Armortek

I talked to Noel about this topic a couple of months ago.. He realy knows his stuff and he believes as the comments above, that when the hatch was open if the crew where on the rear engine deck they could quickly enter the rear hatch by holding onto the top of the opening and slid on their bums into the turret with out being snaged on the locking fitting ... Dale

I wonder is there any archived WW2 German Wehrmacht's info had mentioned about the purpose of this sheet metal tray? However, it makes sense for sliding something easier through the hatch ---either shells or the crew.

Here we go everyone page 113 Jentz@doyle german tiger tank book ..

Hi Dale.
Yes...seen the picture and read the book... but...guess i missed something under the photo it says "sheet metal "shield" inside the rear hatch" but still no firm explanation of what it was intended for
Paul

Hi guys,

A little DTP fiddeling on the picture discloses following text.

"the sheet metal shield inside the rear hatch ... lack of armor guards for the torsion bars counterbalancing the turret rear hatch"
Hope this helps.

Hi Ad.
The torsion bars and the lack or armor guards it speaks of are on the outside of the turret i'm afraid, the rear hatch was hinged on torsion bars in order to make closing it easier, the armored guards covered these torsion bars.
Cheers Paul

Hi Paul,

I think you are right.
I had a look at some super detail pictures from panzerbasics.com and these clearly show that there is nothing that could be protected by the sheet metal shield. No hinges, no torsion bars, nothing.
There is only a support roller behind the breech and plenty of grenade storage racks.
So my vote goes to a spent casing slide (or for protection during a hasty escape).

Hi Steve,
Receive THE modified turret's rear hatch and other parts today. Very high quality! Thanks!
Regards,
Lerh Chang