crew drill, light tank m5 series

92
WAR 3 D •vii ii i A-—.. ^ •-•»' vJ Copy 9 + "fc*""" f \l m ^CLASSIFIED . I L -i r ' r \ < t^\ H 1 0 ) m EPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL ARMORED CREW DRILL, LIGHT TANK M5 SERIES ^__^> / &.-^s 9 ^~ 2- REFEREfNCE USE ONLY NOTTO BE TAKEN FROM LIBRARY WAR DEPARTMENT 24 MAY 1944 UNCLASSIFIED

Upload: others

Post on 11-Sep-2021

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: crew drill, light tank m5 series

WAR

3

D

•vii ii • iA-—.. ^ • •-•»' vJCopy

9 +

"fc*"""

f\lm

^CLASSIFIED .

I L

-ir ' r \ < t^\H 1 0 )

mEPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL

ARMORED

CREW DRILL,

LIGHT TANK M5 SERIES^__^> / &.-^s 9 ^~ 2- REFEREfNCE USE

ONLY

NOTTO BE TAKEN FROM LIBRARY

WAR DEPARTMENT • 24 MAY 1944 UNCLASSIFIED

Page 2: crew drill, light tank m5 series

PM 17-68 C l

FIELD MANUAL

ARMORED

CREW DRILL, LIGHT TANK M5 SERIES

CHANGES 1 WAR DEPARTMENT, No. 1 J WASHINGTON, 4 December 1944.

FM 17-68, 24 May 1944, is changed as follows: 5. OPERATION OF INTERPHONE AND RADIO.- *-- * * * *a. MS light tank.*****

(2) The tank commander depresses the switch on his microphone cord, and orders: CHECK INTER PHONE. NOTE: This command is * * * the interphone check.*****

(3) The gunner, bow gunner, and driver, in turn, throw their radio-interphone switches to INTER PHONE, depress their microphone switches, and re port: "Gunner check," "Bog check," "Driver check." "Upon completion of their reports, they immediately return their switches to RADIO. During this procedure, * * * the switch button.*****

(5) (Superseded). The RADIO-INT switches on all control boxes, except the tank commander's, must be set on RADIO. This is the normal position for inter phone operation. The tank commander's switch will be set at INT most of the time; he will change it to RADIO only as he desires radio communication.

AGO 154P 610604 44

Page 3: crew drill, light tank m5 series

FIELD MANUAL

Except in an emergency, no one but the tank commandsr may operate the RADIO-INT switch on his control box. In an emergency, a member of the tank crew may communicate with the tank commander or an other crew member by throwing his control box switch to INT; but this action will interrupt the tank com mander's radio reception. It is the duty of the tank commander to monitor his radio receiver at all times except when speaking over the interphone or trans mitting over the radio. He can monitor both the inter phone and the radio receiver with his switch set at the INT position.

AGO 154D

Page 4: crew drill, light tank m5 series

£ 35

. B

EF

OR

E O

PE

RA

TIO

N I

NSP

EC

TIO

N.

Tan

k lo

cked

an

d co

vere

d -w

ith

tar-

2

paul

in.

All

crew

mem

bers

che

ck f

or t

ampe

ring

and

dam

ages

. g

(NO

TE

: F

or t

rain

ing

* *

* de

fici

enci

es a

s fo

und)

.*******

PH

AS

E B

|

Tan

k C

omm

and

er

Gu

nn

er

Bow

Gu

nn

er

Dri

ver

"*"•*

* *

* *

* *

§C

lose

en

gine

co

mpa

rt-

Aux

iliar

y ge

nera

tor

oil

^m

ent

door

s.

leve

l. ~Jn

Not

ify

Dri

ver

to t

urn

T

urn

on

mast

er

gM

on

sw

itch

. sw

itch

. W

Com

man

d R

EP

OR

T.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner r

eady

."

Rep

ort

"Bog

rea

dy."

S

tart

ge

nera

tor;

ch

eck

Hop

erat

ion.

^

Rep

ort

"Dri

ver

read

y."

£

PH

ASE

C

(Sup

erse

ded)

I

Tan

k C

omm

and

er

Gu

nn

er

Bow

Gu

nn

er

Dri

ver

g

Com

man

d P

ER

FO

RM

g

PH

AS

E C

. C

heck

the

fol

low

ing:

S

tart

eng

ines

.D

irec

t D

rive

r to

m

ove

Oil

in t

urre

t re

serv

oir.

C

heck

in

stru

men

ts,

tank

fo

rwar

d 2

tank

w

arni

ng

light

s,

and

leng

ths.

si

ren.

Page 5: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Tan

k C

om

man

der

Wal

k ah

ead

of

tan

k;

chec

k'

cond

itio

n of

ri

ght

trac

k sh

oes

and

insi

de w

edge

nut

s an

d co

nnec

tors

. .

Che

ck

oute

r w

edge

nu

ts

and

conn

ecto

rs;

wat

ch

acti

on

and

chec

k co

n di

tion

of

su

ppor

t ro

ll er

s,

shoe

s,

and

tank

susp

ensi

on

as

tank

m

oves

to

rear

.

1

Gu

nn

er

Oil

can

and

stab

iliz

er

oil.

All

firi

ng c

ontr

ols.

Tur

n on

tu

rret

m

aste

r sw

itch

.C

heck

st

abil

izer

op

era

tion

, oi

l re

serv

oir

con

nect

ions

and

pum

p.

Bow

Gu

nn

er

Wal

k be

hind

tan

k;

chec

k co

ndit

ion

of l

eft

trac

k sh

oes

and

insi

de w

edge

nu

ts a

nd c

onne

ctor

s.

Dir

ect

Dri

ver

to

mov

e to

rea

r; t

ight

en i

nsid

e sp

rock

et

ring

ca

p sc

rew

s as

exp

osed

.T

ight

en

outs

ide

cap

scre

ws.

Dri

ver

Dri

ve

tank

slow

ly

for

war

d 2

tank l

engt

hs.

Dri

ve

tank

to

re

ar

dire

cted

by

Bog

.

Sto

p en

gine

s.

Rep

lace

to

ols

in

bag;

R

ecei

ve a

nd s

tow

too

ls.

pass

to

Dri

ver.

H

elp

Dri

ver c

heck

ligh

ts.

Che

ck m

achi

ne g

un t

ri

pod

case

fo

r pi

ntle

an

d el

evat

ing

mec

h an

ism

.In

stal

l ra

dio

ante

nna.

R

epla

ce t

arpa

ulin

on

rear

dec

k.

Che

ck d

rivi

ng a

nd b

lack

ou

t li

ghts

.

Page 6: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Pas

s ra

mm

er s

taff

to

Bog

O

and

clea

ning

ro

d to

« G

unne

r.O

Mou

nt t

o tu

rret

.

Hel

p ch

eck

reco

il oi

l. C

onnect

brea

k-aw

ay

plug

s.

Com

man

d R

EP

OR

T (

in

terp

hone

che

ck).

Rec

eive

an

d st

ow

ma

chin

e gu

n cl

eani

ng

rod.

Che

ck t

hat

Dri

ver'

s an

d B

og's

ha

tche

s ar

e cl

osed

.C

heck

m

anua

l el

eva

tion

, op

erat

ion

of

hand

and

pow

er t

rav

er

se,

and

turr

et l

ock.

Che

ck

reco

il

cyli

nder

oi

l.C

onnec

t bre

ak-a

way

pl

ugs.

Rep

ort

"gun

ner

read

}'."

Rec

eive

and

sto

w r

am

mer

sta

ff.

Tak

e m

ount

ed

clos

e ha

tch.

post

; C

lose

hat

ch.

Connec

t pl

ugs.

bre

ak-a

way

Connec

t b

reak

-aw

aypl

ugs.

Rep

ort

"Bog

rea

dy."

Rep

ort

"Dri

ver

read

y."

NO

TE

: In

lat

er m

odel

s of

the

Lig

ht T

ank

M5A

1, t

here

is

an e

mer

genc

y ig

niti

on s

witc

h on

the

rig

ht

side

of

the

hull

roo

f.

Thi

s sw

itch

is

left

in

the

ON

pos

itio

n ex

cept

in

emer

genc

ies,

whe

n it

isi u

sed

by th

e T

ank

Com

man

der

or o

ther

per

sonn

el w

ithi

n re

ach.

o » I D E a 00 H a

Page 7: crew drill, light tank m5 series

FIELD MANUAL

40. RADIO.* * * * *

g. Tubes (Superseded.) Turn in defective tubes at the earliest opportunity.

* * * * *[AQ 300.7 (31 Oct44).]

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

OFFICIAL: G. C. MAESHALL J. A. ULIO Chief of Staff Major General The Adjutant General

DISTRIBUTION:AAF(IO); AGF (10); ASF (10); T of Opns (5); Arm

& Sv Bd (2); Def C (5); Tech Sv (2); SvC (10); HD (5); PC&S (1); Gen & Sp Sv Sch (50) except Armd Sch (500); USMA (2); ROTC (1); A (10); CHQ (10); D (2) except D 2, 7, 17 (10); R 2, 17 (10); SBn 2, 17 (10); Bn 2, 17 (5); AF (2).

T/O &E: 17-2 (5); 17-17 (20); 17-20-1 (5).For explanation of symbols, see FM 21-6.

AGO 154D

Page 8: crew drill, light tank m5 series

WAR DEPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL

F M 17-68

This manual supersedes FM 17-68, 8 June 1943

ARMORED

CREW DRILL

LIGHT TANK M5 SERIES

WAR DEPARTMENT - 24 MAY 1944

____. DISSEMINATION OF RESTRICTED MATTER.+tbt Infor

mation contained in restricted documents and the essential characteristics

of restricted material may be given to any person known to be in the

service of the United States and to persons of undoubted loyalty and

discretion who are cooperating in Government work, but will not be

communicated to the public or to the press except by authorized military

public relations agencies. (See also par. S3o, AR 380-5,15 Mar 1944.)

United States Government Printing Office

Washington 1944

Page 9: crew drill, light tank m5 series

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON 25, D. C., 24 May 1944.

FM 17-68, Armored Field Manual, Crew Drill, Light Tank M5 Series, is published for the information and guidance of all concerned.

CA. G. 300.7 (24 May 44). I]

BY OBDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

G. C. MARSHALL,Chief of Staff.

OFFICIAL:J. A. ULIO,

Major General.The Adjutant General.

DISTRIBUTION:As prescribed in paragraph 9a, FM 21-6, exceptArmd Sch (500); D 2, 7, 17 (10); R, 17 (10);Bn 2, 17 (5); 1C 17 (5), (20).1C 17: T/O & E, Hq Co, Armd Div; 17-20-1, Hqand Hq Co, Combat Comd, Armd Div (5);17-17, Light Tk Co, Tank Bn and Light TankCo, Cav Mecz Sq (20).(For explanation of symbols, see FM 21-6.)

Page 10: crew drill, light tank m5 series

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraph Page

Section I. General ________ 1—2 1II. Crew Composition and

Formation _____ 3—4 4III. Crew Control ____ 5-6 6IV. Crew Drill ______ 7-12 10V. Service of the Piece __ 13-18 19

VI. Mounted Action __ 19-23 31VII. Dismounted Action __ 24-29 37

VIII. Evacuation of Casual ties from Tanks _ 30-33 46

I.. Inspections andMaintenance ___ 34—40 51

X. Sight Adjustment __ 41—42 68XI. Destruction of

Materiel and Equipment ____ 43—50 71

Page 11: crew drill, light tank m5 series

RESTRICTED

FM 17-68

WAR DEPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL

CREW DRILL LIGHT TANK M5 SERIES*

This manual supersedes FM 17-68, 8 June 1943.

Section I

GENERAL

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE. This manual is designed to present instructional material for the platoon leader and tank commander in training members of the crew of the light tanks MS and M5A1 for combat. It is to be used as a guide to achieve orderly, disciplined, efficient exe cution of mounted and dismounted action, and pre cision, accuracy, and speed in service of the piece. It provides a logical and thorough routine for all inspec tions of the vehicle and its equipment.

2. REFERENCES. See appendix.

0 "For definition of military terms not defined in this manual see TM oft_9.nv20-205

Page 12: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Figure 1. Light tank M5A1, front and rear views.

Page 13: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Fig

ure

2.

Lig

ht

tank

M

5A1.

Page 14: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section II

COMPOSITION AND FORMATIONS

3. COMPOSITION. The light tank crew is composed offour members:

Tank commander (loader or as sistant gunner and tends voice radio) _______________ LIEUTENANT

or SERGEANTGunner ________________ GUNNER Bow Gunner (assistant driver, and radio operator in tanks equipped with SCR-506) _________ BOG Driver _________________ DRIVER

Figure 3. Dismounted posts, light tank crew.

Page 15: crew drill, light tank m5 series

4. FORMATIONS, a. Dismounted posts. The crew forms at attention in one rank. (See figure 3). The tank com mander takes his post 2 yards in front of the right track, facing the front. The bow gunner, gunner and driver in order, take positions at the left of the tank commander at close interval.

b. Mounted posts. The crew forms mounted as follows:(1) Tank commander. In the turret, standing on the

floor, sitting or standing on the seat.(2) Bow gunner. In the bow gunner's seat.(3) Gunner. In the turret, seated at the left of the

37-mm gun with his left hand on the power traverse con trol handle, his right hand on the elevating handwheel, and his head against the headrest of the periscope.

(4) Driver. In the driver's seat.

