This TM 3-1040-244-20P Compressor, Reciprocating, Power-Driven, Flame Thrower 3-1/2 CFM, AN-M4/C (FSN 1040-078-5431) Technical Manual Dated: 1965 covers the Compressor, Reciprocating, Power-Driven, Flame Thrower, 3-1/2 CFM, AN-M4/C and is identified under FSN 1040-078-5431. It is the repair parts and special tools list manual for the system, making it especially useful for collectors, researchers, restorers, and anyone building a serious reference library around U.S. military flamethrower support equipment and Cold War Army technical publications.
Because this is a -20P manual, it belongs to the parts-support and maintenance-documentation side of Army literature rather than simple operator use. Manuals in this category were intended to help identify assemblies, components, replacement parts, and the special tools required to keep a system serviceable. That gives this publication a more technical and workshop-oriented value than a general field-use manual.
The AN-M4/C Compressor
The AN-M4/C was a reciprocating, power-driven compressor associated with military flamethrower support equipment. As indicated by the nomenclature, it was rated at 3-1/2 CFM and belonged to the service and support side of flamethrower operations rather than the weapon itself. In practical terms, equipment like this was part of the infrastructure needed to maintain and support specialized flame systems in military use.
That makes this manual especially interesting from a historical standpoint. Instead of documenting a combat weapon directly, it covers the supporting equipment behind that weapon system. For collectors, this adds depth to any flamethrower or Chemical Corps collection by preserving the technical and logistical side of how these systems were maintained.
What This Manual Covers
As a repair parts and special tools list manual, TM 3-1040-244-20P would have been used to support maintenance and supply functions for the AN-M4/C compressor.
In practical terms, a manual like this is especially relevant for:
- nomenclature and identification
- repair-parts identification
- assembly and component breakdowns
- special tools listings
- maintenance-related supply reference
- restoration and archival research use
That makes it valuable not only as a collectible, but also as a practical reference for anyone studying how the Army supported specialized compressor equipment tied to flamethrower service systems.
Historical Significance
The date 1965 places this publication squarely in the Cold War period, when the U.S. military still maintained specialized flamethrower systems and the technical literature required to support them. Manuals like this reflect a period when the Army continued to document, supply, and maintain equipment that fell outside the standard rifle, vehicle, and artillery categories.
For collectors and historians, this manual is especially relevant to subjects such as:
- Cold War U.S. Army technical manuals
- military flamethrower support equipment
- specialized compressor and servicing systems
- combat engineer and special-weapon support history
- dated military technical publications
Because it is a -20P manual, it also appeals to collectors who prefer the more technical and parts-oriented side of Army documentation.
About This Manual
This listing is for TM 3-1040-244-20P Compressor, Reciprocating, Power-Driven, Flame Thrower 3-1/2 CFM, AN-M4/C (FSN 1040-078-5431) Technical Manual Dated: 1965.
It is especially well suited for:
- U.S. Army technical manual collections
- flamethrower and support-equipment displays
- Cold War military paper collections
- museum exhibits on specialized maintenance and service equipment
- archive and research libraries focused on U.S. ordnance history
Because manuals were working documents, surviving examples are valued not only for their content, but also for their connection to real military maintenance and supply practice.
Why This Manual Matters
Many military manuals focus on the weapon itself. This one is important because it documents the support and maintenance side of a specialized military system. It helps show how the Army handled the parts support and technical upkeep of equipment associated with flamethrower service, which adds a different layer of historical value than an operator-only or end-item-only manual.
For collectors, it is a solid stand-alone piece of Cold War Army documentation. For restorers and researchers, it provides a useful reference for parts identification and support structure. For museums, it adds context to the administrative and technical side of military support equipment that is often overlooked.
Ideal For
This manual is a strong fit for:
- U.S. Army technical manual collections
- Cold War support-equipment displays
- flamethrower and special-weapons collections
- museum and archival reference libraries
- collectors of military paperwork and dated technical publications
Approx length 10", Approx width 8", Approx height .1", Approx weight .2lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our TM 3-1040-244-20P Compressor, Reciprocating, Power-Driven, Flame Thrower 3-1/2 CFM, AN-M4/C (FSN 1040-078-5431) Technical Manual Dated: 1965. 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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