ZG 1229 Vampir somewhere?
- Thread starter Nigromontanus
- Start date
Link to entire magazine
Blackpowderresearcher
Well-known member
Infrared was declassified post-war by American Military Intelliegence. I guess they figured out that everybody (but the Japanese) had it. By 1947 you could buy a book that described the technology, had diagrams and order sheet and order form to build your own!
Germany had Vampir.
The Soviets started working on it in the '30s and during the war used it for ship navitgation and night aircraft operation (help in landing). Initially the Soviets mounted it on a SMG and a tovarisch carried the battery and the light for the submachinegun soldier. That actually was pretty clever since the weapon user didn't need all that extra weight. Post-war the Soviets finally adapted it to the M91/30.
The British had Tabby but it wasn't weapon mounted. It was used to recover landing parties (Commandos and) Americans had access to at least one during Torch.
Regarding the book Vampir it's written by a fellow who was a Luftwaffe Auxiliary (what 16 year old wasn't since late 1943?) and got his first experience shooting at aircraft. He and his mates were drafted into the Heer. Their skill with AA helped later.
Get the book and read it.
BTW, one USN ocean rescue tug didn't have one but they had a cat mascot. They'd bring the cat up topside and one sailor was supposed to watch the cat and point out the direction the cat would stare at. I supposed that was the original Tabby (the cat's name was something like V-8). Today that would make PETA scream, gnash teef and howl.
Germany had Vampir.
The Soviets started working on it in the '30s and during the war used it for ship navitgation and night aircraft operation (help in landing). Initially the Soviets mounted it on a SMG and a tovarisch carried the battery and the light for the submachinegun soldier. That actually was pretty clever since the weapon user didn't need all that extra weight. Post-war the Soviets finally adapted it to the M91/30.
The British had Tabby but it wasn't weapon mounted. It was used to recover landing parties (Commandos and) Americans had access to at least one during Torch.
Regarding the book Vampir it's written by a fellow who was a Luftwaffe Auxiliary (what 16 year old wasn't since late 1943?) and got his first experience shooting at aircraft. He and his mates were drafted into the Heer. Their skill with AA helped later.
Get the book and read it.
BTW, one USN ocean rescue tug didn't have one but they had a cat mascot. They'd bring the cat up topside and one sailor was supposed to watch the cat and point out the direction the cat would stare at. I supposed that was the original Tabby (the cat's name was something like V-8). Today that would make PETA scream, gnash teef and howl.
CRH113
Senior Member
The royal armouries used it on their video on the M3 carbine, that was the first time I’ve seen that photo.
roos1984
Well-known member
Thank you
CRH113
Senior Member
Yup, they used that photo when talking about other early night sight developments
