Chapter 3. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESERVATION, PACKING, AND MARKING OF RETROGRADE MATERIEL

TM 746-10

CHAPTER 3

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESERVATION, PACKING, AND

MARKING OF RETROGRADE MATERIEL

When possible, clean entire item without interruption.

3-1. General

When interruptions are necessary, provide temporary

protection to the areas that have been cleaned.

This chapter provides general instructions for

preservation, packing, and marking of retrograde Army

b. Optical elements and assemblies.

Clean

materiel to ensure adequate protection against

exposed surfaces of optical elements or assemblies in

corrosion, deterioration, and damage.

Subsequent

the following manner:

chapters prescribe the detailed preservation and

packing requirements for end items and their

(1) Wipe surface to be cleaned with cotton lens

recoverable repair parts. Certain packaging precautions

paper, NNN-P-40, or clean cheesecloth which is

and methods of cleaning, drying, unit protection, types

saturated with alcohol.

of preservatives, and their methods of application are

described in TM 38-230-1.

CAUTION

Only lens tissue paper, NNN-P-40, or batiste

3-2. Disassembly

cloth will be used to clean plastic elements.

The surfaces will be dried by wiping with clean

Unboxed, serviceable retrograde materiel and

cotton, lens paper, or clean cheesecloth.

unserviceable, economically reparable retrograde

materiel should be disassembled, as practical, to

(2) Immediately after cleaning, wrap or cover

achieve maximum reduction in cube prior to movement

the optics with lens paper. Secure wrap with tape or

to a POE Parts which are vulnerable to damage and

cover with fungus-resistant plastic caps.

pilferage and projecting parts whose removal will

accomplish reduction in cube should be removed. The

c. Mobile equipment. Free exterior and interior

removed bolts, nuts, screws, pins, and washers should

surfaces including chassis, hulls, turrets, cabs, and

be placed in one of the mating parts and secured. The

bodies of all dirt, grease, and other contaminants.

removed parts that are vulnerable to pilferage should be

Accomplish removal by any method which will not

placed in the basic issue item pack. Parts removed

damage equipment and components. Wash off mud

from equipment should be matchmarked to facilitate

and dirt and remove stones and debris from suspension,

reassembly. Removed parts and the matching parts

wheels, and tracks. Do not direct stream of water or

that remain on the disassembled items should be

steam under pressure against mounted air cleaners,

identically stenciled (matchmarked) by letters or

generators, starters, distributors, magnetos, or against

numbers if those parts are large enough to accept

openings between hull and turret (turret ring), grills,

stenciling. When parts are too small to accommodate

exhaust deflectors, fire control, or armament. Complete

stenciling, information should be placed on cloth

the cleaning of surfaces which are to be preserved or

shipping tags attached to mated parts.

sealed by using the appropriate cleaning solvent.

d. Ferrous materials. As prescribed in TM 38-230-

3-3. Preservation

1, preserve ferrous steel and iron parts and tools by

thoroughly cleaning the items and then coating them

Preservatives and their application and the methods and

with the applicable preservative.

If an oil-base

materials used in packaging are described in TM 38-

preservative is used, thoroughly drain the excess from

230-1 and are set forth in this and succeeding chapters

the coated surface. Approved alternate methods of

for specific Army materiel.

preserving ferrous parts or tools are by brushing VCI

a. General. Cleaning and drying methods and

liquid directly on the item or by wrapping the part with

processes are described in TM 38-230-1, and their basic

VCI-treated material. Table A-1 contains procurement

requirements are given in MIL-P-116. Cleaning must be

information and lists the applicable specifications. Wrap

thorough and may be accomplished by any method

the preserved item in a waterproof shroud, bag,

which is not detrimental to the condition of the item.

polyethylene film, or greaseproof barrier material, as

Disassembly must be held to a practical minimum.

applicable, to provide protection against entry of water,

Immediately after cleaning, thoroughly dry items to

to restrict free movement of air, and to contain VCI

remove cleaning solution or residual moisture.

vapors.

3-1