Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1290-266-35 for M28 Fuze Setter, August 1960
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual covers field and depot maintenance for the M28 Fuze Setter. Issued as TM 9-1290-266-35 in August 1960, it was prepared for trained ordnance personnel responsible for inspecting, repairing, adjusting, and testing this precision artillery accessory. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include an M28 Fuze Setter, fuze, projectile, weapon, carrying case, or other equipment.
Publication Details
This Cold War publication documents the maintenance standards needed to keep the M28 accurate and serviceable.
- Manual number: TM 9-1290-266-35
- Publication date: August 1960
- Primary subject: M28 Fuze Setter
- Developmental designation: T46
- Known part number: 7686826
- Later National Stock Number: 1290-00-300-8033
- Manual level: Field and depot maintenance
- Equipment type: Mechanical artillery fuze-setting instrument
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Technical manual only
Manual Coverage
The “35” suffix identifies this as a higher-level maintenance publication covering work beyond routine crew and organizational care. Its technical guidance supports inspection, troubleshooting, disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, repair, parts replacement, reassembly, adjustment, scale testing, and final inspection. Proper calibration was important because the time transferred from the setter had to agree with the setting shown on the fuze.
About the M28 Fuze Setter
The M28 was a hand-operated precision instrument used to place an announced time setting on compatible artillery and mortar fuzes before a round was loaded. Its body fitted over the nose of the fuze, while an adjustable timing mechanism controlled movement of the fuze’s setting ring. The setter allowed ammunition personnel to prepare proximity or variable-time fuzes for airburst, impact, or other authorized action specified by the firing command.
Design and Time Scales
The M28 was based on the earlier M26 precision fuze setter but used longer time ranges. The M26 had scales extending to 25 and 75 seconds, while the M28 provided 0-to-45-second and 0-to-100-second scales. The extended scale made the M28 suitable for compatible VT and proximity fuzes that required settings as high as 100 seconds.
Compatible Fuze History
Early Army field manuals commonly paired the M28 with M513-series VT fuzes. Later publications also documented its use with M514 and M728-series proximity fuzes. These fuzes were designed to function above the ground or near a target when properly set, producing an airburst that spread fragments over a larger area than an ordinary impact burst. Compatibility depended on the fuze model and matching time scale, not simply the caliber of the weapon.
Documented Weapon Applications
The M28 was not limited to one artillery piece. Army and allied publications document its use with several towed, self-propelled, and mortar systems from the early Cold War through the Vietnam era.
- 105mm Howitzer M49 on the M52: Early Cold War self-propelled howitzer
- 105mm Howitzer M102: Lightweight towed howitzer widely used during the Vietnam War
- 105mm L5 Pack Howitzer: Used with the M28 by Australian artillery units during the Vietnam conflict
- 155mm Howitzer M45 on the M44: Early Cold War self-propelled artillery system
- 155mm M109-series Howitzers: Later manuals document the M28 for compatible VT fuzes
- 4.2-Inch Mortar M30: Heavy mortar that used artillery-style fuzes on certain ammunition
- 280mm Gun M65: The Cold War “Atomic Cannon,” which listed the M28 among its authorized fuze-setting equipment
Weapon-System History
The weapons associated with the M28 show how widely standardized fuzes and fire-control accessories were used. The M44 and M52 gave Army units mobile self-propelled fire support during the early Cold War. The M65 was developed to fire conventional and nuclear 280mm ammunition. The lighter M102 and the tracked M109 later became important field-artillery systems, while the M30 provided heavy-mortar support for infantry units. Because these weapons could use compatible time or proximity fuzes, the same M28 setter could support more than one caliber.
History of Use
During a fire mission, a designated crew member received the fuze setting from the fire command and transferred it to the fuze with the proper setter. Accurate settings allowed a projectile to burst at the planned point in its flight. The M28 served during a period that included early Cold War nuclear-artillery planning, conventional field-artillery operations, and the Vietnam War. A surviving M28 in the Australian War Memorial collection is documented as having supported L5 105mm Pack Howitzer operations in Vietnam.
Collector and Research Value
TM 9-1290-266-35 is a specialized reference for studying Cold War artillery ammunition, proximity-fuze development, and Army ordnance-maintenance practices. It is especially useful for M28 restoration research and for collections covering the M44, M52, M65, M102, M109, M30 mortar, or L5 Pack Howitzer.
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 studying artillery ammunition and mechanical fuze-setting equipment.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- M28 Fuze Setter restoration references
- VT and proximity-fuze research
- Cold War artillery displays
- Vietnam War artillery exhibits
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", 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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