Firing port
A firing port, sometimes called a pistol port, is a small opening in
Some pistol ports, such as on the Sherman, included vision slits such as "protectoscopes" increasing visibility around the tank.[9]: 51 [10]
Ballistic weakspot
Being a ballistic weak spot,[11] firing ports are often reinforced with additional armor,[12] and in subsequent designs reduced in number (BFV), or deleted altogether (Sherman and Tiger I [January 1944]).[4][8][13] Other armor is improvised such as slat armor to stop shaped charges or chicken wire to stop grenades.[2]
However, due to strong crew demand,[9] they are sometimes brought back, as happened with the Sherman.[4] This was in part due to its use during ammunition resupply in the Sherman, eliminating the need for an additional crew member to pass ammunition through the loader's hatch, instead of being able to simply pass the ammunition from the ground through the firing port.[9]
One of the Tiger I's firing ports (right) was converted into a loader's escape hatch and the other covered with an armored plug and eventually deleted from the design to improve production time and reduce costs.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Nicholas Moran. "Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: T-34-85, Episode 1". World of Tanks North America. Youtube.
- ^ ISBN 9781504021517.
- ^ Nicholas Moran. "Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: Crusader Pt. 1". World of Tanks North America. Youtube. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Nicholas Moran. "World of Tanks PC - Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: M4A1 Sherman part 2". World of Tanks North America. Youtube. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9780760331125. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ David.B (30 June 2014). "T-34/85". Tank Encyclopedia.
- ^ Tyler Rogoway. "This Funky But Innovative M16 Machine Pistol Was Made For The Bradley Fighting Vehicle". www.thedrive.com. TheDrive. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Die Nahverteidigungswaffe". www.custermen.net. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9781782009795.
- ISBN 9781610607780.
- ISBN 9781623495671. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "The T-34-85 in detail" (PDF). www.eaglemoss-secured.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ David Byrden. "Pistol port| TIGER1.INFO". tiger1.info.