List of reference materials that may be of interest

[directfire4]

Please let me know if any of these old TMs, FM's and subcourses would be of enough interest to anyone for me to scan and upload them. Also, I do not believe any of these are still non-disseminatable but let me know if any of them are:

STP 19-19K-SM
M1/M1A1 Abrams Armor Crewman Skill Level 1

STP 17-19D23-SM
Soldier's Manual Cavalry Scout Skill Levels 2/3

STP 17-19D4-SM
Soldier's Manual Cavalry Scout Skill Levels 4

TM 9-2350-264-10-2 Volume 2
Unusual conditions, troubleshooting, and maintenance M1A1

(also somewhere I'm sure have volume 1 of above as well as hull/turret 10 level)

FM 5-25
Explosives and demolitions
Note: I will not upload this one but can provide relevant game information contained therein.

FM 21-26
Map Reading and Land Navigation

FM 17-12-1-2
Tank Gunnery (Abrams) Volume II

FM 3-4
NBC Protection

TM 9-1005-313-10
Operators Manual for Machine Gun M240B,C,E1,G

M1/M1A1 Subcourses:

OD 0470
Principles of Electrical Systems - M1 Tank

OD 0475
Principles of Hydraulics - M1 Tank

ODO 471
Principles of the simplified test equipment/M1 Test set (STE box)

ODO 474
Fire Extinguisher System on the M1 Tank

ODO 459
Intro to the M1 Abrams Tank: Automotive

AR 0653
Turret Familiariazation: M1A1 Tank

OD 0479
Principles and Troubleshooting of the Suspension System - M1 Tank

OD 0477
Brake System M1

OD 0480
Troubleshooting AUto Self-Test and Cable Disconnect System - M1 Tank

OD 0478
Principles and Troubleshooting of the Power Train on the M1 Tank

OD 0481
Troubleshooting the Computer Subsystem - M1 Tank

OD 474
Principles of Gunner's Primary Sight (GPS) and Thermal Sight - M1

OD 0489
Troubleshooting Vehicle/Turret Power Control Subsystem - M1

OD 0468 Introduction to the M1 Abrams Tank - Armament

Unfortunately none of these are new enough to cover the M1A2. Note that any of the subcourses covering the Hull of the M1 are mostly relevant for the A1 and probably the A2.

For the really big manuals I would only go to the trouble of scanning and uploading them if there were at least a few people who expressed interest in them.

[Sean]

If these can be legally posted, then I'd be happy to host them in the downloads section.

Parts of some of these are already posted there, check http://www.steelbeasts.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewsdownload&sid=20&min=5&orderby=titleA&show=5
for the current complete list.

I'm interested in:

FM 17-12-1-2
Tank Gunnery (Abrams) Volume II

[Zantar]

STP 19-19K-SM
M1/M1A1 Abrams Armor Crewman Skill Level 1


What does this cover? Is it like a general introduction to the tank? I might be interested in seeing that.

[Mpat120]

Is 17-12 still in use, when i got out they were implementing a new bible?

[directfire4]

>What does this cover? Is it like a general introduction to the tank? I might be interested in seeing that.

STP 17-19K1 is a super-comprehensive manual that covers everything from Operate an M9 pistol to Recover a Mired Track Vehicle. Obviously a lot of the tasks covered would not be relevant to the game, but here are a few which may be of use:

Drive an M1/M1A1 Tank
Engage targets with the M240 machinegun from the loader's station
Establish Tank Firing Positions
Evade enemy antitank guided missiles (ATGM)

->17-12
Right, this is the old 17-12. I wouldn't want to post the new one even if I had managed to get a copy :-) I'm new to the sim and still awaiting my full copy of it, so I can't really say yet what users will or won't find useful. The 17-12 has sections covering the whole set of qualification tables (the old ones, before they started using the more realistic 'tactical' qualification tables) and TCGST stuff like how to prepare a Sketch Card. I got out of the Army as a gunner and did shoot the new tables, but I can honestly say that the engagements were very similar and the times/points listed in the old 17-12 are similar to the new standards. Also useful is the great glossary and explanation of acronyms in the back.

