Todays find, RBF 32

[ValhallaMilitaria]

I got a call today from one of my local pickers who was doing a house clean out and he just said "I found some sort of German scope or sight" I drove over and here is what I found! This thing is pretty neat, very well made and a great optical picture like only the Germans can do. What exactly was it used for? I found one on e-bay in GB for 242.00....is this a fair price?

Thanks for looking!
Regards,
Eric

[ValhallaMilitaria]

some more

[ValhallaMilitaria]

and these

[mlespaul]

Nice condition RblF 32. Looks to be pre-war or more likely early war manufacture date. Used for all variety of artillery as the main indirect sight for laying elevation of the guns as they were universally fitted to all the standard carriage assemblies. These were used mostly to be aimed at rearward elevation-number marked stakes behind the firing line, but some photos have shown them aimed downrange so they could be used as direct sighting if necessary. These sometimes came with extension poles to allow the device to be brought up over the shield level of the field piece.

32's went on 10,5 cm Field howitzers and were also used on the 7,5 cm field guns of various types. Datenblatts show the 32s as also being assigned as part of the equipment for the early and mid-model Sturmgeschutz, but I'll be darned if I can figure out how they fitted into the carriage assembly unless there was an additional adapter piece.

240 is a fair and standard price. If it were with it's case and accessories, and the rubberized eyecup, it would be more, but it's getting harder and harder to find them. Ebay used to be crowded with RblF boxes of all types, but I don't see them much anymore.

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Paul,
Thanks for the info and your expertise, I too found the data on the Sturmgeschutz use but no pics of it in use in that role, the quality of this thing is amazing...early war seems rigth to me too just judging by its appearance.This is a really nice piece of history and it must weigh 8-9lbs.
Thanks again for your help!
Eric

[mlespaul]

Anytime

[me6_130]

The item looks nice early war. It would be used in short barreled StuGs as long barreled ones would use the improved RblF 36.

Your Rblf 32 has a part missing (blue arrows). Mine is restored and has the main wheel missing ( for sale on E-stand).

Carles

[me6_130]

First pic shows how it would be used to aim the gun for indirect fire, by artillery, in the second you can see the little 'window' at the top left of the main gun where the RblF32 was placed.

Carles

[me6_130]

Datenblatts show the 32s as also being assigned as part of the equipment for the early and mid-model Sturmgeschutz, but I'll be darned if I can figure out how they fitted into the carriage assembly unless there was an additional adapter piece.

240 is a fair and standard price.

Here's a pic of the adapter for the optics to the carriage assembly.
I've just sold a nice Rblf 36 with it's box (empty), on E-stand, for 220 eu.

Carles

[mlespaul]

Right, I see that photo of the Richtschutze placing the SflZF into the tube holder, but there must have been an adapter of some sort that the RblF would fit into that same tubular holder. And the carriage acts as a standard artillery ZE. Must have been some sort of adapter piece....

[me6_130]

Another nice photo:


Carles