Crewmen and mechanics, here’s a heads up that TM 9-1015-260-23 for the M119A3 towed howitzer TM is set to be published in summer of 2022 and will include some updated maintenance information. The -23 will replace TM 9-1015-260-24 (May 13, w/Ch1, Jan 15).
Here are some highlights of what to look out for:
- Inclusion of the fixed recoil system that all M119A3s have had since 2019. Related to that, references to the old variable recoil system are being removed.
- PMCS checks added for the flow control valve and the replenisher, both of which are part of the fixed recoil system. This includes opening the cover on the side of the replenisher and checking for rust.
- Addition of troubleshooting procedures for the flow control valve. If the valve is blocked, the cannon could hang out of battery on counter recoil. If the flow control valve isn't restricting fluid flow, as it is designed to do, the cannon could potentially slam into the battery during counter recoil.
Note that the PMCS section in the upcoming -23 TM will be much smaller than the one in the -24 TM due to so many of the prior checks being variable recoil-related and thus no longer applicable to the M119A3.
Also, several of the PMCS steps in the outgoing -24 TM are already covered in the -10 TM, so they won’t be added to the -23 TM.