Page 16: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section III

CREW CONTROL

5. OPERATION OF INTERPHONE AND RADIO. Thecrew must practice continually with the interphone to attain its maximum value during combat. It is available for use at any time during the operation of the tank, but its use interrupts radio communication. Due to the dif ferences in location of the radio and interphone facilities of the light tank M5 and M5A1, slightly different pro cedures are necessary in crew control. For tank signals see FM 17-5.

a. M5 light tank. As standing operating procedure, af ter mounting, the radio is turned on by either the driver or gunner without command, and the headsets and microphones are tested. See Preliminary Inspection for Radio Sets SCR-508, SCR-528, and SCR-538.

(1) Each crew member (except the gunner who .has no. interphone connection) inserts the plugs of the short cords extending from his headset into the break-away plug of the headset extension cord of his interphone con trol box. The microphone (of either type, throat or lip) is adjusted in place to produce maximum clarity, and con nected to the break-away plug on the microphone cord of the control box. !

(2) The tank commander turm> lik-RADie^ft^ER- PHQNE swildtuta-IKIEBEiiQNE, depresses the switch on his microphone cord, and orders: CHECK INTER PHONE. NOTE: This command is used when the crew mounts by any other method than the formalized drills given in paragraphs 8 and 25. In those drills the "Ready" report constitutes the interphone check.

(3) The bow gunner and driver, in turn, depress their microphone switches and report: BOG CHECK, DRIVER CHECK] During this procedure, each adjusts

6

Page 17: crew drill, light tank m5 series

the volume control on his interphone control box to the desired level. Care is taken that the microphone switch does not remain in locked position thus burning out the dynamotor. In stowing, check to see that the suspension strap is not wrapped around the hand switch, pressing down the switch button.

(4) Interphone control box positions are located as fol lows:

(a) Driver. On wall of hull to his left.(b) Bow gunner. On wall of hull to his right.(c) Tank commander. On rear of turret roof between

the hatches. He controls his transmission by manipu lating the switch on the control box marked RADIO- INTERPHONE to the type of transmission desired.

(5")XQie RADIO-INTERPHONE switches on the trans mitter a^d on all control boxes, except the tank com mander's control box, are set on RADIO. This is the normal position for interphone operation. The tank com mander's switch is set on RADIO most of the time, he will change it to INTERPHONE only as he desires to communicate with his crew. Except in an emergency, no one but the tank commander may operate the inter phone switch on his control box. In an emergency, a member of the tank crew may break in while the tank commander is on RADIO by turning his control box switch to INTERPHONE. When the tank commander is on RADIO, turning any RADIO-INTERPHONE switch to INTERPHONE will interrupt the commander's radio communication and establish interphone communication.

(6) It is the duty of each man to check his personal in terphone equipment upon mounting the tank, see that it is properly maintained, and report any difficulties to the tank commander. Definite tank control commands and terminology are set forth in the following paragraph. The desirability and necessity of adhering to this specific language cannot be overemphasized. General conversa tion on interphones causes misunderstanding and disor der and is harmful to discipline.

Page 18: crew drill, light tank m5 series

b. M5A1 light tank. In this and later models, the radio is located in the turret bulge, immediately accessible to the tank commander. The gunner's interphone control box is on the roof of the turret in front of him. The tank commander's control box is on the right side of the tur ret. On mounting the M5A1 tank, the crew follows the same procedure as that prescribed for the M5 model with the following exceptions: the tank commander turns on the receiver, transmitter or amplifier, and sets the channel number button. Upon the command CHECK INTERPHONE, the gunner reports first, followed in or der by the bow gunner and driver.

NOTE: In tanks equipped with SCR-506, two mem bers of the crew (Bog and gunner) are qualified radio operators. The principal duty of the Bog is to operate this set, and interphone procedure is modified as re quired to enable him to perform his duties.

6. INTERPHONE LANGUAGE, a. Terms.Tank Commander __LIEUTENANT or SERGEANTDriver __________DRIVERGunner _________GUNNERBow Gunner ______BOGAny tank ________TANKArmored car ______ARMORED CARAny unarmored vehicle_TRUCKInfantry ________DOUGHSMachine gun ______MACHINE GUNAirplane ________PLANE

b. Commands for movement of tank. To move the tank

forward _______DRIVER MOVE OUT To halt the tank ___DRIVER STOP To reverse the tank _DRIVER REVERSE To decrease speed __DRIVER SLOW DOWN To turn right 90° ___DRIVER CLOCK 3 —

STEADY-Y-Y-Y ... ONTo turn left 60° ___DRIVER CLOCK 10—

STEADY-Y-Y-Y ... ON

8

Page 19: crew drill, light tank m5 series

To turn right (left) 180° _________DRIVER CLOCK 6 RIGHT

(LEFT)—STEADY-Y-Y-Y... ON

To have driver move to ward a terrain feature or reference point. The tank being headed in proper direction ___DRIVER MARCH ON WHITE

HOUSE (HILL, DEAD TREE,ETC.)

To follow in column __DRIVER FOLLOW THATTANK (DRIVER FOLLOWTANK NO B-9)

To follow on road or trail _________DRIVER RIGHT ON ROAD

(DRIVER RIGHT ON TRAIL) To start engines ___DRIVER CRANK UP To stop the engine _DRIVER CUT ENGINE To proceed at same

speed ________DRIVER STEADYc. Comands for control of turret.

To traverse the turret -GUNNER TRAVERSE LEFT(RIGHT)

To stop turret traverse _GUNNER STEADY-Y-Y-Y... ON

d. Fire orders. See FM 17-12 .

Page 20: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section IV

CREW DRILL

7. DISMOUNTED DRILL, a. To form light tank crew.Being dismounted, the crew takes dismounted posts (figure 3) at the command FALL IN.

b. To break ranks. At the command FALL OUT, the crew breaks ranks. Crew members habitually fall out to the right of the tank.

c. To call off. At the command CALL OFF, the mem bers of the crew call off in turn as follows:

(1) Tank Commander ____ "SERGEANT" (or"LIEUTENANT")

(2) Bow Gunner _______ "BOG"(3) Gunner ___________ "GUNNER"(4) Driver ___.______ "DRIVER" d. To change designations and duties. (1) At the com

mand FALL OUT SERGEANT (BOG) (GUNNER) -(a) The man designated to fall out moves by the rear

to the left flank position and becomes driver.(b) The crew members on the left of the vacated

post move smartly to the right one position, ready to call off their new designations.

(c) The acting tank commander starts calling off as soon as the crew is re-formed in line.

(2) The movement is executed by having any member of the crew fall out except the driver.

(3) All movements are executed with snap and pre cision and at double time.

10

Page 21: crew drill, light tank m5 series

8. T

O M

OU

NT

LIG

HT

TA

NK

CR

EW

. C

rew

bei

ng a

t di

smou

nted

pos

ts (

figur

e 4)

. T

ank

Com

man

der

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

Com

man

d PR

E

PAR

E to

MO

UN

T.A

bout

fac

e.C

omm

and

MO

UN

T.M

ount

to

righ

t fe

nder

.M

ount

to

righ

t sp

onso

n.E

nter

tur

ret

and

take

m

ount

ed p

ost.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

aypl

ugs.

C

omm

and

REP

OR

T.

Abo

ut f

ace.

A

bout

fac

e.

Mou

nt t

o le

ft f

ende

r. St

and

fast

.

Mou

nt t

o le

ftsp

onso

n.

Ent

er t

urre

t an

d ta

kem

ount

ed p

ost.

Tur

n on

rad

io.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

aypl

ugs.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Mou

nt t

o ri

ght

fend

er.

Ent

er B

og's

hatc

han

d ta

ke m

ount

edpo

st.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

aypl

ugs.

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy"

Abo

ut f

ace.

Stan

d fa

st.

Mou

nt t

o le

ft f

ende

r.E

nter

Dri

ver's

hat

chan

d ta

ke m

ount

edpo

st.

Tur

n on

mas

ter

switc

h.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

aypl

ugs.

Rep

ort

"Dri

ver

Rea

dy".

Page 22: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Fig

ure

4.

Mou

ntin

g th

roug

h ha

tche

s,

light

tan

k M

5A1.

Page 23: crew drill, light tank m5 series

9. T

O C

LO

SE

AN

D O

PE

N H

AT

CH

ES,

a.

Cre

w b

eing

at

mou

nted

pos

ts.

TO C

LOSE

H

AT

CH

ES.

Tan

k C

omm

ande

rC

heck

, th

at t

urre

t is

in

stra

ight

ah

ead

posi

tion;

ord

er

Gun

ner

to t

rave

rse

as n

eces

sary

.C

omm

and

CLO

SE

HA

TCH

ES.

Clo

se h

atch

.R

aise

per

isco

pes.

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Gun

ner

Tra

vers

e tu

rret

as

orde

red

by T

ank

Com

man

der.

Clo

se h

atch

. R

aise

per

isco

pe.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Bow

G

unne

rD

rive

r

Clos

e ha

tch.

Ra

ise p

eris

cope

.Cl

ose

hatc

h.

Rai

se p

eris

cope

.

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

Rep

ort

»Driv

erR

eady

".b.

Cre

w b

eing

mou

nted

and

hat

ches

clo

sed,

TO

OPE

N H

ATC

HES

-T

ank

Com

man

der

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Che

ck t

hat

turr

et i

s T

rave

rse

gun

as

in s

trai

ght

ahea

d or

dere

d by

Tan

k po

sitio

n; o

rder

C

omm

ande

r. G

unne

r to

tra

vers

e as

nec

essa

ry.

Dri

ver

Page 24: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Tank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d O

PEN

HA

TCH

ES.

Low

er p

eris

cope

s. O

pen

hatc

h.

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Gun

ner

Ope

n ha

tch.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Read

y".

Bow

Gun

ner

Low

er p

eris

cope

. O

pen

hatc

h.

Driv

er

Low

er p

eris

cope

. O

pen

hatc

h.

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

Rep

ort

"Driv

er

Rea

dy".

10.

TO D

ISM

OU

NT

TAN

K C

REW

. H

atch

es b

eing

ope

n, t

o di

smou

nt w

ithou

t ve

hicu

lar

wea

pons

- Ta

nk

Com

man

der

Com

man

d PR

E PA

RE

TO

DIS

MO

UN

T

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.C

omm

and

DIS

MO

UN

T.

Gun

ner

Turn

off

radi

o.

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.

Bow

Gun

ner

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.

Driv

er

Turn

off

mas

ter

switc

h.D

isco

nnec

t br

eak

away

plu

gs.

Page 25: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Dis

mou

nt t

o ri

ght

spon

son.

D

ism

ount

to

right

fend

er.

Take

dis

mou

nted

post

.

Dis

mou

nt t

o le

ftsp

onso

n.

Dis

mou

nt t

o le

ftfe

nder

. Ta

ke d

ism

ount

edpo

st.

Dis

mou

nt t

o rig

htfe

nder

. Ta

ke d

ism

ount

edpo

st.

Dis

mou

nt t

o le

ftfe

nder

. Ta

ke d

ism

ount

edpo

st.

11. T

O D

ISM

OU

NT

THR

OU

GH

ESC

APE

HA

TCH

. (A

pplic

able

onl

y to

M5A

1 an

d la

ter

mod

els

equi

pped

with

esc

ape

hatc

h.)

Cre

w b

eing

at m

ount

ed p

osts,

to

dism

ount

with

out

vehi

cula

r w

eapo

ns.

Tank

C

omm

ande

rCo

mm

and

THR

OU

GH

ES

CAPE

H

ATC

H,

PREP

ARE

TO

D

ISM

OU

NT.

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Driv

er

Turn

off

radi

o.

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.R

aise

rec

oil

guar

d.El

evat

e br

eech

of

gun.

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.U

ncla

mp

spar

e pa

rts

box

from

esc

ape

hatc

h do

or a

nd

open

th

e do

or.

Turn

off

mas

ter

switc

h.D

isco

nnec

t br

eak

away

plu

gs.

Page 26: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r

Com

man

d D

ISM

OU

NT.

Ent

er B

og's

com

part

m

ent,

feet

firs

t.D

ism

ount

thr

ough

es

cape

hat

ch.

Cra

wl

from

und

er

tank

; ta

ke d

is

mou

nted

pos

t.

Gun

ner

Mov

e to

rig

ht s

ide

of

turr

et.

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

Dis

mou

nt t

hrou

gh

esca

pe h

atch

.

Ent

er B

og's

com

part-

C

raw

l fr

om u

nder

m

ent

feet

firs

t. ta

nk;

take

dis

-D

ism

ount

thr

ough

m

ount

ed

post

, es

cape

hat

ch.

Cra

wl

from

und

er

tank

; ta

ke d

is

mou

nted

pos

t.

Ent

er B

og's

com

pa

rtm

ent.

Dis

mou

nt t

hrou

gh

esca

pe h

atch

.C

raw

l fr

om u

nder

ta

nk;

take

dis

m

ount

ed

post

.

NO

TE

: In

som

e m

odel

s of

the

lig

ht t

ank

the

Dri

ver

cann

ot c

ross

the

tra

nsm

issi

on i

nto

the

Bog

's co

mpa

rtm

ent.

In s

uch

case

s he

dis

mou

nts

by p

assi

ng t

hrou

gh t

he t

urre

t co

m

part

men

t. (T

he G

unne

r m

ust

mov

e an

am

mun

ition

box

fr

om t

he t

urre

t op

enin

g be

fore

this

can

be

done

.)

Page 27: crew drill, light tank m5 series

12. PEP DRILL. To maintain the interest of crew mem bers, frequent and unexpected periods of pep drill are interspersed in the crew drill and simulated firing rou tines. Pep drill is a series of precision movements exe cuted at high speed and terminating at the position of attention, either mounted or dismounted. For example, the crews being dismounted, the platoon commander may suddenly command, IN FRONT OF YOUR TANKS, FALL IN; MOUNT: DISMOUNT; ON THE LEFT OF YOUR TANKS, FALL IN; FORWARD, MARCH; BY THE LEFT FLANK, MARCH; TO THE REAR, MARCH; MOUNT! (figure 5). Preparatory com mands for mounting and dismounting are eliminated in this drill. The posts of all crew members are changed frequently. Pep drill freshens the interest of the crews, trains them to be agile in and around the tank, and in creases their coordination and physical development.

