US Armored Cars and Ballistic Glass

THIS IS NOT. I REPEAT NOT ABOUT BRITISH WW2 VEHICLES...

Does anyone know If ballistic glass or laminated glass was used in United States armored cars, tanks or half-tracks view ports and optics? Seems as though I read something about it before.

 

'Bulletproof' is a rather relative term.
Taking the M4's periscopes and vision slits (M5 & M6 sets?), and other fully armoured vehicles, certainly as 'bulletproof' as the technology of the day allowed, usually constructed from layered, toughened plates.
The language of the manuals is more proof against 'fragments' than any assertion about being truly bulletproof.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9buLiKr-sf-ZDZMTVJaY04zS1k/view


On halftracks, no, I don't think so, but it's a long time since I even looked at such details. Happy to be corrected.

 

The manual you sent me is of an m4 The M4a4 was British... If you paid attention I said NO BRITISH STUFF.

 

If you want to be a shouty twat about it, fair enough.
Used by the British, with the only real differences between it and 'used by the Americans' M4s being essentially in engine and running gear, but still an American vehicle, built in the states with common parts to other M4s manufactured at the same time.
That manual has plenty of nice and sharply scanned stuff on fitted systems, or you could also extract an almost complete range of Sherman manuals from the URL, but maybe that's too subtle a point since my use of the link was in reference to the language of the manuals...
The British also used American halftracks, armoured cars, softskins, tank destroyers & tanks. If that makes them 'British Stuff', then we'd all be having a thin time here wouldn't we.

So I'll potter off, only mentioning how a few books I'd dug out confirm the vision blocks in the Improved cupola as laminated glass that protected against 'penetration' by AP .50 at 100yds, but as that cupola was tested at the same time as a British version, and was seen fitted to tanks used by British soldiers once in full production, I suppose that makes it irrelevant.

 

You British trolls are everywhere...

@ LRusso Nice find I wonder if it could also stop low caliber rounds as well.

 

Dude, von Poop is definitely NOT a troll and really doesn't deserve the attitude you're giving him. He was legitimately trying to help you>

 

No please or thankyou either...I know some answers to this but...I've suddenly forgotten.

 

The guy gives you a fantastic, detailed article with information on AMERICAN ballistic glass and you call him a troll?

He's one of the best contributors here.

 

You make me blush, chaps.
I am often a troll, but not on this occasion, especially since Troll doesn't mean 'Disagreeing' or 'finding someone a twat'. Troll's a technical term, proudly used by those who like to wind up the easily wound.

But... the topic's quite interesting, and easily googled web info is apparently scarce, so shall we carry on regardless?

Not sure if this is a Sherman block, though the listing thought it might be and it clearly shows the multiple plate technology in use at the time:
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-tank-periscope-prism-bullet-526570757


The main pages from Hunnicutt's M4 book relating to vision system specifics:
View attachment 24319 View attachment 24320
What I find interesting there is the late M13 periscopes being made from a solid block of plastic.
You think of rudimentary clear plastics in WW2 aircraft, but it's mildly surprising to read of blocks of the stuff in tanks.
Very good images of such here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Era-M13-Periscope-for-Sherman-Tank-/161468440450?nma=true&si=PsAdaoYtBMbEVJ%252B995NOTOlHnEU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Quite the lump, and though I imagine easily obscured by a hit, it likely qualifies as 'bulletproof' as I can't see many things that wouldn't also punch a hole in the armour getting through something at that angle.

The approach to glass optics is a similar style as seen in German vehicles (Oh no! Not GERMAN vehicles!.. Or is it possible a more general look at WW2 Bulletproof Glass might get a more informative pool of info going... maybe just me... I'll stop being sarcastic now... probably.), with more shots being easily found of such fitted to Tigger etc., though this thread on WarRelics has a rather fine view of the glass itself from a 251:
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/germany-ww1-ww2-armour-artillery-vehicles/sdkfz-251-vision-block-ade-5021/

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/attachments/germany-ww1-ww2-armour-artillery-vehicles/24419d1231719143-sdkfz-251-vision-block-ade-100_0001.jpg

 

Seen while looking for something else.
Visit the Bargain barn for all your periscope needs. :unsure:



https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19540723&id=y_lOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ngAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4512,172286&hl=en

 

....But, are they American periscopes? NO BRITISH STUFF.