Picture of the day. (2 Viewers)
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johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
?
great shot.
michaelmaltby
Colonel
michaelmaltby
Colonel
michaelmaltby
Colonel
8552
"..... Some Havocs were converted to Turbinlite aircraft which replaced the nose position with a powerful searchlight. The Turbinlite aircraft would be brought onto an enemy fighter by ground radar control. The onboard radar operator would then direct the pilot until he could illuminate the enemy. At that point a Hawker Hurricane fighter accompanying the Turbinlite aircraft would make the attack.[10] The Turbinlite squadrons were disbanded in early 1943"
[Wikipedia]
BTW - The Havoc on tracks has nothing to do with Turbinlite. Here's film of the tracked:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vmamugkI4
"..... Some Havocs were converted to Turbinlite aircraft which replaced the nose position with a powerful searchlight. The Turbinlite aircraft would be brought onto an enemy fighter by ground radar control. The onboard radar operator would then direct the pilot until he could illuminate the enemy. At that point a Hawker Hurricane fighter accompanying the Turbinlite aircraft would make the attack.[10] The Turbinlite squadrons were disbanded in early 1943"
[Wikipedia]
BTW - The Havoc on tracks has nothing to do with Turbinlite. Here's film of the tracked:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vmamugkI4
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fubar57
General
No. 1 Squadron. While searching for info on the above photo I came across this...
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
Ausf.G IR (Infrared) vision system. German Infrared Night-Vision Devices – Infrarot-Scheinwerfer
Panzer V Panther
n mid 1943, first tests with infrared night-vision (Nacht Jager) devices and telescopic rangefinders mounted on Panther started. Two different arrangements / solutions were created and used on Panther tanks. Solution A – Sperber (Sparrow Hawk) was made up of one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter operated by the commander – FG 1250.From late 1944 to March of 1945, some Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, were succesfully tested. From March to April of 1945, approximately 50 Panthers Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, saw combat service on the Eastern Front and Western Front. Panthers with IR operated with SdKfz.251/20 Uhu (Owl) half-track with 60cm infra-red searchlight and Sd.Kfz.251/21 Falke (Falcon) (with range of 2500m). This solution could be easily mounted on any type of armored fighting vehicle
Solution B – Second more complicated arrangement / solution was "Biwa" (Bildwandler), which provided driver (installed on the front hull), gunner (installed on the mantlet in front of the gun sight) and commander (as in Solution A) each with one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter. We have this for Panther II, but it's "Biwa" is not functional, only looks good. Various variants of Panthers were converted and mounted with "Biwa". It was reported that tests were successful, but there is very few combat reports from the Eastern or Western Front. Due to the lack of evidence, existence of Solution B is still questionable and even considered a hoax, but despite this was "implemented" into the game for Panther II (and it is simplier, than use a second - third "unarmed" Sd.Kfz 251/21 for the german tank platoon).
Various units received IR Panthers including 116th Panzer Division (3rd company of 24th Panzer Regiment, Western Front, Summer of 1944), Sixth SS Panzer Army (Hungary, early 1945), Panzer Division Muncheberg and Clausewitz.One combat report is by a veteran of 1st SS Panzer Regiment of 1st SS Panzer Division "LSSAH", who states that few Panthers equipped with infrared night-vision devices possibly from 116th Panzer Division were used in 1944/45 during the Ardennes Offensive.In April of 1945, Panthers equipped with IR equipment (solution B) joined Panzer Division Clausewitz and in mid April near Uelzen destroyed entire platoon of British Comet cruiser tanks. Also on April 21st of 1945, same Panthers overran an American anti-tank position on the Weser-Elbe Canal. Most of those reports can't be confirmed and are questionable.
In addition, it is reported but not supported that single unit equipped with Jagdpanthers also received and used infrared night-vision devices.
