Turret bin of Befehlstiger I

This should be a Befehlstiger because of its Roman numeral identifier. It matches Befehlstiger "I" of s.Pz.Abt.505 in having the 1.4 meter wide bin that was used immediately before the standard bin became available. This particular bin has a notch cut into its right side that allows the turret side hatch to be opened. That modification is specifically associated with "Das Reich", but s.Pz.Abt.505 trained at Paderborn immediately after "Das Reich", and it's likely that the bins were made there. The bin can be seen in other photos of Befehlstiger "I" of s.Pz.Abt.505.

The crewman in the photo is said to be Major Sauvant, commander of the 505 battalion in early 1943. A newsreel clip suggests that in June, when a more modern Command Tiger was acquired by the 505, he relinquished this one.