Description
TM 9-3007 - 105mm M2A1 Howitzer, Recoil Mechanisms, Carriages and Mounts - October 1953
Item Overview
This October 1953 Army technical manual covers the 105mm M2A1 howitzer and its related recoil mechanisms, towed carriages, and vehicle mounts. TM 9-3007 focuses on equipment repair and rebuilding. Its coverage makes it a detailed period reference for field-howitzer and M7 Priest restoration research.
Identification and Features
The publication covers these specific models and assemblies:
- Technical manual: TM 9-3007
- Publication date: October 1953
- Caliber: 105mm
- Howitzer: M2A1
- Recoil mechanisms: M2A1, M2A2, and M2A3
- Howitzer carriages: M2A1 and M2A2
- Howitzer mounts: M4 and M4A1
- Subject: Equipment descriptions, inspection, repair, and rebuilding
Manual Contents
Coverage includes descriptions and procedures for removing, taking apart, inspecting, repairing, rebuilding, and reassembling the covered equipment. The manual addresses the howitzer, recoil mechanisms, carriages, and vehicle mounts as separate assemblies. An appendix lists related supply manuals, technical manuals, and other period references. This scope is useful when tracing how individual components fit into the larger artillery installation.
Documented End-Item Application
The M2A1 and M2A2 carriages were used for towed 105mm artillery. Army illustrations show M2A1 howitzers in M4 and M4A1 mounts on the M7 Priest family of self-propelled howitzers. These documented applications connect the manual to both field howitzers and tracked artillery vehicles.
Publication History
The October 1953 issue followed the Korean War armistice and recorded repair guidance for an established artillery system. Its reference life extended into the Vietnam War. Army correspondence attached to the 4th Infantry Division's report for the period ending October 31, 1969, specifically cites TM 9-3007 dated October 1953. That record links this publication to maintenance work many years after its release.
Equipment History
The covered assemblies reflect changes made as the howitzer served in different installations. For example, the later M4A1 vehicle mount added a protective shield over the recoil system's recuperator cylinder. A stronger balancing spring offset the added weight. These differences make the model suffixes useful when comparing surviving mounts with period documents.
Parent Weapon-System Background
The M2A1 belongs to American 105mm howitzer development of the 1920s and 1930s. It became one of the U.S. Army's main field-artillery weapons during World War II. Rock Island Arsenal manufactured recoil mechanisms and carriages for the type. The towed howitzer line continued in Cold War service under the M101-series designations.
History of Use
The towed howitzer family fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The M7 Priest entered combat with British forces at El Alamein in 1942 and also served in Korea. These installations supplied artillery support to infantry and armored formations.
Ideal For
This military technical manual adds repair detail to a period reference library. It can help researchers identify assemblies, compare variants, and build historical records for restoration or museum interpretation. Its combined carriage and mount coverage also suits collections that include both towed and self-propelled artillery.
- TM 9-3007 collectors
- 105mm howitzer restorers
- M7 Priest researchers
- Artillery museums and historians
- Recoil mechanism and mount collectors
Approx length 6", Approx width 9", Approx height .35", Approx weight .7lbs.
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