STABILIZED OPTICAL SIGHT FOR GERMAN TANK GUNS 1, [emRopucroN The first evidence that the Germans vere interested in stabilised tank gans aad sights was uncovered during the interrogation of Stiele von Heydekampf, President of the Panzer Kommiesion. He clained that. they first became interested after sesing our Medium Tank, M3 equipped with gun stedilizer and used in the African Campaign, and had made some experimental modele of stabilizers for both the telescope and gun of a Panther Tank. He contended that the experiments were promising, but could not or would not reveal any further details. A later investigation of BE, Leite, Wetelar, disclosed that they hed built the optical parts of a stabilized sight for the Pantper, but that the gyroscopic parts had been furnished by Fa. Kreiselgerate - Berlin, and that Mr. Ernst Haass of that firm was the inventor and de- signer. kr, Haass was the only pereon located who was familiar with the complete design and teste of the instrument in question. Haase claimed that he had "invented® this instrument prior to the war, and had offered his patents to Sperry Gyroscope Company, but their offer did not satisfy him, Meanwhile, there was found at the Leitz Plant, a completed model sif@ilar to the German sight, but not as refined, which Ludwig Leitz claimed had been captureg on the Russian Front and was being copied and refined by Kreiselgerate and Leitz to- gether. Probably there is some truth in all of these conflicting accounts. It is very likely that Haeas held basic gyroscopic patents which were utilized in the completed instrument. Also, the Germans started working on tank gun stabilization as a result of discovering our progress along these lines, and later became interested in their final product as a result of discovering the instrument claimed to oe Russian vy Leitz. II, Ds 1. The design work on the stabilizer, with the exception of the op~ tics, which were merely modifications of standard tank fire control equipment, was conducted at Berlin, and Themar/Meiningen, and all of the drawings and sxperimental models ha¢ been destroyed. The original model of the stabilized sight had no provision for correcting for the inherent error caused dy the celay in tine betweenthe impulse to fire and ejection of the projectile when the gun was being accelerated or decelerated in the vertical plane. Asa result, the instrument was only useful for observation while the vehicle was in motion, Later incorporation of what the inventor calls a "pre-ignition device" overcame this difficulty. The "pre-tgnition device" 1s actually a gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator, sensitive in the vertical plane only, and calibrated to compensate for the time delay according to the rate of angular motion of the gun. The completed experimental model was installed in a Panther Tank and underwent extensive tests at Kumnersdorf Proving Ground, Berlin, in March 1945, Haass claims that these tests were highly successful, and that after Hitler and his aides had witnessed part of the test, he had been instructed to make necessary changes and immediately put the instru- ment into production. However, the end of the war came before this could be accomplished. The claimed accuracy of the Panther Tank gun when using this sight 1s on the order of 1/2 mil, This is a fairly good accuracy. How~ ever, this is the word of the inventor and has not been substantiated. III. ONCLUSION This method of stabilization is different from that used by us, ané if it is as good as claimed, the principle is worthy of consider= ation. Without substantiation of the inventor's claims, no conclusions of its real value can de made. IV. RSKARKS Mr, Haass has prepared a short report, couplete with sketches, describing in some detail the principal and operation of this instru- nent. This description is included as Appendix A of this report. Hanes also submitted with his report a proposal to complete @rawinge and a model, but it is recommended that this proposal be dis— regarded as the principal is the thing of value. This proposal is in- cluded as Appendix C for information. The only available photographs showing a general view of the complete sight, control box, and motor generator set used for producing the AC current required for operation of the gyroscops, are included in Appendix B.APPENDIX A SHORT DESCEIPTICN of the stabilizer for the field of view with pre- ignition gyro for the optic in a self-propelled gunt 1. General considerations 2, Bask of the apparatus 3. Construction and mode of action 4. Data 5. Besulte 6, Sketches 1. Gene; ti i: It is presumed that all the considerations in this description refer only to the anguler height of the gun. There exists the desire and the necessity for the self-propelled gun to pursue the target, once it is sighted when moving, and if poss- ible to fire at it while in motion. his task is opposed by consider- able difficulties. When driving over more or less rough ground, the angular height of the gun and the optic fitted to it, change perma~ netly. The target appears to the observer sometimes above, and some- times below, the hair