Spanner IV ?

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello,

I was wondering whether someone has information about the Spanner IV Gerät and its dimensions etc. ? Must check libary, so if anybody can point me to a specific title in which the Spanner IV is mentioned, please feel free to let me know

Thank you in advance ! Marcel

[Mikael Olrog]

I mentioned it shortly in my Kauz night fighter book, Active device, appears to have been a prototype version tested on a Do 217 night fighter during 1943 but no known technical details - to my knowledge. Would be great to locate additional information/material

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Helllo Michael,

Fw. Werner Fick (E-Stelle Travemünde) was on FlH.Venlo between 21th November 1942 till 5th December 1942 and flew many times with Do17 (Stkz. LI+NS), the purpose of his flights is noted with a puzzling '31'.

In BAMA RL 36/19 (Monatsberichte Trävemünde Dec.1942) I found a reference to testflights at the XII.Fliegerkorps (that includes the I./NJG 1 in Venlo) with Spanner IV, so I suspect that this is the reason for Ficks presence in Venlo.

End 1943 Fick returned to Venlo and was detached to the I./NJG 1 to fly the He219. It would be interesting to know which device(s) he tested with this nightfighter up to his deathly crash in April 1944.

Best regards, Marcel

[Nick Beale]

This may not be the Spanner model you have in mind but I do have this description from August 1942:

MKA 956 Ref. 888 Ref. CX/MSS/1253/T14, 987/T16

122 specimens of a device known as Nachtsuchgerät, NSG, Katze, Katzenauge or Handspanner had been delivered in area of AOC South up to August 1st.

This device is an infra-red telescope, dimensions seven inches by three inches and is used like a telescope to detect infra-red radiation from hot parts (especially engine exhausts) of night fighters. Night fighter appears as a reddish to yellowish spot of light. Range is up to half a mile. There is no image erector [sic] in this telescope. It is considered by the Germans a valuable aid for evading night fighters.

These apparatus have been allocated as follows:

Under Fliegerkorps II: 25 each for KG 54 and KG 77, three for 1.(F)/122
Under Fliegerkorps X: 25 for LG 1, three each for Kommando Koch and 2.(F)/123.
Under Fliegerführer Afrika: 10 for ZG 26, five for 12./LG 1, 3 for 1.(F)/121.
Remaninder held as reserve stock in Italy.

1536/4/8/42 GMT

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Nick,

Thank you for your comments !
I have to dig up Gebhard Aders, History of German Nightfighting 1917-1945 and some other books on this technical subject to see whether I can find a definitive answer. I did find some info about the early Spanner-sets and it can reasonably assumed that Spanner IV was a further developed variant, but I am always to try to be sure

Wish you a Merry Christmas and - never too soon - Happy New Year !

Marcel

[Mikael Olrog]

If I remember correctly, Katze is a different item than Spanner. There were both active and passive IR equipment under development.


LI+NS is not a valid Stkz.


Yes Fick has very strange references to the purpose of his flights. Must have had some system.

[Peter Achs]

According to Fritz Trenkle: "Deutsche Funkmeßverfahren bis 1945" Spanner IV was a periscope image converter (Periskop-Bildwandler) for vertical installation in the Do 217. Manufacturer: AEG/Leitz in 1943, no further information available

[newcomer]

Helo, maybe this is that book: https://www.ebay.de/itm/168010839803...90.c101224.m-1

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello,

No, unfortunately not, this is another from several books Fritz Trenkle wrote about German radar, radio navigation and other electronic equipment. Nevertheless thank you for looking with me

Best wishes, Marcel