Where is the MGZ40 illumination battery box suppose to be?

[Sturmgewehr83]

I`m in to reenacting and I`m very curios on where to hang or connect this battery box in the field? I noticed it got a flat small belt loop on one side, could this be for a leather strap?

I could not find any pictures of it used in the field, so if anyone know how to carry this I would be very interested

[Matt]

the lever that releases the front leg of the tripiod, it slides down over that. - matt

[Blanksguy]

Sturmgewehr83,

Your light-set is also missing the Off/On-Switch with short-cord.....and the "Pen-Light w/cord for viewing the Azmuth and Elevation (Quadrant) Scales.

I believe that these sets also had to have some sort of carry-case (?).

Regards, RichardS in MI
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[Matt]

i dont think the mg crews every used the set blanksguy is describing. it was used with the rk31 and observation optics. there is a long cord with on off swith built in to it. bergflak has some good pics of this. anybody got a pic of these in use? - matt

[Blanksguy]

Matt,

The Azmuth-Scale and Angle-Of-Sight (Quadrant) would have to be checked, especially if the MG-crew were firing indirect-fire into an area-target.
The light that clips onto the optic-side does not light up the other parts (dials w/numbers), but just the vial and reticle. It would have to be removed to shine light onto the area for correct Azmuth and angle-of-sight/quadrant.

Yes, Bergflak has some good photos of the complete machinegun light-sets.....which I have been told were also used in Artillery applications and others.

So, are we talking complete machinegun MGZ/MGZ34/MGZ40 light-sets (?)........or something used later war period (?).....for then I can even see some poor German gunner using his flash-light to see if things are level and on the correct Azmuth/quadrant then.
In combat, you use what is available to you at a given time......and that may or may not be a complete set, nor even what was suppose to be used.

Regards, RichardS in MI.
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[Matt]

you ever seen a photo of the light cable in use on a lafette? - matt

[Blanksguy]

Matt,

There are at lest one photo(s) in Folke-Myrung's (?-spelling) book on the MG34 and MG42.

When you look at those, you tell me if they are partial light-sets (where the gunner is only using part of the complete set......or is it a complete-set (?). In combat photos, we never see "all" of the equipment issued (or suppose to be issued) with the major end-item (MG34/MG42 machinegun)..

Regards, RichardS in MI.
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[Sturmgewehr83]

Sturmgewehr83,

Your light-set is also missing the Off/On-Switch with short-cord.....and the "Pen-Light w/cord for viewing the Azmuth and Elevation (Quadrant) Scales.

I believe that these sets also had to have some sort of carry-case (?).

Regards, RichardS in MI
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

The picture is not mine, I have only got a box but I`m planning on getting a complete set with cable and MGZ40

[Matt]

there is no period photo in myrvangs book that shows the light cable in use on a lafette mounted MGZ optic. - matt

[RoyRU]

Here discussion of this question at Russian forum.
http://ww2.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=191097

[Chuckm]

RoyRU:

Could you post the pictures on this board?? I think the page is asking me to join to be able to see them.

Thanks,

Chuckm

[RoyRU]

[Blanksguy]

Matt,
The only photos that I see in Folke's book appear to be more current photos.......hope that he includes more photos in a revised/updated 2nd-addition to his book.

Bergflak has a few photos of these light-sets......if memory serves me well, I believe they are from period books/manuals.
The light-sets (as the title says) are a "night-use" item.......the only photos may very well be of "training units" very early in WWII or per-War photos.....I don't believe that a Camera-Man would be out there in Combat (at night) taking photos of these (?).
..."but" without a "period-photo" does not mean that the complete sets were not made nor issued.
I will post a good photo of a more complete Light-Set at the end of this posting.

Period and/or Combat photos may not exhist. I would believe that Light-Sets would be removed and packed away in whatever they were carried in so that the unit would be more able to move quickly if required....same as todays US Army units.
If you look on page 342 of Folke's book shows the MG34 Gun-Crew at rest (posed photo)....the "Gunner" is wearing the optics-Carry-Can.....and if you look just to the left of it, there appears to be a pouch on his front/side. This is very similar to the case that I received with a WWII marked MG34/42 complete Light-Set. It was "cme" stamped on the rear of the case and had enough room for all of the light-cords, and a wooden-tray under the flap for spare light-bulbs. But again, you/we may never locate/see a period photo of a complete light-set laid out for viewing.

Common logic would say that anywhere there was a light used, there should be an off/on switch......"and" we all know how long a "gunner" would last if he remove the light while plugged in / "ON" in a Combat-Zone/the "Front" if he tried to see the Azmuth-counter to insure he was on Zero/Direct-Fire......or to ajust his scope at night (in darkness) for an indirect fire-mission for an area target with the MG34 or MG42. "BANG"....next "gunner" up, please......
....and again, we may never see a period photo of these due to any number of reasons........"and" even if we do see one, it may not be of a complete light-set because given the nature of "Infantry".....a soldier will only carry what is absolutly necessary to operate, a lot of items/equipment was left in the rear with "supply" or got "lost" during operations.

I have provided a photo of a more complete light-set below for your viewing.
Regards, RichardS in MI.
US Army, Retired
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[Matt]

i tried to register with that russian forum but no luck looking at the pictures they posted. anybody else know russian? - matt

[RoyRU]

At Russian forum have decided that machine-gun crews in a fighting situation didn't move lighting complete sets in metal boxes (as it is presented on a photo), and moved them separately in boxes with spare parts and various bags. It proves to be true that in many photos of period WWII machine-gun crews don't have boxes with lighting sets.

I was engaged in archeological excavations on places of fights for Leningrad. We repeatedly found the thrown sets of lighting on the German machine-gun positions. But all of them have been thrown separately and we never found the big metal boxes for transportation of the complete set of lighting of a sight.

[kevin917z]

is there some kind of way to put new modern batteries in these boxes so a person can use the sight with the illumination????

[Matt]

sure is, go to radio shack, buy a little plastic box (usually black) that holds two C batteries, there are two wires on it, one is red and one is black. attach them to the two screws in the bottom of the box and it will light up your bulbs nicely. they also sell bulbs that fit in the light cable, just be sure to match the voltage of two C batteries to the bulb you buy. works great! - matt

[kevin917z]

thanks!

I take it the original bulbs currently in the cable are 3 volt then? I dont want to fry them with 3 volts if they are not. The bulbs still look good. Filament is intact.

[42rocker]

I'll bet that jbaum has a book that tells the voltage of that bulb. Let's see if he or someone else checks in with the voltage requirement.

Later 42rocker

[Matt]

you can buy 1.5 and 3 volt bulbs that fit in the socket. they are real inexpensive as well. - matt