D 656/22 Text

Edited extract of Translation from D 656/22 Tiger Tank Turret Manual

D 656/22
For service use only!
Tiger Tank

[Ausf.E] (Sd Kfz 181)
And Command Tiger Model. E

Equipment-Description and Turret Service-Instructions

Dated 7.9.44
INDEX
Page 3

Brief-description:

This pertains to the following manuals:

   D 656/ 21           Parts-description & Service-Instructions for chassis Ausf. E.
   D 656/ 23           Handbook for tank commanders & tank-drivers.
   D 656/ 24           Maintenance Log.
   D 656/ 25           Loading Instructions for Pz Kpfw Tiger, Ausf. E.
   D 656/ 27           Tiger-Guide
   D 214                 8.8 cm Kw K of 36
   H Dv 119/328    Calibration-Table for the 8.8 cm Kw K of 36
   H Dv 481/60      Leaflet for Ammunition for 8.8 cm Kw K of 36
   D 420/ 167         Instruction for Ammunition for 8.8 cm Kw K of 36
   D 656/ 30           Gun Elevation leaflet for Pz Kpfw IV
   D124/ 1              Machine gun 34, part 1.
   D167/ 1              Machine-pistol 40
   D 635/ 5             Motorized-vehicles into the winter
   D 635/ 50          Motorized-vehicles in dust, heat and mire.
   D 659/ 1             Gyroscopes for armoured vehicles
   D1008 / 1           Radio and Intercom. in Pz Kpfw Tiger.
   D1008/5             Instructions: Radio and Intercom in the Pz Kpwf Tiger
   D9023 / 1           Radio and Intercom in Pz Bef. Wg (Command Tiger).
   D9023/ 5            Instructions: Radio and Intercom in Pz Bef Wg (Command Tiger)
   D659/ 51            Tank-driver in winter.

3. Information-pamphlets

    UT [Nr]. 636/ 1    The 8.8 cm Kw K of 36, gun.
   UT [Nr]. 636/ 2    Pneumatic recuperator
   UT [Nr]. 636/ 3    Performance of the pneumatic recuperator
   UT [Nr]. 636/ 4    Muzzle brake (effect-manner).
   UT [Nr]. 636/ 5    Hydraulic safety switch for the muzzle-brake

Fig. Plans

   1    Turret, old type, view from left
   2    Turret old type view from right
   3    Turret new model view from right
   4   turret old type cross section left side
   5    Turret, old type, cross section, view from right
   6    Turret, new type, cross section view
   7    Turret, new type, plan view.
   8    Turret-casing old type, cross section
   9    Turret housing new model cross section
10   Extractor fan and cover
11   Commander's cupola old type
12   Commander's, cupola new type
13   Azimuth indicator, new type
14   Azimuth indicator, and gearbox, new type
15   Azimuth indicator at Gunner’s position
16   Azimuth indicator in cupola
17   Turret securing with locking bolt
18   Gear segment with Turret lock
19   Turret floor
20   Turret floor plan view
21   Turret floor side view
22   Mantlet
23   Mantlet sealing
24   Cradle sealing
25   Spring compensator with fine adjusters
26   Spring compensator with fine adjusters
27   Spring compensator only for new armoured vehicle
28   Gun cramp at 0°, new type
29   Gun cramp at 15° from Nr. 450
30   MG-housing
31   MG- housing plan
32   Sealing plug for MG housing
33   Turret binocular housing
34    Telescopic Gun Sights
35   Prism housing
36   Turret traverse mechanism overall view
37   Pinion drive 1 to hydraulic-mechanism
38   Hydraulic mechanism, cross-section views
39   Hydraulic mechanism construction
40   Hydraulic mechanism
41   Foot controls to hydraulic mechanism
42   Turret traverse mechanism
43   Hand drive for turret traverse
44   Gun elevation system
45   Gun firing mechanism
46   Hull MG. operating layout
47   Viewing slit
48   Loader’s hatch- cover with spring adjusters
49   Loader’s hatch- cover old type
50   Loader’s hatch- cover new type from Nr.391
51   Escape hatch
52   MG-cover
54   View through cupola into the fighting compartment
55   Commander's seating
56   Gunner's seating
57   Loader’s seat
58 Accessories stowage
59 Circuit diagram for Tiger tank E
60   Electrical equipment schematic drawing
61   Electrical Accessories
62   Circuit diagram for Command Tank
63 Close range defense weapon
64   Close range defense equipment
66   TZF 9b Gun sights from below
67   TZF 9b Gun sights from above