17

Page 28: crew drill, light tank m5 series

(a) DISMOUNT; on the left of your tanks, FALL IN.

(b) MOUNT.

Figure 5. Pep drill.

18

Page 29: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section V

SERVICE OF THE PIECE

13. GUN CREW. a. The gun crew, 37-mm tank gun, consists of the gunner who aims and fires the piece and the assistant gunner (tank commander) who loads the piece when not observing, and controls and adjusts fire.

b. Training in service of the piece must stress rapidity and precision of movement and teamwork.

14. POSITIONS OF GUN CREW. Positions of the gun crew are as prescribed in paragraph 4b.

15. OPERATION OF GUN. a. To open the breech.Grasp the T-handle of the crank under the breechblock and pull down until the breechblock is locked in the open position.

b. To close the breech. The insertion of a round in the gun trips the extractors and causes the breechblock to close automatically. For this reason use care in clos ing the breech manually as follows:

(1) Insert an empty cartridge case in the breech, base foremost, and trip the extractors. The breechblock will close, pushing the cartridge case upward.

(2) If an empty cartridge case is not available a block of wood of the proper size may be used.

(3) If necessary, the extractors may be tripped by using the fingers. This is done by pulling down on the T-han dle and overcoming the tension of the closing spring. Then push the extractor lips forward with the fingers of the free hand and allow the breechblock to rise slow ly. Utmost caution must be exercised if this method is used.

19

Page 30: crew drill, light tank m5 series

K)

OPA

RAL

LEL

SIG

HT

LIN

KA

GE

SIG

HTI

NG

PER

ISCO

PE A

M

PER

ISC

OPE

H

EA

D

RES1

STAB

ILIZ

ER

CO

NTR

OL

BO

X

TELE

SCO

PIC

SIG

HT

M54

FIR

ING

M

EC

HA

NIS

M

BRAC

KET

ASSE

MBL

Y "—

37-M

M S

OLE

NO

ID

37.M

M G

UN

FI

RIN

G S

WIT

CH

.30

CAL

IBER

MG

FI

RIN

G S

WIT

CH

POW

ER T

RAV

ERSE

C

ON

TRO

L H

AN

DLE

TURR

ET F

RIC

TIO

N C

LAM

P

ELE

VA

TIN

G

HA

ND

WH

EE

L K

NO

B

TR

AV

EL

ING

LO

CK

AU

XIL

IAR

Y P

OW

ER

TRAV

ERSE

CO

NTR

OL

HA

ND

LE

OB

SE

RV

ATI

ON

PER

ISCO

PS

GY

RO

CO

NTR

OL

UN

IT

CO

AX

IAL

MA

CH

INE

GU

N

BREE

CH R

ING

.30

CAL

IBER

MG

S

OLE

NO

ID

BREE

CH

OP

ER

ATI

NG

M

EC

HA

NIS

M

BREE

CH (

REC

OIL

) G

UA

RD

TURR

ET L

OC

K

Fig

ure

6.

Tur

ret

and

gun

cont

rols

on

co

mbi

nati

on

gun

mou

nt

M44

, in

lig

ht t

ank

M5A

1.

Page 31: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Figure 7.

Left rear view

of turret trainer for light tank gun crews.

Page 32: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Fig

ure

8.

Dri

ver'

s co

mpa

rtm

ent,

light

ta

nk

M5.

Page 33: crew drill, light tank m5 series

1. Tr

aver

se h

and

cran

k 3.

Gun

ner's

sea

t2.

Pow

er t

rave

rse

clut

ch

4. R

adio

le

ver

Fig

ure

9.

Tur

ret

bask

et,

left

sid

e, l

ight

tan

k M

5.

Page 34: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Fig

ure

10.

Tur

ret

bask

et,

righ

t si

de,

tank

co

mm

ande

r's

seat

, li

ght

tank

MS.

Page 35: crew drill, light tank m5 series

c. To load. (1) Open breech by pulling down on T- handle until breechblock is locked in the open position.

(2) Grasp projectile at the base with left hand, turn nose of projectile to the front, swing arm toward the breech and insert round into recess of breech ring. After nose of projectile is aligned in chamber, shove round forward sharply with the thumb on the base, following through with the arm moving upward to clear the clos ing breechlock. Keep arm above gun to avoid the path of recoil, and tap gunner on the back.

d. To lay the gun. Locate target through the periscope. Turn the power traverse (pistol grip) control handle, or traverse with hand crank (figure 11) in the proper di rection until the vertical line of range dots (or dashes) is on the target, or the proper lead is taken. Make the final traversing motion against the greatest resistance, such as might be caused by cant in the tank. Then ele vate gun until the proper range marking is on the tar get (see FM 17-12).

e. To fire the gun. Squeeze the safety trigger 011 the power traverse control handle and press the 37-mm gun switch simultaneously (figures 5 and 6). If the round fails to fire, proceed as in paragraphs 17 and 18. The gun can be fired manually with the firing button in the hub of the elevating handwheel.

f. To unload an unfired round. To unload an unfired round, pull down the T-handle and the round will be ejected into the spent case bag. The round is then re turned to the rack.

g. To unload a stuck round. Whenever possible, rounds are removed from guns by shooting them out. When an unfired round is stuck in the gun and cannot be dislodged from the breech by using the rim of an empty cartridge case to pry it out, the gunner, under di rect supervision of an officer, or the tank commander, if no officer is present, inserts the rammer in the muzzle of the gun, pushes it through the bore until it meets the round, and then shoves the round out of the gun. DO

25

Page 36: crew drill, light tank m5 series

1. Periscope headrest2. Recoil adjuster knob3. Stiffness adjuster knob4. Firing switches for

• 37-mm gun and co axial machine gun

5. Power traverse (pistol grip) control handle

6. Safety trigger

7. Elevating handwheel8. T-handle9. Machine gun solenoid

10. Gyro control unit.11. Periscopic sight M4,

w/telescope M4012. Worm and sector gear13. Oil reservoir (filler

gauge)

Figure 11. Gunner's controls, combination gun mount M23.

26

Page 37: crew drill, light tank m5 series

NOT STRIKE THE ROUND WITH THE RAMMER. If pressure will not dislodge a round, tap the end of the rammer staff lightly with a block of wood, alternat ing tapping and pressure.

h. For further malfunctions and their remedies see paragraph 17.

16. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, a. Before firing, and dur ing lulls in firing, inspect the gun to see that there are no obstructions in the bore.

b. In loading the gun, take care not to dent or burr the projectile by striking it against the breech ring. Clean ammunition before loading,. Never attempt to disassemble a round.

c. The gunner fires the gun only when the loader (tank commander) has tapped him on the back to signal that the gun is loaded and ready.

d. The 37-mm gun is fired only when the tank en gine^) are running or when at least one of the turret hatches is open to carry off the powder fumes.

e. Any individual who observes a condition which makes firing dangerous will immediately call or signal "CEASE FIRING".

f. Firing will cease immediately at the command or signal "CEASE FIRING", regardless of the source of the command.

g. Before loading, the solenoid firing devices are checked to insure that they are not stuck.

h. Tank weapons, except AA gun, are fired only when the Driver's and Bog's hatches are closed.

17. MALFUNCTIONS AND REMEDIES. Malfunctions of the gun are divided into three general classes: failure to fire, failure to load, and failure to extract. The most likely malfunctions are failures to fire. Malfunctions which are not the result of broken or worn parts are

enerally due to carelessness and improper cleaning of e parts and ammunition.

27

$

Page 38: crew drill, light tank m5 series

a. Failure of gun to fire. Cause

1. Safety lever on "Safe".2. Gun out of battery.

3. Defective firing mech anism.

4. Defective ammunition.5. Broken or defective fir

ing pin.6. Broken cocking lever.7. Broken cocking fork.8. Broken cocking lugs on

the percussion mechan ism.

9. Weak firing spring.

b. Failure of gun to load. Cause

1. Dirty round.

2. Dirty chamber.

3. Bulged round.4. Dirty breechblock

recess.5. Worn or broken

extractor lips.6. Bent or undersize rim

of round.7. Defective closing

mechanism.8. Burrs on bearing sur

faces of breechblock and breech ring.

9. Gun out of battery.

10. Weak closing spring.

28

Remedy1. Put lever on "Fire".2. Push gun into battery;

paragraph 18.3. Repair or replace.

4. Use a new round.5. Replace.

6. Replace.7. Replace.8. Replace.

9. Replace.

Remedy1. Remove round and

clean.2. Remove round and

clean chamber.3. Use a new round.4. Clean.

5. Replace.

6. Use a new round.

7. Repair or replace.

8. Report to Ordnance.

9. Put gun in battery, see paragraph 18.

10. Replace.

Page 39: crew drill, light tank m5 series

c. Failure of gun to extract.

Cause Remedy1. Broken extractor lips. 1. Pry or ram out empty

case and replace ex tractors.

2. Undersize or bent rim 2. Pry or ram out. of round.

3. Broken operating 3. Pry or ram out empty crank. case. Replace crank.

4. Broken operating lug. 4. Pry or ram out emptyround. Replace oper ating crank.

18. IMMEDIATE ACTION. The sequence following (trouble shooting) is done immediately after the gun fails to fire during combat, and repair or replacement of parts cannot be effected immediately, as can be done in gar rison.

a. Gun out of battery. (1) Push gun into battery by hand, relay, and fire.

(2) If gun still fails to fire, recock by hand (use board if necessary) and attempt to fire two times. If it does not fire, remove round to determine the cause of mis fire. (See AR 750-10)

(3) If gun will not go into battery by hand, fully depress muzzle. Slowly unscrew rear recoil drain plug, being careful not to remove it entirely. An excessive amount of oil might escape if the gun suddenly started back into battery. Allow oil to drain from around the plug until it will no longer flow from cylinder, then tighten filler plug and push gun back into battery by hand.

(4) If gun will not go into battery after checking recoil cylinder, check for dirt, burrs, and lack of lubri cation between the bearing surfaces of the recoil cylinder slides (rails) and sleigh guides. Clean, remove burrs, lubricate, reload, relay, and fire. (For a thor ough cleaning and inspection of these parts, unscrew

29

Page 40: crew drill, light tank m5 series

coupler key nut and remove coupler key; then pull barrel assembly to rear.) NOTE: It may be possible to continue gun in action by pushing it into battery each time. However, at the first opportunity the gun should be checked and repaired.

b. Gun in battery. (1) Breechblock not closed.(a) Close it manually, relay, and fire.(b) If it will not close, see if ammunition is seated.

If ammunition will not seat, remove round, reload, relay and fire. If ammunition still will not seat, clean chamber, reload, relay, and fire.

c. Ammunition is seated. Check for broken or worn extractor and closing spring, replacing if necessary. Clean and lubricate bearing surfaces of breechblock if necessary.

(1) Breechblock is closed.(a) Recock piece. If cocking action shows that piece

is still cocked (indicated by no resistance other than the cocking lever plunger spring), examine for bent or broken trigger arm, and for malfunction of trigger actua tor mechanism. Replace parts if possible, relay and fire. If trigger mechanism is not defective, remove firing spring retainer and check for weak or broken firing spring.

(b) If cocking action indicates that the sear lug has been released from the sear shoulder (indicated by heavy resistance to cocking action), relay and fire. If gun still fails to fire after twice repeating this action, remove percussion mechanism; clean, lubricate, replace defect ive parts, recock, relay, and fire.

(c) If gun fails to fire, unload, load with a new round, relay and fire.

(d) If cocking action shows that the sear lug will not remain engaged on the sear shoulder, disassemble breechblock, clean and replace defective parts.

30

Page 41: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Sect

ion

VI

MO

UN

TE

D A

CT

ION

19.

PR

EP

AR

E T

O F

IRE

. Th

e cr

ew b

eing

at

mou

nted

pos

ts, w

ith h

atch

es o

pen.

Tan

k C

omm

ande

rC

omm

and

PREP

AR

E TO

FIR

E.In

spec

t bo

re a

nd

cham

ber

of 3

7-m

m.

Hal

f-lo

ad

coax

ial

mac

hine

gun

.U

nloc

k tu

rret

tra

ve

rse

lock

.

Cle

an e

xter

ior

of

Gun

ner's

and

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r's

sight

s.

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Che

ck s

olen

oids

and

Cl

ose

hatc

h; r

aise

man

ual

firin

g co

n-

and

clea

n pe

ri-tro

ls.

Hel

p lo

ad c

oaxi

alm

achi

ne

gun.

U

nloc

k gu

n tra

vel-

ing

lock

and

tur

ret

fric

tion

clam

p.

Wip

e of

f sig

hts.

Mak

e fie

ld c

heck

of

sigh

ts (

see

Par

41).

scop

e.

Rep

ort

"Rog

's ha

tch

clos

ed".

Unl

ock

bow

gun

tra

velin

g lo

ck.

Dri

ver

Clos

e ha

tch;

rai

se

and

clea

n pe

ri sc

ope.

Rep

ort

"Driv

er's

hatc

h cl

osed

".

Star

t au

xilia

ry

gene

rato

r.

Page 42: crew drill, light tank m5 series

toT

ank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Gun

ner

Che

ck m

anua

l tra

ve

rse;

eng

age

pow

er t

rave

rse.

Turn

sta

biliz

er o

n if

situ

atio

n w

arra

nts.

Clos

e ha

tch.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Bow

Gun

ner

Hal

f-lo

ad b

ow g

un.

Dri

ver

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

20.

