Quote:
Originally Posted by TRDG
Thanks for the fresh thread Fabio, for me, that rang very true in the Eastern front, there were also scizzor(?) telescopes in use for the Germans, at least some of the better commmanders did. So you would not actually have to put your "head" on the line to get a good sighting of the enemy, and terrain ahead while you are on the move!!
Cheers, now what was the "Allied" way of doing things, besides the Russians, does anyone know by chance?  
Tom  |
Ah, yes, those were coincidence rangefinders - for long range gunnery.
The western allies had their way with this issue, too. I'm quoting from memory, but I think GEN Patton (or GEN Craighton Abrams) threatened his tank commanders with welding their hatches open...
Personally I think it was like Carius described for all tank commanders, regardless of whose side they fought during WW2 and beyond. I remember reading somewhere that Allied tank commanders went through an ordeal in the close terrain of Normandy, where German snipers got the nasty habit of shooting at the tank's commanders heads.
You see, tank commanders have to have situational awareness in combat. The closer the range the more critical it becomes. When they and their crews get buttoned up, they have a major problem actually seeing what's happening. It's a very dangerous, risky situation, but if you are a tank commander, you'll have to keep your head exposed.
Cheers,
Fab