German Night Vision

 "To Acting Chief of the 4th Department of the SPG Directorate, GBTU, Engineer-Major comrade Konev

#4323ss
September 21st, 1945

As per your instructions, I familiarized myself with the night vision sight installed on the German reconnaissance tank.

Night Vision Conclusions

"Conclusions on night driving devices for the T-34

The devices for driving tanks at night did not prove themselves.

1. The field of view is weak.
2. Only vertical objects are well defined. Terrain and horizontal objects are nearly invisible.
3. Vision range is short.

Night Rider

"To the Deputy Chair of the State Committee of Defense of the USSR, comrade Molotov

August 2nd, 1942

#408027s

According to GOKO decree #175ss issued on May 15th, 1942, the Special Design Bureau of the All-Union Electrotechnical Institute produced and presented by July 15th, 1942, one sample of a device for driving tanks at night.

The device was installed on a T-34 tank and tested at the Research Proving Grounds of the Main Auto-Armour Directorate of the Red Army..

The results of the trials showed that the tank can be driven at night with a closed hatch on a highway or on a dirt road at a speed of 10-12 kph.

The sensitivity of the fiberoptic elements in the prototype is insufficient and the IR lights (headlights) do not proving a sufficiently wide beam which does not offer sufficient visibility through the device.

The night driving device based on the principle of transforming IR light into visible light has one significant drawback in that the light from signal lights (stoplights) can only be seen in one colour.

All colours (red, yellow, blue, white) can be seen through the device from a long distance away, but only as bright green dots.

These drawbacks limit the usefulness of this device for driving tanks.

In order to read a final judgement regarding the use of this device in the military it is necessary to produce a trial batch of the devices with the aforementioned defects corrected. 

Attached is a draft GOKO decree to order the production of a trial batch of devices for night driving. I ask you to approve it.

GABTU Military Commissar, Army Commissar 2nd Class, Biryukov"

Via Padikovo Museum.

Night Driving

"To the Deputy Chair of the Committee of Defense, comrade Molotov

In accordance with State Committee of Defense decree #2181ss issued on August 18th, 1942, the Special Design Bureau of the NKEP produced a batch of 25 night driving devices for T-34 tanks.

24 devices were installed on commanders' T-34 tanks in the 19th and 157th Tank Brigades of the 26th Tank Corps, 5th Tank Army, subjected to trials, and left with the brigade for further use in order to determine their worth in night combat.

German Night Vision

"Description of a German rangefinder sight with night vision

The device is designed to measure distance and to observe at night. Observation at night is performed by attaching special lenses to the rangefinder.

The lens consists of a cylinder that holds a light sensitive plate, a diaphragm, and a lamp for illumination. It weighs about 250 grams. The lamp is powered by six dry cells.

The light sensitive plate is held between two pieces of glass. It is flourescent.

Night Vision Driving

"Information

The range of vision with two lights using 100 watt electric bulbs each results is the following:

1. A person or other vertical object on the road or on terrain can be seen from 35 meters.
2. Terrain features and the road can be seen 12-15 meters in front of the tank.
3. Buildings and structures (huts, churches, telegraph poles) can be seen from a range of up to 50 meters.

All objects are visible in green. Observation can be done through the device on a dark night with the same clarity as without the device on a moonlit night.

Assistant Chief of the 3rd Department of the GABTU BTU, Lieutenant-Colonel Dorofeev

August 8th, 1942"

Experimental Night Vision

"Trials of night vision IR detection devices and IR projectors

1. Items under trials:
1. Night vision device type Dudka Dosug (2 units)
2. Tokarev rifle with IR optical sight.
3. IR projectors
1. PP-45 spotlight (2 units)
2. Z-15-4 AA spotlight (1 unit)
2. Goal of trials:
1. Determine the maximum range of vision with IR light when observing:
1. A single moving or stationary soldier.
2. A group of moving soldiers.
3. Shields, dugouts, local landmarks.
2. Determining the possibility of shooting from a sniper rifle using a nighttime IR sniper scope and determining range at various levels of light."

