Original German WWII Richtkreis-Kollimator K.12m Artillery Range Finder in Transit Chest by Ernst Leitz (beh)
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Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a very nice example of a German WWII Wehrmacht issue Richtkreis-Kollimator ranging & spotting scope. This was used in conjunction with MG, Artillery, and Rocket units.
The Richtkreis K 12M (RKr. K 12M) aiming scope was developed for MG, Artillery, and Rocket units, and was used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles. It was an important instrument for initially sighting heavy guns prior to firing. These were used in conjunction with the Rundblickfernrohr 36 (Rbl.F) telescope models and higher which featured a long line of letters and numbers on a horizontal line on the reticle that went from left to right and were just above the "V" on the reticle that is identical to what you seen in the MGZ40 and 34s. The RbIF 36 and above were manipulated by the artillery gunner to point directly into the opening of the K12 from a distance. The K12 would be aimed at a distant target (like a church steeple) to get an estimated height angle combined with the properly surveyed angle to the strike area.
Once the proper height and angle called in by the observers were calibrated in the K12, the distant gunner would rotate the head of the Rbif and point it into the direction of the external objective of the K12 so that in his view, he could see his horizontal line of data superimposed perfectly and magnified properly in the "projected" beam of data coming from the K12. Once the gun was elevated properly so that the RbIF was collimated against the K12's showing the magnified letters in his scope coming from the K12, he knew his angle of his gun was properly aligned for height and angle. These K12s were used (along with the RbIFs) to align V2 rockets for launch angles. The RbiF was pointed at the K12 as above from the V2's tail assembly and the rocket was adjusted in this way just before launching.
This example is marked K.12m / beh / 4739 indicating that it was made by one of the very best makers at the time, Ernst Leitz Gmbh, Wetzlar - Germany. This company was the designer of this particular type of rabbit ear optics. Ernst Leitz II (1 March 1871 – 15 June 1956) was a German business person and humanitarian. He was the second head of the optics company now known as Leica Camera and organized the Leica Freedom Train to allow people, most of whom were Jewish, to escape from Germany during NSDAP times.
The piece comes in its original transit chest which is also marked beh on the side. The case measures 9 x 8½ x 5½”.
Comes ready for further research and display.
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
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