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Traverse lock, second type

The Tiger's turret was redesigned and simplified in July 1943. One of the many improvements was a new locking device to lock the turret in place for travel.

New traverse lock

This photo shows the new lock, which was almost identical to that in the Tiger II. It consisted of a wheel attached to the turret, that tightened a ratchet against the gear teeth in the turret ring (which were attached to the hull).

New traverse lock

This diagram from the Turret Manual [1, see plate 18] shows how the device worked. The ratchet and the turret's gear teeth are shown at bottom; the turret's armoured wall is at the extreme right.

New traverse lock

There was a corresponding hole in the protective cowling of the turret ring.

New traverse lock

The lock was fixed to the turret's support ring by 6 bolts. Three of them were part of the ring of bolts that attached the turret's ball-bearing race. This diagram, looking from above, shows that the lock was immediately to the loader's left when he was seated.

Bottom of late turret
Click for a large image

This CAD model of the turret base shows the relation of the lock to the turret's gear teeth.


Sources

[1] Tiger Turret Manual

[2] Factory drawing: Turmgehause 2AKF31861U1B11 (overall turret armour)


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