MG34 mount

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:39 pm

I have an MG34 mount for an early TIGER 1 cupola the only problem is that wherever I look I cannot find a single reference of an early TIGER 1 having a cupola MG34 mount, does any one know which is right, I know all about the AA mount on the late TIGER 1 but that is a different cupola and a different mount. shaun

DavidByrden · Post by **DavidByrden** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:31 pm

There was no standard means of attaching an MG to the Early Tiger cupola. I can't recall ever seeing such a thing, and I've looked at a lot of photos. I can't rule out that one or two vehicles had some kind of support made up by the mechanics, though.

David

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:36 pm

jarndice wrote:I have an MG34 mount for an early TIGER 1 cupola the only problem is that wherever I look I cannot find a single reference of an early TIGER 1 having a cupola MG34 mount, does any one know which is right, I know all about the AA mount on the late TIGER 1 but that is a different cupola and a different mount. shaun

Isn't the ring that sits on the periscope housings the mount?

....thought the ring was there so the gun support could slide on it so the gun could be repositioned by just sliding it over

ALPHA

billpe · Post by **billpe** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:24 pm

The drum cupola didn't have this mount. I'm with David, I've never seen a Tiger with a drum cupola with an kind of mount on it, it wasn't standard and there was no 'kit' for it like other upgrades give out in the field like the track attachments for the side of the turret.

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:10 pm

Thank you for the confirmation, the reason I asked is that on the ring of the early cupola (on the 1/16 Tiger at least) is a series of indents that are to the left and right of the vision slits, the mount that I have has pins that locate in these indents giving an MG34 mount that is a precise fit on the cupola, this mount also fits the cupola of the PANZER4 BUT the PZ4 cupola has no indents for the mount although the actual PZ4 did have an MG34 on the cupola? shaun

DavidByrden · Post by **DavidByrden** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:21 pm

That's very peculiar.
Those holes in the Tiger early cupola are drains for rainwater. Certainly they were not suitable for attaching anything. I don't know about the Pz.4.
Who manufactures this MG ring?
David

billpe · Post by **billpe** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:39 pm

There was an MG mount for the PzIII and IV cupola. It was a V shaped bit of steel which could be bolted to the front of the cupola. The MG34 bipod - in a closed position - would then bolt into the end of the 'V' and form a limited traverse mount. It wasn't very common though and wasn't used on a ring so had limited traverse. I believe there was also another mount, similar to the one used on the turret ring of late Tigers/King Tigers which attached directly to the lip of the cupola as well.

In theory a crew could weld the mount to a Tiger drum cupola, since its really just a bent piece of steel which the bipod is then bolted onto the 'v' at the end. Still, never seen a real example of this being done.

*edit*

In fact a quick search came up with this: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7&t=153656

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:43 pm

Hi David, first, thanks for your input, as to the maker of the mount I cannot say, I got it from a German site because I was after an MG34 mount for a Panzer 4, but as I already wrote whilst the mount fits has no mounting points! But those DRAIN holes on the early cupola on the Tiger 1 are exactly sited for the pins on the MG mount? I am sure you understand why I queried this as just like you and others here I could not find any pictures showing an MG mount, and in truth you have to look quite hard to find pictures of AA mounts on late model Tigers, I think I have seen no more than a dozen in hundreds of the pictures I have seen. Take care. shaun

PainlessWolf · Post by **PainlessWolf** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:46 pm

Good Morning,
What Billpe described ( and what I 'think' that Jarndice has ) is the Mato manufacture mount for the Pz III or IV drum style cupola. I used one on the 'Palace' recently. It is pretty basic and the later model ones made by companies like Schumo are much better detailed with corrected mounts for the gurt sacks, etc. ( Apologies for the photos )
regards,
Painless

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:54 pm

BILLPE, a great site thank you most helpful, the first illustration comes nearest to my piece of bent metal? I had no idea there were so many variants, obviously the Tank crews had a demand but that demand seems not to have reached the manufacturers. shaun