Conceptual Design and Function of Optical Instruments in Armored Vehicles It is a fundamental function of tank optics to enable the crew to observe the surrounding field from the safe interior of the armored space in the way that they can deal with the various tasks of their mission as best as possible. Design and functionality of the customary sighting systems are presented, always in relation to the tasks of the tank crew. In doing so the technological change from a pure opto-mechanical sighting system to an optronic sensor platform becomes obvious: By implementing image intensifiers and thermal imagers the optical sighting system achieves full night vision capability and glass-optical vision must give way to high-definition TV cameras eventually.

Harry Schlemmer is a physicist by profession and was working for almost 40 years in the development of optical systems, dedicated to civil and military application. After his PhD thesis in the field of laser physics he started work on the development of miniatuized spectrometers. Since 1992 he is engaged in the optical technology of military vision systems. Thermal imaging technology and optical measurement techniques were also among the fields of expertise that he applied to optical systems design of periscopes and optronic sighting systems for submarines and armored vehicles. These experiences together with a general interest in historical relations have led to several publications and books on the history of military visual systems and the related technology.