Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1290-263-35 for M28A1 and M28E2 Azimuth Indicators, March 1966
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual covers direct support, general support, and depot maintenance for the M28A1 Azimuth Indicator, FSN 1290-346-8247, and M28E2 Azimuth Indicator, FSN 1290-790-1926. Issued in March 1966, it was prepared for trained personnel responsible for maintaining mechanical tank fire-control equipment. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include an azimuth indicator, tank, weapon, sight, quadrant, or other equipment.
Publication Details
TM 9-1290-263-35 documents two related azimuth-indicator models used with armored-vehicle fire-control systems during the Cold War.
- Manual number: TM 9-1290-263-35
- Publication date: March 1966
- Equipment covered: M28A1 and M28E2 Azimuth Indicators
- M28A1 Federal Stock Number: 1290-346-8247
- M28E2 Federal Stock Number: 1290-790-1926
- Manual level: Direct support, general support, and depot maintenance
- Equipment class: Mechanical fire-control equipment
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Technical manual only
Manual Coverage
This higher-level maintenance publication supported work beyond routine crew and organizational care. Its subject matter includes inspection, troubleshooting, disassembly, cleaning, repair, reassembly, adjustment, and testing of the M28A1 and M28E2. The manual helps explain how technicians kept these precision mechanical instruments accurate and ready for service.
About the Azimuth Indicators
An azimuth indicator showed the horizontal direction of a tank turret in relation to the vehicle hull or another reference point. The instrument was connected to the turret-traverse system and allowed the crew to track changes in direction as the turret rotated. It was especially useful when laying the main gun for indirect fire, returning the turret to a known direction, or checking the alignment of the fire-control system.
M28A1 and M28E2 Models
The M28A1 and M28E2 were related mechanical indicators made for different fire-control installations. The M28E2 represented a later configuration used as vehicle and turret systems changed. TM 9-1290-263-35 supplied common maintenance guidance while identifying model-specific parts, settings, and procedures where required. Components should not be assumed to be interchangeable between the two models without checking the manual.
Armored-Vehicle History
The M28 azimuth-indicator family was developed for American armored vehicles during the years following World War II. The M28A1 was associated with fire-control installations used in the M48 Patton and later M60-series tank families. These tanks formed an important part of U.S. armored forces during the Cold War. Early M48 models carried a 90mm main gun, while later M48A5 and M60 configurations used the 105mm M68 gun.
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle
Later records also associate the M28E2 with the M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle and several M60-series configurations. The M728 was built on an M60 tank chassis and carried a short-barreled 165mm demolition gun, a dozer blade, and lifting and recovery equipment. Its M28E2 azimuth indicator worked with other fire-control instruments, including an elevation quadrant, to help the crew position the weapon accurately.
History of Use
Azimuth indicators were used during training, maintenance, and field operations wherever crews needed an accurate reading of turret direction. They could support conventional direct fire as well as closed-position or indirect-fire procedures. The M48, M60, and M728 vehicle families served during the Vietnam era and throughout the Cold War, giving this manual a connection to several important generations of American armored equipment.
Historical Background
The March 1966 publication date places this manual during the Vietnam War buildup and the Army’s transition from the M48 to newer M60-series vehicles. Mechanical instruments remained essential even as tank sights and range-finding systems became more advanced. This manual records the careful inspection and repair methods required to keep those instruments dependable.
Collector and Research Value
TM 9-1290-263-35 is a useful reference for studying Cold War tank fire control, turret-traverse equipment, and Army maintenance practices. It is also well suited for M48, M60, and M728 research, museum interpretation, restoration projects, and collections of original military 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. Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This manual is well suited for collectors, restorers, museums, and researchers interested in American armored vehicles and mechanical fire-control equipment.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M28A1 and M28E2 restoration references
- M48 Patton and M60 tank research
- M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle displays
- Cold War fire-control equipment exhibits
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .25", Approx weight .4lbs.
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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