Turret overview
Drawings 1 to 8

Page 7

Overview

Turret is fitted with 8,8cm Kw K 36 (D214) and a coaxial machinegun MG 34 (D124/1) and is located in the middle of the Tiger’s hull.
Gun barrel, Muzzle-brake and recuperators are fitted in the gun-cradle. The 8.8 cm Kw K 36 and MG 34 are mounted in a mantlet and the gun elevation mechanism is operated by a hand-wheel through a segmented gear.
Gun elevation ranges from - 8° depression to + 15° elevation. A spring counterbalancing unit balances gun barrel. Ejected cartridges are captured into a cartridge bag (under the breech). Turret is rotated by the traverse mechanism powered by main transmission shaft through a hydraulic unit. It can also be hand operated. The turret is equipped with binocular telescopic gun sight TZF 9b. A latter model Tiger was fitted with ..............................................

Turret’s main component groups are

Turret and Turret’s parts:
Mantlet,
Recuperator and recoil system
Gun Cramp,
MG-stowage,
Turret - telescope-storage
Prism Holders
Turret-traverse mechanism,
Gun Elevation mechanism
Firing system
Commander’s Cupola,
Viewing slit-ports,
Turret hatch-covers,
Escape hatch,
MP- port and plug,
Turret-seats,
Accessories-storage bins
Electrical equipment
Ammunition: 92 rounds for 8,8 cm Kw K 36 located in hull storage bins.

2 Turret and Turret Attachments
a) Turret*)
drawings 1 to 9

Page 8

The 360° rotating turret, sits on a ball race. Turret’s frontal plate is sloped at 85° to the horizontal as is the turret wall.
The turret wall is formed from one piece of steel plate, with a wide frontal opening, which is closed off by turret's frontal plate.
The mantlet is fitted within that plate which has a rectangular cut out with protective bulges on left and right, filling gaps between front plate and mantlet, protecting and supporting trunions are welded into them.
Armoured glass vision slits are located at the front left and right sides of the turret’s wall. At the rear, left is an MP port with a plug, and rear right is escape hatch. Turret top is covered with a roof and commander's cupola ................................................

For underwater wading, this armoured disk is sealed off with a cover, which is secured to a flange by six flat-headed screws and wing nuts. Sealing ring arrangement in the lid makes a watertight seal. A ring is welded to the bottom of the turret walls, which carries the turret on top of the ball race. For close-range defense, a traversing weapon is fitted in the turret roof, which uses various types of projectiles.

Three supporting trunions are provided for lifting and re-installing the turret.

*) Note: For turret protective shield, see HTV-sheet 9, dated 1.5.44, S. 143.
For turret exchange, see HTV-sheet 9, dated 1.5.44, Page 144

Page 9 b) Turret Attachments
Drawings 1 to 15

Assembly of the turret to hull is described as the Turret installation

Associated with the Turret installation are:
1. Gear ring
2. Turret bearing
3. Sealing tube
4. Support ring and cover plate
5. Turret locks
6. Azimuth directional Indicator
7. Rotating platform

1.Turret traverse is enabled by traverse mechanism gearing. It has inner gearing with 240 teeth at a circumferential spacing of 9π. Gear ring is bolted to the hull and the inner ball race, with 48 hexagonal screws and 8 M16 cylindrical screws respectively.

2. Turret’s bearing outer diameter is 2100 mm, consisting of two steel rings fitted with channels, between which run supporting ball bearings and spacer balls. Later vehicles use spacer rings. (113,
40mm supporting bearings and 113 55 mm pacer rings).

