Jeff Duquette Posted January 16, 2001 Share Posted January 16, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Obviously, in your untold hours of searching and searching for worthy quests and crusades you overlooked the inherent StuG advantage of having a raised gunner sight that would allow very large quantities of Zimmerit to be used without obstructing the gunner's view.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I have no worthy quests…it's all simply stream of consciousness…or stream of unconsciousness. Too much to learn…to little time. Excellent post. Paralax at close range? What point you suppose critical error might occur...or you reckon at close ranges where paralax kicks in...target size is monsterous in the gunners sight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted January 16, 2001 Author Share Posted January 16, 2001 Did those things sticking the top of the Tiger's really work?? I would've thought the Russians could see right through the bunny disguise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMC Posted January 16, 2001 Share Posted January 16, 2001 /"What, behind the rabbit?" //"It is the rabbit!" /"You silly sod! You got us all worked up!" //"Well, that's no ordinary rabbit. That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on. He's got really thick armor and a big 88mm gun that do you up a treat, mate." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Duquette Posted January 25, 2001 Share Posted January 25, 2001 The unmistakable scissor telescopes, which in England are often graphically called 'donkey’s ears', are well-known and belong to these military models. The advantages are obvious: One can observe from behind cover, that is to say over a shelter, without being visible or exposed to fire. Furthermore it is possible to observe from behind a narrow obstacle (a tree for example), while standing up or lying down, when the arms of the ‘scissor’ are completely spread apart. [page 188] In this observation position, because of the wide-spread objectives, an especially ‘plastic’ image is produced, with a degree of depth in the image that allows one to distinguish the different distances of various objects, which could not otherwise be observed. Fig. 105 demonstrates the different uses of these glasses. The development of the scissor telescope by Zeiss, Jena happened simultaneously with the first manufacture of prism binoculars during 1893-94. Both of these forms of the prism binocular were protected by the same patent (Patent no. 77086 of July 9, 1893). The first models were smaller and known as ‘relief telescopes’. These have the appearance of civilian instruments in their inscriptions, their looks and their cases (see fig. 73). They could be bought on the open market by non-military persons; but only with military usage did the advantages of their design become fully clear. There are known examples of early ten power ‘relief telescopes’ with reticles, so they were produced for military usage. Pronouncements about whether the larger models of the early Zeiss scissor telescopes were ever produced for civilian use or even intended for it, would be pure speculation, and this question remains unanswered. See fig. 73b and its text. The predecessors of the scissor telescopes were at the time called ‘relief telescopes’. They had magnification of 8 or 10 power, two choices which proved themselves and were used again in the later military models. Note: In the Optical Museum of Jena, there is a 6 power relief telescope; this version was probably produced in a small production run until circa 1895. In fig. 106 is the successor of the 10 power ‘relief telescope’ (see fig. 73a), which was named the 'Teleplast'* (*This name has caused much confusion and mistaken associations between early Zeiss models. At first the name ‘Teleplast’ was used for civilian field glasses with Sprenger prisms, see fig. 64 in 'Feldstecher'. These models have no resemblance to the ‘mini-scissor telescopes’,which were at first called ‘relief telescopes’. The later 10 power small scissor telescope model, from the first decade of the 20th century, was named the ‘Teleplast’, which, as mentioned, was used for another model as well). At first glance, this model is recognizable as a military field glass. The author knows of no eight power models in this design, that is, with gray painted finish; and there probably was no corresponding Zeiss 6 power model for military use. Zeiss developed three larger scissor telescopes circa 1905, which were exclusively for military use, and which are shown from the catalogs in fig. 107. We can easily imagine that at Zeiss, the strategy was to use the remaining time until 1908, before the patent expired, to be a step ahead of the competitors, with several variations of their models. The basis for all later, larger scissor telescope models, are these three models: the Hypoplast, the army scissor telescope, and the scissor telescope for field artillery The specifications for these models were probably identical (10 x 40). The scissor telescope for field artillery is known to have contained traditional Porro-I prisms which were cemented together, see fig. 107, left. The other two models probably have the same prism, indicated by the similar form of the prism housing. [page 190] This design did not become obsolete, it is shown in figures 109 and 123. All three models have a reticle which is not illuminated. The scissor telescope for field artillery and the army scissor telescope are similar to the earlier civilian (?) scissor telescope model by Zeiss. Shown in fig. 73b is a Zeiss export model, and the first scissor telescopes made in Jena must have been of the same construction, or at least very similar. All of these models, as well as the first relief telescopes, have the advantage of permitting observation at two positions of the telescope arms: parallel and upright, or out spread. The directions for the scissor telescope for field artillery explain the advantages: 'Preliminary remark: in one position for use of the S.