Comparing RblF 32 and 36

[me6_130]

Hello,

I've got these two RblF32 and RblF36. I've decided to sell the 32 as I want to concentrate in those optics used in StuG III L42 leaving out that for short barreled StuG III. I've thought it would be good to shoot some pics comparing both.

Carles

[me6_130]

You can clearly see the front "window" of the 36, and the "head" in general, is larger than that of the 32.

Carles

[me6_130]

See the differences of the stamps and construction of the heads and the making of the knobs.

Carles

[me6_130]

I've just found out that djg is for J Veltjens K-G, Berlin I didn't know this maker. I found it here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=djg

If anyone interested in the RblF32 optic, you can find it at E-stand:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=888760

Carles

[me6_130]

Something you might have not realised are the differences between the boxes. See the closing system of the tan, compared to the much simpler of the green one. It has a ring, I imagine to lock it. That, together with the 4 holes on the base, makes me think it is a model for vehicles such as the StuG, not for arty.

Carles

[Mikedenmark]

Or maybe regulation required the box to be mounted on the gun carriage, rather than being carried on a truck or elsewhere not on the cannon.

That would be an explanation for the lock option. It is not likely to be needed inside an AFV. Besides, did they use RbF´s in tanks? I cannot really see a use there.
But possibly on openbodied gun carriages. But that would only make sense if the cannons were used as batteries, and not for direct fire in close combat.

[me6_130]

Certainly RblFs were used in StuGs and some other SPA as they are not tanks but self propelled artillery carriages. They could be used for indirect and direct fire, by changing the optic from the RblF32 or 36 to the Slf.Z.F 1, so moved their use as support artillery to assault guns or tank hunters.

It is true, the lock ring and the holes could be to fit them on an open arty carriage but then most of the boxes would have holes...

In these pics you can see the windows for the gunner's optics. In early short barrel StuGs it was opened forwards (pic1) for RblF32 but in later long barrel StuGs it was open on the top of the cabin (pic2) for RblF36 or Sfl.Z.F.1.


Carles

[me6_130]

Here is the RblF base (circle in both pics) in a later StuG III and the window for the optic (arrow in pic2), and how Slf.Z.F.1 needed an adapter to fit it to the RblF base (arrow in pic2) as it was disigned for a RblF not for the Slf.Z.F.



Carles

[Mikedenmark]

I thought, it was only the ZF1, that went through the roof. The base for the RblF is there, I can see that. Did they use it for the RblF ?

[me6_130]

I thought, it was only the ZF1, that went through the roof. The base for the RblF is there, I can see that. Did they use it for the RblF ?

Hello Mike,

I believe so. Remember StuGs were artillery branch used as artillery, as assault artillery or as antitank artillery. The Sfl.Z.F.1 was used for direct shooting while the RblF for indirect. The problem is, as tanks were more expensive and slower to build, StuGs would be used to fill the gap but were never tanks. I recall the story of a tanker that at the very end of the war, while retreating, they had to use a StuG but when they tried to shoot, they couldn't make out how to direct the fire just because the use of the StuG optics was different from the Panzer T.Z.F.


Carles

[Mikedenmark]

Must have been an extremely fast instruction in the Stug, like: here are the key´s..GO!!!
I read a tale of a panzer soldier somewhere in Austria. He managed to get out of no less than 3 damaged Panzers during the last months fighting. 2 Mark IV and one mark III. Most of the crew did not survive the first tank, so, apparently, they shopped around inside their units to match men and vehicles untill something was moving.

But to drive out with a gun you cannot aim sounds crazy. But certainly not impossible.
Still, For indirect fire, I would not expect StuG´s or for that matter, tanks.

Possibly the old russian 76 mm on self propelled carriages. They would be well suited for the indirect fire role. Or any other self propelled gun.

[me6_130]

I guess driving a StuG would not be so different from driving a PzKpfw. The problem is aiming the gun. In a tank you turn the turret, adjust the sight, load and fire. In a StuG you'd have to move the whole vehicle, to start with, as the movement of the gun is limited, then aim the target, load and shoot...but if the grading is not the same kind as the TZF...your round might go too high or too low. It is possible that some gunners got the training for different types of optics but each optic has a different use so not necessarily a panzer gunner would aim a StuG well at the first go. I don't know if there is much difference between the TZF and the Sfl.Z.F but for sure there is... or they would have used only one same optic.

Carles

[me6_130]

Here you have the story of Rudi Salvermoser, born in the USA in 1924,of German origin, and brought up in Germany. Joined the Wehrmacht in 1942 and was a tanker in the GD. He served in both StuGs and Pzkpfws. This is not the story I referred to previously, but also very interesting For sure he got traning for the use of both kind of optics.

http://www.feldgrau.com/interview6.html
http://www.feldgrau.com/rudiphotos.html


Carles

[Mikedenmark]

Super interesting story. I wonder if he used his decorations while serving in the US army. That would make for an interesting uniform photo.
( I have seen a photo of a german junior WH officer as well, sporting his british medals. Earned while serving in Shanghai during the chinese - japanese war in 1937)

On a more sombre note, I see a big difference between the photo´s of the boyish recruit of 42 and the Rudi of 1948.

But a very interesting story. Thank you for sharing.

[me6_130]

In Spain many officers used their German WWII medals for many years on their Spanish uniforms. I doubt this would be the case of Rudi, just because he was afraid of people knowing he had been in the German army during WWII. If you type his name in the internet, you'll get more info up to 1911, at least.

Carles