Outer ball race (Outer Ring) is seated in the turret support ring, and is secured with 34 hexagonal screws and 7 cylindrical screws.

Fixed inner ball race (Inner Ring) is seated in the gear ring. It is bolted to the gear ring with 8 M16 cylindrical screws and to the hull, with 40 M16 hexagonal screws.

Page 10

Impact sleeves are fitted to hexagonal screws, which attach the ball race to the hull via the supporting ring. During physical shocks or projectile impacts to the turret, those sleeves absorb the impact and prevent screws from being wrenched out**).
Between the turret wall and outer ball race is a sealing ring screwed to the gear ring, which prevents entry of dirt and sand into the ball race.

3. The sealing tube is placed in the circular groove of the gear ring. This tube ....................

4. The turret supports itself on a bearing carrier ring. Cover plate for the gear ring is fastened to the supporting ring. To the front and right on the support ring are the casing, elevation mechanism, bridge and loader's seat.

The hand elevation wheel and the firing mechanism are located on a span, which houses universal jointed shaft. Bolted to the span, ................................................

**Note: Impact sleeves are only effective, if the impact has distorted the sleeve, thus further tightening the enclosed screw.

Page 11

6. The azimuth indicator (drawing 11, 11a & 12) is split into two housings. Housing 1 is on the cover of the turret rotation gear, housing 2 is located on the cover of the bevel gear manual drive. The dial indicator is driven from the turret rotation gear by a pinion shaft. Gear wheel 1 of the indicator is attached to gear wheel 1 of the indicator drive, which is fixed to the pinion shaft. A turn of gear wheel 1 .....................................................................

7. Rotating platform (drawing 20-21) is suspended from turret ring, on a supporting legs and the turret bridge. At the left rear of the platform is the casing for the spring balancer. Space under the floor is accessible through a hatch. Located on the platform are hydraulic turret drive, traverse gearbox and hydraulic foot controls, which also serve as a footrest for the gunner. Rotating platform is controlled by its central slip ring transfer unit, which is shielded by a domed cover and a protective cover plate.

8 In order to prevent projectiles from entering the gap between turret and hull a turret joint protecting ring was installed to later models

3. Mantlet
Drawings 6, 7, 22-24

Page 12

Mantlet serves as a mounting platform for 8.8cm Gun cradle, Gun-barrel, Muzzle Brake, recoil damper, pneumatic recuperator, the MG24 as well as the telescopic gun sight housing.
The mantlet (drawing16) is fitted into the U shaped turret plate at the front and has apertures for gun-barrel sleeve, the MG34, and two apertures for the telescopic binocular sight (TZF 9 b).

Over the gun-cradle opening, the gun barrel sleeve is fastened to the mantlet with 6 conical-head-screws M32. The Gun barrel sleeve houses a seal, which prevents penetration of dust between the 8,8 cm Kw K gun barrel and the sleeve.
Turrets’ frontal sidewalls house spherical bushes, which provide bedding for the mantlet, (Drawing 7).

For trunions lubrication, there are two pressure-greasing points, situated ........................................................................................

4. Spring Balancer
Drawing 25 and 27a

Page 13

The heavy gun and gun-cradle are balanced by the spring balancer, which is located at the rear and on turrets’ left side.

Spring balancer comprises of two casings, which house springs. They are inserted into roof top housing and pressed against the ball-headed shaft 1, which exerts pressure on shaft 2, on the casings’ twin cam levers, which carries ..........................................................................................

Adjustment of Spring Compensator

During gun elevation or depression, compensator spring slackens with use.

Therefore;
1. Depress gun barrel to approximately - 4° and secure compensator with a U clamp through two holes in the casing.

2. With a sling, grab under the .......................................

4. Lower the gun barrel back to approximately -4º and extract the clamp from the casing.

Removal and Installation of Spring Compensator

1. Depress gun barrel to approximately - 4° and secure compensator with a U clamp through two holes to the casing. (Care must be taken when removing compensator)
2. With a sling, grab under the muzzle brake and at the same time elevate the gun by turning the hand-elevation wheel, until ball-headed shaft 1 is removed from the spring compensator.
3. Unscrew from ..............................

