Summary of major German panzer and armored car gunsights from TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces, War Department, March 1945. [As with all U.S. wartime intelligence, the data may be inaccurate or incomplete. The source text has not been corrected.]
| Type | Used On | Guns and Ammunition | Range Scales (meters) |
Magni- fication (X) |
Field (Degrees) |
Overall length (less eye guard) (inches) |
Weight (pounds) |
Exit Pupil distance (mm.) |
Entrance Pupil diameter (mm.) |
Remarks |
| Turret Sighting Telescopes | ||||||||||
| T.Z.F. 2 and 2X. | Pz.Kpfw. I. Models A and B. | 7.92 mm MG 13. | 800 | 2.5 | 28 | 19 | 19 | 5.5 | — | It is not known with what gun the T.Z.F.2 was used, nor in which vehicle. Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 3a. | 4-wheeled armored car. Sd.Kfz. 222 and semi-tracked A.C. Sd.Kfz. 250/9. | 2 cm Kw.K. 38. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
1200 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Little is known about this telescope. Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 4. | Pz.Kpfw. II Models A to C. | 2 cm Kw.K. 30. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
1200 | 2.5 | 25 | 22.5 | 20 | 7 | 17.5 | First confirmed Leitz design. Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 4/36 and 4/38. | Pz.Kpfw. II Model F. | 2 cm Kw.K. 30. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
1200 800 |
2.5 | 25 | 22.5 | 21 | 7 | 17.5 | The range of 800 metres applies to T.Z.F. 4/36 and that of 1200 metres to T.Z.F. 4/38. Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 5a. | Pz.Kpfw. III Models A to D. | 3.7 cm Kw.K. (AP and HE). 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
2000 800 |
2.5 | 25 | 32.25 | 24 | 5 | 12.5 | Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 5a. (Vorl) 5 cm. | Pz.Kpfw. III Model E, etc. (See Remarks). | 5 cm Kw.K (AP and HE). 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
2000 1500 |
2.5 | 25 | 32.25 | 21.5 | 5 | 12.5 | Monocular. Modified T.Z.F.5a, superseded by T.Z.F.5d. |
| T.Z.F. 5b. | Pz.Kpfw. III with 7.5 cm. Kw.K. Models J to N. Pz.Kpfw. IV Models B to F. | 7.5 cm Kw.K. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
2000 800 |
2.4 | 23.5 | 32.25 | 21.5 | 5 | 12.5 | Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 5b/36. | Pz.Kpfw. IV. Models B to F. | 7.5 cm Kw.K. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
2000 800 |
2.4 | 23.5 | 32.25 | 23 | 6 | 14.4 | Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 5d. | Pz.Kpfw. III. Models F and J. | 5 cm Kw.K. (APC and HE) 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
3000 1500 |
2.4 | 25 | 31.8 | 20.13 | 5.5 | 13.2 | Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 5. | Pz.Kpfw. III Models L and M. | 5 cm Kw.K. 39 AP or APCHE 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
1500 3000 1200 |
2.4 | 25 | 31.8 | 20.13 | 5.5 | 13.2 | Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 5f (Vorl) | Pz.Kpfw. IV Models F2 to H. | 7.5 cm Kw.K. 40 APCBC HE AP40 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
2500 3300 1500 |
2.4 | 25 | 31.8 | 20.13 | 5.5 | 13.2 | Monocular. The HE scale serves for the machine gun also. |
| T.Z.F. 5f. 1. | Pz.Kpfw. IV Models G to K. | 7.5 cm Kw.K. 40 APCBC HE AP40 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
3000 4000 1500 |
2.4 | 25 | 32 | 26 | 5.8 | 13.9 | Monocular. The HE scale serves for the machine gun also. |
| T.Z.F. 6. | 8-wheeled armored car and Pz.Sp.Wg. II (Luchs) Sd. Kfz. 123. | 2 cm Kw.K. 30 and 38, and 7.92 mm M.G. 34. | 1200 | 2.4 | 22 | 28.4 | 21 | 5 | 12 | Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 6/38. | — | 2 cm Kw.K. 38 and 7.92 mm M.G. 34. | 1200 | 2.5 | 25 | — | — | — | — | Little known about this telescope but known dimensions agree with those for the T.Z.F.6. Monocular. |
| T.Z.F. 9b. | Pz.Kpfw. Tiger Model E. | 8.8 cm Kw.K. 36. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
4000 1200 |
2.4 | 26 | 32.5 | 37 | 6 | 15 | Binocular. Adjustable interocular distance. |
| T.Z.F. 9d. | Pz.Kpfw. Tiger Model B. | 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 APCBC HE 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
3000 5000 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | Monocular. The HE scale is believed to serve for the machine gun also. |
| T.Z.F. 12. | Pz.Kpfw. Panther Model D. | 7.5 cm Kw.K. 42 (L/70) APCBC HE AP 40. 7.92 mm M.G. 34. |
3000 4000 2000 |
2.5 | 29 | 45.1 | 63.88 | 6.2 | 15 | Binocular. Light and dark filters fitted. The HE scale serves for the machine gun also. |
| T.Z.F. 12a. | Pz.Kpfw. Panther Models A and G. | As above. | 3000 4000 2000 |
2.5 5 |
19 15 |
44.5 | 44 | 6.2 3.1 |
— | Monocular, dual magnification. |
| Hull Machine Gun Telescopes | ||||||||||
| K.Z.F. 1. | Early models of most tanks. | 7.92 mm M.G. 34. (gimbal mountings). | 200 (fixed) |
1.8 | 18 | — | — | 5 | — | Cranked, monocular, moving-eyepiece type. |
| K.Z.F. 2. | Pz.Kpfw. I, Commander’s. Pz.Kpfw. II, Flamethrower. Pz.Kpfw. III, Commander’s and Models F to J. Pz.Kpfw. IV, Tiger and Panther. |
7.92 mm M.G. 34. (gimbal and ball mountings). | 200 (fixed) |
1.75 | 18 | 14.13 | 7 | 5 | — | Cranked, monocular, moving-eyepiece type. |
The gunsight data looks accurate enough.
Superb blog post, appreciate it