CAMD RF 71-12173-678

Pre-War Night Vision

"Approved by Deputy Chief of GABTU, Major-General of the Technical Forces, Lebedev
March 1st, 1941

Tactical-Technical Requirements for production of experimental night vision driving devices

1. Overall requirements
1. The night vision driving devices must be in the form of glasses that attach to the driver's helmet or head, which allow him to drive at a speed of 10-15 kph with the hatches closed and 15-20 kph with the hatches open.
2. The commander's night vision device must be shaped like a pair of binoculars.
3. Regular tank headlights must be used as a source of IR light, and a regular portable tank lamp must be used as an IR signalling device.
2. Set of equipment
1. One vehicle's set of equipment must consist of:
1. One night driving device shaped like glasses.
2. One communication and observation device shaped like field binoculars.
3. Light filters for the headlights.
4. One portable light for the commander.
5. Light filters for portable lamps and the tank's rear lights.

Night Vision and Mine Rollers

"To the Commander of the 5th Tank Army, Lieutenant-General comrade Romanenko
CC: Commander of the 26th Tank Corps, Major-General of the Tank Forces, comrade Rodin
September 29th, 1942

On the basis of GOKO decree #2181s issued on August 18th of this year, you are being sent 25 units of special T-34 driving devices and mine rollers that have to be tested and reviewed.

Night Driving

"To the Chief of the 3rd Department of the GABTU BTU, Engineer-Lieutenant-Colonel comrade Ivanov

Research into night vision devices based on passive IR started in about 1927-28. Until 1940, only the Red Army NIIST worked on this subject, but in 1940 BTU began to test night vision devices to drive cars at night on the suggestion of "Svetlana" factory staff.

As a result, spectacle-shaped night vision devices were produces and tested at the "Svetlana" factory and GABTU proving grounds.

Pre-War Night Vision

"Information on the IR devices "Dudka" and "Ochki"

1. On March 19th, 1940, a letter arrived from the ABTU chief to the LVO Armoured Forces chief, on the topic of army trials of the "Dudka" device, with the conclusions of the commission from the 7th Army.
2. The materials that arrived were sent to the department chief, who reported to the ABTU chief, based on which a "Dudka" device and materials on it were requested by ABTU.
3. The chief of the 5th department of Supply Directorate sent all materials and a "Dudka" device to ABTU (see letter from April 11th, 1940).
4. The "Dudka" device was demonstrated to ABTU command and Committee of Defense representatives, after which it was sent to the GABTU proving grounds for testing.
5. After trials, conclusions were composed on May 15th, 1940. The following participated in the trials:
1. Military engineer 2nd grade Kravtsev (BTU)
2. Military engineer 2nd grade Malyavin (proving grounds)
3. Military engineer 1st grade Rybalko (NIIST)
6. After trials, the 3rd BTU department chief, military engineer 1st grade Afonin, wrote his conclusions and sent them to GABTU chief, Lieutenant-General Fedorenko.
7. All materials on testing (aside from 3rd department conclusions) were sent to the Supply Directorate deputy chief, military engineer 1st grade Malkov, advising against ordering a batch of "Dudka" devices. At the same time, they asked for removal of defects discovered in the device and presentation of the new device for trials.
8. In May of 1940, the director and secretary of the party bureau of factory #211 visited ABTU, bringing with them a letter from their engineers proposing the construction of the "Ochki" device. The letter was left with the BTU deputy chief, military engineer 1st grade comrade Alymov.
9. By order from the ABTU chief, the department chief, comrade Kravtsev, prepared a letter addressed to the People's Commissar of Defense, Marshal Timoshenko, with a request for producing "Ochki". The project was attached.
10. The Affairs Directorate of the People's Commissariat of Defense sent a letter to the ABTU chief, approving the production of "Ochki".
11. The "Ochki" project was assigned to Lieutenant Colonel Dorofeev, who composed the requirements, which were approved by the BTU chief.
12. On June 25th, 1940, a decree by the Committee of Defense was issued to approve the assembly of 10 "Ochki" (5 pairs). The deadline for these units was October 15th, 1940.
13. "Ochki" were finished in December. After factory trials, they were sent to the GABTU proving grounds for trials. At the same time, factory #211 produced other night vision devices for trials.An order was given to test "Ochki" in winter conditions.
14. Trials took place in January-February of 1940 and the following conclusions were made:
1. Winter trials showed that it was possible to use IR illumination to drive tanks.
2. Improved night vision devices can completely solve this problem.
3. The tested designs need to be improved and simplified.
4. Summer time trials are necessary.
15. The results of the trials were delivered to the Committee of Defense.
16. At a meeting between factory #221 and Lieutenant-Colonel Dorofeev, the former agreed to sign a new contract for improvements to "Ochki".
17. BU produced a contract for factory #221. Technical requirements were approved by Major-General of Technical Forces, comrade Lebedev, and signed by BTU chief comrade Korobkov and 3rd department chief, comrade Afonin."

