TM Numbering Specification
Signal Corps Technical Manuals, TM-11 Series
Technical Manuals originated around 1940 as a consolidation of earlier Radio Pamphlets such as:
- Radio Communications Pamphlets, circa 1918
- Training Manuals, circa 1921
- Training Regulations, and Technical Regulations, circa 1930.
- (NOTE- unfortunately not all operators manuals are TM's or even under the signal corps system. evidently the coast artillery published several radar manuals under their "4" designation.)
- FM 4-95 Seacoast Artillery: Service of Radio Set SCR-296-A
- FM 4-96 Seacoast Artillery: Service of Radio Set SCR-582
- FM 4-97 Service of the Radio Set SCR-682-A
- FM 4-144 Antiaircraft Artillery: Service of Radio Set SCR-584
- FM 4-143 Antiaircraft Artillery Field Manual Service of Height Finder SCR-547
- FM 4-146 Antiaircraft Artillery: Service of Radio Set SCR-545
- FM 4-176 Service of Radio Set SCR-268.
TM 11-201, the earliest known, is entitled "Aircraft Radio SCR-134" and was formerly documented TR-1201-5. Initially, the manuals were not always grouped by equipment category, as the need did not then exist. With the explosion of equipment in World War Two, groupings soon became necessary. Many of the earlier numbers were "recycled" when the equipment for which they were originally designated became obsolete. There was also an inclusion of early 1950s equipment among much older units. In some cases, an A or B prefix was added to an original number while updating. But in general, a new number would be issued, especially in the latter 1950s. In 1958, a new FSN (Federal Stock Number) procedure was instituted, which more accurately defined the item in question and linked its TM 11- number to its supply number.
In Mid-1958, the FSN Series appeared, consisting of a four-digit number, followed by a three (rarely four) digit model number of the apparatus in question, then a two-digit number defining the scope of the manual. A P-Suffix indicates that a Parts List is involved. The system commenced with a new category number, 5805 though a few instances of lower numbers are known.
Example: TM 11-5805-201-12P is for Telephone Set TA-312/PT. It contains Operating Instructions, local Maintenance Procedures, and a Parts List.
Another example:
| TM 11-5815-283-35 | |
|---|---|
| TM | Technical Manual |
| 11 | Signal Equipment |
| 5815 | Teletype and Facsimile Equipment |
| 283 | AN/FGC-70X |
| 35 | Field and Depot Maintenance |
| P | Repair Parts and Special Tools |
The Chart below Explains the Designators
| Technical Manual Designations | |
|---|---|
| SEC | DEF |
| TM |
|
| 11 |
|
| 5815 |
|
| 283 |
|
| 35 |
|
Signal TM General Categories
- 200
- Mainly complete radio sets (SCR), including DF eqp.
- 300
- Specialties, as indicated below:
- 300-350
- Telegraph and Telephone Equipment
- 350-359
- Teletypewriter Equipment
- 360-379
- Line Construction and Miscellaneous Wire Equipment
- 380-389
- Cryptographic Equipment
- 390-399
- Visual Equipment
- 400
- Mixed equipment, plus instructional texts
- 400-409
- Photographic Equipment
- 410-419
- Pigeon Equipment
- 420-429
- Meteorological Equipment
- 430-499
- Miscellaneous Equipment & Training Manuals
- 500-549
- Radio Sets, Aircraft
- 550-599
- Radio Sets, Aircraft (including DF)
- 600-650
- Radio Sets, inc. Mobile
- 650-690
- Texts
- 700-750
- Interphone & Audio Equipment (Ground)
- 750-800
- Training Manuals
- 800-849
- Transmitters
- 850-899
- Receivers
- 900-999
- Power Supplies
- 1000 - 1099
- Miscellaneous Air & Radar Equipment
- 1100 - 1199
- Radar Sets
- 1200 - 1299
- Miscellaneous Ground Radar Equipment
- 1300 - 1399
- Technical Operation Manuals (Radar)
- 1400 - 1499
- General Maintenance Manuals (Radar)
- 1500 - 1599
- Service Manuals (Radar)
- 1600 - 1699
- Field Service Procedures Manuals
- 1700 - 1799
- NA
- 1800 - 1899
- Higher Echelon Repair Manuals
- 1900 - 1999
- NA
- 2000s
- Telephone Equipment
- 2100s
- Telephone Systems and Centrals
- 2200-2249
- Teletypewriter Equipment
- 2250-2300
- Line Construction and Miscellaneous Wire Equipment
- 2300s
- Photography
- 2400s
- Meterology
- 2500s
- Test Equipment
- 2600s
- Antennas and Test Equipment
- 2700s
- Installation of Equipment (small selection)
- 2800s
- Installation Manuals
- 3000s
- NA
NOTE: The entire TM 11-4000 Series is devoted to Maintenance
- 4000s
- Repairs of Radio Equipment
- 4100s
- Repairs to Telephone Equipment
- 4200-4299
- NA
- 4300s
- Repairs to Telephone Systems
- 4400s
- Repairs to Telephone and Telegraph Terminals
- 4500-4699
- Repairs to Power Equipment
- 4700
- Repairs to Miscellaneous Equipment
- 4800-4999
- NA
- 5000 Series
- Antennas and RF Test Equipment
- 5100
- Misc. Electronic Equipment
- 5200
- NA
- 5300
- Photography-Audio Visual (small selection)
- 5400
- NA
- 5500
- Mostly Audio Equipment
- 5600
- NA
- 5700
- NA