_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV: Axis - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Axis forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
hatches on the side of Panzer III
SFModeller
Visit this Community
United States
Joined: April 03, 2011
KitMaker: 154 posts
Armorama: 99 posts
Posted: Friday, March 20, 2015 - 11:13 PM UTC
Hi All. I am working on a Panzer III Ausf. H, DML 6642 and have a question about the hatches on each side, right above the wheels. Are these for the driver and guuner to get in and out of the tank or strickly use as emergency exit only ? Thank you.
Thanh Huynh
brekinapez
Visit this Community
Georgia, United States
Joined: July 26, 2013
KitMaker: 2,272 posts
Armorama: 1,860 posts
Posted: Friday, March 20, 2015 - 11:34 PM UTC
Yes, indeed. Not very big, though. Definitely for emergencies only, and probably no more effective than a lot of the Soviet escape hatches. No eating a lot of sausages if you want to live.
AFVFan
Visit this Community
North Carolina, United States
Joined: May 17, 2012
KitMaker: 1,980 posts
Armorama: 1,571 posts
Posted: Friday, March 20, 2015 - 11:35 PM UTC
You hit the nail on the head. They were crew escape hatches.
PanzerKarl
Visit this Community
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: April 20, 2004
KitMaker: 2,439 posts
Armorama: 1,980 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 02:17 AM UTC
So that's why Hermann Goering joined the Luftwaffe
Sekytwo
Visit this Community
Utah, United States
Joined: March 08, 2013
KitMaker: 69 posts
Armorama: 65 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 02:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Yes, indeed. Not very big, though. Definitely for emergencies only, and probably no more effective than a lot of the Soviet escape hatches. No eating a lot of sausages if you want to live.

Epic !! yeah i believe you can find some photos on the internet of German soldiers trying to get out of the escape hatch but didnt make it.
 _GOTOTOP