DU

TIE

S IN

FIR

ING

. Ta

nk p

repa

red

to f

ire w

ith g

uns

load

ed.

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r G

unne

r B

ow G

unne

rG

ive

fire

orde

r as

pr

escr

ibed

in

FM 1

7-12

.R

eloa

d 37

-mm

gun

(e

xcep

t w

hen

ob

serv

ing

from

ope

n tu

rret

hat

ch).

Insp

ect

all

roun

ds

Fire

on

targ

ets

as

orde

red

by T

ank

Com

man

der.

Rel

oad

37-m

m g

un i

f

Fire

on

desi

gnat

ed

targ

ets

and

on e

m

erge

ncy

targ

ets

that

app

ear.

Whe

n no

t fir

ing,

ob

serv

e

Rep

ort

"Driv

er

Rea

dy". Dri

ver

Afte

r fir

e or

der

is is

sued

, av

oid

chan

ging

co

urse

an

d m

aint

ain

con

stan

t sp

eed

if m

ov

ing.

(S

teer

onl

y to

Page 43: crew drill, light tank m5 series

befo

re

load

ing,

an

d w

ipe

off

if ne

cess

ary.

03 w

Sign

al r

eady

by

tap

ping

.G

unne

r on

ba

ck.

Whe

n gu

nner

cal

ls

MIS

FIR

E,

chec

k th

at b

reec

h is

clos

ed a

nd g

un i

s in

bat

tery

. H

elp

Gun

ner

re-

cock

gun

.

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r is

obse

rvin

g fr

om

open

hat

ch,

or i

f he

is

in p

ositi

on

whe

re h

e ca

nnot

lo

ad.

in

assi

gned

se

ctor

.

If n

eces

sary

, ch

ange

re

coil

knob

set

ting.

Cal

l M

ISFI

RE

if

37-

mm

fai

ls

to f

ire.

Rec

ock

gun

and

fire.

If g

un f

ails

to

fire

afte

r tw

ice

repe

at

ing

this

act

ion,

see

Pa

r. 17

.

avoi

d ob

stac

les,

or

if ch

ange

of

dire

c tio

n is

orde

red;

av

oid

exce

ss s

teer

in

g or

sm

all

chan

ges)

. W

arn

Gun

ner

if ab

out

to p

ass

over

ro

ugh

grou

nd o

r if

abou

t to

cha

nge

cour

se b

y ca

lling

R

OU

GH

, or

C

HA

NG

ING

C

OU

RSE

.Se

lect

spe

ed w

hich

ca

n be

mai

ntai

ned

over

the

par

ticul

ar

terr

ain.

Whe

n ta

nk f

ires

from

st

atio

nary

pos

ition

, co

ntin

ue t

o ru

n en

gi

nes

unle

ss o

rd

ered

oth

erw

ise.

Page 44: crew drill, light tank m5 series

jjf

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r W

hen

Gun

ner

calls

ST

OPP

AG

E, r

e du

ce s

topp

age

in

coax

ial

mac

hine

gu

n.

Fire

coa

xial

m

achi

ne g

un a

t G

unne

r's c

omm

and

if so

leno

id f

ails

to

oper

ate.

Fi

re a

nti

airc

raft

mac

hine

gu

n. C

ontr

ol D

rive

r ov

er i

nter

phon

e.

Gun

ner

Cal

l ST

OPP

AG

E if

coax

ial

mac

hine

gu

n fa

ils t

o fir

e.

Not

ify T

ank

Com

m

ande

r w

hen

to

fire

coax

ial

ma

chin

e gu

n in

cas

e so

leno

id f

ails

to

oper

ate.

Dur

ing

lulls

in

firin

g,

obse

rve

in a

ssig

ned

sect

or.

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

21.

TO

SE

CU

RE

GU

NS.

Gun

ner

Tan

k C

omm

ande

rC

omm

and

CEA

SEFI

RIN

G,

SECU

REG

UN

S.

Cle

ar c

oaxi

al M

G,

unlo

ad 3

7-m

m g

un,

fron

t.in

spec

t bo

re a

nd

Tur

n of

f fir

ing

clos

e br

eech

. L

ower

pe

risco

pes,

open

hat

ch.

Bow

Gun

ner

Tra

vers

e tu

rret

to

Cle

ar B

ow M

G.

switc

h.T

urn

off

pow

er t

ra

vers

e, e

ngag

e

Lock

bow

gun

tra

ve

ling

lock

.Lo

wer

per

isco

pe,

open

hat

ch.

Dri

ver

Tur

n of

f au

xilia

ryge

nera

tor.

Low

er

peri

scop

e,op

en h

atch

. R

aise

sea

t to

con

voy

posi

tion.

Page 45: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Ref

ill 3

7-m

m r

eady

ra

cks.

Dis

pose

of

empt

y ca

rtri

dge

case

s.Lo

ck t

urre

t tr

a ve

rsin

g lo

ck.

If

situ

atio

n pe

rmits

, or

der

Bog

to

swab

bo

re.

man

ual

trave

rse.

T

urn

off

stab

ilize

r;en

gage

man

ual

ele

vatin

g ge

ar.

Ope

n ha

tch.

H

elp

refil

l 37

-mm

read

y ra

cks.

Hel

p di

spos

e of

empt

y ca

rtri

dge

case

s.Lo

ck f

rictio

n cl

amp.

Lo

ck g

un t

rave

ling

lock

. M

ake

field

che

ck o

fsi

ghts

.

Dis

pose

of

empt

y ca

rtri

dge

case

s.

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

If s

o or

dere

d, d

is-

Put

on t

ape

mou

nt,

swab

bor

e,

muz

zle

cove

rs.

and

rem

ount

. Pu

t on

bow

mac

hine

gun

tape

muz

zle

cove

r.

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

Rep

ort

"Dri

ver

Rea

dy"

Page 46: crew drill, light tank m5 series

22. TO LOAD AMMUNITION. Wipe off, load and stow 37-mm gun ammunition with great care to avoid burring the rotating band, or denting the case. (See TM 9-1900). Different lots should be segregated. During periods between firing, ammunition is restowed to the most accessible racks. Test each round of ammunition by loading in gun.

23. TO LOAD ALL WEAPONS, a. The tank gun is loaded on order; this is normally the fire order, but some types of action will dictate loading prior to the appearance of the target. Machine guns are clear until the command PREPARE TO FIRE, when they are half-loaded. When the fire order is given, however, or the unit is deployed for combat, all machine guns are fully loaded. This does not necessarily apply to the AA gun, which is elevated and half-loaded as the tactical situation demands.

b. When the tank commander is not in a position to load (observing from the top of the turret), he com mands LOAD SHOT (HE). At the command the gun ner loads as directed.

36

Page 47: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Sec

tion

VII

DIS

MO

UN

TE

D A

CT

ION

24.

TO

FIG

HT

ON

FO

OT

TH

RO

UG

H H

AT

CH

ES,

a.

C

rew

bei

ng

at m

ount

ed

post

s,

hatc

hes

open

.N

OTE

: In

al

l dr

ills

whi

ch

incl

ude

man

ning

of

subm

achi

ne g

un,

it is

assu

med

tha

t th

e ta

nk i

s eq

uipp

ed w

ith f

our

subm

achi

ne

guns

M3.

The

refo

re,

whe

n th

e ca

l .3

0 M

G

is no

t di

smou

nted

to

figh

t on

foo

t, al

l cr

ew m

embe

rs w

ill d

ism

ount

with

sub

mac

hine

gun

M

3, p

lus

a su

bmac

hine

am

mun

ition

cas

e co

ntai

ning

six

30-

roun

d cl

ips.

Tan

k C

omm

and

er

Gu

nn

erC

omm

and

PREP

AR

E TO

FIG

HT

ON

FO

OT

.O

rder

dis

trib

utio

n of

Pro

cure

gr

enad

es

as

gren

ades

. or

dere

d.D

isco

nnec

t br

eak-

D

isco

nnec

t br

eak

away

plu

gs.

away

plu

gs.

Secu

re s

ubm

achi

ne

gun

and

amm

uni

tion

carr

ying

cas

e.

Bow

Gu

nn

er

Proc

ure

gren

ades

or

dere

d.D

isco

nnec

t br

eak

away

plu

gs.

Cle

ar b

ow g

un (

if lo

aded

).

Dri

ver

as

Page 48: crew drill, light tank m5 series

00T

ank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d D

IS

MO

UN

T.D

ism

ount

with

sub

m

achi

ne g

un a

m

mun

ition

and

bi

nocu

lars

.

Dis

mou

nt tr

ipod

8, la

y in

fro

nt o

f ta

nk.

Pick

up

two

boxe

s ca

l .3

0 am

mun

i tio

n.Le

ad c

rew

to

MG

po

sitio

n.

Gun

ner

Dis

mou

nt t

o re

ceiv

e sp

are

parts

rol

l an

d sp

are

bolt

as

sem

bly

from

dr

iver

.R

ecei

ve t

hree

box

es

cal

.30

amm

uni

tion;

pla

ce i

n fr

ont

of t

ank.

Rec

eive

bow

MG

fr

om B

og.

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

Pass

thr

ee b

oxes

cal

.3

0 am

mun

ition

to

Gun

ner.

Dis

mou

nt b

ow g

un

and

pass

it

to

Gun

ner.

Dis

mou

nt f

rom

tan

k,

pick

up

tripo

d an

d on

e bo

x ca

l .3

0 am

mun

ition

.

Pass

spa

re p

arts

rol

l an

d sp

are

bolt

as

sem

bly

to G

unne

r.

Rem

ain

in ta

nk;

driv

e it

to c

once

alm

ent.

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

.M

ove

to t

urre

t; co

n ne

ct

brea

kaw

ay

plug

s to

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r's c

on

trol

box.

Mai

ntai

n co

ntac

t w

ith P

lato

on

Lead

er.

Page 49: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Supe

rvis

e fir

ing

of

Mou

nt g

un.

Mou

nt t

ripod

. M

an A

A o

r 37

-mm

M

G;

cove

r gu

n gu

n fr

om t

urre

t, as

cr

ew w

ith s

ub-

situ

atio

n de

man

ds,

mac

hine

gun

.M

an g

un a

s #2

. M

an g

un a

s #1

.°M

ake

sure

pin

tle a

nd e

leva

ting

mec

hani

sm a

re i

n tr

ipod

cas

e.If

not

, B

og o

btai

ns t

hem

fro

m s

pare

par

ts b

ox a

nd p

asse

s to

Gun

ner.

b. T

he d

ism

ount

ed c

rew

mov

es t

o th

e po

sitio

n in

dica

ted

by t

he t

ank

com

man

der,

or

in d

rill

as i

ndic

ated

in

figur

es 1

2 an

d 13

. Th

e cr

ew

mem

bers

ta

ke

post

s an

d pe

rfor

m

dutie

s of

the

cre

w o

f a

grou

nd m

ount

ed m

achi

ne

gun

as

pres

crib

ed

for

gun

drill

in

FM

23-

55.

c. In

com

bat

it is

assu

med

tha

t th

e ta

nk w

ill b

e m

oved

to

a co

ncea

led

posi

tion

if po

s si

ble,

bef

ore

the

crew

dis

mou

nts.

T

he d

rive

r re

mai

ns i

n th

e ta

nk,

mov

es i

t to

con

ceal

m

ent,

and

man

s th

e an

tiair

craf

t m

achi

ne g

un o

r ta

nk c

anno

n as

the

situ

atio

n de

man

ds.

25.

TO

RE

MO

UN

T F

RO

M A

CT

ION

TH

RO

UG

H H

AT

CH

ES.

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r G

unne

r B

ow G

unne

r D

rive

rC

omm

and

OU

T O

F A

CTI

ON

, M

OU

NT.

Supe

rvis

e ta

king

MG

Dis

mou

nt g

un.

Fold

tr

ipod

, la

y tri

- ou

t of

act

ion.

po

d an

d ca

l .3

0am

mun

ition

-box

in

fron

t of

tan

k.

Page 50: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r

Stra

p tr

ipod

on

tank

fe

nder

.

Mou

nt t

o tu

rret

, ta

king

sub

mac

hine

gu

n an

d am

mun

i tio

n.C

onne

ct b

reak

away

pl

ugs.

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Gun

ner

Pass

bow

MG

to

Bog.

Pass

sp

are

part

s ro

llan

d bo

lt as

sem

bly

to D

river

. Pa

ss 3

box

es c

al .

30am

mun

ition

to

Bog

.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

ay

plug

s.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Bow

Gun

ner

Tak

e m

ount

ed p

ost.

Rec

eive

bow

MG

an

d m

ount

it.

Rec

eive

and

sto

w 3

bo

xes

cal

.30

am

mun

ition

fr

om

Gun

ner.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

ay

plug

s.

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy"

Dri

ver

Res

ume

mou

nted

po

st.

Rec

eive

and

sto

w

spar

e pa

rts

roll

and

bolt

asse

mbl

y.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

ay

plug

s.

Rep

ort

"Dri

ver

Rea

dy".

Page 51: crew drill, light tank m5 series

MOVES INTO TURRET, AFTER

TANK I

S CONCEALED,

GU

NN

ER—

No.

2BO

W

MAC

HIN

E G

UN

j SP

ARE

PAR

TS

RO

LL,

BOLT

ASS

EMBL

Y.

TANK

CO

MM

ANDE

RBO

W G

UNNE

R - N

o. 1

SUBM

ACH

INE

GU

N,

6 C

UP

S C

AL.

.4

5 A

MM

UN

ITIO

N;

S BO

XES,

CA

L.

.30

AM

MU

NIT

ION

; BI

NO

CU

LAR

S.M

ACH

INE

SUN

TR

IPO

D;

i BO

X C

AL.

