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.
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.
For 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
- 400s
- 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