War Department

Tank and Tank Destroyer Gunnery Field Manual: FM 23-100 War Department

Created by the War Department during WWII to train tank and tank destroyer crews, this field manual teaches the principles and techniques employed in gunnery. It includes sections on direct and indirect fire techniques, auxiliary weapons, and employment of tanks as reinforcing artillery. Chapters include: range and speed determination, angle of site, crew drill, gunnery technique, direct and indirect fire sights and orders, conduct of fire with shot and heavy explosive ordnance, platoon in defilade, use of mechanized flame throwers, rocket launchers and machine guns. This text, a 1946 revision to the 1944 edition, is the definitive version combining all the experience and knowledge learned by the armored corps during WWII. Originally restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and reprinted here in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.