.30

AM

MU

NIT

ION

.

Fig

ure

12.

Dis

mou

nted

act

ion,

cre

w f

orm

ed f

or d

rill

(ta

nk c

om

man

der

inst

ruct

ing)

.

Page 52: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Fig

ure

13.

Pos

ts o

f di

smou

nted

cre

w i

n ac

tion

.

Page 53: crew drill, light tank m5 series

26.

AC

TIO

N I

N C

ASE

OF

FIR

E. a

. Fi

re i

n en

gine

com

partm

ent.

The

first

cre

w m

em

ber

to d

isco

ver

the

fire

calls

EN

GIN

E F

IRE

-

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Driv

erTa

nk

Com

man

der

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

Rec

eive

"sp

eed"

w

renc

h fr

om

Bog.

Dis

mou

nt t

o re

ar o

fta

nk;

open

eng

ine

door

s w

ith w

renc

h.

Rec

eive

ext

ingu

ishe

rfr

om G

unne

r,st

and

by to

use

it in

case

fix

ed e

xtin

gu

ishe

r do

es n

otpu

t ou

t fir

e.

b. F

ire i

n tu

rret

or

driv

er c

ompa

rtmen

t. Th

e fir

st c

rew

mem

ber

to d

isco

ver

the

fire

calls

TU

RR

ET (

HU

LL)

FIR

E. T

he t

ank

is st

oppe

d an

d en

gine

s sh

ut o

ff. F

ire e

xtin

guis

h er

s ar

e pa

ssed

to

men

nea

rest

fire

and

oth

er c

rew

mem

bers

hel

p th

em i

n an

y w

ay p

os

sibl

e to

ext

ingu

ish

the

flam

e. T

he t

urre

t is

trave

rsed

in a

ny d

irect

ion

whi

ch w

ill a

id c

rew

to

rea

ch f

ire w

ith e

xtin

guis

hers

.

Pull

fixed

fire

ext

in

guis

her

cont

rol

hand

le.

Rec

eive

han

d ex

tin

guis

her

from

Bog

.R

elay

han

d ex

tin

guis

her

to T

ank

Com

man

der.

Rem

ain

at p

ost

for

furth

er o

rder

s.

Dis

conn

ect

brea

k aw

ay p

lugs

Pass

"sp

eed"

wre

nch

Stop

eng

ines

, (fr

om

tool

box

) to

Ta

nk

Com

man

der.

Pass

han

d ex

tin

guis

her

to

Gun

ner

in t

urre

t.

Dis

mou

nt;

go t

o re

ar R

emai

n at

pos

t fo

r of

tan

k an

d as

sist

furth

er o

rder

s. Ta

nk

Com

man

der.

Page 54: crew drill, light tank m5 series

27. TO ABANDON TANK. If it becomes necessary to abandon tank, the crew proceeds as in paragraph 10, 24, or 26, with the following changes or additions:

a. Time permitting deliberate action, the tank com mander displays the flag signal DISREGARD MY MOVEMENTS, and supervises the disabling of those weapons which remain in the tank. Backplates are re moved from machine guns and the percussion mecha nism from the tank gun. All similar spare parts are also removed. Individual weapons and maximum possible ammunition loads are carried. The driver dismounts in order with the rest of the crew.

b. Ordinarily the tank is abandoned as a result of a direct hit which either causes it to catch fire or disables it so 'that it becomes a vulnerable target. There may be a time interval of as little as five seconds in which the crew can escape without further injury. At the command ABANDON TANK, crew members throw open hatches, climb out, jump to the ground and take cover at a safe distance from the tank. It is particularly important in case of fire to hold the breath until clear of the vehicle. Inhaling the fumes and smoke of the fire may injure the lungs and will at least incapacitate the individual for a time.

28. ADVICE TO INSTRUCTORS, a. Disciplined and ef fective dismounted action requires long and arduous drill. Satisfactory results are obtained only by painstak ing repetition of each movement.

b. Training in dismounted action is undertaken in the field rather than in the tank park. Crews are required to dismount to fight on foot on all types of terrain and under every variety of simulated combat conditions with full loads of ammunition. Rough terrain compli cates the problem of dismounting from the escape hatch and develops ingenuity and physical agility not possible in tank park training.

c. Instructors explain and demonstrate to tank crews how necessary to their safety and success in combat is a

44

Page 55: crew drill, light tank m5 series

high state of training in dismounted action. They must point out that dismounted action from disabled tank taken under small arms fire usually is practicable only from the escape hatch, and that skill and practice in use of the escape hatch will pay dividends. The escape door is kept clean and well lubricated so that its release is immediate and positive. Frequent inspection of the mechanism is made by the tank commander to see that the locking rods are not bent.

29. PARK AND BIVOUAC PRECAUTIONS, a. Always have a guide when moving a tank in park or bivouac.

b. Keep at least 10 feet in front of tank and to one side of its path when directing the tank forward or backward in park or bivouac.

c. Walk, do not run while guiding a tank.d. Mount and dismount without using tube of gun as

a hand hold, or breech end of gun as a foot hold in en tering turret.

45

Page 56: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section VIII

EVACUATION OF CASUALTIES FROM TANKS

30. GENERAL, a. The drill prescribed in the following paragraphs is for use in training crew members so that any two of them may evacuate casualties with maximum efficiency. A tank disabled by an enemy projectile may expect another hit without delay. When ammunition is ignited, evacuation must be effected in a few seconds. Therefore speed, rather than care in handling, is the primary consideration in removing a casualty from a tank.

b. Evacuation of casualties is undertaken only:(1) When the tank is disabled.(2) When the position of the casualty in the tank pre

vents the crew from functioning.(3) At the rallying point.

After evacuation, the casualty may be carried to a pro tected area where emergency first-aid is administered.

31. METHODS AND DEVICES. Not more than two men can work effectively at a single hatch opening. If the man nearest the casualty is unhurt, and tactical con siderations permit, he can help by remaining inside and improvising a sling (made up of pistol belts, waist belts, or field bag straps, see FM 17-80), or by moving the casualty to a position where he can be grasped from above and then aid in boosting him out. However, speed will usually dictate that the casualty be grasped by his clothing or by his arms for removal (figures 14 and 15). If there are injuries which will be aggravated by such methods, and time permits, some form of sling may be improvised to relieve that part from further injury (figure 16).

46

Page 57: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Figure 14. Evacuation of bog with arms crossed.

Figure 15. Evacuation of bog down front slope plate.

47

Page 58: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Figure 16. Evacuation of gunner with two pistol belts.

32. TO EVACUATE GUNNER (TANK COM MANDER). Crew being at mounted posts. (Note: The duties of No. 1 and No. 2 of evacuation team are inter changeable. The first man to realize the situation as sumes the initiative as No. 1).

No. 1 No. 2 Command EVACUATE

GUNNER (TANK COMMANDER)

Throw first-aid kit (kept in accessible spot in turret) to ground.

Mount to top of turret. Pass pistol belt to No. 1.

Mount to top of turret.

Slip pistol belt under eacharm of gunner.

Lift casualty throughhatch.

Lift casualty through hatch.

48

Page 59: crew drill, light tank m5 series

No. 1

Lower casualty to left sponson (or protected side, if tank is disabled).

Jump to ground; support lower portion of body as casualty is moved off tank.

Carry casualty to a pro tected area.

Report location and condi tion of casualty.

No. 2Hold body in a sitting po

sition on hatch cover.Lower casualty to left

sponson (or protected side if tank is disabled).

Jump to ground; support upper portion of body as casualty is moved off tank.

Help No. 1 carry casualty to a protected area.

33. TO EVACUATE BOG (DRIVER). Crew being at mounted posts.

No. 1Command: EVACUATE

BOG (DRIVER).Descend through turret

opening into Bog com partment, if necessary to open locked hatch cover.

Throw out first-aid kit.

No. 2

Move to Bog hatch opening.

Cross arms of casualty; pull one arm through hatch as No. 2 pulls on other arm.

Turn body to face rear ward as it is lifted out.

Straddle 37-mm gun, fac ing rearward.

Pull one arm of casualty through hatch as No. 1 pulls on other arm.

Turn body to face rear ward as it is lifted out.

Rest body in a supported position on rim of hatch opening.

49

Page 60: crew drill, light tank m5 series

No. 1Jump to ground in front of

tank; support trunk of body as it falls backward over forward slope of tank.

Carry casualty to a pro tected area.

Report location and condi tion of casualty.

No. 2Allow body to fall back

into No. 1's arms. Make sure legs are freed from hatch opening.

Jump to ground; support lower portion of body as it is carried to a protect ed area.

NOTE: In case a large man is to be evacuated, one man of team may have to enter vehicle and assist from the inside.

50

Page 61: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section IX

INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE

34. GENERAL, a. The tank commander is responsible for seeing that all inspections are made. He receives re ports from the various crew members relative to their individual inspections, and he indicates in his report anything requiring the service of maintenance person nel. In supervising first echelon maintenance he uses his discretion in delegating additional responsibilities to other crew members.

b. Inspection covers all personal equipment and wea pons, vehicle equipment and weapons and mechanical features of the vehicle. In combat it includes a check of the application of protective cream by the crew mem bers. Checks of instruments, lights, siren, track, sus pension system, and engine performance are made in accordance with provisions of the appropriate technical manual; the driver fills in his Driver's Report indicating required maintenance work. The Driver's Report should be carefully and thoroughly prepared. Any irregularity noted and entered on the report, which is not repaired before the tank is used again, should be re-entered on the report continually until it has been properly taken care of.

51

Page 62: crew drill, light tank m5 series

CN to35

. B

EFO

RE

OPE

RA

TIO

N I

NSP

ECTI

ON

. Ta

nk

lock

ed

and

cove

red

with

ta

rpau

lin.

(NO

TE:

For

train

ing

purp

oses

, th

e in

spec

tion

is di

vide

d in

to f

our

phas

es,

each

pha

se b

e in

g co

mpl

eted

by

all

crew

mem

bers

bef

ore

the

next

pha

se i

s be

gun.

Cre

w m

embe

rs u

se

tool

s as

nee

ded

and

repo

rt an

d co

rrec

t de

ficie

ncie

s as

fou

nd).

PH

ASE

A

Gun

ner

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r

Com

man

d FA

LL I

N:

PREP

AR

E FO

R

INSP

ECTI

ON

.In

spec

t cr

ew.

Com

man

d PE

R

FOR

M B

EFO

RE

OPE

RA

TIO

N

IN

SPEC

TIO

N.

Supe

rvis

e in

spec

tion.

H

elp

rem

ove

tar

paul

in.

Fill

out

trip

ticke

t du

ring

insp

ectio

n.In

spec

t ou

tsid

e M

ount

and

unl

ock

equi

pmen

t. ta

nk.

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

Stan

d in

spec

tion.

St

and

insp

ectio

n.

Stan

d in

spec

tion.

Hel

p re

mov

e an

d R

emov

e an

d fo

ld t

ar-

fold

tar

paul

in.

paul

in (

3' x

6')

Che

ck f

or w

ater

, fu

el L

ay t

arpa

ulin

to

and

oil

leak

s rig

ht o

f ta

nk,

arou

nd a

nd u

nder

' ta

nk.

Page 63: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Rec

eive

an

d as

sem

bl

e ra

mm

er s

taff

fr

om B

og a

nd M

G

clea

ning

rod

and

ra

gs f

rom

gu

nner

.

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Ope

n tu

rret

hat

ches

; en

ter

turr

et.

Che

ck t

hat

turr

et

guns

are

cle

ar.

Mov

e to

Driv

er's

com

part

men

t; un

lo

ck D

river

's an

d B

og's

hatc

hes.

Pass

MG

cle

anin

g ro

d an

d ra

gs t

o T

ank

Com

man

der.

Pass

too

ls o

ut t

o D

river

.R

ecei

ve a

nd s

tow

gu

n co

vers

; cl

ear

bow

gun

s.St

ow b

reec

h co

vers

.O

pen

fuel

shu

t-off

va

lve.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Che

ck r

adia

tors

and

R

emov

e ca

nnon

muz

- fu

el t

anks

for

leve

l. zl

e co

ver,

and

bow

gu

n co

ver.

Pass

ram

mer

sta

ff t

o Ta

nk

Com

man

der.

Che

ck f

inal

driv

es f

or

oil

leve

l.

Rec

eive

too

ls f

rom

G

unne

r.Pa

ss g

un c

over

s to

G

unne

r.La

y to

ols

on t

ar

paul

in a

nd c

heck

th

em.

(Fig

ure

17).

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

01 COR

epor

t "D

rive

r R

eady

".

Page 64: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Figure 17. Vehicular tools furnished each light tank (see SNLG-103). (The number and position of tools for a formal inspection

is a command decision.)

1. Bag, tool2. Bars, utility (2)3. Chisel, maehs, hand, cold4. Extension, socket wrench, plain, 10"5. Files, A.S., 6" & 8" (2)6. Fixture, track connecting and link pulling w/handle

(commonly called "track jack")7. Gun, lubr., pressure, hand8. Hammer, machs, ball peen, 32 oz9. Handle, cross extension, socket wrench, 8"

10. Handle, hinged socket wrench, 12", w/crossbar11. Handle, socket wrench, offset, dble-end12. Handle, "T", sliding, socket wrench13. Joint, universal, socket wrench14. Pliers, comb., slip-jt, 8"15. Pliers, side-cutting, fl-nose, 8"16. Ratchets, reversible, socket wrench, 9" (2)17. Screwdrivers, including one non-magnetic for Pioneer

compass (5)18. Sockets, 1/2" sq-drive, dble-hex, 7/16" to 3/8" (9)19. Wrench, adj., sgle-end, 8"20. Wrench, adj., rgle-end, 12"21. Wrench, brake, socket, w/liandle22. Wrenches, engrs, dble-hd, 5/16" to 1-3/8" (7)23. Wrenches, socket head set screws, 1/8" hex to 3/4"

hex (10)24. Wrench, trailing idler wheel nut & track adjusting25. Wrench, socket, speeder

54

Page 65: crew drill, light tank m5 series

PH

ASE

B

Tan

k C

omm

ande

rC

omm

and

PER

FO

RM

PH

ASE

B.

