Is the Position of the Commander and Loader Wrong in the King and Country Picture ? (1 Viewer)

[DM101]

Is the Position of the Commander and Loader Wrong in the King and Country stock Picture ?






They should be swapped right ? i.e. commander should be behind the gunner

Welcome any comments please.... {sm4}

 

[Captain Smart]

I dont pretend to be expert on German Tanks and Stugs (infantry support tanks in particular) . But from most old photos its the left forward position that the commander stands.
But a very early version of the Sturmgeschütz (StuG III Ausf.B) such as the one on display at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War Moscow has the Commanders Postion displayed on the right position as King and Country have. So this could explain it?? Early models dont have either the round conning tower which is present on Later StuG III Ausf.B and StuG IVs.
I hope this may explain it? If anyone can confirm this. I would be happy..

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I dont pretend to be expert on German Tanks and Stugs (infantry support tanks in particular) . But from most old photos its the left forward position that the commander stands.
But a very early version of the Sturmgeschütz (StuG III Ausf.B) such as the one on display at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War Moscow has the Commanders Postion displayed on the right position as King and Country have. So this could explain it?? Early models dont have either the round conning tower which is present on Later StuG III Ausf.B and StuG IVs.
I hope this may explain it? If anyone can confirm this. I would be happy..

A very interesting question. I doubt the crew positions changed because of where the ammo was stored and how the breech of the gun opened which would have forced the loader to the right side. The periscope is on the left side of the stug. The right side of the Stug has no observation ports or periscopes so if the commander was on the right side, he would have been blind with the hatch closed. But I looked at some very detailed references and could not prove conclusively that the commander was always on the left.

Terry

 

[bradleyl30]

I think you are right and they are backwards.

The commander sat behind the gunner. There would be a single monocular scope forward for the gunner, and then the scissor scope behind for the commander. That is an Ausf. B and the reason the hatch is back farther is because the commander sits behind the gunner.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I did some more checking. The early Ausf. used only a scissor periscope to give an outside view to the commander via a small hatch in front of the commanders hatch as on the K&C model. In front of that is a small hatch for the gunner, which housed the periscope gunsight. But definitely the commander was always on the left side of the Stug

 

[bradleyl30]

Can someone who has this confirm whether they can be placed in the opposite hatches?

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Can someone who has this confirm whether they can be placed in the opposite hatches?

The two German crew can fit in either hatch

Terry

 

[jazzeum]

I know Terry knows this, but you all realize that this is an older set, right?

 

[Panzer ace]

What year is that set from?

 

[bradleyl30]

I know Terry knows this, but you all realize that this is an older set, right?

Yep, I have considered picking it up when pops up on eBay.

Glad to hear they fit on either side.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

What year is that set from?

Issued in late 2007 and retired in 2010 Original price $129

Terry

 

[jazzeum]

There was also a Desert version.

 

[DM101]

There was also a Desert version.

Also looking for the Africa Korp version - seldom pop up in eBAY for a long time - at the reasonable price {sm2}

 

[DM101]

From this damaged STUG seems the commander has easy access to both panels

 

[Panzer ace]

Issued in late 2007 and retired in 2010 Original price $129

Terry

Terry:

As always, thanks for the info.

Best,
Jason

 

[DM101]

The two German crew can fit in either hatch

Terry

Yes they could

However the commander's left hand does not touch the hatch or hull in this left position i.e. seems "floating" {sm2}

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Yes they could

However the commander's left hand does not touch the hatch or hull in this left position i.e. seems "floating" {sm2}

My model his left hand is in the same position no matter which hatch he is in and in any case I think it looks natural. His hand does not rest on the hatch cover like it does in the K&C marketing photo

Terry

 

[theBaron]

Is the Position of the Commander and Loader Wrong in the King and Country stock Picture ?

View attachment 201480

They should be swapped right ? i.e. commander should be behind the gunner

Welcome any comments please.... {sm4}

I know Terry knows this, but you all realize that this is an older set, right?

The K&C model is also a different mark of the StuG than the one depicted in the photos, too, isn't it? The one in the photos has a shallow cylindrical cupola for the commander, while the K&C model represents a mark with a hatch flush with the roof.

Prost!
Brad

 

[bradleyl30]

The K&C model is also a different mark of the StuG than the one depicted in the photos, too, isn't it? The one in the photos has a shallow cylindrical cupola for the commander, while the K&C model represents a mark with a hatch flush with the roof.

Prost!
Brad

Yes, but we addressed that below. There is no evidence that the Ausf B version had the commander on the other side, and in fact there multiple photos of the commander on the left behind the gunner. The loader is on right.

 

[theBaron]

...There is no evidence that the Ausf B version had the commander on the other side, and in fact there multiple photos of the commander on the left behind the gunner. The loader is on right.

Understood, I'm not challenging their stations. I just noticed that the photos weren't of the same mark. I must have skimmed past where that was mentioned in the thread.