Question about a "late" Tiger 1 tank

[michaelwhittmann]

Did late Tiger 1's with Zimmerit have the smoke emitters on either side of the turret?

[Panzermechaniker]

According to this site only the first 286 had the smoke grenade launcher brackets installed so there would probably be no examples of a "late" Tiger 1 with them as even the original ones left in field were cut off after the directive to get rid of them

https://tiger1.info/EN/Smoke-grenade-brackets.html

[michaelwhittmann]

Thx sarge

[jarndice]

According to this site only the first 286 had the smoke grenade launcher brackets installed so there would probably be no examples of a "late" Tiger 1 with them as even the original ones left in field were cut off after the directive to get rid of them

https://tiger1.info/EN/Smoke-grenade-brackets.html

The smoke dischargers were first fitted to the Tiger1 in August 1942 they were no longer fitted from June 1943.
Of course many Tigers would have retained them for some while after with an expectation that they would be removed at a major workshop service.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

WHY were the smoke dischargers no longer added after June '43 and even removed on some of the Tigers so equipped?

[Panzermechaniker]

From the website I linked in the 2nd post:

Complaints about the new launcher devices came back from the frontline troops. Because the launcher pots faced forward, small-arms fire could enter them and ignite the smoke candles within the pots. This photo shows the result: the crew lose sight of their surroudings.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Ah, now that is interesting! Thank you, Panzermechaniker.

[AlanWhite]

They faced forward and small arms fire could set them off which obscured the tank crews vision
so ground troops could do dastardly things to the tank or slip past it without being seen
oops didnt see it was answered above