ABCs of Tank Optics

Conceptual Design and functionality of optical instruments in armored vehicles are presented in close relation to the tasks of the tank crew and the major changes in technology are pointed out.

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Conceptual Design and Function of Optical Instruments in Armored Vehicles
It is a fundamental function of tank optics to enable the crew to observe the surrounding field from the safe interior of the armored space in the way that they can deal with the various tasks of their mission as best as possible.
Design and functionality of the customary sighting systems are presented, always in relation to the tasks of the tank crew. In doing so the technological change from a pure opto-mechanical sighting system to an optronic sensor platform becomes obvious: By implementing image intensifiers and thermal imagers the optical sighting system achieves full night vision capability and glass-optical vision must give way to high-definition TV cameras eventually.