Re: U-Boat binoculars

[83 Footer]

I found these for sale marked 7X50 and called U_boat used. What model of type would they be officially called?



https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nfkAAOSw ... -l1600.jpg

[HR715]

Binocular Historical Society, one of the best sources readily available, you will find in its membership Dr, Hans Seeger who has researched and published three extensive works on Zeiss binoculars.
The leather rainguard you have with the two white bakalite circles , a lot of photos of this type of rainguard in use on 7x50 sets circa 1941-42, it was also placed on the 8x60. "Fixed ocular do not adjust".
(I have a 7x50 set with this rainguard on it, pre three letter code navy acceptance marking as on your 8x60.
The set would have been widely used on surface ships and on U Boats, but on U Boats issued only to the Captain, on surface ships you can find the set in hand use by officers and ratings mounted on a director or handheld. A special 8x60 for use on signals devices is marked MSS.
Your binocular is one of a batch of 200 produced in January 1941.

[HR715]

83Foster the set you linked to is a leitz 7x50 late war set, seen on surface and on U Boats.
In terms of quality only an average set, expensive to make with drying / desiccating cells built into them, popular on eBay and often described as " U Boat Binoculars" but this is more a sales pitch.

Attached the "slim"8x60 and the "fat" 8x60 for comparison, slim and fat are post-war collectors terms.

Two late war leitz ( beh) 7x50's, there was also an 8x60 version .

[HR715]

8x60. on a director stand with anti spray tubes.

[Sierra2]

Hello,

Is it possible to have some informations with Kriegsmarine Binoculars .
for example the number of binoculars par Warship ( batlecruiser destroyer..) an U boat.
Perhaps the type 7x50 for who and 8 x60 .

Thanks Very much

Jean-Marc.

[HR715]

Jean-Marc I do not know the regulation number of binoculars allocated to U Boats / Destroyers. ( Sorry) Jim S

[Sierra2]

Hello

My question is how many hand held binoculars you could find on Uboat or Battlecruisers.
For exemple The battlecruiser Printz Eugen have perhaps ten 7 x50 blc five 8x60 for searching aircraft the other for Navigation 1 for the commander 1 for the second officer....
and there are mounting binoculars (fix one)
I don't know if there are some books who speaking about that...

Sorry for my poor english...

Jean-Marc.

[HR715]

Jean - Marc, sorry for another late reply .
I don't know how many sets might have been issued, to a capital ship quite a few I dare say.
Most handhelds were 7x50, in early years a mixture of Lietz and Zeiss, as the war progressed the Leitz sets ( beh) were it seems largely phased out.
Commonly seem sets the "smooth ocular 7x50 ( Zeiss), Gasmask (Rubber eyed cupped) 7x50 (Zeiss), the 8x60 "Slim Commander", used by all ranks, both as handheld and as a director mounted set, the " deck mounted 8x60- a very heavy set not practical for being hand held.
the 10x80,(Zeiss) often seem mounted in heavy directors.
The number of handheld sets, on a capital ship, destroyer etc has to be quite high to cover all watches, allow for spares etc.
0946 10x80 for navy.
0975 8x60 deck mounted.
004 Gas Mask 7x50.
006 smooth 7x50.
08287 Leitz 7x50.

[HR715]

The two 8x60 handheld U Boatglas, most commonly seen, data from Dr. Stephen Rohan's book on handheld binoculars.