-F. for field artillery...the observer views from behind an obstacle (for example, a trench); and in the other position...around an obstacle (for example, a tree); consequently he is protected, in either case. The S.-F. for field artillery, when used with out-spread arms, provides a much higher plasticity of the image, and the objects consequently appear behind each other, not next to each other, and strongly distinct from the background, (corresponding to their natural position) even at large distances. The use of the S.-F. for field artillery will consequently be most frequent with out-spread arms.' But at the front lines of W.W. I, the reality was different, see also the remarks for S.F. 17. [page 191] The Hypoplast purposely abandoned the advantages of maximum enhanced depth of the image. The Hypoplast has only one ‘work- position’ of the arms, which can be seen in figures 107 and 108. The Hypoplast uses a configuration that is in between the two characteristic positions of a traditional scissor telescope, the first position for observation from behind cover, and the second for an enhanced depth to the image (which results from the larger ‘basis’ or wider distance separating the objectives compared to the interpupillary distance (see ‘Feldstecher’, page 131). For the Hypoplast, this distance is not as large as for a scissor telescope with fully outspread arms, and its name indicates this as well: Hypo means lesser or diminished. In 1911 the old Hypoplast was revived in a new form as 'Hypoplast 1911', with a 10 x 50 configuration. There is only one working position of the arms, similar to the original Hypoplast, see fig. 108. No survivor can be shown for this model, and it probably was built in very small quantities. This note from a Zeiss magazine probably was not confirmed by reality: [page 192] 'It is superior to the scissor telescope by its greater simplicity of use. This is achieved by the fact that the telescope arms have a fixed position to each other, which results in the observer remaining behind cover, and in addition provides images with higher plasticity. By the simple turning of a screw, the interpupillary distance of the observer is adjusted to; while all other scissor telescopes require several manipulations. This version is protected by a Zeiss patent. In the right ocular there is a reticle, which is made with any desired partition.' The optical construction of an early scissor telescope is visible in fig. 109. It can be seen that both prism configurations are derived from the Porro I and Porro II systems. The prisms in American scissor telescopes, which in the U.S.A are called battery commander’s telescopes, are described by Jacobs (1943, page 219), and shown in fig. 109. Some scissor telescopes use roof prisms, as do some hand held telescopes. Fig. 109 shows the prism of an S.F. 14 in its mounting. The leading optical firms in Germany produced scissor telescopes during W.W. I, and probably were already making them in the years before 1914. The starting signal for most of the firms would have been the expiration of the Zeiss patent in 1908. In 1893, Zeiss patented the prism binocular with increased distance between objectives, and also protected the design of the scissor telescope in monocular and binocular forms. As with some military glasses, some scissor telescopes signed by a company were of different manufacture. We shall not dwell on the small differences betweem scissor telescopes with the same name, but by different producers. A model that is not rare even today, is the S.F. 09 (S.F. = Scherenfernrohr [scissor telescope]). From the number 09, it can be deduced that this widely used standard model was introduced in 1909 for the use of the German military. Fig. 110 shows this 10 x 45 model with bearing circle. In fig. 115, the typical reticle for the S.F. 09 is shown, which was not yet illuminated. (Nearly all later S.F.s with reticle have illumination for the reticle). In fig. 110, the transportation containers for the cavalry can be seen. [page 193] The S.F. 09 has excellent optics, and it is therefore not surprising that this model, along with other optics of W.W.I, was still used by the military during W.W.II. An interesting example of this is shown in fig. 110. This S.F. 09 was officially rebuilt and re- engraved, and the grey blue color of W.W.I was painted over with the RAL regulation Army grey-green. Also, the engraved artillery symbol (the grenade symbol, a cannon ball with flame), was painted over. The S.F. received different oculars, a [Gitterplatte, type of reticle with a grid], and a built-in illumination window for the reticle. The new engraving: 'Gi H/6400' (=Gitterplatte) indicates this reticle. Shortly before