[rommel21cw]

TM 9-2350-264-10-2 Volume 2
Unusual conditions, troubleshooting, and maintenance M1A1

[flyboy]

Yep see if you can upload them all.Never know what good can come of it.

[LancerVI]

Hey now....don't forget FM 7-7J Mechanized Infantry Platoon (Bradley)!!!!

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-7j/

You're gonna hurt us infantry guys' feelings.

Lancer VI ;)

[LancerVI]

and FM 7-8

for the dismounts!!!!

http://www.armyrotc.vt.edu/cadets/fm7-8.htm

[taskforce-panther]

want the real manuals???? i have em in a crate in the closet

[LancerVI]

same here!!!

Lancer VI

[Kingtiger]

TM 9-1005-313-10
Operators Manual for Machine Gun M240B,C,E1,G

PLEASE! =)

[Zantar]

STP 19-19K-SM sounds pretty cool to me. I'd eat that stuff up. Is there a general "operator's manual" for the M1? I remember in the manual for the old Microprose game M1 Tank Platoon they mentioned having used the FOIA to get a copy of it. I've always wanted to read that, but have never been able to get my hands on one.

[taskforce-panther]

if ya look around ya can find em online too, the tacsops file that was in the SB game was good ive used it alot for SB in SP games like on crossing groud with a combined unit (m1,m2,113 etc) it works pretty good

[directfire4]

Finally got some time to scan in a manual and convert it to PDF. Unfortunately, the M240 manual I spent so much time scanning came to 43 megs! So, I'll keep working at it so I can get Acrobat to OCR all the text.

BTW I use Acrobat 5, so if anyone has a good link on how to turn something like a 200 page manual to PDF they could save me some aggravation :-)

[RENEGADE-623]

If I remember correctly, TM's arent able to be handed out to the general public, altho I could be wrong

[Kessler]

Here is a tidbit of security information Post 9/11 for any and all who are willing to use good judgement. You get caught transmitting senstive information concerning military hardware through email, photocopy etc. especially in this era of combating radical islamic terror groups through the internet, your activity can land you in Federal prison. TM's, FM's when printed aren't meant for the average person on the street to have especially members of foreign militaries. You take a Technical manual or field manual for example and attempt to photo copy that and then pass that information out to your "Buddy" through the internet, you are setting yourself up for legal trouble.

[PS-SCUD]

If I remember correctly, TM's arent able to be handed out to the general public, altho I could be wrong.

No. A majority of TM's are publicly available. Just go to http://atiam.train.army.mil:80/soldierPortal/appmanager/soldier/start?_nfpb=true&docGroup=official&_pageLabel=rdlservicespage

From the library search menu, select Official Department Publications, then Technical Manuals, then hit search.


You take a Technical manual or field manual for example and attempt to photo copy that and then pass that information out to your "Buddy" through the internet, you are setting yourself up for legal trouble.

I highly doubt it. I'm looking at my printed copy of TM 9-1005-319-23&P (M16A2 TM) and on the front cover it says "Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited." I can't even find a copyright anywhere.

[Kessler]

Well do what you want but I know personally of three guys who did jail time for doing exactly that. Use caution and good judgement especially in a post 9/11 world.

[PS-SCUD]

Be aware that the site I linked to is an official Army website (train.army.mil) and it provides access to these documents to the general public.

Some documents are restricted and require at least an AKO login to access. The rest are approved for public release. I think your acquaintances did something more serious.

[Kessler]

The Army is assuming the AKO login and data download retrieval is for Soldier knowledge and CTT enhancement, not to be distributed to guys who are online gamers out in the civilian world. Just because the website webmaster doesnt' have a particular warning clause posted for all users to view doesn't make it "Ok" for someone to just download what they want and then distribute that information to any individual on the internet.