CAMD RF 38-11355-65

Night Vision

Many people may have read about German night vision devices, built in the late war. Far fewer people read about the Soviet equivalents, which started development in 1941.

CAMD RF 38-11355-644: "To the chief of the 3rd Division of GABTU KA

Here are the project description and blueprints, for your confirmation, of the aiming device for night-time fire from a tank, built as a result of contract #BZ-415 from May 29th, 1941...."

Some tedious bureaucracy comes after, but then, blueprints:

Nighttime gun sight. The maximum range is 200 meters.

IR projector for the gun sight.

The developments weren't entirely theoretical. Two tank brigades received night vision devices on the Stalingrad front in the fall of 1942.

CAMD RF 38-11355-801

This device was not for the gunner, but for the driver, enabling Soviet tanks to move at night. The following document, dated November 9th, 1942, describes it and its function.

"Tactical-Technical Requirements of the Prism type night driving device for the T-34

Purpose: the Prism type night driving device is designed to enable driving a T-34 tank during a dark night with closed hatches.

Positioning: the device is installed on a T-34 tank instead of the driver's observation device.

Principle of Operation: the device operates by illuminating the terrain in front of the tank with invisible infra-red light. The light beams reflect off objects, and are caught by the Prism device. The device converts the invisible light to visible green light. The observer, looking into the device, can see items in front of him.

Tactical-Technical Characteristics: 

1. The Prism device has the following dimensions: 180 mm in height, 120 mm in width, 135 mm in depth, and is shaped the same as a T-34 driver observation device.
2. Main elements of the device:
1. Driver's observation device "Prism" with a cover.
2. Power supply for the electro-optical converter.
3. Two headlights with light filters.
3. Main elements of the observation device:
1. Two lenses with a 90 degree optical axis.
2. Refractor system with a 90 degree optical axis.
3. Two eyepieces with an 8 mm pupil.
4. Optics with 1:1.25 magnification, 20 degree observation angle, and 1:1.2 light amplification.
4. Inside of the Prism are two electro-optical converters with the resolution of 10 lines per millimeter, and sensitivity of 10 microamperes per lumen.
5. For a high voltage power supply for the electro-optical transformers, a 20 kilovolt power supply is used. The main elements of the power supply are:
1. Two base 2NKN-10 batteries.
2. Inductor coil.
3. [I can't translate this component. The original says безнакальный кинотронный выпрямитель. Some kind of heat-less straightener.]
4. Elements of the power supply fit into a container 165 mm by 145 mm by 110 mm in size.
6. The device enables the driving of a T-34 column at night, with a closed driver's hatch, with a speed of 10-12 kph.
7. While stationary, the device can show a person and his movements, trees, bushes, and buildings, at a distance of 20-25 meters, in an area 8-10 meters wide.
8. While moving, the device can show 20-25 of road without a well defined boundary.
9. The device is simple to use and does not inconvenience the driver.
10. The lights have a constant focus. Each bulb consumes 100 watts, at 12 volts. The lightbulbs draw power from the tank's battery. The bulbs should last 25 hours.
11. Projectors can shine both IR and visible light.
12. The device and all of its spare parts fit in a special container."

CAMD RF 38-11355-650

"Prism" was much more elegant than the "Flute" (Dudka) system from 1941, which looked like this:

Via Yuri Pasholok.