Ass

ist

Gun

ner

in

sigh

t ad

just

men

t.

Gun

ner

Mak

e si

ght

adju

st

men

t. Se

e pa

ragr

aph

42.

Swab

bor

e of

all

guns

. O

pen

gun

bree

ch.

Put

tape

muz

zle

cov-

Che

ck f

ollo

win

g:

ers

on a

ll gu

ns.

Coa

xial

and

AA

MG

and

adj

ust

head

spac

e.

37-m

m

amm

uni

tion.

Cal

.30

am

mun

i tio

n.37

-mm

and

MG

m

ount

s (c

lose

br

eech

).

Bow

Gun

ner

Che

ck w

ith D

rive

r th

at m

aste

r sw

itch

is of

f.O

pen

engi

ne c

om

part

men

t do

ors.

Che

ck f

ollo

win

g:

Tri

gger

typ

e oi

lca

n.E

ngin

e oi

l le

vels

. E

ngin

e co

mpa

rt

men

t fo

r w

ater

, oi

l an

d fu

el

leak

s.A

cces

sorie

s an

d dr

ives

for

ad

just

men

t an

d se

cu

rity.

Dri

ver

Ent

er D

river

's se

at.

Che

ck t

hat

mas

ter

switc

h is

off.

Insp

ect

and

chec

k fo

llow

ing:

B

atte

ry.

Oil

cans

and

oil

for

vehi

cle.

T

rans

fer

unit

and

diff

eren

tial

oil

leve

l. St

eerin

g le

vers

,pa

rkin

g br

akes

. Tr

ansm

issi

on a

ndtr

ansf

er l

ever

sfo

r op

erat

ion.

Page 66: crew drill, light tank m5 series

OI

05T

ank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT

.

Gun

ner

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r C

omm

and

PER

FO

RM

PH

ASE

C.

Insp

ect

righ

t tr

ack

and

susp

ensi

onsy

stem

. D

irec

t D

rive

r to

mov

e fo

rwar

d on

eta

nk l

engt

h.

Che

ck r

ight

sup

port

ro

llers

, bo

gie

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy". Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Air

clea

ners

and

co

nnec

tions

.C

lose

eng

ine

com

pa

rtm

ent

door

s.

Rep

ort

"Bog

R

eady

".

Dri

ver

Aux

iliar

y ge

nera

tor

oil

leve

l. ..

Star

t ge

nera

tor;

ch

eck

oper

atio

n.

Rep

ort

"Driv

er

Rea

dy".

PHA

SE C

Che

ck f

ollo

win

g:

Oil

in t

urre

t re

ser

voir.

Oil

can

and

stab

ili

zer

oil.

All

firi

ng c

ontro

ls.

• B

ow G

unne

r D

rive

rN

otify

Dri

ver

to s

tart

Whe

n no

tifie

d by

en

gine

s.

Bog

, tu

rn o

n m

as

ter

switc

h.In

spec

t le

ft t

rack

and

St

art

engi

nes,

su

spen

sion*

sy

stem

. C

heck

ins

trum

ents

,w

arni

ng l

ight

s an

d si

ren.

Mov

e ta

nk a

s di

re

cted

by

T

ank

Com

man

der.

Che

ck l

eft

supp

ort

rolle

rs,

bogi

e

Page 67: crew drill, light tank m5 series

whe

els,

id

ler

and

spro

cket

as

tank

m

oves

for

war

d.

Insp

ect

that

par

t of

tr

ack

not

visi

ble

befo

re.

Che

ck f

or t

ight

ness

of

wed

ge n

uts

and

spro

cket

rin

g ca

p sc

rew

s.

Rep

lace

too

ls i

n ba

g an

d pa

ss b

ag t

o D

river

.

Tur

n on

turr

et m

aste

r sw

itch.

Che

ck s

tabi

lizer

op

erat

ion,

oil

rese

r vo

ir co

nnec

tions

an

d pu

mp.

whe

els,

idl

er w

heel

an

d sp

rock

et a

s ta

nk m

oves

for

w

ard.

Insp

ect

that

par

t of

tr

ack

not

visi

ble

befo

re.

Che

ck f

or t

ight

ness

of

wed

ge n

uts

and

spro

cket

rin

g ca

p sc

rew

s.

Ass

ist

Dri

ver

in

chec

king

dri

ving

an

d bl

acko

ut

light

s.C

heck

MG

tri

pod

case

for

pin

tle a

nd

elev

atin

g m

echa

n is

m.

Inst

all

radi

o an

tenn

a.R

epla

ce t

arpa

ulin

on

rear

dec

k.

Stop

eng

ines

. R

ecei

ve a

nd s

tow

tool

s. C

heck

driv

ing

and

blac

kout

lig

hts.

Page 68: crew drill, light tank m5 series

g

\Tan

k C

omm

ande

rPa

ss, r

amm

er s

taff

to

Bog

and

cle

anin

g ro

d to

Gun

ner.

Mou

nt t

o tu

rret

.

Ass

ist

in c

heck

ing

reco

il oi

l. C

onne

ct b

reak

away

plug

s.

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT

(int

erph

one

chec

k)

Rec

eive

and

sto

w

ram

mer

sta

ff.

hatc

h.

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Rec

eive

and

sto

w

mac

hine

gun

cl

eani

ng r

od.

Che

ck w

ith D

rive

ran

d B

og t

hat

thei

r M

ount

and

clo

se

hatc

hes

are

clos

ed.

Che

ck m

anua

l el

eva

tion,

ope

ratio

n of

ha

nd a

nd p

ower

tr

aver

se,

and

turr

et

lock

.C

heck

rec

oil

cylin

de

r oi

l.C

onne

ct b

reak

away

pl

ugs.

Dri

ver

Clo

se h

atch

.

Con

nect

br

eaka

way

pl

ugs.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

ay

plug

s.

Rep

ort

'Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

Rep

ort

"Dri

ver

Rea

dy".

NO

TE

: In

lat

er m

odel

s of

the

Lig

ht T

ank

M5A

1, t

here

is

an e

mer

genc

y ig

niti

on s

wit

ch

on t

he r

ight

sid

e of

the

hul

l ro

of.

This

sw

itch

is le

ft

in

the

"ON

" po

sitio

n ex

cept

in

em

erge

ncie

s, w

hen

it is

used

by

the

Tan

k C

omm

ande

r or

oth

er p

erso

nnel

with

in r

each

.

Page 69: crew drill, light tank m5 series

PHA

SE D

Tank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d PE

R

FOR

M P

HA

SE D

.C

heck

fol

low

ing:

G

un b

ooks

, M

anua

ls,

Acc

iden

t Fo

rms,

Che

ck C

hart,

D

river

's pe

rmit,

Pe

risco

pe,

spar

e,an

d sp

are

head

. Sa

fety

bel

t.M

ake

first

ech

elon

ch

eck

of r

adio

and

in

terp

hone

sys

tem

. (S

ee P

ar.

41)

ot CD

Gun

ner

Che

ck t

rans

mis

sion

oi

l le

vels.

Not

ify D

river

to

star

t en

gine

s.

Che

ck

follo

win

g:

Safe

ty b

elt,

Hul

l co

mpa

ss,

Peris

cope

, sp

are,

spar

e he

ads,

Gre

nade

s, Pr

esen

ce o

f sp

are

parts

, to

ols

and

acce

ssor

ies

for

all

guns

.

Bow

Gun

ner

Che

ck b

ow g

un a

ndad

just

hea

dspa

ce;

put

on c

artri

dge

bag.

C

heck

fol

low

ing:

Bow

MG

am

mun

i tio

n,Pe

risco

pe,

spar

e,

and

spar

e he

ad.

Flag

set

,Fi

re e

xtin

guis

hers

,D

econ

tam

inat

ing

appa

ratu

s.V

ehic

ular

fir

st-a

id

kit,

Cre

w r

atio

ns.

Esca

pe h

atch

op

erat

ion,

Wat

er c

ans,

Can

vas

buck

et,

Dri

ver

Ope

n ha

tch.

Che

ck f

ollo

win

g:

Coo

king

sto

ve,

Peris

cope

, sp

are,

and

spar

e he

ad.

Safe

ty b

elt.

Star

t en

gine

s w

hen

notif

ied

by G

un

ner.

Con

stan

tly o

bser

ve

oper

atio

n of

en

gine

s fo

r sm

ooth

ne

ss,

sync

hron

iz

atio

n, u

nusu

al

noise

s.

Page 70: crew drill, light tank m5 series

OS o

Tank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Gun

ner

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Com

plet

e tr

ip t

icke

t. R

epor

t RE

AD

Y t

o Pl

atoo

n Le

ader

.

Bow

Gun

ner

Safe

ty b

elt.

Ope

n ha

tch

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

Dri

ver

Rep

ort

"Driv

er

Rea

dy".

NO

TE:

The

flam

e th

row

er,

on t

anks

so

equi

pped

, is

chec

ked

in

this

ph

ase.

Th

e cr

ew m

embe

r us

ing

the

wea

pon

chec

ks i

ts co

nditi

on,

mec

hani

sm,

and

the

fuel

lev

el i

n its

tan

k in

acc

orda

nce

with

the

app

ropr

iate

pub

lishe

d gu

ide.

Whe

re i

t is

used

as

an a

lter

nate

wea

pon

to t

he b

ow m

achi

ne g

un,

it is

mou

nted

on

orde

r of

the

tan

k co

mm

ande

r.

36.

INSP

ECTI

ON

DU

RIN

G O

PER

ATI

ON

. Th

is i

s a

cont

inuo

us p

roce

ss o

f ch

ecki

ng b

y al

l cr

ew m

embe

rs.

Tank

Com

man

der

Gun

ner

Rem

ain

aler

t fo

r un

- C

heck

fol

low

ing:

us

ual

noise

s or

Se

curit

y of

tur

ret

cond

ition

s. lo

ck.

Ass

ist D

river

to a

void

Se

curit

y of

gun

.

Bow

Gun

ner

Wat

ch i

nstru

men

tsan

d w

arni

ng l

ight

s.

Lis

ten

for

unus

ual

nois

es.

Dri

ver

Che

ck a

ll in

stru

men

tsca

refu

lly.

Che

ck c

ontro

ls.

List

en f

or u

nusu

alno

ises.

Page 71: crew drill, light tank m5 series

obst

acle

s th

at

Stab

ilize

r op

era-

C

heck

sec

urity

of

wou

ld c

ause

inj

ury

tion.

bo

w g

un.

to t

ank

or c

rew

. C

heck

rad

io i

nter

ph

one

syste

m,

and

secu

rity

of r

adio

ante

nna.

C

heck

sec

urity

of

AA

gun,

sto

wag

e, a

ndeq

uipm

ent.

37.

INSP

ECTI

ON

AT

THE

HA

LT.

The

leng

th o

f ha

lt de

term

ines

the

ext

ent

of t

his

in

spec

tion.

Ite

ms

liste

d be

low

are

in

orde

r of

nor

mal

prio

rity.

Ta

nk C

omm

ande

r G

unne

r Bo

w G

unne

r D

rive

rC

omm

and

PER

FO

RM

HA

LT

INSP

ECTI

ON

.Su

perv

ise

halt

in-

Cle

an s

ight

s an

d pe

ri- D

isco

nnec

t br

eak-

D

isco

nnec

t br

eak-

sp

ectio

n (if

re-

sc

opes

. aw

ay p

lugs

. aw

ay p

lugs

, qu

ired

to d

ism

ount

Mak

e fie

ld c

heck

of

Dis

mou

nt a

nd c

lose

Id

le e

ngin

e 4-

5 m

in-

the

Gun

ner

mus

t si

ghts

(pa

r 41

). ha

tch.

ut

es b

efor

e st

op-

stan

d by

AA

gun

.) C

heck

fol

low

ing:

C

heck

fin

al d

rives

for

pi

ng.

Secu

rity

of g

uns

leak

s, ex

cess

ive

Che

ck e

ngin

e sy

n-

and

mou

nts.

tem

pera

ture

s.

chro

niza

tion

and

vmus

ual

noise

s.

Page 72: crew drill, light tank m5 series

O5

N)

Tank

Com

man

der

Stan

d by

AA

gun

.

Gun

ner

Stab

ilize

r co

nnec

tio

ns.

Turr

et m

echa

nism

. (C

heck

tha

t bo

w

hatc

hes

are

clos

ed.)

Rad

io

ante

nna.

Se

curit

y of

equ

ip

men

t in

gen

eral

.Pl

ace

gun

in t

rave

l in

g po

sitio

n.Lo

ck t

urre

t lo

ck.

Che

ck s

tow

age

of

equi

pmen

t in

tur

re

t.

Bow

Gun

ner

Che

ck u

nder

tan

k fo

rw

ater

, oi

l, or

fue

lle

aks.

Che

ck r

adia

tors

for

leve

l, le

aks.

Che

ck f

uel

tank

s fo

rle

vel

and

leak

s.

Che

ck p

rese

nce

and

secu

rity

of o

utsi

de

equi

pmen

t.C

heck

and

cle

an s

us

pens

ion

syste

m.

Che

ck p

rese

nce

and

secu

rity

of o

utsi

de

equi

pmen

t.H

elp

chec

k ai

r cl

eane

rs.

Take

mou

nted

pos

t.C

lean

per

isco

pe.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

ay

plug

s.

