Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1290-262-34P for M2 Aiming Circle W/E, April 1972
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual covers repair parts and special tools for the M2 Aiming Circle W/E, FSN 1290-614-0008. Issued in April 1972, TM 9-1290-262-34P supported the higher-level maintenance and supply needs of this important artillery fire-control instrument. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include an aiming circle, tripod, protective cover, instrument light, plumb bob, weapon, or other equipment.
Publication Details
This parts publication was prepared for trained military maintenance and supply personnel responsible for supporting the M2 Aiming Circle and its associated equipment.
- Manual number: TM 9-1290-262-34P
- Publication date: April 1972
- Equipment: M2 Aiming Circle
- Federal Stock Number: 1290-614-0008
- Later NSN format: 1290-00-614-0008
- Manual type: Direct and general support repair parts and special tools list
- 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 repair-parts and special-tools publication for direct and general support maintenance. It helped personnel identify authorized assemblies, replacement parts, components, accessories, and tools needed to maintain the M2 Aiming Circle. Parts manuals commonly use numbered illustrations and matching listings to connect each component with its official name and stock information. This is primarily a maintenance-supply reference and is not a complete operating manual.
About the M2 Aiming Circle
The M2 Aiming Circle is a portable optical and mechanical instrument used to measure precise horizontal and vertical angles. Its main parts include a four-power elbow telescope, magnetic compass, graduated azimuth and elevation scales, micrometer controls, and leveling devices. The instrument is mounted on a tripod and carefully leveled before use. It could then establish a reference direction for artillery, mortars, surveying, and other field operations.
Equipment Features
The M2 provided a full 6,400-mil azimuth range for measuring direction. Its telescope had four-power magnification and a 10-degree field of view. The original M2 could measure up to 800 mils of elevation and 400 mils of depression. Circular and tubular levels helped the operator place the instrument in a true level position, while fine controls allowed accurate readings.
- Azimuth rotation: 6,400 mils
- Maximum elevation: 800 mils
- Maximum depression: 400 mils
- Telescope magnification: 4 power
- Field of view: Approximately 10 degrees
- Common supporting equipment: M24 tripod and M51 instrument light
Meaning of W/E
The abbreviation “W/E” means “with equipment.” A complete issued set could include the M2 Aiming Circle, protective cover, M24 tripod, M51 instrument light, plumb bob, and related accessories. This manual documents parts associated with the equipment set, but none of those components are included with this listing.
Role in the Weapons System
The M2 was general fire-control equipment and was not limited to one weapon. Artillery and mortar units used it to establish direction and place several weapons on the same firing azimuth. During reciprocal laying, the aiming-circle operator and weapon crews exchanged angle readings until the sights and weapon tubes were properly aligned. This process allowed a battery or mortar section to deliver coordinated indirect fire even when crews could not see the target.
Historical Background
The M2 was in U.S. Army service by the mid-1950s and remained an important field instrument throughout the Cold War. This April 1972 manual dates from the Vietnam War era, when accurate surveying and weapon alignment remained essential to artillery and mortar operations. Its publication also reflects the Army’s need for standardized parts information to keep precision optical and mechanical equipment working in field conditions.
History of Use
Crews used the M2 while preparing firing positions, establishing grid or magnetic direction, aligning weapons, measuring horizontal and vertical angles, and performing basic field-survey tasks. Its portable design allowed it to support operations from fixed bases and temporary firing positions. The later M2A2 increased the available elevation range, but the original M2 continued to appear in Army inventories and technical publications for many years.
Collector and Research Value
TM 9-1290-262-34P is a useful reference for identifying M2 Aiming Circle parts, accessories, and special tools. It also documents U.S. Army maintenance, supply, artillery, and surveying practices during the Vietnam and Cold War periods. This specialized publication is well suited for technical-manual collections, museum research, restoration work, and military fire-control displays.
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. Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This technical manual is a specialized reference for collectors, researchers, restorers, and museums interested in military surveying and indirect-fire equipment.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M2 Aiming Circle restoration references
- Artillery and mortar fire-control research
- Vietnam War and Cold War displays
- Military optics and surveying collections
- Museum and archival research
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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