Sniperscope, Infrared, 20,000 volt Set No 1 on M3 Carbine (circa 1950-1960)
Type: Active Infrared light source and viewing telescope
Weight: 7.2 pounds (telescope, light source and handle) 28 pounds complete with battery and power supply
Effective range: about 135 yards
Mass production of a greatly improved infrared night vision system began in 1950 with the “20,000 volt Set No. 1”. This could be mounted on any M1 or M2 carbine, making it a “M3 Carbine.” About 20,000 of these scope sets were made in 1950-1951, and they were used during the Korean War and remained in inventory until the mid-1960s.
The improvements in this system included better electronics, resulting in better vision, but still limited to about 135 yards. Heavy weight and short battery life remained major shortcomings. Moving the light source to the top of the scope instead of below the stock provided better illumination of the target and allowed shooting from the prone position.
While the Corps of Engineers worked on the night vision sights, the Ordnance Department worked on the M3 Carbine. Instead of the T-3 carbine with numerous unique parts, they decided that a standard M1 or M2 carbine could be converted to use night vision sights using simple conversion kits in the field. These special parts would be included with the sight sets. The regular rear sight was removed from the carbine, and a clamp block attached to the barrel with a lug sticking up through a hole in the handguard. A long bar installed between the rear sight dovetail and the barrel block provided attaching points for the Redfield style mounts for the sniperscope. A handle was attached to the front of the carbine to control the light source. A flashhider was added to conceal the user’s position. When a standard M1 or M2 carbine had these modified parts installed, the designation became “Carbine, Caliber .30, M3.”
Many of the “20,000 volt Set No. 1” sniperscopes were sold off as surplus in the 1960s, with the power supplies rebuilt to use commercial batteries, and marketed to hunters and bird watchers.
