Korean War: Field, Technical & Doctrine Manuals

Korean War manuals, which include field manuals, technical manuals, and other doctrine guides.

These consist of 28,207 pages of field manuals from the Korean War.

The manuals were produced between 1949 and 1955.

Certain parts of the content were not formally released from classification until February 2004.

Key examples from the 125 manuals are as follows:

FM 23-5: U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1

This field manual explains that its aim is to instruct you on correctly firing your rifle and maintaining it, whether in the field or at a military base.

By learning the content in this manual, you can improve your skills to become an effective rifleman and a stronger contributor to your unit—the rifle squad.

The rifle serves as the primary weapon for the United States Army.

While you might use it for target practice like shooting at a bull’s eye now, it could be aimed at an enemy later.

Because of this, no aspect of shooting can be considered just adequate.

During battle, you will either succeed in hitting your target or fail completely, and your proficiency as a rifleman could determine your survival as well as that of your fellow unit members.

FM 23-35: Pistols and Revolvers

This manual addresses the Automatic Pistol, caliber .45 M1911, the Automatic Pistol, caliber .45 M1911, the Colt revolver, caliber .38 with a 2-inch barrel (Detective Special), the Smith and Wesson revolver, caliber .45 M1917, and the Colt revolver, caliber .45 M1917. It covers topics such as disassembling and assembling, maintenance and cleaning, how it operates, spare parts and accessories, types of ammunition, personal safety measures, issues like malfunctions and stoppages, mechanical training, preparatory exercises, qualification firing, and skills in marksmanship.

FM 30-5: Combat Intelligence

This manual outlines the roles of intelligence, the processes for gathering and analyzing information, and the creation and application of combat intelligence by divisions and smaller units in battle. It provides the fundamental military intelligence principles for these levels, serving as the main guide for intelligence staff in tactical units, and it formed the foundation for specialized branch intelligence manuals. The manual includes examples of forms that the intelligence officer uses to develop intelligence, along with templates and illustrations of intelligence estimates, reports, plans, and studies that the officer handles. Topics addressed include: tactical units, the creation of combat intelligence, gathering from sources and agencies, types of information sources, information-gathering organizations, analyzing information, applying intelligence, the role of G-2, distributing intelligence, guiding collection efforts, reconnaissance activities, ground reconnaissance, counterreconnaissance measures, air reconnaissance, utilizing sources effectively, enemy order of battle, counterintelligence operations, counterintelligence methods, communication intelligence and communication security, communication intelligence specifically, communication security, intelligence planning approaches, and preparing for special operations.

FM 72-20: Jungle Operations

This field manual discusses the challenges of conducting military operations in a jungle and describes ways to address them. It explains how military units can navigate a jungle most effectively, and it expands on standard tactical principles and methods when adapted to jungle environments. It provides solutions for supply issues and outlines the techniques needed for individual and group survival. Topics encompass: Impact of the jungle on military activities, Elements affecting jungle strategies, Troop movements and marches, Attacking in battle, Defending in battle, Withdrawal operations, and Useful tips for surviving in the jungle. FM 6-20 Artillery Tactics and Technique

This military manual serves as a reference for artillery officers, artillery commanders, their staff, and leaders of other combat branches at levels above battalion.

It primarily focuses on the tactical use of artillery within the combat area.

It addresses the structure, leadership, and tactical management of artillery units.

It includes a review of the methods used for identifying targets, planning artillery fire, and directing artillery attacks.

It features a broad overview of the principles, structure, and methods of coordinating fire support, with special attention to artillery-related elements.

It discusses the use of artillery in airborne, amphibious, and other specialized operations.

FM 6-140 The Field Artillery Battery

This military manual acts as a reference for unit commanders and section leaders regarding the tactics and methods for deploying field artillery observation battalions and their batteries.

The manual addresses the structure, roles of personnel, training, and tactical deployment of field artillery observation battalions and batteries.

It also addresses the methods involved in sound, flash, and radar ranging, as well as survey and meteorological operations.

FM 7-10 Rifle Company Infantry Regiment

This military manual serves as a reference for the tactical deployment of the rifle company and its components.

It covers the structure, weapons, individual roles, advancing to engage the enemy, offensive maneuvers, defensive maneuvers, retreat operations, activities under specific terrain conditions, supply management, evacuation, maintenance, and communication.

FM 10-63 Handling of Deceased Personnel in Theaters of Operations

This military manual offers technical support to personnel from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force involved in graves registration services in operational areas, and it provides guidance on searching for, recovering, and transporting deceased individuals, selecting and arranging temporary cemeteries, identifying and burying the dead, and preparing reports and records.

FM 19-5 Military Police

The goal of this military manual is to provide a fundamental reference for military police in carrying out their responsibilities.

This manual addresses the mission and structure of military police units, as well as the appearance, behavior, duties, authority, jurisdiction, and training of military police, and the approaches and methods they should use to perform their duties effectively and reliably.

FM 19-40 Handling Prisoners of War

The aim of this military manual is to act as an operational reference for military police and other officers and enlisted personnel in active operational areas when managing, processing, interning, and assigning labor tasks to enemy prisoners of war.

This military manual addresses key aspects of the 1949 Geneva Conventions related to the treatment of prisoners of war.

It covers the actions of capturing forces, gathering prisoners, questioning them, evacuating them, managing prisoners of war in division, corps, army, and communications zone areas, implementing disciplinary actions, utilizing prisoner-of-war labor, and the roles and functions of the military police prisoner-of-war processing company and the military police guard company. AM-5: This is the United States Marine Corps Amphibious Manual focused on the Regimental Combat Team.

The objective of this manual is to outline the practical elements involved in deploying a regimental combat team during an amphibious operation.

In this document, the manual covers the planning, embarkation, landing, and assault stages of an amphibious operation specifically at the Regimental Combat Team (RCT) level.

The guidelines for utilizing combat, combat support, and combat service support components in an amphibious operation are explained here only when they directly contribute to fulfilling the RCT’s objectives.

Other manuals in the series encompass: