In order to continue my build of the E-100 I have two questions.

1. The drawings in Panzer Tracts 6-3 show an area in front of the radio operator's hatch that has been milled out, but no periscope.
Would it be logical progress for the radio operator to have a periscope? My guess would be yes, but I'm asking for your input and insights.

2. The drawings don't show an antenna anywhere. Next to leaving the radio operator without a periscope, leaving him without a radio antenna doesn't seem right. What would have been the most logical place for the E-100 to have its antenna? The engine deck next to a ventilator like a King Tiger? The turret?

Thanks in advance for the input!

John

Hi John ...As you say ,your project is a what if ,so there is no real good answer to your question ...in my case I added the periscopes to the R/O and I think you can't go very wrong by adding the antennae in the same place as the King tiger ..Here's how I did the front part ..



Rick

I also posted this in my build log, but since I want to gather as much reactions as possible I decided to post it here too::

Since I'm gradually getting closer to finishing the modification hell of the hull and chassis I took a closer look at the turret. Now Panzer Tracts and Cammets provide a very rudimentary turret. I'm having my doubt about the lack of periscopes for the commander and gunner although you could say he at least has the range finder. I'm seriously considering adding the Maus turret periscopes. What are your thoughts on this?



Thanks,

John

Hi John,

The vast majority of tanks carry vision devices for everyone aboard. In combat, the more eyes looking out to find the enemy the better. I presume the E-100 would always operate as part of a battle group, behind a screen of medium tanks, using the big gun to engage targets at range, but you cannot always count on the enemy to follow your battle plan. That means maximizing the chances of survival in case the tank finds itself alone. I doubt the presence of a range finder would influence this requirement, as it provides no vision capabilities for the crew.

In Special Panzer Variants by Spielberger, page 93, the head on E-100 drawing in the upper right corner shows a periscope for the RO. The top view on the pervious page does not, but it may have been omitted because it would lie under the secondary gun.

With regards to the antenna, very few German tanks mounted them on the turret but it did happen. I would go with whatever looks best in your opinion. Also, I presume the E-100 would arrive on the battlefield in very small numbers, so perhaps they would serve as command tanks.

Deep fording ability is another issue not addressed in the drawings. Very few bridges would hold an E-100. Wading stacks would make an interesting production upgrade.

Does this thing have a machine gun? I thought the Germans learned that lesson with the Ferdinand.

Very cool project, by the way. It will make a great stable mate for your equally cool Sturmpanzer E-25.

-Doug

Looking at the photo's, there doesn't seem to have been any work on the R/O area of the hull. If you look at page 6-3-58, the top photo does not include anything for a radio operator at all, either they had not received the parts yet or there where no plans at all to include a radio operator or his position in this 1st vehicle. How many crew men where planned for this turret? Could the radio operators position have been moved to the turret, or maybe have been eliminated altogether and his responsibilities taken over by another crew member?

As it was an experiment, maybe they where also making doctrine changes to crew positions and jobs. Doctrine does not change overnight without lots of experiments and out of the box thinking.

For the radio antenna, you could consider it on top of the turret, similar to the Panther F or on the back of the turret.

No german tank had a radio in the turret and its antenna in the hull, or vice versa. How could they be connected?

David

Thanks for the replies.

I'm gonna have the antenna in about the same location as on a King Tiger. And I did provide the RO with a periscope.

Doug, the E-25 Sturmpanzer is not mine, but Steve Reid's. I actually have an E-25 Kügelblitz in the works.

Cheers,

John

An insulated eletrical ring, suspended just under the turret race bigger than the turret ring, fixed in place. Attach an electrical connection to either the bottom of the turret or to one of the supports of the turret basket that makes contact with this electrical ring. As the turret revolves around it is in constant contact and makes an electircal connection. All of this will be insulated so the hull and crew do not become grounded or shocked.

How does the commander communicate with the rest of the crew when he has his headphones on, where does this headset connection run to?

John, I am so sorry. I thought you built both. I obviously did not pay attention during E-25 class.

-Doug