Instruction Books/Operator's Manuals

[David Dunlop]

Does anyone know if these military vehicle publications were produced for all vehicles, throughout World War Two? I am referring to what is commonly referred to as a 'Driver's Handbook', which is typically pocketbook sized, possibly to fit easily into a battle dress pocket.

Over the years, I have seen many Cab 11 and 12 CMP manuals of this style (both Ford and Chevrolet), but I do not ever recall seeing one for a Cab 13 vehicle. Similarly for the Carrier fleet of vehicles, I have seen Instruction Books for the early marks, but not the later ones.

I am thinking that since these Instruction Books contained an abridged version of the more detailed contents of the vehicle Maintenance Manuals, and most vehicles came with a set of manuals anyway, the Instruction Books may have been deemed redundant and discontinued. And yet, at least here in Canada, the 1950's M-Series vehicles had what they called 'Operator's Manuals' published for them and I have seen an even smaller type of publication produced in the USA for the M-151 in the 1960's.

David