and during W.W. I, other scissor telescopes were built. In 1914, before the war, the S.F. 14 was built by Zeiss for the foot artillery. Its specifications, 10 power and 50 mm objective, were kept for most of the later models until the end of W.W. II, but the short design was not retained. The distance from the middle of the ocular to the middle of the objective is only 220 mm. in the S.F. 14 for foot artillery. The advantages of this short construction are less weight and a handier form, but these do not make up for the disadvantage of an insufficient capacity for the observer to maintain cover. Fig. 112 shows an example of this rather rare model. [page 194] Because of the disadvantages of the foot artillery model, shortly after the start of the war (1914), the S.F. 14 with elongated arms was introduced in Jena. It resembles its predecessor in the markings and optical specifications, but the arms are elongated by 110mm. Goerz, Berlin, also developed an S.F., which distinguished itself from the Zeiss models by a characteristic form. The specifications were also 10 x 50, see fig. 113. Fig 115 shows the reticle of this S.F. Another producer of this variety of S.F. is the company A.-G. Hahn, Cassel. In the course of the first world war, from about 1916 on, a larger version of the Goerz S.F. was built, the 'M 16' (M= model?), see fig. 113. The M 16 was produced in low numbers, with specifications of 15 x 60. In Jena, Zeiss made a 15 x 60 S.F., produced in a small production run (f.o.v. 58m/1000m). Zeiss modified its own S.F. 14 (with elongated arms) during the first World War. Using the same optics, the telescope bearing and the height device were changed, and thus the Zeiss S.F. 14 Z was born, which in nearly unchanged form was made until the end of the second World War by the leading German optical firms. Even in the modern German military, this model was used; because S.F. 14 Z Gi examples, with the color of paint used by the Bundeswehr, and with coated optics are known. [page 195] It is not clear, when and how these S.F., which were the property of the Wehrmacht, entered the Bundeswehr, and where they were overhauled. In the beginning of the Bundeswehr, it probably wasn’t S.F.14 Zs that were used, but rather the American BC65 (see fig. 123). But this battery commander’s telescope did not meet the expectations of the German military. Many of them were modified by Zeiss in Oberkochen, so that they fulfilled minimum optical requirements. Understandably, this procedure was not publicized (from the communication of a Zeiss colleague). A slightly modified S.F. 14 Z Gi was built in the second World War for use in tanks. It had a small, removable forehead support and did not have a spirit level for measuring the angle of the terrain. In the interior of the tank, there were movable arms with pegs to install the scissor telescope (we will not describe the successor to this instrument, the RWDF 10 x 50 developed by Zeiss Oberkochen in 1956/58 and delivered after about 1960.) With a relatively small field of view, (87 m/1000m), an S.F. 14 Z delivered a precise and sharp image. One can recognize details and is given the impression of looking through a higher power telescope. This excellent optical quality explains their frequent use, especially during the second World War. Therefore the following official communication from the war years is astonishing, and possibly the high command of the Army may have been afraid that the German soldiers had not made sufficient use of their optics at night during the war. General Army Communication of June 7, 1941: 'Use of binoculars and scissor telescopes at night. It is to be noted that at night, the distance of effective observation of the unaided eye can be doubled with the 6x30 binocular, and about tripled with a 10 x 50 binocular or a scissor telescope O.K.H. (Ch H Ruest u. BdE), May 31, 1941. 79 ln4 (IIIb)' A major problem for the S.F. 14, as for all scissor telescopes, was that of collimation: the length of the arms and the fact that they are freely movable (as the long arms of a lever), permits an exertion of very little force to slightly tilt the arms and therefore move the optical axes from parallel to each other. Because of the relatively high magnification, a fused image, (with no double image), can only be seen after a precise collimation. The rough treatment which a scissor telescope has to endure during its ‘life’ means that a perfectly adjusted specimen is rather rare. Those which are aligned in both positions of use, (with upright arms and with outstretched arms), are indeed rarities. (The alignment of an S.F. is an unloved and thankless task even for the experts.) The S.F.s of the first World War, along with those of the Imperial Army, and those which were built at the beginning of the second World War, made use of brass and show careful workmanship. Specimens from circa 1944 are ‘simpler’, but retain the same optical quality. All military S.Fs were painted, and during W.W. I, field grey was the only color used. In the mid-twenties, new instruments for the Reichswehr were delivered with a camouflage paint (official name: multicolor paint); but this was not extended to all older instruments. In the Army instruction pamphlet of the Reichs ministry of March 1927 it says: 'Painting of the scissor telescopes: A replacement by the troops of the field grey paint with the