TM Numbering Specification

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Signal Corps Technical Manuals, TM-11 Series

Technical Manuals originated around 1940 as a consolidation of earlier Radio Pamphlets such as:

  • (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
Manual Type
TB - Technical Bulletin
TM - Technical Manual
TO - Technical Order
11
Equipment Designation
11 - Signal
5815
Class of Equipment
5805 - Telephone and Telegraph Equipment
5810 - Scrambler Equipment for above services
5815 - Teletype and Facsimile Equipment
5820 - Radio and Television Communications Equipment (except airborne)
5821 - Radio and Television Communications Equipment (Airborne)
5825 - Radio Navigation Equipment (except Airborne)
5826 - Radio Navigation Equipment (Airborne)
5830 - Intercommunications & Public Address Systems (except Airborne)
5831 - Intercommunications & Public Address Systems (Airborne)
5835 - Sound Recording and Reproducing Equipment
5840 - Radar Equipment (Except Airborne)
5841 - Radar Equipment (Airborne)
5845 - Underwater Sound Equipment
5895 - Miscellaneous Communications Equipment
6115 - Power Supplies
6605 - Compass Equipment
6615 - Helicopter Electronics
6625 - Test Equipment
6655 - Visual Radiation Equipment
6660 - Meteorological Equipment
6665 - Atomic Radiation (Radiac) Equipment
6695 - Criminology Equipment
6720 - Photographic Equipment
6730 - Projectors, Still & Movie
6740 - Film & Print Processing Equipment
6760 - Aircraft Cameras & Accessories
6780 - Photographic Equipment
6940 - Training Equipment
7440 - Data Processing Equipment
7450 - Special Audio Equipment
283
Specific Equipment Designator
35
Indicator of Coverage
10 - Operators Manual
12 - Operator and Organizational Maintenance Manual
14 - Operator, Organizational Maintenance & Field Maintenance
15 - Operator, Organizational Direct Service, and General Service
20 - Organizational Maintenance (Second Echelon)
24 - Organizational, Direct Service, and General Service Maintenance
25 - Organizational, Field and Deport Maintenance
34 - Direct Service and General Service Maintenance Manual
35 - Field and Deport Maintenance
50 - Calibration Procedure
P - Repair Parts & Special Tools


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