Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: opposum on November 11, 2008, 05:07:18 PM

Title: panzer question
Post by: opposum on November 11, 2008, 05:07:18 PM

on the Panzer III tank, what is the door between the first two return rollers? What is it and what was it used for? I have always wondered what they are, here is a good picture of the what i'm talking about:


(http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/vehicles/Panzer-PzIII-Tank/IMAGES/Panzer-Tank-blue.jpg)

thanks,



opposum

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: Furball on November 11, 2008, 05:08:58 PM

Would take a guess at loading shells maybe?

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: 1pLUs44 on November 11, 2008, 05:09:27 PM

leaving when the tank is hit?

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: stephen on November 11, 2008, 05:11:16 PM

I'd emagine its for access to some internal components as it seems to be bolted shut..., but what do I know? :huh

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: panzerr on November 11, 2008, 05:23:38 PM

It looks like it's hinged on the leading edge, so I vote for loading shells.

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: smokey23 on November 11, 2008, 05:26:25 PM

Its a driver escape hatch

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: Tr1gg22 on November 11, 2008, 05:34:21 PM

probably something to do with greasing or maybe 90 weight for some sort of gears good question :salute

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: RATTFINK on November 11, 2008, 05:39:30 PM

(http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/4635/tanks/pz3/pz3f.jpg)

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: opposum on November 11, 2008, 05:41:55 PM

i was guessing loading shells but why so close to the driver?

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: smokey23 on November 11, 2008, 06:13:48 PM

The fighting compartment in the Panzer III carried three crew members turret: commander, loader and gunner. Each of these crewmen had an escape hatch above their position, while the driver in the front had to use a hatch in the glacis plate.

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: opposum on November 11, 2008, 09:31:24 PM

ok thanks  :)

Title: Re: panzer question
Post by: Rino on November 12, 2008, 08:29:42 AM

     I doubt very much that that hatch was for either reloading or crew escape as it is too
small and the later marks (ausf N) had shurtzen (sp?) that covered the area in question.

(http://www.panzer-reich.co.uk/images/tanks/panzer-3/panzer-3-ausf-npzkpfw-3-n/panzer3n-1.jpg)

     I would go with an inspection hatch myself as every single picture I have seen of a crew loading
ammo was done through the turret hatch.