It is a sight that can be rotated to enable an operator to observe the scene throughout an azimuth angle of 6400 mils (360 degrees).
The sight of the tank commander is normally positioned at the highest point of the turret, enabling him to rotate his line of sight through 6400 mils (360 degrees) in azimuth. This sight is called a panoramic sight. However, to prevent the image from being inverted after 3200 mils (180 degrees) of rotation, the panoramic sight must be fitted with de-rotation optics. These additional elements make panoramic optical sights more complicated, and hence more expensive, and also reduce the light transmission.
In general, panoramic sights, with their gyro systems and de-rotation optics, are expensive and, being more complicated than the fixed link sights, they can be less reliable and require more maintenance. Nevertheless, such sights are essential equipment in a modern battle tank if it is to acquire and engage moving targets while itself being in motion. Quite simply, without this capability, a tank is likely to find itself outclassed.
Sergyi Way
16.08.2006