts because the bonded optical components were not authorized for replacement, repair, or overhaul at these maintenance levels.
About the M37 Periscope
The M37 was a single-power vision periscope used by the loader of an armored vehicle. It was not a magnified weapon sight. Two windows and two mirrors were bonded to a solid plastic optical body protected by a metal housing. Trunnion pins mounted the unit in its holder, while an adjustable segment and clamping knob allowed the periscope to tilt through elevation and depression. A lower crash pad helped protect the crew member during sudden vehicle movement.
Original M37 Specifications
Official nomenclature: Periscope M37
Part number: 8635100
Federal Stock Number: 6650-856-9455
Later NSN format: 6650-00-856-9455
Magnification: Single power
Vertical field of view: 26 degrees
Horizontal field of view: 72 degrees
Periscope length: 15-1/2 inches, including crash pad
Periscope width: 8-3/4 inches, including crash pad
Periscope depth: 3-1/8 inches, including crash pad
Periscope weight: 16 pounds
Construction: Solid plastic optical body with bonded windows and mirrors in a metal housing
Original Vehicle Application
The 1963 manual identifies the M37 as a vision device for the M60A1 105mm gun tank. It was installed at the loader’s station on the left side of the turret. When the vehicle was closed for combat, the periscope allowed the loader to observe the area outside while remaining under armor protection. The rotating holder provided a broad view around the vehicle, and the tilting feature allowed the viewing angle to be adjusted.
M60 and M60A1 Tank History
The M60 was standardized in 1959 as a new American main battle tank developed from the M48 series. It used a diesel engine, improved armor, an updated fire-control system, and the 105mm M68 main gun. The M60A1 entered service during the early 1960s with a longer turret, more protection, and improved crew space. The M60 family became one of the most important American tank designs of the Cold War and served with U.S. and allied forces around the world.
Later History and Use
Army records document continued M37 use on later M60-series vehicles and the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle. The same periscope design was also installed at the loader’s station of the M551 Sheridan. M37-equipped M728 and M551 vehicles served during the Vietnam War, while the Sheridan remained in later airborne service and was used in Panama and the Persian Gulf. This broad use made the M37 a long-serving loader’s observation device across several Cold War armored-vehicle programs.
Publication Details
Manual number: TM 9-1240-315-35
Publication date: January 14, 1963
Title: Field and Depot Maintenance Manual, Periscope M37
Manual type: Field-and-depot maintenance
Page count: 16 pages
Primary documented vehicle: M60A1 105mm gun tank
Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
Technical activity: Frankford Arsenal
Country of origin: United States
Item included: Technical manual only
Collector and Research Value
This manual is a useful reference for M37 periscope identification, M60A1 restoration work, armored-vehicle research, and the study of Cold War crew-vision equipment. It is well suited for Army technical-manual collections, military-optics displays, tank museums, restoration shops, and archival collections.
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .15lbs.
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