line. This is very strenuous and tiring for the observer. For wide firing ranges, a high enlargement factor of the optic was required, However, this high enlargenent factor increases still more the difficulties in the observation of the target which éanced up and down in the crose hairs, An enlargement factor of two ie, therefore, generally used for non-stabilized optics. This is however, whooly insufficient for a wide firing range. Thus, if the observation of the target is very difficult while in motion, a success- ful bombardment ie impossible while in motion, This difficulty can be eliminated when the gun barrel with the optic is stabilized by a gyro mechanism. This has been done with good success. However, this dir- ect stabilization is suitable only for smaller guns up to 37 m cali- ber. For larger guns, very big gyros mst be used on account of the sharply increasing moment of inertia of barrel, recoil, and “unwacht" of the barrel. This has the disadvantage of high weight, requirement of a large space, high power requirements, and high manufacturing costa. Those factors cannot be justified by the vehicle. For large caliber guns only, the way to a stabilization of the field-of-view is left open. The field-of-view stabilizer can be built very small, light, accurate, and cheap, tecause it works practically without a load. Such instruments were built, but st first without ore-ignition gyro. This meant that the observation of the target was now possible without dif- ficulty while tne vehicle was moving. The target rests quietly in the crosshair and can be observed with any enlargement factor desired, this algo at 10,000-m distance. However, to fire, it was necessary tcatop the venicle and wade the hairline mark o/ the barrel cover with the hairline mark of the observation. The installation of the pre-ignition gyro represents a further improvement. It is its task to measure the barrel's angular speed, and to effect a correction that corresponds to the firia: retardation which has to ve cohsidered. This mechaniam per~ mite to fire and to hit while the vehicle ts in motion. However, if the firing ts done from stationary vehicle, the barrel has to be traversed from top to bottom, or reverse, in which case the firing mechanism ie automatically released. This thus perfect instrument has clready been constructed, oni wae tested with great success in the beginning of 1945. The firing results showed a mean value of 1 0.5m deviation from the target at 1000-n distance. 2. Maske of Instrument: The instrument has to fulfill two functions: (a) The exit prism of a telescope that is fitted to the cradle of a gun barrel has to be steered in a manner that it does not follow the changes in angular height that occur when driving over uneven ground. Neither is it tq follow the changes in angular height from the sighting axis directed toward the target that occur when the barrel traverses up and down. Phe gun layer has to keop the target caught in the cross- hairs and keep it there always in spite of upward and downward movements of barrel and telescope., (bv) The instrument is to fire the round by electric contact when the gun barrel traverses upward and downvard Just at the moment at which the varrel is at the correct angular height for the target. 4 potential mistake, that may be caused by the firing retardation and anguler epeed of the barrel, can be eliminated by # correcting mechanisz that is dependent on the angular speed. 3. pare a. Met’ if ots 3 Construction: (a) The housing 1 4s rigidly fixed to the gun cradle and carries pivoted on the bearings 2 and 3; the gyro carrier 4 with the stabilizing gyros 5 and 6. They are, with their precession ping, placed in bearings 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. fhe coupling of the gyros is effected by segrents of gear wheels 11 and 12. The precession pins are connected with the contact mechanism 13 and 14 for the regulation of the servo motor 15, as well as the generators of tne correcting torque 16. Over the lever mechanism 17, the angle between housing 1 and gyro carrier 4, is transferred to prism 18 which is located in the telescope. On the axle 19, which is rigidly connectéd with housing 1, the contact lever 20 is situated, which is necessary for the electric release cf the firing mechanism. The lever is turned with a transmission from a small pin of the gyro carrier in accordance with the angular movement betweenhousing 1 and gyro carrier 4. Directly atop of it, the counter-contact "GegenKontakt™ is located, which, with the lever 21 is also situated on the axle 19 and is turned over the needle 22 and springs 23 by the pre- ignition gyro 29, in accordance with the angular speed of the barrel. The screw to regulate the contact 25 is situated on lever 21. THe pre- ignition gyro is located in housing 1 with its precession pins 26 and 27. It te tied by a standardired spring mechanism 28 around the pre- cession axis in a suitable inclination. 