I was wondering if there were any axis or allied snipers that ever took out I tank. If they were to shoot through the little viewing slit for the driver, they would kill the driver and incapacitate the tank. Did this ever happen?
I think it is almost impossible to do this, but I'm sure that if someone did this, than Karl will be gladly to tell us this.
I thought most tanks had either bullet proof glass in the vision slit or a periscope. That would make taking out the driver very difficult.
As far as I'm aware, just about all WWII tanks had bullet-proof glass in vision slits. I'm just reading ' Armor Battles Of The Waffen-SS' where a first-hand account refers to glass having to be changed in the field due to numerous bullet hits rendering it opaque. If tank crews put their heads outside hatches to gain a clearer view ( which often was the case ) - it was a different story
HOw about early tiger Is? In SPR, Tom Hanks is seen to be firing his Thompson down Driver's slit view. (not that I'm even saying the movie is accurate!) Early Aust Tigers did not have the "periscope" that Stefan is referring to, so is it possible to do what Hanks did? (of course assuming that the Mg34 (ball) gunner was asleep too!)
Trying to take out a Tiger I with a .45 was pure, grade 'A' Hollywood I've just checked out Spielberger's book 'Tiger' which has a good photo of the driver's position. The glass is a solid block, bullet-proof and looks to be at least 2cm thick.It is clamped into an internal frame for ease of changing if damaged. [ 18. November 2003, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]
Ha ha!! Yep that's what I thought. Interesting you are quoting from a guy called "Spielberger" after all the panning we give his mate Steve.
HeHe... no relation ! I should have given the whole title but it's a pain to type : - 'Der Panzer-Kampfwagen Tiger Und Seine Abarten ' by Walter J. Spielberger ( Motor Buch Verlag 1984 ) which has photos of just about every component of the Tiger.
Mr Martin Bull...Either you or I missunderstood that scene...if it is the scene on the bridge you speak of... "Capt. Miller", half dead, and mostly unconscious, was simply firing what he had left at his enemy...or that was the way I took it...and a thing I can see a soldier doing with his last breaths...
Whoops - I think you may be right ( shows how long it is since I saw the Movie ! ) But I do seem to remember one scene of a weapon being fired into a tank visor and thinking...that wouldn't have worked
I might be wrong, but I think I do remember guys trying to take out tanks by climbing on top of them, opening the hatches, and throwing grenades in.
OK this IS confused! to clairfy; It is Hanks sticking his Thompson SMG into the drivers visor and firing a few bursts into the FIRST tiger in the Ramelle scene. - Would that kill the driver? Martin, when you said .45 I just assumed tommy guns had .45 rounds I didn't think you were referring to the 1911-A1 automatic he was firing when he was dying!
Yes - I wasn't clear about the .45 which is the Thompson calibre. No, it wouldn't kill the driver. It'd make a real mess of the glass & probably make it totally opaque but those are very blunt, subsonic rounds and I'm sure they would not penetrate.
In SPR while the guys are climbing on the tank to take it out, Hanks goes up to the driver slip and pokes the barrel of his Thompson into the slit and fires a few rounds. That's the scene I think the question is about and as we have already learned it would have not been possible. Then again P-51s dropping invisible bombs are not possible either Greg