Panzer V Panther
n mid 1943, first tests with infrared night-vision (Nacht Jager) devices and telescopic rangefinders mounted on Panther started. Two different arrangements / solutions were created and used on Panther tanks. Solution A – Sperber (Sparrow Hawk) was made up of one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter operated by the commander – FG 1250.From late 1944 to March of 1945, some Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, were succesfully tested. From March to April of 1945, approximately 50 Panthers Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, saw combat service on the Eastern Front and Western Front. Panthers with IR operated with SdKfz.251/20 Uhu (Owl) half-track with 60cm infra-red searchlight and Sd.Kfz.251/21 Falke (Falcon) (with range of 2500m). This solution could be easily mounted on any type of armored fighting vehicle
Solution B – Second more complicated arrangement / solution was "Biwa" (Bildwandler), which provided driver (installed on the front hull), gunner (installed on the mantlet in front of the gun sight) and commander (as in Solution A) each with one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter. We have this for Panther II, but it's "Biwa" is not functional, only looks good. Various variants of Panthers were converted and mounted with "Biwa". It was reported that tests were successful, but there is very few combat reports from the Eastern or Western Front. Due to the lack of evidence, existence of Solution B is still questionable and even considered a hoax, but despite this was "implemented" into the game for Panther II (and it is simplier, than use a second - third "unarmed" Sd.Kfz 251/21 for the german tank platoon).
Various units received IR Panthers including 116th Panzer Division (3rd company of 24th Panzer Regiment, Western Front, Summer of 1944), Sixth SS Panzer Army (Hungary, early 1945), Panzer Division Muncheberg and Clausewitz.One combat report is by a veteran of 1st SS Panzer Regiment of 1st SS Panzer Division "LSSAH", who states that few Panthers equipped with infrared night-vision devices possibly from 116th Panzer Division were used in 1944/45 during the Ardennes Offensive.In April of 1945, Panthers equipped with IR equipment (solution B) joined Panzer Division Clausewitz and in mid April near Uelzen destroyed entire platoon of British Comet cruiser tanks. Also on April 21st of 1945, same Panthers overran an American anti-tank position on the Weser-Elbe Canal. Most of those reports can't be confirmed and are questionable.
In addition, it is reported but not supported that single unit equipped with Jagdpanthers also received and used infrared night-vision devices.
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johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
Panther tanks of Operation Spring Awakening, the last German offensive of WWII, abandoned on the road near Lake Balaton, Hungary, due to lack of fuel.
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Great pic. Looks like the nearest Panther has also been burnt-out, I suppose by the crew.
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
s.Pz.Abt.503, later nicknamed "Feldherrnhalle", posing in formation for the German newsreels, prior to departing for Hungary, 1944.
Tiger II specifications
Dimensions (L-w-h) 6.40 (10.28 oa) x 3.75 x 3.09 m (21ft x12ft6 x10ft1)
Total weight, battle ready 69.8 tons (76.9 short tons)
Crew 5 (commander, driver, gunner, loader, radio/machine-gunner)
Armament 88 mm (3.46 in) KwK43 L/71, 86 rounds
2 or 3x 7.9 mm (3 in) MG 34, 5800 rounds
Armor 25 to 180 mm (1-7.08 i)
Propulsion V12 Maybach HL230 P30, gasoline, 690 hp (515 kW)
Transmission OLVAR EG40 12 16B, 8-forward/4-reverse gearbox
Suspension Torsion bars and interleaved wheels
Speed (on road – off road) 41.5 km/h – 20 km/h (25.8 – 12 mph)
Operational range (on road – off road) 170 km – 120 km (110 – 75 mi)
Total production 492
Tiger II specifications
Dimensions (L-w-h) 6.40 (10.28 oa) x 3.75 x 3.09 m (21ft x12ft6 x10ft1)
Total weight, battle ready 69.8 tons (76.9 short tons)
Crew 5 (commander, driver, gunner, loader, radio/machine-gunner)
Armament 88 mm (3.46 in) KwK43 L/71, 86 rounds
2 or 3x 7.9 mm (3 in) MG 34, 5800 rounds
Armor 25 to 180 mm (1-7.08 i)
Propulsion V12 Maybach HL230 P30, gasoline, 690 hp (515 kW)
Transmission OLVAR EG40 12 16B, 8-forward/4-reverse gearbox
Suspension Torsion bars and interleaved wheels
Speed (on road – off road) 41.5 km/h – 20 km/h (25.8 – 12 mph)
Operational range (on road – off road) 170 km – 120 km (110 – 75 mi)
Total production 492
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
Very rare Studio Portrait of 2 brothers in the Armour Branch / 2.WK The one in the uniform of the assault gun troop of the Armed Forces and the other in the uniform of LAH SS Panzer troop with interesting peas tarn-cap of the Tiger Force / Rottenführer Waffen SS
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
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