Items were stored on the inner surface of the Tiger's turret wall. The layout of these stored items was changed occasionally, and although records are incomplete, we have evidence of at least five different layouts for the standard Tiger. There must have been more layouts for Command Tigers.
Jentz and Doyle [7] state that the boxes etc. were bolted to metal blocks that were welded directly to the turret wall; but the photographs show that some of the items stood off the wall on brackets. The turret's electrical bus was near the top edge of the wall, and some items were placed high up with the cable running through their brackets.
When a shot hits the armour of a tank, even if it does not penetrate, it sends a shock wave through the material and this can send items flying off the inner side. On 19 August 1942 it was ordered that the items on the Tiger's turret wall should be mounted on flexible brackets to prevent this.
This photo shows Tiger 25031, which is missing some items and has been overpainted. It's clear that some boxes are mounted on brackets while other items are bolted to blocks on the wall.
The storage boxes etc. were now fixed to a web of metal strips. The ends of the strips were welded to the roof and the turret ring; nothing touched the wall. This photo from Bovington (with original German paint and decals) shows typical strips, frames, straps, loops and holders.
In this layout, all of the large boxes were clustered on the rear of the turret.
If there were small changes made to these layouts, we have no record of them. In particular, with this third layout, we suspect that a spare prism holder was added when the loader's periscope was put in the turret.
[5] Survey of Tiger 250031, by Stephan Vogt
[7] DW to Tiger 1
[8] Survey of Tiger 250122, at Bovington museum, by David Byrden
[9] Survey of vehicle 251114, at Saumur, by Jean-Charles Breucque
[10] Survey of Tiger 251114 at Saumur, by Hilary Louis Doyle