Description
TM 9-2350-201-12 76mm M41 / M41A1 Walker Bulldog Tank Technical Manual – July 1958
Item Overview
This July 1958 Department of the Army technical manual covers operation and organizational maintenance for the 76mm M41 and M41A1 Full Tracked Combat Tanks. It documents period vehicle equipment and the work assigned to tank crews and unit maintenance personnel during the early Cold War.
Identification and Features
Army publication and equipment designations identify the manual's role and vehicle family. The M41's SNL designation connects the vehicle to Army Ordnance supply records, helping readers match related manuals and parts references.
- Technical manual: TM 9-2350-201-12
- Publication date: July 1958
- Publisher: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Publication type: Operation and organizational maintenance
- Vehicle family: M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks
- Ordnance supply designation: SNL G-251 / G251
Function and Contents
The manual brings vehicle operating information and unit-level maintenance coverage into one reference. Documented systems include driver controls, instruments, the gasoline engine, transmission, fuel and electrical equipment, suspension, tracks, and turret equipment. Illustrations also identify crew positions, sighting instruments, and equipment layouts. Labeled photographs and drawings help readers recognize components and understand how assemblies fit within the tank, supporting period research and restoration work.
Publication History
Earlier Army guidance for the T41E1 appeared under TM 9-730. By July 1958, this manual's title covered both the M41 and M41A1, reflecting the growth of the vehicle family. Its illustrations record early and later equipment arrangements, including changes to controls, instruments, lights, and turret fittings. That period detail makes the edition valuable for studying how the tanks changed during the 1950s.
Documented Applications
The stated applications are the M41 and M41A1, with their earlier T41E1 and T41E2 designations retained in the formal title. These names connect the vehicles' development history with their standardized Army identities. The book addresses both complete tanks and their installed equipment.
- M41 / T41E1: 76mm Full Tracked Combat Tank
- M41A1 / T41E2: 76mm Full Tracked Combat Tank
Equipment History
The M41 was developed to replace the World War II-era M24 Chaffee as the Army's standard light tank. Cadillac Division of General Motors built the vehicles at the Cleveland Tank Plant during the 1950s. The Walker Bulldog name honors Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker, commander of the Eighth Army in Korea. The M41A1 introduced revised turret controls that took up less space, allowing more main-gun ammunition to be stored inside the turret.
Weapon-System Background
The Walker Bulldog combined a 76mm M32-series main gun with a tracked chassis suited to armed reconnaissance and infantry support. A coaxial machine gun and a roof-mounted .50-caliber machine gun supplemented the cannon. Telescope and periscope sights helped the crew observe terrain and aim the weapons. Four crew members operated the tank: commander, gunner, loader, and driver. Its light-tank role placed a strong focus on mobility.
History of Use
U.S. Army and National Guard units used Walker Bulldog tanks for reconnaissance and training during the 1950s. The vehicle also entered service with allied armies, including West Germany. Later variants saw combat overseas; South Vietnam began receiving M41A3 tanks in 1965 to replace its M24s. The M41 family then took part in Vietnam War operations, including fighting in Saigon in May 1968. This wider service history gives the early models an important place in postwar armor development.
Ideal For
A useful reference for preserving vehicles, studying tank development, and building collections of period Army publications.
- M41 and M41A1 owners and restorers
- Military technical manual collectors
- Cold War armor historians
- Museum reference libraries
- Walker Bulldog scale model projects
Approx length 6", Approx width 9", Approx height 2", Approx weight 2.5lbs.
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