Dismantling Spring Balancer

Page 14

1. Dismantling Spring balancer.

2. Installing spring compensator into the cradle.
3. Tighten spring compressor and extract the U clamp. Slacken the compressor, until springs are slack. Remove spring from the sleeve.
4. Assembly is in reverse order.

5 Gun Securing
Drawings 28 and 29

During transportation, the gun is locked in secured position and cannot be used. The gun cramp is located in the turret roof with bolts. The cramp has two trunions from which two hooks swing suspended.

Hooks are held by a shaft, which goes through a threaded shaft. To secure the gun, elevate it to 15°, then attach hooks to the breech lugs, and tighten the spindle of the cramp until secured.
When the cramp is not in use, .........................................................................................................
6 MG storage
Drawings 30 – 32

Page 15
The MG-34 is located on the right side of the mantlet and is set in a MG-housing bracket, which has a vertical and horizontal adjustment.
The MG housing slide is mounted on a tubular support guide.

Housing-cover and rear end housing-cover, has bushes. Greasing of those bushes....................................................................

The MG-Support serves as a mounting for the rear over-hanging MG casing and carries the frame for an ammunition pouch.

The MG-Support consists of the supporting arm, the housing support and the fork.

At the back of the MG 34 ...................................................

Page 16

   Weapon Storing
Tools:

Pincer, hammer, chisels,1 key 14 mm SW,1 wrench.

Before stowing MG 34, it is necessary to slacken all clamping screws and bolts in the MG housing casing. Afterwards undo and remove clamp screws, clamp bolts and the retainer.
To stow the MG 34 on its side, tighten securely the castellated nut and the screw on the clamp.
To stow the MG 34 in the upper position insert the bolt through the castellated nut in the clamp bolt and then tighten both, until the covered casing is secured.

In accordance to the (see-attached copy 20) and (S.44 ff.) stowing of the weapon must be performed by the armourer

Ammunition Pouch Support Frame

Drawing 23

The MG supporting brace has two frames screwed to it, which serve as holders for two ammunition pouches, that are easily removed and stored laterally, by pressing back a latch situated on the support arm and backward on spring- loaded pawl. On the left side, is a pouch with 150 rounds belt; to the right hangs an empty pouch, which serves as spent cartridges retainer.

Supply of ammunition belt is fed from the left pouch, with help of a roller and a saddle-shaped guide, leading to the MG 34 breech. Retaining screws hold both the saddle and the guide.

In order to avoid cartridge belt falling ...............................................................................................

The pouch is .......................................................................................
Ammunition Pouch
Drawing 30 - 31

Page 17
MG ammunition pouch serves as a container for 150 rounds, as well as a collector of spent cartridges and ammunition belt.
Pouches are made from an oblong canvas bag, fitted with a metal lid and metal frame; a leather flap is fastened to the cover, with a belt resting over the cover.

The pouch’s upper rim is firmly riveted to its frame; this metal frame has two hooks. Both hooks support the pouch on a storage frame’s bar.

After the MG 34 has been fired, the ammunition pouches are reused after catching empty cartridges and empty belt.

The ammunition pouch serves as a container for 150 belted rounds of ammunition, also for catching spent cartridge cases.

The ammunition pouch consists ...................................................................

Telescopic sights
Drawing 33 and 34

Page 18

The turret’s binoculare sights and optics (TZF 9b) are firmly mounted on a carriage bed. Brace is screwed to turret’s roof. The optics and carrier are fastened by one self-locking pin.
The carriage slide is screwed to the mantlet on the support shaft with 4 hexagonal screws M 14 in vertical position and by the hinged cramp pressing against the mantlet. At the front and behind carriage are buffers preventing contact with the mantlet against impact. The fastening screw of the brace bust be unscrewed, so that it can folds down with the bridge, and allow the carriage to be freely withdrawn.

To store the carriage, fold hinged unit upwards and for waterproofing sighting holes, firmly press sealing plugs with the cramp, against the binocular holes in the mantlet.

To install turret’s telescopic sights, first clear ................................................................