Think of it this way. You download something that is military related like in this game and then email that information to some guy who isn't connected to the United States military and perhaps lives in a foreign country, that information could and has landed in the wrong hands especially in the past. The end result using an example is some aircrew or armor crew someplace in the world conducting real world operations suddenly being engaged and possibly killed all over a simple act of downloading information for some buddy at a gamer site. The intentions are understandable especially here in this community, but for every action, there is a reaction. That reaction could get some crew or soldier killed inadvertantly. This sort of thing has happened many times over the years especially in the last 20.

When I mentioned the incident about those three guys serving jail time, it wasn't for any other action already stated. Like I said before, we live in a post 9/11 world now. Assumptions can get people killed. This is just my advice.

[PS-SCUD]

The Army is assuming the AKO login and data download retrieval is for Soldier knowledge

Except you don't need to have an AKO account to access the TMs I linked to.

Just because the website webmaster doesnt' have a particular warning clause posted for all users to view doesn't make it "Ok" for someone to just download what they want

Ah, I think that's what "Approved for public release; distribution unlimited." means...maybe I'm wrong.

Think of it this way. You download something that is military related like in this game and then email that information...

Why don't you just IM him the link and let him download it from an official DoD website himself. It would probably be faster.


Perhaps lives in a foreign country, that information could and has landed in the wrong hands especially in the past.

Then the problem would be that you are somehow affiliated with, or have had communications (of any kind) with a terrorist. Not that you supplied him with information which he himself could find by simply doing a google search.


The end result using an example is some aircrew or armor crew someplace in the world conducting real world operations suddenly being engaged and possibly killed all over a simple act of downloading information for some buddy at a gamer site.

Ah, It's not a gamer site. It's an official DoD website. If you have a problem with their security policy, then I suggest you either ask them about it here: https://ask-atsc.atsc.army.mil/Scripts/rightnow.cfg/php.exe/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=FX1iJs-h&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9Nzc4J nBfcGFnZT0x&p_li= or Call 1.800.275.2872

[12Alfa]

The printed word is dead!

[Kessler]

Doesn't matter and making excuses to just do whatever you want when you want when it comes to downloading military information online and sending it to some other gamer as in here at SB doesn't make it right.

Hey, you can do what you want but your downloading activity can put you into hot water. Thats the problem with people in society today, there is no accountability.

[PS-SCUD]

This is ridiculous.

[Kessler]

Yup....sure is.

[Maj.Hans]

If they are released for the public to have...Well, sure, go ahead...Just be carefull with it. Maybe the bad guys dont know about it yet.

[Enrage]

I do know for a fact that the 19K Soldiers Manual is NOT available for public distribution. A quick glance at the bottom of every page will reveal that it is to be destroyed by any means nessecary to prevent it from being seen by unauthorized persons.

[stuart666]

Its disturbing how easy it is to get manuals you know ought to be classified. I spend a lot of time browsing second hand book shops and militaria shows. I think my prize catch so far are a 1968 USMC nuclear weapons employment manual (no Im not kidding!) and a Challenger1 user manual (which still has stuff in it that applies to challenger2). Another 1995 manual lists how the British government will devolve power to emergency military regions in a nuclear war (admittedly a bit unlikely these days) and the order of battle of a particularly well known special operations unit. Other manuals I have related to Infantry tactics from the 1970s, much of which applies today. All these have been purchased completely above board and legally at reputable dealers and shows.

In short, the problem is not the internet, is simply the fact that so many of these documents are printed, and not properly accounted for. For the historian, thats great, but its an OPSEC nightmare waiting to happen. If you shut the internet down tomorrow, the problem simply wouldnt go away. When you have something as generic as urban fighting, it doesnt make much sense to supress , since you could half a dozen good books on how it was done in ww2 on Amazon. Some of it never goes out of date.

[Newbie-Olle]

As I've understood it a lot of technical and tactical manuals (or at least their content) are actually supposed to be distributed internationally, as part of the overall defence plan.

The idea goes something in the lines of letting potential enemies get some grip on your potential, which will then act as a deterrant.

So generally speaking; spreading SOPs is "good", spreading detailed plans for future actions isn't.

Cheers
Olle