STEP 25
The cover was locked by means of two latches attached
inner side. A self-locking handle was itted to the central
section of the cover, whose housing was welded
to the inner side.
The cover had two vertical windows for the prismatic
observation devices for the driver. The prisms were
protected on the outside from bullets and shrapnel by two
folding armoured covers that resembled eyelids.
T
he base for the devices was itted in the upper
section of the hatch. Seals itted into grooves welded
to the inside rim, plus plates welded to the external
cover, were supposed to prevent gun shot entering
the tank.
From 1942, a hatch of a simpliied shape with two
prismatic observation devices was introduced, while
the hatch’s thickness was increased from 45 to 75 mm.
ASSEMBLY GUIDE
THE T-34-85 IN DETAIL
T-34 tanks produced between 1940-1941 were fitted with a heavy, hinged driver’s
hatch which had two bases for prismatic observation devices, or triplexes, in which
a glass prism was fitted in the periscope.
The hatch had two
windows for the prismatic
observation devices,
protected from
the outside by hinged
armoured covers
(seen here closed).
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