Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-315-35P for M37 Periscope, November 1962
This original U.S. Army technical manual is the field-and-depot maintenance repair-parts and special-tools publication for the M37 Periscope. Issued as TM 9-1240-315-35P in November 1962, it supported the identification and ordering of parts for this armored-vehicle vision device. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include a periscope, holder, vehicle, or related equipment.
Manual Coverage
The “35P” suffix identifies a higher-level maintenance parts publication. The manual was prepared for trained Army personnel responsible for field and depot support. It uses illustrated parts information, reference numbers, stock numbers, maintenance codes, and item positions to help identify authorized components. The special-tools section applies to the equipment covered, although the companion maintenance manual states that no special tools were required for M37 field-and-depot work.
About the M37 Periscope
The M37 was a single-power vision periscope designed for use inside an armored vehicle. Its two windows and two mirrors were bonded to a solid plastic body protected by a metal housing. A crash pad covered the lower end to help protect the crew member during vehicle movement. Trunnion pins supported the periscope in its holder, while an adjustable segment and knob allowed it to tilt through elevation and depression.
M37 Periscope Specifications
The complete M37 was identified by part number 8635100 and Federal Stock Number 6650-856-9455, later written as NSN 6650-00-856-9455. Army data lists the periscope at approximately 15-1/2 inches long, 8-3/4 inches wide, 3-1/8 inches deep, and 16 pounds with its crash pad installed. Its field of view was approximately 26 degrees vertically and 72 degrees horizontally. These measurements describe the periscope, not the manual offered in this listing.
Original Weapons-System Application
The M37 was first documented as a vision device for the 105mm gun M60A1 main battle tank. It was installed at the loader’s station and allowed the loader to observe the area outside while remaining behind armor. The periscope could be turned in its holder and tilted vertically, giving the loader a wide view around the turret without exposing his head through the hatch.
M60 and M60A1 Tank History
The M60 tank family entered U.S. service at the beginning of the 1960s as a major Cold War armored system. The improved M60A1 appeared in 1962 with a redesigned turret, stronger armor protection, and the 105mm M68 main gun. M60-series tanks served for decades with the U.S. military and many allied nations. They were used for armored defense, training, overseas deployments, and combat operations, making simple vision equipment such as the M37 essential to safe crew operation.
Later History and Use
The M37 remained in use after this manual was published. Later military publications show it in loader vision positions on other M60-series vehicles, the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle, and the M551 Sheridan armored reconnaissance vehicle. The M728 supported engineering and obstacle-clearing missions with a 165mm demolition gun, while the air-transportable M551 used a 152mm gun-launcher and served in Vietnam and later U.S. operations. This 1962 manual predates those later applications and represents the M37’s early support history.
Publication Details
Manual number: TM 9-1240-315-35P
Publication date: November 1962
Subject: Periscope M37
Manual type: field-and-depot maintenance repair-parts and special-tools list
Periscope part number: 8635100
Periscope FSN: 6650-856-9455
Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
Country of origin: United States
Item included: technical manual only.
Collector and Research Value
This early manual is a useful addition to a U.S. Army technical-publication, military-optics, or armored-vehicle collection. It provides period parts information for the M37 and helps document the maintenance system behind the M60A1 and other important Cold War vehicles.
Ideal For
Ideal uses include M60 and M60A1 restoration research, M37 periscope parts identification, Cold War tank displays, military-optics collections, U.S. Army technical-manual collections, museum exhibits, and archival research.
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .15lbs.
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.
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