Infrared gunsight

[sturmkraehe]

Black6 stroke again the reason why I create this thread.

 

In fact I've found some data about the use of infrared optical devices during ww2 by the Germans. It seems that such devices were vastly used by tanks and naval vessels but, as some photos suggest, also sometimes on planes (like the me109 cockpit or the gunsight ontop of the He111 gun).

 

http://www.luftarchiv.de/index.htm?/bordgerate/optisch.htm

 

It seems to have been dubbed Infrared (or Ultrared in the jargon of that time) zielsuchgerät ... does anybody know more about it?

Edited January 16, 2014 by sturmkraehe

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Some Panther units used the infrared targeting at the end of WW2. Too few too late, but did cause commotion as the Germans engaged in total darkness with tanks. In planes, no real info.

[JtD]

From what I know, the Spanner kits first worked with a IR searchlight in the front of the aircraft, later passive systems were used, but they performed poorly and were phased out when radar got more effective.

[Flyingpencil]

Black6 stroke again the reason why I create this thread.

 

In fact I've found some data about the use of infrared optical devices during ww2 by the Germans. It seems that such devices were vastly used by tanks and naval vessels but, as some photos suggest, also sometimes on planes (like the me109 cockpit or the gunsight ontop of the He111 gun).

 

http://www.luftarchiv.de/index.htm?/bordgerate/optisch.htm

 

It seems to have been dubbed Infrared (or Ultrared in the jargon of that time) zielsuchgerät ... does anybody know more about it?

 

Spanner Angler was too big to fit in 109 (AFAIK), so it was used in 110.

The best installation was in Do-17z-10 and Do-215, but as JtD said, we not that successful and eventually withdrawn.

I also never found an instance it was used in a Ju-88c, just the 110 and 17.