Dri

ver

Che

ck i

nstru

men

ts,

war

ning

lig

hts,

park

ing

brak

es.

Cut

eng

ines

, cl

ose

hatc

h an

d di

s m

ount

.O

pen

engi

ne c

om

part

men

t do

ors.

Mak

e vi

sual

che

ck o

f en

gine

com

part

men

t fo

r fu

el,

' w

ater

and

oil

leak

s, se

curit

y of

acc

es

sorie

s.C

heck

eng

ine

oil

leve

ls.Cl

ose

engi

ne c

om

partm

ent d

oors

.C

heck

air

clea

ners

.M

ount

Driv

er's

seat

.C

lean

per

isco

pe.

Con

nect

bre

akaw

ay

plug

s.

Page 73: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Tank

Com

man

der

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

Com

man

d RE

PORT

.R

epor

t "G

unne

rRe

ady"

R

epor

t "B

og R

eady

".R

epor

t "D

rive

rR

epor

t R

EAD

Y t

o R

eady

".

Plat

oon

Lea

der.

38. A

FTE

R O

PER

AT

ION

MA

INT

EN

AN

CE

, a. A

fter

the

oper

atio

n th

e ta

nk i

s im

med

i at

ely

give

n w

hate

ver

serv

icin

g an

d m

aint

enan

ce i

s ne

eded

to

prep

are

it in

eve

ry w

ay

for

furt

her

sust

aine

d ac

tion.

Thi

s se

rvic

ing

cove

rs a

ll t

he p

oint

s li

sted

in

the

Bef

ore

Op

erat

ion

Insp

ecti

on a

nd c

over

s th

em i

n th

e sa

me

orde

r, w

ith

obvi

ous

mod

ific

atio

ns.

(For

ex

ampl

e, t

he t

ank

is lo

cked

at

the

end

of t

he i

nspe

ctio

n in

stea

d of

bei

ng u

nloc

ked

at t

he

begi

nnin

g; t

he c

heck

for

lea

ks u

nder

the

tan

k is

mor

e ef

fect

ive

afte

r it

has

stoo

d fo

r a

whi

le;

batte

ry s

witc

hes

are

turn

ed o

ff r

athe

r th

an o

n an

d on

ly a

fter

all

chec

ks r

equi

r in

g us

e of

bat

tery

pow

er;

equi

pmen

t is

cove

red

and

stow

ed r

athe

r th

an b

eing

unc

ov

ered

and

mad

e re

ady

for

use)

.b.

The

tan

k w

ill b

e co

mpl

etel

y cl

eane

d, s

ervi

ced,

and

rep

leni

shed

(fu

el,

oil—

all

type

s,

grea

se,

cool

ant,

amm

uniti

on—

all

type

s, f

irst

aid

kit,

wat

er,

and

ratio

ns).

All

spe

cial

pre

ca

utio

ns a

gain

st f

ire

wil

l be

obs

erve

d w

hile

ref

ueli

ng.

Cre

w m

embe

rs w

ill p

erfo

rm t

he

follo

win

g ad

ditio

nal

oper

atio

ns

not

cove

red

in t

he B

efor

e O

pera

tion

Insp

ectio

n.

Page 74: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Tank

Com

man

der

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Dri

ver

Com

man

d PE

R

FOR

M A

FTER

O

PER

ATI

ON

M

AIN

TEN

AN

CE.

Forw

ard

com

plet

ed

trip

tic

ket

to p

la

toon

le

ader

, an

d re

port

of a

ll ne

ces

sary

2d

eche

lon

mai

nten

ance

, fu

el,

lubr

ican

ts,

amm

u ni

tion

and

ratio

ns

requ

ired.

Cle

an w

eapo

ns.

Hel

p D

river

cle

an

tank

.

Hel

p G

unne

r cl

ean

wea

pons

.

Idle

eng

ines

4 t

o 5

min

utes

bef

ore

stop

ping

.C

lean

tan

k su

spen

sio

n an

d ou

tsid

e of

ta

nk.

Hel

p G

unne

r cl

ean

wea

pons

.

39.

PER

IOD

IC A

DD

ITIO

NA

L SE

RV

ICES

. N

OTE

: In

gar

rison

the

se s

ervi

ces

are

per

form

ed w

eekl

y; o

n m

aneu

vers

or

in c

omba

t the

y ar

e pe

rfor

med

afte

r ea

ch f

ield

ope

ratio

n.

Tank

Com

man

der

Com

man

d FA

LL I

N:

PREP

AR

E FO

R

INSP

ECTI

ON

.In

spec

t cr

ew.

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Driv

er

Stan

d in

spec

tion.

St

and

insp

ectio

n.

Stan

d in

spec

tion.

Page 75: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Com

man

d PE

RFO

RM

PE

RIO

DIC

IN

SPE

CT

ION

.

Insp

ect

and

supe

r vi

se w

ork

of c

rew

m

embe

rs.

Ent

er t

urre

t.

Tig

hten

al

l lo

ose

bolts

, nu

ts

and

conn

ectio

ns i

n tu

rret

.

Lub

rica

te g

un a

ndm

ount

as

need

ed.

Che

ck a

nd c

lean

part

s an

d to

ols

for

wea

pons

. D

rain

sed

imen

t fr

omfu

el t

anks

.

Tig

hten

all

wed

ge

nuts

, an

d in

spec

t tr

ack

and

susp

en

sion

sys

tem

.T

ight

en a

ll lo

ose

bolts

, nu

ts a

nd

conn

ectio

ns o

utsi

de

tank

.

VI

Cle

an f

uel

filte

r.T

ight

en a

ll lo

ose

bolts

, nu

ts,

and

conn

ectio

ns i

n co

mpa

rtm

ent.

Cle

an

com

part

men

t.C

lean

and

oil

esca

pe h

atch

.

Ent

er

Driv

er's

com

pa

rtm

ent.

Cle

an b

atte

ry a

nd

case

tho

roug

hly.

Mak

e hy

drom

eter

re

adin

g.C

heck

wat

er l

evel

.C

harg

e if

nece

ssar

y.T

ight

en a

ll lo

ose

bolts

, nu

ts a

nd

conn

ectio

ns

in

com

part

men

t.C

lean

com

part

men

t.O

pera

te a

nd c

heck

flo

or d

rain

val

ve.

Page 76: crew drill, light tank m5 series

O5

OS

Tank

Com

man

der

Gun

ner

Bow

Gun

ner

Com

man

d R

EPO

RT.

Hel

p pe

rfor

m 2

50-

mile

lub

ricat

ion.

Cle

an a

nd t

ouch

-up

any

rust

spo

ts i

n tu

rret

.

Rep

ort

"Gun

ner

Rea

dy".

Ope

rate

and

che

ck

floor

dra

in v

alve

.H

elp

perf

orm

250

- m

ile l

ubric

atio

n.

Driv

erD

ism

ount

; op

en

engi

ne d

oors

; cl

ean

engi

ne a

nd e

ngin

e co

mpa

rtmen

t; op

er

ate

and

chec

k en

gine

com

part

men

t dr

ain

valv

es.

Perf

orm

250

-mile

lu

bric

atio

n, r

efer

rin

g to

app

ropr

iate

gu

ide.

Clo

se e

ngin

e do

ors.

Rep

ort

"Bog

Rea

dy".

Rep

ort

"Driv

er

Rea

dy".

Page 77: crew drill, light tank m5 series

40. RADIO. The tank commander will make the follow ing inspection of radio sets (SCR-508, SCR-528, and SCR-538) prior to operation.

a. Cords. See that insulation and plugs are dry, un broken, and making good contact. Arrange loose cord age to prevent its entangling personnel or equipment.

b. Antenna. See that(1) Mast sections are tight. (Do not remove taped

joints.)(2) Leads at transmitter, receiver, and mast base are

tight.(3) Mast base is tight and not cracked.(4) Insulators that pass through the armor plate and

bulkheads are not broken or out of place.c. Radio set mounting, snaps, snubbers, etc. Check for

security and condition.d. Microphones, switches, headsets. Check for condi

tion and proper positions. Replace all defective head sets and microphones from spares and turn defective equipment in for repair or replacement.

e. Spare antenna sections. See that they are correctly placed in the roll and stowed to avoid being damaged.

f. Set grounding. Check connections.Ife-Tubes. See that th£y are firmly seated in the sockets.

Turn in the defective tubes at the earliest opportunity*h. Fuses. Check condition, and spare supply for num

ber and proper rating.i. Cleanliness. See that radio sets and associated equip

ment are clean.j. Battery voltage. Check with driver to see that the

battery voltage is kept up. If voltage is low, have driver start the auxiliary generator. Always have generator running when radio is used and tank engine is not.

k. Crystals. Check for number, position, and frequency. Be sure required crystals are present.

67

Page 78: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section X

SIGHT ADJUSTMENT

41. FIELD CHECK OF SIGHTS. Frequent checking of the sights is vital in the field. This is done by selecting a distant aiming point as explained in paragraph 42a, and aligning the crosshairs of the coaxial telescope on it. Then check to see whether the crosshairs of the periscopic telescope coincide on the same point. If they do, the sights are assumed to be still in adjustment. If they do not, the adjustment has slipped and a new adjustment for both sights must be made.

42. SIGHT ADJUSTMENT. Sights are in adjustment when the axis of the bore is parallel to the line of sight ing of the telescope (and periscope). For practical pur poses these lines are considered parallel when they con verge on a point not less than 1500 yards distant.

a. Distant aiming point method. Select a point such as a building, telegraph pole, or smokestack at least 1500

Figure 18. Sight adjustment on distant aiming point.

68

Page 79: crew drill, light tank m5 series

(LIGHT TAMC USW/COMBWATION GUN MOUNT MS3)

PERISCOPE

Figure 19. Testing target for combination gun mount M23.

yards away, preferably one having distinct vertical and horizontal straight lines which intersect, and thus render the alignment of the crosshairs easier and more accur ate. Line the gun tube on this point, using the issue bore sights if they are available, or improvising cross hairs for the muzzle and sighting through the firing pin well of the closed breechblock. Then move both sights vertically and horizontally until their crosshairs coincide with the selected aiming point (figure 18). When there is a clamping device to secure this adjustment of the coaxial telescope once it is made, recheck after tighten ing to be sure that the adjustment has not been thrown off. Readings of the adjusting knob indices are re corded on all spare heads of the periscopic sights.

b. Testing target. When vision is limited by atmos pheric conditions, close country, or jungle growth, the best field check for sighting equipment is the testing target, since it requires a clearing only 80 to 120 feet

69

Page 80: crew drill, light tank m5 series

long. If issue testing targets are not available they may be constructed using the dimensions indicated for each gun mount in figures 19 and 20.

NOTE: Manufacturing variance frequently causes in dividual tanks to have dimensions varying widely from those used on the issue or constructed testing target. Therefore, the testing target must be carefully checked against the gun and sights which have been adjusted by the distant aiming point method on a clear day. Any discrepancies in dimensions will require that a separate testing target be constructed for use only with that tank gun.

The boresights are installed as in a, after which the crosshairs in the tube are aligned on the portion of the testing target marked "BORE". Without disturbing the gun, the sights are adjusted until the zero points in the reticles coincide with the intersection of the cross lines marked "PERISCOPE" and "TELESCOPE". Read ings of the adjusting knob indices are recorded on all spare heads of the periscopic sights.

Figure 20. Testing target for combination gun mount M44.

70

Page 81: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Section XI

DESTRUCTION OF MATERIEL AND EQUIPMENT

43. GENERAL, a. The destruction of materiel is a com mand decision to be implemented only on authority delegated by the division or higher commander. This is usually made a matter of standing operating pro cedure. It is ordered only after every possible measure for preservation or salvage of the materiel has' been taken, and when in the judgment of the military com mander concerned such action is necessary to prevent

(1) Its capture intact by the enemy.(2) Its use by the enemy, if captured, against our

own or allied troops.(3) Its abandonment in the combat zone.(4) Knowledge of its existence, functioning, or exact

specifications from reaching enemy intelligence.b. The principles followed are(1) Methods for the destruction of materiel subject to

capture or abandonment in the combat zone must be adequate, uniform, and easily followed in the field.

(2) Destruction is as complete as available time, equip ment, and personnel permit. If thorough destruction of all parts cannot be completed, the most important fea tures of the materiel are destroyed, and parts essential to the operation or use of the materiel and which cannot be easily duplicated, are ruined or destroyed. The same essential parts are destroyed on all like units to prevent the enemy's constructing'one complete unit from several damaged ones by "cannibalism".

c. Crews are trained in the prescribed methods of de struction. Training does not involve the actual destruc tion of materiel.

71

Page 82: crew drill, light tank m5 series

d. Methods. (1) The methods below are given in order of effectiveness. If method No. 1 cannot be used, de struction is accomplished by one of the other methods outlined in order of priority shown. Adhere to the sequences.

(2) Certain methods require special tools and equip ment such as TNT and incendiary grenades, which may not be items of issue normally. The issue of such special tools and materiel, the vehicles for which issued, and the conditions under which destruction will be effected are command decisions in each case, according to the tactical situation.

44. DESTRUCTION OF THE 37-MM GUN, TANK, aRemove the periscopic and telescopic sights. If evacua tion is possible, carry the sights. If evacuation is not possible, thoroughly smash the sight and all spare sights.

b. Method No. 1. (1) Open drain plug on recoil mech anism, allowing recoil fluid to drain. It is not necessary to wait for the recoil fluid to drain completely before igniting the fuse in (5) below.

(2) Remove an HE shell from a complete round and seat the shell in the chamber.

(3) Plug the bore for approximately two-thirds of its length, using a rammer staff wrapped with cloth or waste to make it fit tightly in the bore. Mud, stones, clay, or other material may be used to plug the bore in lieu of the cleaning staff.

