Hi noxious thanks for your reply.
As far as I can make out you are correct in that Scherenfernrohr 14 was not a rangefinder per see but was used as such just as a tankers binoculars could be.
However
Estimating the range is only important at long ranges when the shells arc begins to curve making the elevation of the gun critical in scoring a hit.
the sf14 is going to be much better at estimating long ranges than a tankers binoculars because it has a higher magnification (14) than binoculars(7 or so), and is in a fixed mount within the vehicle, binoculars being hand held.
Sf14 is also steryoscopic which binoculars are not. Hence giving a better/clearer view of the target allowing it to been seen and hence measured against its background and the reticule scale more accurately.
The tank is designed to be used in mass to penetrate a front and then shoot up artillery supply etc, ie their main role is not gunnery its the delivery of shock, requiring speed, range, reliabilty, good vision, and communications, then maybe gunnery. Hence SF14's not issued to tanks. low magnification binoculars are better when you are on the move you are much more interested in whats close by than whats far away.
Sf14 is issued to panzerjagers(listed previously). Even though panzerjagers have tracks and heavy armour they are not tanks they are AT guns. ie Panzerjagers are ideally employed stationary from a "hide" just the same as a towed AT gun. ie their specific purpose is the destruction of the enemies tanks. As AT guns their most important attribute is gunnery. This is improved by the addition of the SF14 as it can be used to estimate long ranges accurately while at the 'halt'.
http://www.redorchestragame.com/foru...d.php?p=270870
The most notable Nashorn ace was platoon commander of 1st company of sPzJagAbt 519, Junior Lieutenant (later Captain) Albert Ernst. On December 23rd of 1943, he destroyed some 14 Soviet tanks in a single day using only 21 rounds of ammunition."
It is interesting to me that shermans can get range finder values of 5 or 6 whereas these vehicles with a sf14 get a 3 or 4? surely this should be the other way around?
also of interest, from
http://www.germanwarmachine.com/phot...ry/3/index.htm
"The 14-power Scherenfernrohr 14 Ziel Gitter, or stereo binocular, served as a rangefinder for the artillery and was a mainstay of forward observers to gauge distances."
There is also an argument that guns with the SF14 should get a longer "effective" range than the same gun without the SF14.