M1-Series tanks … don't recoil from recoil check

PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, Jan, 2005

If your tank's replenisher has been drained for maintenance, or if you're preparing for a firing exercise, you must remember to check the FRH level in the replenisher, crewmen.

If the recoil system is low on fluid, the main gun could recoil uncontrollably the next time it's fired. When that happens, the cannon shears its retaining bolts and slams into the ammo compartment--bad news for anyone who happens to be in the way!

Just making sure the FRH reaches the MIN LEVEL mark on the replenisher isn't good enough, either. If there's air in the system, the replenisher could give you a false reading.

Go ahead and bleed the system, following the instructions on Page 2-344 of TM 9-2350-255-10-1, Page 2-369 of TM 9-2350-264-10-1, Page 2-729 of TM 9-2350-288-10-1 and Page 2-686 of TM 9-2350-388-10-1. Bleeding the recoil system will remove excess air and give you an accurate reading.

Make a note of this requirement until it can be added to the BEFORE operations PMCS tables.