Tank machine guns

[jp10]

Its a movie but it is one of the few that briefly shows the bow gunner from inside. You notice in the M4 he is looking out the periscope well above the gun and must observe his burst to correct on target.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHzIVQxhV7c

[Pibwl]

Originally Posted by jp10

You notice in the M4 he is looking out the periscope well above the gun and must observe his burst to correct on target.

However, some BMGs had a telescope sight, like Besa (at least newer mountings), Soviet DT (in T-34 at least - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...tyaryov_DT.JPG) and Polish wz.25 of TKS tankette (but not the one in TK-3 tankette). There was of course a limited field of view, but it's not a matter of range, I think.

BTW: Polish TKS tankette had wz.25 MG in the same mounting as turret mounted TMG in wz.34 AC, which has bigger range. However, weapon #228 in Polish OOB 7.92 wz.25 TMG has probably too high range 30 - should be 24 for such caliber TMGs. Unless we consider telescope sights...

[cbo]

Originally Posted by Pibwl

However, some BMGs had a telescope sight, like Besa (at least newer mountings), Soviet DT (in T-34 at least - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...tyaryov_DT.JPG) and Polish wz.25 of TKS tankette (but not the one in TK-3 tankette). There was of course a limited field of view, but it's not a matter of range, I think.

I believe the T-34 "sight" you refer to is a post-war modification. You'll notice that the sight does not go all the way to the sighting hole in the MG mantlet. I suspect the modification is made to give the hull-gunner a place to rest his forehead and align his view with the hole in the mantlet. Not sure how much of a sight it actually is - perhaps more a viewing aid.

I found a drawing here (1949 manual): https://www.scribd.com/doc/60892532/...5-%D0%A2%D0%9E . Scroll down to page 74.