29 ts an arresting device that is affixed to housing 1, and serves to arrest the gyros 5 and 6 in their precession axis, and simultaneously to arrest gyro carrier 4 oposite housing 1. The arresting device can de activateé by hand or electricity. (0) Mode of Functioning: Housing 1 of the stabilization, as well as the optic with the prism that is moved by the stabilization, are rigidly fitted to the cradle of the barrel. M™he optic is constructed in @ manner that the ocular is practically fixed to the turret (to facilitate observation), and the objective to the barrel. The sighting axis is maintained evabilized by the movable priem. Thus housing 1 of the stabilization follows all movements of the barrel, exceot the recoil. If a target is sighted, the barrel is brought in the approximate direction of the target with the arresting devices pushed hone. Together with the barrel housing 1 and atop of the arresting device 9, the gyro carrier 4, together with gyro and prism 18 are moved into this position, After the arresting device 29 has been dissolved, it is possible to correct the position of the gyro carrier 4 and thus that of priam 18, while the target is observed, until the cross hairs are directly on the target. This is done by means of the regulating switch which is loca- ted in the steering box. The correcting movement is achieved by ad- ding the effect of the regulating switch to that of the generator of the correcting moment 16, the latter causing a gyrating precession movement around the axles 2 and 3 according to the gyro law Md Jw, and thus moved gyro carrier 4 together with prism 18 into the desired position. The gyro carrier 4 now remains exactly at the saw? point on account of the stabilieing effect of the gyros, and together with it, over the lever 17 and prisu 18. At the upward and downward movements of the gun, which is caused by the motion of the vehicle, the housing 1 is swinging in the bearings 2 and 3. In the transmitting lever, a gear reduction of 231 is located to balance the gear reduction 1:2 of the optical prism. The lever transmission is arranged in a manner that it does not cause any mistakes, Contacts 13 and 24 and servo motor 15 constitute an auxiliary mechanisa which permits unlimited long obser- vation of the target. If the gyros move out of their zero position, on account of the friction generated on axles 2 and 3, the servo motor 15 is switched on over the contact mechanism 13 and 14, and moves the gyros back into starting position, in accordance with the gyro law,tie, thus remain permanently able to overate. The servo motor 15 is built ejmilar to a simple alternating current motor with a short cir- cuit "Laufer". It is located directly on axles 2 and 3 and serves solely as generator of moments, because it makes but small angular movements. The contact lever 20 is joined to gyro carrier 4 with the greatest possible oxactness with a gear reduction opposite to housing 1. This lever is necessary to release the firing mechanism. The angle created between housing 1 and gyro carrier 4 is thus reproduced on an increased scale on the contact. Because the round is fired wits moving barrel with the apparatus here described, the projectile would ve fired at a firing angle different from that desired on account of the firing retardation. At an assumed angular speed of 20° per second, and a firing retardation of 90 of a second (from the electric release 1000 to the shell's leaving the barrel), a mistake 20° x _60_ sec. = 1000 1000 1000 sec. =1° would have been caused. Thus, the gun would fire 1° too high when moving upward and 1° too low when moving downward. Thie corres- ponds to an altitude difference of 217. 5-meters at 1000-m distance. The lead of the contact, therefore, has to amount to exactly 1° in which case the tranemission which is installed in lever 20 has to be taken into consideration. The dependence of this lead angle from angu- lar speed and time of retardation is linear. It is, there‘ore, neces sary to consider the angular speed of the barrel, as well as the firing retardation, by the pre-ignition gyro 24. For this purpose, the pré- ignition gyro 24 is located in bearings 26 and 27 in housing 1. Be- cause housing 1 follows, as already mentioned, al] up and dewn move- ments of the barrel, the correct relative angular speed of the barrel is always transmitted, irrespective if it has been caused by the driving or by additional manual traversing of the barrel. When the housing 1 executes rctary moveménts around exle 2 and 3, the pre-ignition gyro executes, according to the gyro law Md = dw, rotating movements around the precession axle 26 and 27, whose deflection is coordinated to the angular speed around axle 2 and 3, by means of the spring device 26. By a special mechanism, it is possible to change the spring constant and its traction power in a manner as it is required by the exact standardization and timing of the instrument. The deflection of the pre-ignition gyro is linear, dependent upon the angular speed. It is transferred over the needle 22 and tension spring 23 to lever 2] with its "counter contact" "GegenKontakt®. This “counter contact" 1s ad~ Justed by adjusting screw 25 in such a manner that the time of connec- tion between “counter contact" and the switch contact on lever 20 at highest angular