multicolor paint on the existing scissor telescopes is not intended. The multicolor paint is only intended for the scissor telescopes from the new production.... S.F. 14 Z on hand will keep the field-grey paint.' A short time later, the perceived need for camouflage paint on the existing supplies must have become greater, and the ‘nit picking’ attitude was officially abandoned. It says in the Army instruction paper of August 1928 under 'paint for observation and measuring instruments': 'The troops can acquire the special paints for the observation and measuring instrument on the open market.' Obviously the troops were able to individualize ‘their’ instruments from that point. Today we find old German scissor telescopes in grey, grey-green, olive green and so on. In addition to the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht must have used the tricolor camouflage paint. During the second World War, blue- grey, green-grey, sand, and clay colored paints were frequently used. The S.F.s that were produced at the end of the war were without the red primer undercoat. An important part of an S.F. is the reticle, which was mainly needed for target shooting at sight, for artillery measurements, and for estimating distance. The reticle is placed in the image plane of the ocular, so that the scale and the observed image could be seen at the same time, similar to the cross hairs of a rifle scope. During the first World War, there was a diversity of reticles; but the later reticles, of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht, were mostly standardized. During this time, a new reticle was developed: the Gitterplatte [grid plate], initially used for special purposes. The authors cannot give an exact date for the introduction of this. [page 197] In the paper by Kaiser (1918), the 'well known grid-plate' is mentioned, and therefore some S.F.s were equipped with the grid plate during the first World War. The S.F.s with ‘existing’ reticles were known as 'SF 14 Z', and the S.F.s with grid plates were named 'SF 14 Z Gi'. From the outside, the two models are indistinguishable. The grid plate, see fig. 115, was of such great benefit that during the second World War, it was used almost exclusively. The grid plate was the characteristic mark of the German S.F. of the second World War. From the Army instruction paper of January 1937, it can be seen (in the most beautiful language of officials), that the grid plate was generally built into new instruments only after this point in time. 'Scissor Telescopes 14 Z with Grid plate. Scissor Telescopes 14 Z with grid plate can only be issued according to the availability of the new aquisitions. An exchange of the S.F. 14 Z without grid plate for those with grid plate therefore cannot be made at the present time. High Command of the Army, January 19, 1937, AHA/Fz (V).' A reticle or grid plate alone is not sufficient to fulfill all requirements for use of an S.F. under front line conditions. To correct the angle of the artillery fire, the advance observer has to use his S.F. to transmit the position of the exploding shells in the form of angles of azimuth and altitude. To establish the angle of altitude, there is a so called ‘terrain angle measuring device’ mounted on the S.F. To measure in the horizontal direction, there is a measuring dial, which is an accessory placed between the tripod and the S.F. During W.W. I, flat measuring dials were used, but the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht only used high (drumlike) measuring dials, see fig. 116. The accessories for the S.F. also went through certain changes in the course of time. Tripods made of wood or metal, in small or large sizes, were used to mount the S.F. Alternatively, large screws were used, to fasten the S.F. on a board, tree trunk or tree. To protect from rain and to avoid stray light, rain protectors were mounted on the objectives. These are pipes that are 60 to 250 mm in length. For observing with bright light in one’s eyes, filters with different yellow tints can be put on the oculars, as with other military fieldglasses. In the dark, the reticle of the S.F. could be lit through a small glass window by means of a little lamp. The attachment for the lamp is on the tube of right ocular. All markings of the reticle are etched in the glass, for superficially applied marks on the glass would not be visible in the dark when lit from the side. The power source was an accumulator or more frequently, dry batteries, which were stored in leather or tin battery containers. To clean the S.F. in the field, there was a hair brush and a dustrag as accessories. The S.F. and its accessories were stored in containers of leather (cavalry), plywood or tin (motorized troops); and for the tripod there was another container. Another accessory for S.F. increased to 20 power the standard magnification of 10 power. By mounting the optic shown in fig. 116 in front of one objective, the magnification changed by this factor. This attachment is only mounted on one side of the S.F. Were one mounted in front of each objective, a fused image would be difficult to achieve. (Double images are already a problem at the slightest deviation between the optical axes of the right and left sides.) The optics shown here come from the former NVA (East Germany), and to judge from the olive green color, from the troops of the Warsaw