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Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:54 pm
by ovenpaa
I read an advert for some ex-Army NV systems today and it set me thinking, how long has NV been around? 1950's maybe? Possibly into the 60's? Anyway I eventually found this rather brief article.
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/german-inf ... werfer.htm
A clue to the early use is in this picture:
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:53 pm
by Sandgroper
From wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_carbine ... _.30.2C_M3
The M3 carbine was an M2 carbine fitted with a mount designed to accept an infrared sight for use at night. It was initially used with the M1 sniperscope, an active infrared sight, and saw action in 1945 with the Army during the invasion of Okinawa. Before the M3 carbine and M1 sniperscope were type-classified, they were known as the T3 and T120, respectively. The system continued to be developed, and by the time of the Korean War, the M3 carbine was used with the M3 sniperscope.
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:07 pm
by Scotsgun
I remeber the huge clumsy kit we used in NI. It didn't seem much more advanced than that shown in your pictures.
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:15 pm
by Doz
Scotsgun wrote:I remeber the huge clumsy kit we used in NI. It didn't seem much more advanced than that shown in your pictures.
Was that the bloody thing we had on the L1A1 - size of a thermos flask and wanted to tip the rifle over sideways?
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:32 pm
by Scotsgun
Ha, the very one!
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:33 pm
by ovenpaa
Doz wrote:Was that the bloody thing we had on the L1A1 - size of a thermos flask and wanted to tip the rifle over sideways?
I had my hands on of those many years ago, not a great thing to look through at night, mostly fuzzy stuff with fuzzy things moving in a snowstorm. It was back in the early '90's and the owner wanted GBP200 for it so I declined......
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:01 pm
by Scotsgun
Christ, we had boxes and boxes of them in Colchester. We used them once and once only.
Remember those old tvs which you 'tuned' channels with one rotary dial...well it was like using one of them but without any arial or reception at all! The only time they were any good was in full moon conditions - when you didn't need the f*** things anyway!
Re: Early night vision
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:00 pm
by Doz
We only got issued them once too. In daylight... :?