speed, and with the necessary certainty, is sufficient to melt the ignition wire. -To fire the round, the ovserver has to operate a push button that is connected in series with the ignition contact and built into the steering box, If under those conditions, the gun is traversed through the proper firing position, the round is fired through the levere 20 and 21, If the firing is done froma| ee we Dchfelelstebilsionte Gab mit lorzindertre set. Perspettivisthe Darstellung 7.Tg | thee | Ercpmcny ar ears at |Back eel stabblisierang fir Catt at ordinate Schemateshe Jarsteltan HHstanding vehicle, the barrel has to be traversed by hand through the firing position in order to fire the round. In principle, it would be possible to stabilize the tyro carrier 4 with one gyro only. The two-gyro system which has been chosen renoves one axis of sensibility "Emptindickkeitsachse" from the instrument. Its location is chosen so as to make the instrument inseneible against all lateral movements of the gun or the vehicle, Rotating movements of gun or vehicle around the axis of the barrel do not influence the arrange- ment of the gyros because those rotating movements are done around the rotation axes of the gyros. The instrument described, therefore, has but one axis of sensibility which coincides in the present case with the elevating mechanism. For the sake of completeness, it may be seid that the vehicle 30 Which 1s located in the telescope is arranged suitably for shift, and that after fixing of the target distance, a corresponding angle of ele- vation ie adjusted on this vehicle. 4. Figures and Data: fo the complete instrument belongs, aside from the stabilization with pre-ignition gyro which 1s Joined to the gun's cradle, the steering box which 1s located in comfortable proximity to the observer. It contains the necessary fuses and switches for the operation of the apparatus, e.g. correcting ewitch for elevating and lowering of optical sighting axis, switches for light and power supply, as well as switches for firing an¢ the arresting device. Furthermore, @ transformer is necessary which transforme the direct current from the battery into alternating current. The tension of the alternating current ig 36-volts at 500-cycles. The gyros rotate at 28,000 EPh. The whole consumption of energy amounts to 120 watts on the direct current aside. Clean observation up to 6000-m is guaranteed at 3 and 6-fold enlargement. The angles of elevation of which this instru- nent is capable are 7 16°, 5. Results: At the first trials the inetrument was tested for many hours on an artificial course. Faultless observation was possible without the observer tiring in the least. The instrument is simple and sturdy and works without the least failure. It is completely insensitive, on account of its good arrangements of the gyros, ageinst all movements of the gun or vehicle that are be- yond its elevation. The firing resulted in a mean value of 10 rounds each in a devia-, tion of 70.5-m from the target at 1000-m distance, corresponding to an angular value of 0.5-nil.APPENDIX 3B Complete Sight, Box, Control and Motor Tenerator. Vontrol Box and Generator| General View of SightAPPENDIX C Wetzlar August 4, 1945 Stoppelderger B. Haaes Hohl 9 OFFER For the construction of a stabilizer for the field-of-view with pre-ignition device for the optics of a self-propelled gun. With reference to the conversations with Major Christopher, we offer the complete construction of the above mentioned stabilizer at a total cost of 25,000 Marks. The complete construction consists of? All Sketches All drawings of individual parts 41) asserbly and group drawings The main assembly installation crawings All stock lists, material list, and other compilations neces- sary for the manufacture All switch and wiring plans, As well as all manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of important individual parts, their measurements and instruc~ tions for the installation. All the above mentioned particulars can be supplied in three months, if the work already finished is taken into consideration. The measurements of the apparatus are? Length 154—mm With arresting device 166-nn Width 160-nm Height 160-mm It 4s intended that the construction is fitted to the telescope S2F2 of B. Leite, Wetzlar. This telescope has the following data: Enlargement 3 and 6 times ‘Bxit pupil S-mn Over-all length about 680-mm with optical Joint installed, for view with immobile turret at a tra- verse of the gun barrel ofThe functioning of the spparatus can de seen from enclosed descrip- tion and schenatic drawings. We should like to point out that the above mentioned constructions are, on instructions from Kajor Christopher, worked on since the begin- ning of July and have progressed well. In this connection, we ask for a speecy order. The manufacturing costs for a finished apparatus, except the optic, will amount in series production to 1500 Marks, according to calculations already done. ° The manufacture of a prototype would be more expensive on account of manual and individual manufacture. We as if the manufacture of prototypes is also under consideration.