Pact. It can be deduced from the special holding clamp (see fig. 116) that this optic is from the the Polish scissor telescope 'AST, Military Designation'; because the attachments for the AST includes such an accessory (Terry Vacani, personal communication). The authors have been told that such optics were used by the Wehrmacht, but there are no known specimens to proove this. John Gould, who was assigned as an inspector of captured optics after W.W. II, does know of similar German S.F. accessory optics. Only German military optics were examined in this British bureau. The optics shown in fig. 116 are therefore probably the post war successors of a German accessory. Changing the magnification of a S.F. was effectively achieved in the last century. However, another and more obvious method was chosen at that time, rather than the above discussed solution by means of an attachment. The early S.F. models in question had an ocular revolver [turret]. This device for changing magnification was integral to the S.F., and therefore more elegant but also much more expensive. [page 200] With these S.F. models, binocular viewing using increased magnification on both sides is possible. The first S.F built in this form was a modification of the scissor telescope sold in military and also civilian forms after 1899. The model with the ocular revolver had the markings: 10 + 18 x 30, and an arm length of about 26 cm.; by turning the revolver the magnification could be changed. The ocular revolver was also used in the Marineglass, fig. 192, and in another Zeiss field glass. It was soon adopted for a larger military S.F., and there is one of these interesting Zeiss S.F. models from the time before the first World War, shown in fig. 117. The author does not know of any other examples of this glass. Though the objectives have a diameter of 50 mm., this model is probably the AP 9082 A, used in Great Britain, which is described as a 10 + 20 x 42. (William Reid, personal communication). This British Admirality Pattern Number is puzzling for an instrument that was never used on board a ship, and there is an astonishing explanation: 'In W.W. I, tanks were His Majesty’s land ships, and were the responsibility of the Navy' (John Gould, personal communication). This S.F. was surely an ideal instrument to use as a tank weapon. The depicted AP 9082 A was still used long after W.W. I, and the second proof number, from the NPL (National Physical Laboratory) of 1928, confirms that fact. The models still existing in Great Britain were only declared ‘obsolescent’ in 1943. An object declared ‘obsolescent’ in Great Britain could still be used for some 10 to 15 years; and only after it was declared ‘obsolete’ was the object taken out of circulation. (John Gould, personal communication). An unusual rangefinder in the form of an S.F. is shown in fig. 118. This model, developed in Germany during W.W. II, served to measure distance, and to observe at the same time. It is less prone to misalignment, and can be used from behind cover. Between the two objectives, there is a ‘waagerechter Kollimationsstrahl’ [balanced refracting collimation device]. This stereoscopic rangefinder was produced by Zeiss (blc) and Busch(cxn) until the end of the War. For details about this 'Disvau' (Zeiss) 'rangefinder of rugged construction', see Koenig/Koehler 1959, page 411. After the war, production under the name Em 61 [rangefinder 61] was continued in the area later known as the Eastern block. It is not clear if only Zeiss Jena produced them, or if they were also made at different places. Later models, similar but of larger and smaller construction, were added. These instruments are modified from the wartime models, for example some were supplied with light amplification, see fig. 119. In the Wehrmacht there was also an instrument with a 1.25 meter base, a 40 cm. instrument for the NVA-Pioniere, and for the post war Soviet Army a model with a 2 meter basis and detachable arms. Older Soviet scissor telescopes are known, whose optics have stereoscopic measuring marks. Obviously they were used in stretched out form, as stereoscopic rangefinders, but from the outside they are hardly distinguishable from the usual S.F. (Heinz Radimersky, personal communication). http://home.europa.com/~telscope/trsg26.txt Hans Seeger, Militaerische Fernglaeser und Fernrohre, 2.6, pages 185-200 Scissor Telescopes. Hans Seeger, Hamburg and Alfred Koenig, Herborn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMC Posted January 25, 2001 Share Posted January 25, 2001 JD, I salute your valiant attempts to get this thread noticed by the authorities so we can get some real action on the german optics in CM issue! Carry on the fight, brother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Duquette Posted January 25, 2001 Share Posted January 25, 2001 RMC: Oh I dont care weather this stuff gets looked over. Its more just personal interest at this point. I ran across that site again yesterday, and figured I'd dump the stuff on the scissors scope here. Interesting that the SF14Z actually dates back to WWI. I cant help book look for range finders whenever I look at a panzer photo now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMC Posted January 25, 2001 Share Posted January 25, 2001 Ditto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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