Description
Empty Telescope Case 8575980 for the 90mm M67 Recoilless Rifle
Item Overview
This military telescope case, part number 8575980, was designed for the M103 optical sight used with the 90mm M67 recoilless rifle. Its stamped equipment name and part number connect it directly to Army supply records. As a collectible accessory, it complements displays of Cold War infantry weapons, military optics, and the equipment carried by recoilless rifle crews.
Identification and Features
The case carries the black equipment marking “CASE, TELESCOPE 8575980,” a black “MRT” stamp, and the number “216” in yellow lettering. MRT means mildew-resistant treatment, a preservation marking found on military fabric equipment. The stamped part number matches the case identified in Army manuals.
- Part number: 8575980
- NSN: 1240-00-441-0471
- Intended instrument: Telescope M103
- Parent weapon: 90mm M67 recoilless rifle
- Black lettering: CASE, TELESCOPE 8575980
- Black treatment marking: MRT
- Yellow number marking: 216
Function
The case protected the telescope during transportation and storage. The sight could be removed from the rifle and carried separately, keeping its optical surfaces and housing covered during movement. Army guidance called for sighting instruments to be packed in their proper carrying cases when crews moved the weapon. This protective accessory supported the care of an instrument that was essential to accurate aiming.
Documented Applications
Army Technical Manual TM 9-1240-259-35 specifically identifies carrying case 8575980 as equipment provided for Telescope M103. That telescope fitted the M110 telescope mount on the M67 recoilless rifle. The later M67 manual, TM 9-1015-223-12, lists the same part number under the supply name “Cover, Fire Control,” with NSN 1240-00-441-0471. Its illustrated basic issue items list shows the case as item 2.
Product History
Case 8575980 appears in the M103 maintenance manual dated July 31, 1961, placing the design within the early Cold War service period of the M67. It remained listed in the rifle’s October 1985 maintenance manual with changes issued in September 1992. These records document a long support history for the case design and show that protective accessories remained part of the Army’s equipment inventory alongside the weapon and sight.
Equipment History
The M103 was a compact, fixed-focus telescope with three-power magnification and a 10-degree field of view. Its aiming pattern included range and lead markings for direct fire at visible targets. An instrument light allowed the pattern to be illuminated at night. A 1968 Army field-manual update also described the M103A1, a related sight with a modified aiming pattern. These developments reflect the continued support and refinement of the M67’s optical equipment.
Weapon-System Background
The 90mm M67 was a portable, crew-served infantry weapon built for antitank and antipersonnel roles. Its recoilless design allowed some firing gases to escape rearward, balancing much of the force that would otherwise push the weapon backward. The rifle used an optical sight for direct fire and could be supported on ground mounts. Its service extended beyond the Vietnam era: the 75th Ranger Regiment still used the M67 when the Army selected the Carl Gustaf M3 as its replacement in 1988, with fielding to the Rangers beginning in 1991.
History of Use
M67 recoilless rifles served during the Vietnam War and appeared in both military training and field operations. The Australian War Memorial documents a March 1968 ammunition trial at Nui Dat involving an M67 used by the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Carrying cases belonged to the everyday support equipment behind such weapons, helping crews transport and store their sights between uses. This case is associated with that equipment system; its markings do not establish a specific wartime assignment.
Condition
Offered as an empty telescope case with the black and yellow markings described above. The M103 telescope is not included.
Ideal For
Collectors can pair this case with period M67 manuals and military optical equipment to show how the rifle’s sight was stored and transported. Its documented part number makes it useful when identifying and organizing related accessories.
- M67 recoilless rifle collections
- Military optics collectors
- Cold War infantry displays
- Vietnam War equipment exhibits
- Military accessory research
Approx length 7", Approx width 4", Approx height 3", Approx weight 0.6lbs.
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