The Firing Pin Assembly — An Inside Look

The Firing Pin Assembly ---- An Inside Look by Staff Sergeant Stephen A. Krivitsky The above illustration is a cutaway view of the firing pin assembly for the M256 gun. It is not drawn to scale. Currently, the disassembly of the firing pin assembly is 20 level (Unit Maintenance). It is critical, however, for the tank crew to be extremely proficient at disassembly, cleaning, inspection, assembly, and function check of the firing pin assembly. This process should be accomplished monthly at a minimum. This illustration shows the firing pin assembly and how each of its components interact, and how they are placed correctly in the assembly. This drawing is extremely handy when training new crewmembers the basics of the firing pin assembly and firing circuit test. A copy in the gunner’s or tank commander’s position will prove very helpful during gunnery densities and livefire exercises.

PIN: 074987-000

Staff Sergeant Stephen A. Krivitsky has served as an armor crewman in Friedberg, Germany; Ft. Hood, Texas; and Ft. Carson, Colo., and has been assigned as a battalion master gunner at Ft. Carson and Camp Casey, Korea. He is currently a tank commander with C/1-68 Armor at Ft. Carson.