(4) Cut down a 1/2-pound TNT block to fit snugly in the chamber behind the HE shell. Insert a tetryl non electric cap into the TNT block with approximately 3 or 4 feet of safety fuse. Close the breech as far as pos sible without damaging the safety fuse.

(5) Ignite the safety fuse and take cover. Elapsed time: 2 or 3 minutes if rammer staff is used to plug the bore and the cut-down TNT block is carried with gun; longer if other bore obstructions are used.

72

Page 83: crew drill, light tank m5 series

c. Method No. 2. (1) See b (1) above.(2) See b (3) above.(3) Insert one complete HE round into gun and close

breech.(4) Take cover and fire the gun, using a cord. Elapsed

time: 1 to 2 minutes using cleaning staff to plug the bore; longer if bore is plugged with mud, or other material.

d. Method No. 3. From point-blank range fire AP am munition at the gun tube until it is rendered useless.

e. Method No. 4. (Elapsed time: 2 or 3 minutes.)(1) See b (1) above.(2) Fire one HE round against a similar round jammed

in the muzzle. Take precautions prescribed in c (4) above.

45. DESTRUCTION OF THE GYRO-STABILIZER.a. Drain oil from system. b. Smash oil lines. c. Smash control box.d. Place an M14 incendiary grenade on control box

and pull pin.

46. DESTRUCTION OF CALIBER .30 MACHINE GUN. a. Method No. 1. Field strip. Use barrel as a sledge. Raise cover and smash down toward front. De form and break backplate; deform T-slot. Wedge lock frame, back down, into top of receiver between top plate and extractor cam; place chamber end of barrel over lock frame depressors and break off depressors. Insert barrel extension into back of receiver allowing the shank to protrude; knock off shank by striking with barrel from the side. Deform and crack receiver by striking with barrel at side plate corners nearest feedway. Elapsed time: 2-1/2 minutes.

b. Method No. 2. Insert bullet point of complete round into muzzle and bend case slightly, distending mouth of

73

Page 84: crew drill, light tank m5 series

case to permit pulling of bullet. Spill powder from case, retaining sufficient powder to cover the bottom of case to a depth of approximately 1/8-inch. Reinsert pulled bullet, point first, into the case mouth. Load and fire this round with the reduced charge; the bullet will stick in the bore. Chamber one complete round, lay weapon on ground, and fire with a 30-foot cord. Use the best avail able cover as this means of destruction may be dan gerous to the person destroying the weapon. Elapsed time: 2 to 3 minutes.

c. Small arms cannot be adequately damaged by fir ing with the barrel stuck in the ground, with or without a bullet jammed in the muzzle.

d. Machine gun tripod mount, calber .30 M2. Usemachine gun barrel as a sledge. Deform traversing dial. Fold rear legs, turn mount over on head, stand on folded rear legs, knock off traversing dial locking screw, pintle lock, and deform head assembly. Deform folded rear legs so as to prevent unfolding. Extend elevating screw and bend screw by striking with barrel; bend pintle yoke. Elapsed time: 2 minutes.

47. DESTRUCTION OF THE LIGHT TANK, M5 SER IES, a. Method No. 1. (1) Remove and empty the port able fire extinguishers. Smash radio (see paragraph 50). Puncture fuel tanks. Use fire of caliber .50 machine gun, or a cannon, or use a fragmentation grenade for this pur pose. Place TNT charges as follows:

(a) 3 pounds between engines.(b) 2 pounds against left side of transfer unit as near

differential as possible.(c) One-half pound against left fuel tank. Use only a

cap (no fuse) in this charge. Point cap end toward 3-pound charge. Insert tetryl nonelectric caps with at least 5 feet of safety fuse in each charge. Ignite the fuses and take cover. Elapsed time: 1 to 2 minutes if charges are prepared beforehand and carried in the vehicle.

74

Page 85: crew drill, light tank m5 series

(2) If sufficient time and materials are available, addi tional destruction of track-laying vehicles may be ac complished by placing a 2-pound TNT charge about the center of each track-laying assemblage. Detonate those charges in the same manner as the others. .

(3) If charges are prepared beforehand and carried in the vehicle, keep the caps and fuses separated from the charges until used.

b. Method No. 2. Remove and empty the portable fire extinguishers. Smash radio. Puncture fuel tanks. Fire on the vehicle using adjacent tanks, antitank or other ar tillery, or antitank rockets or grenades. Aim at the en gine, suspension, and armament in the order named. If a good fire is started, the vehicle may be considered de stroyed. Elapsed time: About 5 minutes per vehicle. Destroy the last remaining vehicle by the best means available. Danger from cannibalism is inherent in this method.

48. DESTRUCTION OF AMMUNITION, a. General.Time will not usually permit the destruction of all am munition in forward combat zones. When sufficient time and materials are available, ammunition is destroyed as indicated below. At least 30 to 60 minutes are required to destroy adequately the ammunition carried by com bat units. In general, the methods and safety precautions outlined in TM 9-1900 are followed whenever possible.

b. Unpacked complete round ammunition. (1) Stack ammunition in small piles. (Small arms ammunition may be heaped.) Stack or pile most of the available gasoline in cans and drums around the ammunition. Throw onto the pile all available inflammable material, such as rags, scrap wood, and brush. Pour the remaining gasoline over the pile. Sufficient inflammable material is used to insure a very hot fire. Ignite the gasoline and take cover.

(2) 37-mm ammunition is destroyed by sympathetic detonation, using TNT. Stack ammunition in two stacks, about three inches apart, bases toward each other. Use

75

Page 86: crew drill, light tank m5 series

one pound of TNT to six or seven pounds of ammuni tion. From cover detonate all TNT charges simul taneously.

c. Packed complete round ammunition. (1) Stack the boxed ammunition in small piles. Cover with all avail able inflammable materials, such as rags, scrap wood, brush, and gasoline in drums or cans. Pour other gasoline over the pile. Ignite and take cover. (Small arms ammu nition must be broken out of boxes or cartons before burning.)

(2) The destruction of packed complete round am munition by sympathetic detonation with TNT is not advocated for use in forward combat zones. To insure satisfactory destruction involves putting TNT in alter nate boxes of ammunition, a time-consuming job.

(3) In rear areas or fixed installations, sympathetic detonation may be used to destroy large ammunition supplies if destruction by burning is not feasible. Stack the boxes, placing in alternate boxes in each row suf ficient TNT blocks to insure the use of one pound per six or seven rounds of 37-mm ammunition. Place the TNT blocks at the base end of the rounds. Detonate all TNT charges simultaneously. See FM 5-25 for details of demolition planning and procedure.

d. Miscellaneous. Grenades, antitank mines, and anti tank rockets are destroyed by the methods outlined in b and c above for complete rounds. The amount of TNT necessary to detonate these munitions is considered less than that required for detonating artillery shells.

49. FIRE CONTROL EQUIPMENT. All fire control equipment including optical sights and binoculars, is difficult to replace. It is the last equipment to be de stroyed, if there is any chance of personnel being able to evacuate. If evacuation of personnel is made, all possible items of fire control equipment are carried. If evacuation is impossible, fire control equipment is thoroughly destroyed by smashing and burying.

76

Page 87: crew drill, light tank m5 series

50. DESTRUCTION OF RADIO EQUIPMENT, a. Books and papers. Instruction books, circuit and wiring diagrams, records of all kinds for radio equipment, code books, and registered documents are destroyed by burning.

b. Radio sets. (1) Shear off all panel knobs, dials, etc., with an axe. Break open set compartment by smashing in the panel face, then knock off the top, bottom, and sides. The object is to destroy the panel and expose the chassis.

(2) On top of the chassis strike all tubes and circuit elements with the axe head. On the underside of the chassis, if it can be reached, use the axe to shear or tear off wires and small circuit units. Break sockets and cut unit and circuit wires. Smash or cut tubes, coils, crystal holders, microphones, earphones, and batteries. Break mast sections and break mast base at the insulator.

(3) When possible, pile up smashed equipment, pour on gas or oil and set it on fire. If other inflammable material, such as wood, is available, use it to increase fire effect. Bury smashed parts whether burned or not.

77

Page 88: crew drill, light tank m5 series

APPENDIX

REFERENCESSee FM 21-6, List of Publications for Training, and

FM 21-7, List of Training Film Strips, and Film Bulle tins, for full list of references.FM 17-5 Armored Force Drill.FM 17-12 Tank Gunnery.FM 21-5 Military Training.FM 23-40 Thompson Submachine Gun, Cal .45,

M1928A1.FM 23-41 Submachine Gun, Cal .45, M3.FM 23-55 Browning Machine Gun, Cal .30.TM 9-250 37-mm Tank Gun M6.TM '9-732 Light Tanks M5 and M5A1.TM 9-850 Cleaning, Preserving and Lubricating

Materials.TM 11-600 Radio Sets SCR-508, SCR-528, and

SCR-538.War Department Lubrication Order No. 81.Preliminary Inspection for Radio Sets SCR-508, SCR-

528, and SCR-538.SNL G-103 Light Tank, M5 Series.SNL K-l Cleaning, Preserving, and Lubricating

Materials.SNL A-45 37-mm Gun M6.Training Tank Driving, Part II—Advanced. Film 17-576

Film Strip Cavalry Weapons — Browning Machine 2-18 Gun, Cal .30, M1919A4-Headspace

Adjustment, Care and Cleaning, Me chanical Functioning.

78

Page 89: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Film Strip Browning Machine Gun, Cal .30, HB, 7-60 M1919A4 (Ground). Part I.

Film Strip Browning Machine Gun, Cal .30, HB, 7-61 M1919A4 (Ground). Part II.

Film Strip Browning Machine Gun, Cal .30, M1917, 7-63 Part VIII. Section I, Stoppages and

Immediate Action.Film Strip Thompson Submachine Gun, Cal .45,

17-2 M1928Al-Mechanical Training.Film Strip Cal .45 Submachine Gun, M3. 17-32

79

Page 90: crew drill, light tank m5 series

INDEXParagraphs Pages

Abandon tank __————————————————— 27 44 Action:

Dismounted ____________———— 24-29 37In case of fire __——-———————— 26 43Mounted _____________————— 19-23 31

Advice to instructors ___ — ——— —— — -—— 28 44Ammunition:

Destruction ______—__——————— 48 75 Inspection before firing ___———————— 20, 35 32, 52 Loading in tank __ —— —— _ — ——— — - 22 36

Auxiliary generator:To inspect —— —— ————— _ ————— — - 35 52 To start or stop ——————————————— 19, 21 31, 34

Breechblock:To close __________________ 15 19 To open ———— —— —— — —— ———— —— 15 19

Crews:Composition __ — —— — __ —— ————— 3 4 Control ____________________ 5, 6 6, 8 Drill ______________________ 7-12 10 Formations ______—_________ 4 5To close and open hatches _______ 9 13 To dismount _ ——————___—————.— 10 14 To form ____________________ 7 10 To mount __________________ 8 11

Destruction of materiel ___________ 43—50 71Dismounted action ________________ 24-29 37 Dismounting:

Through escape hatch _________ 11 15Through hatches ______________ 10 14

Duties in firing _________________ 20, 23 32Empty cases ____________________ 21 34, 36Equipment, destruction of __________ 43—50 71Escape hatch, to dismount through _____ 11 15 Evacuation of casualties ____________ 30—33 46 Extinguishers, fire ________________ 26 43

80

Page 91: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Paragraphs Pages

Field check of sights ______________- 41 68 Fire:

Engine ____________________ 26 43Hull _____________________- 26 43

Fighting on foot ________________-- 24, 25 37, 39 Firing:

Duties of crew _______________ 20 32To cease _________________—— 21 34

Formations ________________————— 4 5 Gun crew:

Composition ______________ 13 19Positions ___________________ 4, 14 5, 19

Gun, 37-mm tank:Destruction _________________ 44 72Firing _____________________ 15 19Immediate action ____________ 18 29Inspections _________________ 35-39 52Laying ____ —— ____________ 15 19Loading and unloading _________ 15 19Malfunctions and remedies _______ 17 27Operation ________________ 15 19To secure __———____________ 21 34

Immediate action ——___———— —— —— — 18 29Inspections:

After operation —_____________ 38 63At the halt ————___.____———__ 37 61Before operation —————————————— 35 52During operation _______________ 36 60Periodic additional services _______ 39 64Radio _____________________ 40 67

Interphone operation —————————————— 5, 6 6, 8Maintenance after operation —————————_ 38 63Mounted action _________________ 19-23 31Mounting through hatches —————————— 8 11Muzzle covers ———————————-——___ 21, 35 34, 52Operation of gun ————————————————— 15 19Out of action ————————_-———---___ 25 39Park and bivouac precautions ———————— 29 45

81

Page 92: crew drill, light tank m5 series

Paragraphs Pages

Pep drill ______________________ 12 17 Posts:

Dismounted ———___ — — —— —— _—— 4 5Mounted ________________ 4 5

Prepare to fire _________————————_ 19 31Purpose and scope ——__— — — _ —— — ___ 1 1 Radio:

Destruction _________________ 50 77Inspection _ — —— ___ — — — . — —— _ 40 67Operation _________________ 5 6SCR-506 ___________________ 5 6

Ready rack, to refill _______________ 21, 22 34, 36Safety precautions ________________ 16, 29 27, 45Service of the piece ________________ 13-18 19Sight adjustment _________________ 41, 42 68Tank, destruction of -____________ 47 74Turret control ___________________ 6 8 Weapons:

Destruction ______________ 27, 44, 46 44,72,73Inspection __________________ 19, 35 31, 52To load ___________________ 23 36

RU-2032-H-Knox-6-44-21M

82