PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-697
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 697
DECEMBER 2010
23
PS 697
DEC 10
Body copyb
These tubes might
contain cracks in the
cannon wall that can’t
be found through
normal feld-level
inspection, but only
through a depot-level
check. Using the bad
tubes has already
been fatal, which is
why all mortar units
should immediately
check their cannon
tubes for these serial
numbers:
As always, operators should perForm their mortar’s PMCS and beFore fring
checks. Units also need to keep their DA ±orm 2408-4,
Weapons Record Data Cards,
current and make sure cannon tubes have been borescoped and pullover inspected
beFore any live fring.
For more information on M120/M121 mortars, contact TACOM’s Joe Schmidt at
DSN 786-8783, (586) 282-8783, or email:
joe.schmidt@us.army.mil
Also see TACOM LCMC SOUM 10-021 and 10-027.
11451
11458
11467
11476
11481
11488
11526
11529
11531
11536
11539
11546
11554
11601
11729
11737
Danger!
Dear Half-Mast,
I have always dropped a 5.56mm straightness gage through all my M249
machine gun barrels to check that they’re OK. But I don’t see anything in
the M249 TM about doing this. Should I be doing this check?
SPC D.R.
Dear Specialist D.R.,
No, you don’t need to do a check with
the straightness gage. That gage is to
be used only for the M16 riFe and M4
carbine. Because of the differences in rates
of ±re between the M249 and the M16/M4,
there are different barrel wear patterns. As
a result, the gage might not pass through
an M249 barrel that’s still OK for ±ring.
The only gaging required for the M249
is for breech bore erosion, trigger pull,
headspace and ±ring pin protrusion.
If you have questions about this,
contact Matt Williams at DSN 793-
1918, (309) 782-1918, or email:
matthew.williams22@us.army.mil
Or, contact Andre Pilgrim at DSN
793-7458, (309) 782-7458, or email:
andre.pilgrim@us.army.mil
Straight Talk on
Straight gaging
Mortar Tube
Danger!
hey,
I
don’t need
that!
save it for
rifles and
carbines!
I’m gonna use this
straightness gage
to check you out!
M249
Machine
Gun…
M120/M121 Mortars…
listen
up!
A
bad batch
of cannon tubes
for the M120/M121
mortar has gotten
out to the field.
if you find any
M120/M121 cannon
tubes with these
serial numbers,
don’t use
them.
Notify your local
TACOM logistics
assistance
representative. He
will help you turn
in the tube for a
replacement.
697.22-23.indd
1-2
11/1/10
5:51 PM
Click here for a copy of this article to save or email.
Click here for a copy of this article to save or email.
Back to TopBack to Top
