Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1290-232-34P for M13-Series Fire Control Quadrants, June 1971
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual covers repair parts and special tools for the M13A1, M13A1C, M13A3, and M13B1 Fire Control Elevation Quadrants. Published in June 1971, TM 9-1290-232-34P supported higher-level maintenance of these mechanical fire-control instruments. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include a quadrant, tank, weapon, mount, tool, or other equipment.
Publication Details
This manual identifies replacement components and support items needed to maintain four versions of the M13-series quadrant.
- Manual number: TM 9-1290-232-34P
- Publication date: June 1971
- M13A1 FSN: 1290-703-6262
- M13A1C FSN: 1290-078-5568
- M13A3 FSN: 1290-856-9451
- M13B1 FSN: 1290-870-6276
- Manual type: Repair Parts and Special Tools List
- Maintenance level: Direct support, general support, and depot
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Technical manual only
Manual Coverage
The “34P” suffix identifies this as a higher-level repair-parts publication rather than an operator’s handbook. It was prepared to help trained maintenance personnel identify authorized components, assemblies, and special tools. Manuals of this type commonly include exploded illustrations, reference numbers, part numbers, stock numbers, quantities, and maintenance codes.
About the M13-Series Quadrants
The M13-series fire control quadrant was a precision mechanical instrument used to set or check a weapon’s elevation and depression angles. Its graduated scale, micrometer adjustment, and level vial allowed crews to establish an accurate angle in mils. The M13A1, M13A1C, M13A3, and M13B1 shared the same basic purpose, while their model numbers identified smaller design changes made for different installations and equipment needs.
Role in the Fire-Control System
A fire control elevation quadrant gave the crew a reliable mechanical reference for positioning and checking a gun. It could support gun laying, testing, calibration, and indirect-fire work. This function remained important even as armored vehicles gained optical sights, ballistic computers, powered controls, and electronic fire-control equipment.
Weapon-System History
M13-series quadrants were associated with Cold War armored-vehicle fire-control systems. The M13A1C was used in the M551 Sheridan, whose turret carried a 152mm gun-launcher capable of firing conventional ammunition and Shillelagh guided missiles. The M13B1 was used in M48 Patton tank fire-control installations. Other versions served in related configurations, with the exact model selected to match the vehicle and its gun-control equipment.
History of Use
The June 1971 publication date places this manual during the Vietnam War and a period of rapid change in Army fire-control technology. Vehicles equipped with M13-series quadrants served in training, field operations, and maintenance programs throughout the Cold War. These instruments helped armor crews and technicians confirm elevation settings when inspecting or servicing the main weapon and its connected fire-control system.
Collector and Research Value
TM 9-1290-232-34P is a useful reference for identifying parts used in four M13-series quadrant models. It also provides historical information about Army supply practices and the maintenance of mechanical fire-control equipment during the early 1970s. This manual is well suited for military-vehicle restorers, museums, historians, and collectors of U.S. Army technical publications.
Condition
This vintage military technical manual may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, loose pages, or other signs of age and storage. Printing details and condition may vary between available copies.
Ideal For
This specialized manual is a strong addition to collections and research projects covering Cold War armored vehicles and military fire-control equipment.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M13-series quadrant identification
- M551 Sheridan restoration and research
- M48 Patton fire-control displays
- Military instrument and optics collections
- Museum, archival, and educational exhibits
Approx length 8", Approx width 11", Approx height .2", Approx weight .2lbs.
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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