Rbl. F. 16 panoramic artillery sight

Places
Accession Number REL32801
Collection type Technology
Object type Optical equipment
Physical description Brass, Steel
Maker C P Goerz, Berlin
E Esdaile & Sons
Place made Australia: New South Wales, Sydney, Germany
Date made 1917; 1940
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Brass and steel dial sight, converted from a German Rbl.F. 16 sight, captured during the First World War. The lower viewing aperture is missing the rubber eye rest but the sight is otherwise complete. The dial and winding mechanism are made from brass and the units of measurement have been converted to Imperial from the original German Metric, and is inscribed with the notation 'For Drill Only'.

When viewed, the sight gives 4 x magnification with a ten degree field of view. The section above the dial houses the top lens and fine tuning wheel. The centre section has been painted bright red. The lower section is made from steel. At the bottom of the sight is a threaded post with a castellated nut attached.

Roughly inscribed onto the side of the upper prism housing is the number L18381-18384', and the date of manufacture. Below the date is inscribed 'converted by E Esdaile and Sons sydney 1940' On the side of the upper optical element is inscribed: Gesichtsfeld 10 (field of view 10 degrees) Vergr 4' (abbreviation of 'Vergrosserung' - magnification x 4).An inscription on top of the upper prism reads: C. P. Goerz Berlin Rundblick Fernrohr Nr. 98056 DRP. Nr. 156039.

History / Summary

Brass and steel dial sight originally fitted to a German field gun during the First World War. The sight was captured and brought to Australia where it was converted from Metric units to Imperial units by E Esdaile and sons, of Sydney, in 1940. It was used by the Australian Army as a training and instructional tool until more modern sights became available.