I already checked Prime Portal and I didn't found anything (only shut covers and opened driver's hatch). I glued my T-34/85 driver's periscope covers shut, but managed to open them, as you know, no periscopes included under the covers. I'm looking for pics of the driver's periscope cover opened to give my tank more "life", all hatches are glued shut closed, so at least the opened periscopes will look OK. Thanks a lot in advance. Best regards.

José.

There are about 120 T-34 walkarounds here:

http://legion-afv.narod.ru/USSR.html

You will find there is not much to see. It is very dark underneath. Only one cover was open at any one time.

Cheers
Scott Fraser

Only one open at a time? I didn't knew that and I didn't knew about that site, it has very good pics. Thanks a lot. Best regards.

José.

No. Both could be open at once and normally would be during operation.

Mark

That makes more sense... Let's see what happens. Best regards.

José.

Yes and no. Both could be opened at once, but in combat one was open and used, the other was closed in case the first was damaged. That's according to reports from crewmen.

Scott Fraser

I've read this too but it is extremely unlikely to be true.
First, there are plenty of photos with the hatch closed and both covers open. None, that I've seen, with only one.
Second, the blocks are set at an angle to one another in order to increase forward (peripheral) vision. Using only one will give you more of a view either to the left or right and leave you even more blind on the other side.
Third, forward vision through even the two blocks in amazingly limited (I know this from actually sitting in the driver's seat, hatch closed, and covers open and veteran memoirs often speak of being able to see only "earth or sky" when the tank was moving). Why would any driver go from partially blind to almost completely blind?

It may be that closing one of the covers was suggested as a way of preserving blocks when they were in short supply but it would only serve to make a bad situation even worse. I really don't believe it could have been common practice.

Mark

I found this right away.



Cheers

Hello!
Known Polish film: Four Panzer and the Dog?
T-34-85, tank name "RUDY".
Photos the film:

T-34/76



T-34/85

Yep, both visors are open on that one too!
(It's just that the one on the right is open a little wider than the other)

Mark