| | |
Loader's Hatch
The Tiger 1 had a hatch for the loader in the turret roof. There were different versions of the hatch, but the opening was the same size in all cases; 350mm x 500mm.
The loader's hatch had a complex locking mechanism. Four arms on the bottom of the hatch could be extended or withdrawn by moving a small lever. To lock the arms tightly in place for underwater travel, there was a handwheel.
The hatch was heavy, so a decision was taken early on to provide a counterbalance. In November '42, counterbalances were designed for both the commander's and loader's hatches [2] . This involved the addition of a prominent curved arm to the loader's hatch.
Photographs show that a few tanks had the improved commander's hatch alongside the old loader's hatch. One such tank, in the 501st, had side track gruards.
As shown in the diagram above, the loader's counterbalance comprised a spring-loaded plunger fitted under the turret roof. This pushed against the arm on the side of the hatch. This arm has been broken off both the 'Aberdeen' and 'Bovington' museum vehicles, and photographs show that it sometimes broke off (or was removed) even while a tank was in service. The Saumur vehicle still has its arm, but it is slightly bent.
Thanks to the counterbalance the hatch could be propped open at an angle, but only while it was leaning to the rear. If you pushed it past the vertical, it would fall forwards on to the roof. There was a hole in the end of the arm, and a spring-loaded plunger in the roof that could engage it. This would lock the hatch in the vertical position.
This diagram is for modellers. It shows the arm in 1/35 scale on a grid marked in millimeters.
Sources
[2] DW to Tiger 1
[3] Survey of vehicle 251114, at Saumur, by Jean-Charles Breucque
| Return to topic index
|
|
|
Copyright © David Byrden 1998-2007 except where indicated.
Mail me at: 
