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Traverse indicator for gunner
The Tiger's gunner could check the position of the turret by glancing at a small dial next to his seat. This dial was graduated in 12 hours, like a clock. This example in Bovington has its original black paint.
Plate 15 of the Turret Manual [2] shows the device in detail.
In the first kind of turret (high cupola), the dial was driven directly from the teeth in the turret ring. As the photo shows, this required a drive shaft with three joints and a supporting frame welded to the bridge.
In the second kind of turret (low cupola) there was a simpler arrangement. A small box containing reduction gears was added to the top of the turret drive gearbox. From here came drive shafts for both the gunner's indicator dial, and the commander's indicator ring in the cupola. (In this tank, in Saumur, the commander's ring has been deleted)
The indicator dial itself was identical in all Tigers as far as I can tell. This example in Saumur has been crudely oversprayed with green paint, but the original colour seems to be ivory.
The dial was attached to the gunner's traversing wheel.
As these diagrams show, a supporting plate was bolted to the webbing under the wheel.
Sources
[1] Survey of vehicle 250122, Bovington, by David Byrden
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Copyright © David Byrden 1998-2007 except where indicated.
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