| Accession Number | REL31218.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Optical equipment |
| Physical description | Brass, Leather, Steel |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1916: Weaponry |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | c 1912-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Z.F. 12 telescopic machine gun sight
Description
Zielfernrohr 12 (Z.F.12) 2.5 power, optical gun sight for the MG08, 7.92mm, Maxim machine gun, as used by Imperial Germany and her allies during the First World War and beyond. There is a brass adjusting wheel attached to the left side of the sight, which is graded from four hundred metres up to two thousand metres. The sight comes complete with padded brown leather eye rest and a brass lens cap cover which is attached by a leather strap. There are three detachable aluminium access panels painted gloss grey and secured to the steel body by small screws. The detachable steel base plate of the sight has been dovetailed to allow the sight to slide and lock into position at the left, rear of the MG08 receiver. When looking through the sight, the aiming reticle is a thin, inverted black 'V' which is designed not to obscure any part of the target when aiming. Most of the sight has been finished in a grey hammertone paint scheme which has been chipped away, exposing the machined steel body underneath.
History / Summary
To increase the effectiveness of the MG08 over extended ranges (for example further than 800 metres from the firer), telescopic sights such as this ZF12 were developed and introduced into the German Army during the First World War. These sights were easily fitted to and removed from a special dove tailed bracket on the side of the MG08.