Lets you spin the image to see the interior of a PzIV turret. An interesting oddity. Claustrophobia in a tin

http://storage.net-fs.com/hosting/3912593/2/index.htm

That's pretty cool, but a tight squeeze to say the least.

Fascinating

Fascinating, indeed. Full of sticky out hard things to bump your head on. You can also see where equipment like the canteen (feldflasche) is stowed. However, I wonder what "Erst Zurrungen losen, dann richten" means? Google translate is not very helpful* [e.g., leucht pistole (flare gun) is translated as 'luminous pistol.'].

*Google ~ "Only lashings loose, then set(?)"

There are a load of videos of tank details - with interior shots, but no panoramic videos - linked to the World of Tanks game, but real tanks in various museums - mostly by a guy called 'The Chieftain' - his YouTube channel seems to be 'TheChieftainWoT', but I can't access YouTube from work to see if they're all there. They all looks cramped & hard to work in, some look like they need a crew of contorsionists...

From TankNet, user Panzermann -

Quote"Erst Zurrungen lösen, dann richten"

first unlock travel lock of the cannon (and/or turret), then start aiming

it is to remind the gunner (Richtschütze -> literally "aim shooter") to check if travel lock is engaged before taking aim

As an aside my Uncle worked with a bloke who drove tanks at the back end of WW2, and said that he and his fellows had been in awe of the German VunderTanks thinking them amazingly crafted weapons of war, engines of terrible, precision engineered destruction. Then they got in a few intact captured ones, and were appalled - build quality, performance and design awful compared to the Shermans or Cromwells they'd driven, terrible ergonomics (not that he said ergonomics - "sharp edges and corners everywhere, no room to move or do anything and everything was in the wrong place").

Said it gave him a different respect for German tankers, going to war in such contraptions.

I don't know what marks he saw, but as it was NWE I'd guess PzrIV and Panther.

Random unsupported anecdote for the day, there. Does fit with the gunners seat view on the link though!

Quote from: Wulf on 21 October 2016, 09:57:22 AM
There are a load of videos of tank details - with interior shots, but no panoramic videos - linked to the World of Tanks game, but real tanks in various museums - mostly by a guy called 'The Chieftain' - his YouTube channel seems to be 'TheChieftainWoT', but I can't access YouTube from work to see if they're all there. They all looks cramped & hard to work in, some look like they need a crew of contorsionists...

The Chieftain does some excellent videos and talks and discussions, very often from first hand experience.

Was it the A series Cruisers took nearly ten minutes for the driver to get in, and the rest of the crew couldn't start until he got out the way. And then he couldn't get out till the rest had squirmed and wriggled free... I can understand why early British tankers bailed often and early if that's the case. You can't wait till you KNOW your in trouble/been hit/are on fire, you have to start getting out at the very first suspicion or you're toast

Very interesting

Take care

Andy

I've watched a lot of 'The Chieftains Hatch' videos. As an ex-tankie (on Chieftains) I'm horrified at the conditions under which tankers had to work and fight. The Chieftain wasn't exactly 'spacious' but it was at least well laid out with only a few things to hit you in the temple!

Yeah, thats one thing Western tank designers really took hold of - stems from Sherman and later British designs. If you want the crew to fight effectively you have to give them the space and safety to do so!

Postwar NATO designs designed & built under relative pressure free conditions are usually good examples; without th  need to go from spec to field "YESTERDAY TOO SLOW ARRRGH!" they tend to be much more workable for the crew.

Roomy compared to the British Chieftain turret (inside begins at 6.50).