Tiger 1 driver's vision port

[cupoftea]

Gentlemen - a quick question if I may...

I notice that the early Tiger 1's had two periscope holes above the driver's vision port for use in combat when, I presume, the driver's vision port was closed. My question is did the vision port remain open at all times when these periscope holes were done away with? Just curious to know how the vision port was used after the holes ceased to be a feature.

Many thanks for any help.

[DavidByrden]

The port was not a simple "open or shut" device. Its upper and lower portions were moved by a single handwheel, so the gap could be adjusted continuously.
Without the Kff2 vision device, Tiger drivers had no choice but to open the port slightly in order to see forward. Except, of course, that they could put their head out the hatch.

David

[mike1268]

Although if they put their heads out of the hatch, they cant drive. You cant reach the controls and look out of the hatch of a tiger I.

[DavidByrden]

Really? I haven't tried that. Have you?

David

[jarndice]

I am trying to work out why a Tank manufacturer would fit a hatch for the driver if he was not able to drive the Tank while looking through the hatch, what would be the point?
Installing a hatch in a Tank body is not something that is done without a lot of thought,
Any opening in the Tank body weakens the structure rather like putting a hole in an egg.
shaun

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning,
I think that we had this discussion in here before. The driver controls and seat are to the right of the hatch opening so the driver has to sit on the ledge to the left or something there to put his head out of the hatch?
regards,
Painless

[DavidByrden]

Why yes, we had this before.



Since I don't have lengthwise measurements of where the pedals are, this is only partially useful.
But there are plenty of wartime photos of crewmen apparently doing this.

David

[cupoftea]

Interesting - thanks for the replies chaps.

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Ah yes. We have indeed been here before...

I would love to have a definitive answer.

David I thought you had been inside the Bovington Tiger? Surely you can tell us if it's physically possible for an average sized bloke to drive while sticking his head out? Assuming he wasn't using some clever set up to push the pedals and steer at the same time...

[wibblywobbly]

Drivers view in a Tiger tank.