WWI German Army Rundblickfehrnrohr - Rbl.F. Felda. - 10.5cm ARTILLERY SCOPE RARE

Description

You are bidding on a STUNNING used example of WW2 German Rundblickfehrnrohr Feldartillerie, (Rbl.F. Felda.) Scope!  This was used on both the 10.5cm leFH 16 and ONLY used on the famous 88mm FlaK 18!
The Rbl.F. Felda. panoramic telescope is a 4-power, fixed focus type with a field of view of 10 degrees, used for direct fire.  The line of sight may be raised or lowered by rotation of the angle of site knob. The angle of site scale is graduated from 100 mils to 500 mils (300 mils is normal). The angle of site micrometer is graduated in mils from 0 to 100 mils.
The Rbl. Felda is used with heavy antiaircraft guns for direct fire against ground targets and for reciprocal laying.
A modified type is designed for use with the predictor.
When mounted in their respective sockets with the azimuth scales set to zero, the line of sight of the panoramic telescope on the predictor is 180° from that of the predictor telescope. The reason for the eyepiece of the gun sight being 90° from the axis of the gun is for convenience as the operator can stand at the right side of the gun and look into the sight at right angles to the axis of the gun. This sight is 9.3 inches in height.
The outer scale can be rotated independently of the azimuth worm. Evidently the fixed azimuth scale and micrometer are used for initial laying of the piece and the second scale and micrometer are then zeroed and used to measure base deflection.
A throw-out lever is provided for rapid setting in azimuth. A locking lever locks the azimuth micrometer in any setting.
The 10.5cm leFH 16 (light field howitzer) was a Rheinmetall design that became the main German field howitzer during the second half of the First World War, and remained in service until 1945.  It replaced Krupp's 10.5cm leFH 98/09, which had been the main field howitzer at the start of the First World War.
Rheinmetall's design had to use as many components from the older gun as possible. This included the gun carriage, which was almost identical (with a box tail, gun shield and axle seats for the 1st and 2nd gunners, mounted in front of the shield, so they sat facing backwards when the gun was being towed), and the projectiles, cartridges and propellant charges.
The biggest improvements were in the gun barrel. This was made significantly longer, going from 1m 62.5cm to 2m 31cm (L/22). Muzzle velocity with the C-shell rose to 427m/ sec and maximum range with that shell to 9,700m. The rifling in the barrel was increased, increasing the spin imparted to the projectiles. The standard leFH 16 had a sliding wedge type breech block. There were three double spring recuperators mounted below the barrel, which recoiled 1.2m. There was a recoil guard to prevent the gun layer from being hit by the breech as it moved backwards.
The resulting weapon had some of the best ballistic characteristics of any howitzer of the period, and remained one of the best designs until the late 1920s.
A slightly improved version of the gun was introduced as the leFH 16 nA (new art). This had a pusher-handle sliding wedge breech block, which allowed the gun to be loaded faster, and coped better with dirt. Other differences were more minor and were general improvements in quality.
The leFH 16 fired four types of ammunition - a long FH shell with 2kg of high explosives, a Howitzer Shrapnel shell with a range of 6,000m, the Howitzer  Shell 15 with a 1.4kg payload and the C-projectile of 1917, which could reach the full range of 9,700m, although only by adding extra propellant, thus putting more pressure on the gun.
By 1937, 980 of these were in use with 24 artillery batteries.  It was eventually replaced by the 10.5cm leFH 18, but remained in use throughout the Second World War, and saw service on just about every front. On the eastern front it could be mounted on a sleigh to allow for easier movement. It was also used in fixed defensive positions around the edges of the Greman empire.
The 10.5 cm leFH 16 Geschützwagen Mk VI 736 (e) was a German self-propelled artillery piece. It was created by mounting the German 10.5 cm leFH 16 field gun onto the chassis of the British Vickers Mk VI light tank. The vehicle was created by engineer Alfred Becker, who was battery chief of the 12th Battery in the 15th Artillery Regiment, 227th Infantry Division. Becker found abandoned vehicles while his unit was performing coastal protection duties in France. He made use of his artillery crews to build this vehicle and a number of others to motorize his battery. Becker's unit was the first self-propelled artillery battery of the war.
Made of aluminum and steel, this aiming scope was manufactured in May 1918.
Brought back by a US veteran, it retains 95% original finish with NO major corrosion or damage!
The manufacture code and data information is stamped into the side, indicating:
Rbl. F. Felda.
A-G
HAHN
CASSEL
4908
V.  18
DRP
The AMAZING feature is that the hand-written markings, "LFH  16" as well as the original serial number still remain on the other side, making it EXCEEDINGLY RARE!  The optics are clear, however they are foggy with some spotting (should be easy to rectify, if one wished).  note that the dark spot at the top is just a shadow, and does not show when looking through.  It is 100% functional, with all dials and knobs working normally!
I have shown how it's EXACT location and how was mounted in the last photos (first image shows one installed at the Atlantic Wall in 1944).
A EXCELLENT scope that would make a PERFECT addition to any collection or display!
Please email me if you need additional photos or information.
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Payment should be made within 7 business days at the end of the auction unless buyer contacts me for other arrangements. I accept all forms of payment.
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My goal is to ship within 7 days from auction end. However, depending on circumstances, it may take up to an additional 1 week from receipt of confirmed payment. If you need it shipped sooner, please let me know and I will do our best to accommodate.
------------------- TERMS OF SALE -----------------
Most of my items are vintage, and as such are AS-IS, so you must therefore expect a degree of wear due to age and/or usage. I will describe each auction to the best of my knowledge and take as many photos necessary to ensure you are pleased upon receiving your item. All sales are final, so please make sure your questions are answered to your satisfaction before you purchase.
------------------- ABOUT ME -----------------
Although my passion is the Me109, I do offer many other German Aircraft (Fw190, Me262, etc.), as well as USAF and Japanese items. Occasionally I do offer many non-vintage items such as prints and art relating to the time period. As a private collector myself, I am constantly on the lookout for historical memorabilia, authentic photographs, artwork or anything unique relating to military aircraft.
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All pictures and descriptions used in my auctions under COPYRIGHT and I forbid the use of these photos and information in any manner such as paper or electronic (internet) publications or otherwise. Use is solely based on my authorization only.
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