Description
TM 9-2300-224-10/2/1 Technical Manual – M113A1 Carrier Family – September 1964
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual is an official reprint of the operator's reference for the diesel M113 carrier family. It brings together period instructions for tracked vehicles used to move troops, support commanders, carry weapons, and deliver supplies. For collectors and military vehicle owners, it offers a useful record of the equipment and crew duties that shaped Army service during the Cold War.
Identification and Features
The publication number, revision details, and Federal Stock Numbers help identify this edition and its covered vehicles. The XM and T designations preserve the earlier development names shown in the revised title.
- Manual number: TM 9-2300-224-10/2/1.
- Publication date: September 1964.
- Publisher: Headquarters, Department of the Army.
- Edition: Official reprint incorporating current pages from Changes 1 through 6.
- Title revision: Change 6 established the expanded vehicle coverage listed below.
- M113A1 Armored Personnel Carrier: FSN 2320-968-6321.
- M577A1 Command Post Carrier: FSN 2320-056-6808.
- 107mm M106A1 / XM106E1 Self Propelled Mortar Carrier: FSN 2350-076-9002.
- M132A1 Self Propelled Flame Thrower Carrier: FSN 2350-056-6809.
- 81mm M125A1 / T257E2 Self Propelled Mortar Carrier: FSN 2350-071-0732.
- M548 / XM548E1 6-Ton Cargo Carrier: FSN 2320-078-4545.
Function and Contents
This operator's manual explains vehicle controls, instruments, normal operation, and operation under unusual conditions. Its maintenance coverage includes lubrication, preventive checks, troubleshooting, and care of tracks and related equipment. Illustrated descriptions help readers identify major components and understand their purpose. Other topics include communications equipment, heaters, basic issue items, and preparation for shipment. The book records the crew-level work needed to keep these carriers ready for service, making it a useful companion when studying their layout and period maintenance practices.
Publication History
The September 1964 date identifies the manual's base issue, rather than the printing date of every page in this reprint. Army change notices allowed older manuals to stay useful as vehicles and instructions changed. This edition gathers the applicable revised pages into one publication instead of requiring the reader to assemble separate change packets. Its updated title reflects a broader group of carriers than the early issue covered, giving collectors a record of how the manual's scope developed over time.
Documented Applications
The covered vehicles served different roles within mechanized units. The M113A1 carried infantry, while the taller M577A1 provided space for command staff and radio equipment. The M106A1 and M125A1 gave mortar crews tracked mobility with two different mortar sizes. The M132A1 carried specialized flame equipment for close support. The M548 used an unarmored cargo layout to transport ammunition and other loads across rough ground. These applications connect the manual to troop transport, command work, fire support, and battlefield supply.
Equipment History
FMC developed the M113 as a lighter tracked personnel carrier, and the Army began accepting it in 1960. Its aluminum armor and rear loading ramp helped troops move with armored formations. The M113A1 entered service in 1964 with a diesel engine that increased range and reduced the fire risk associated with the earlier gasoline model. Related A1 carriers brought diesel power to specialized roles. The M548 extended the same vehicle family's running gear and powertrain concept into a dedicated cargo carrier.
Weapon-System Background
The standard M113A1 carried a .50-caliber machine gun for protection and support. Mortar variants added indirect fire, which could reach targets beyond a crew's direct view. The M106A1 carried the 4.2-inch, or 107mm, M30 mortar, while the M125A1 carried an 81mm mortar from the M29 series. The M132A1 filled a separate close-support role with mounted flame equipment. Command and cargo carriers supported these fighting vehicles through communications and resupply, allowing several tasks to share a common tracked vehicle family.
History of Use
Diesel M113A1 carriers served with U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and with mechanized units in the United States and Western Europe. In Vietnam, many personnel carriers gained extra machine guns and protective gun shields for service as armored cavalry assault vehicles, known as ACAVs. The wider carrier family also supplied mortar and flame support during combat operations. Many members of the family continued in Cold War training and field exercises after Vietnam. Operator's manuals supported that service by giving crews a shared reference for inspections, vehicle handling, and routine care.
Ideal For
This manual suits buyers who want to study the diesel carrier family through period Army documentation. Its combined revision history also adds interest for collections focused on military publications and changing equipment design.
- Collectors of U.S. Army technical manuals and Cold War militaria.
- Owners and restorers researching covered tracked vehicles.
- Museums documenting mechanized infantry and support equipment.
- Researchers studying Vietnam-era vehicles and crew responsibilities.
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .5", Approx weight 1lbs.
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.
Please visit our page about order lead times here: Order Lead Times.