All Tiger 1 (except for the prototype "V1") were fitted with periscopes in the two crew hatches in the hull. Later, a third periscope was added in the turret roof, for the loader. But when the turret was redesigned, it was replaced by a smaller periscope identical to the ones in the new cupola. Therefore about 130 vehicles were fitted with three of these large periscopes; the rest had two [7] .
These periscopes were vertical and almost 300mm in overall height. The viewing window was 126mm x 42mm [6] . Each periscope was made of two identical prisms. The above is my diagram of a prism. Dimensions are not precise; I know of no surviving examples or design drawings. The best illustration is in the Turret Manual [4] .
Each prism was held by two screws in a metal sleeve. The lower sleeve was hinged; the upper one was fixed to the roof. Two wingnuts locked the lower sleeve in place and forced the prisms together. The crewman could quickly open them to replace a damaged prism.
The prisms were glass, in bakelite casings (probably dark brown). The lower 40mm of the casing (as in the diagram) was hollow. There were internal rubber seals.
To protect the crewman from hitting the periscope in a moving vehicle, rubber protective covers with windows were provided. Many photographs of Tigers show these covers on the periscopes; however, many others show bare periscopes.
This is my diagram of the cover and how it fits on a prism. I am working entirely from photographs so this is only an approximation.
The vehicle carried two replacement prisms for each periscope. The prism holders were open, sheet metal brackets fixed by three screws to a mounting plate that was welded to the hull. The diagram above shows a holder.
A single prism could be locked into each holder by a hinged metal strip [3] . As this diagram shows, the glass window of the prism was facing the wall when stowed.
One holder was on the lower inside hull wall next to the radio operator, as shown in this photo. (The tank in the photo has been painted green postwar.)
The radio operator's other holder was inside the front superstructure plate, to the upper right of his machine gun. This diagram shows the holder, and the hole for the MG mounting.
In Befehlstigers, due to the extra radio equipment stored in the vehicle, this holder was moved to the back of the right-hand sponson by the radio operator.
The German diagram of the Befehlstiger shows that the holder on the wall should be moved forward, as shown in this diagram, to make room for a pencil holder. But in the only surviving Befehlstger, at Kubinka museum [5] , this holder is in its usual place and the pencil holder is moved forward instead.
On the driver's side, the periscope holders were fixed to the roof support brace behind him. There was one on each side. This photo shows the Bovington museum vehicle after repainting.
Once again there was a different arrangement in Befehlstigers, with the forward holder being moved to the hull wall on the driver's left.
During the time when a third vertical perisope was mounted in the turret roof there may have been two extra holders fitted, and if so they were probably in the turret. But I can find no record of this.
[1] Survey of vehicle 251114, at Saumur, by Jean-Charles Breucque
[2] Survey of vehicle 250031, by Stephan Vogt
[3] Survey of vehicle 250122, Bovington, by David Byrden
[4] Tiger Turret Manual, Bild 35: Prismeneinsatzlagerung
[5] Survey of Tiger at Kubinka museum by Alexander Diw
[7] DW to Tiger 1