Trench Periscopes: The Great War Soldier's Best Friend

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During the First World War, armies had to develop all sorts of specialized equipment to deal with the unique conditions of trench warfare. Among the most vital of these were trench periscopes, which allowed troops to observe the battlefield in relative safety. Dozens of different models of periscopes were issued during the War, from simple bayonet-mounted mirrors to sophisticated magnifying optics.
SOURCES:
Saunders, Anthony, 'Trench Warfare: 1850-1950', Pen & Sword Military, 2010
royalmontrealregiment.com/tre...
wordsinwartime.wordpress.com/...
www.greatwarforum.org/topic/3...
www.americanrifleman.org/cont...

[@donaldparlett7708]

I found a trench periscope at a flee market decades ago. The person had no idea what it was for so I paid my $5 and we were all happy.

[@SofaKingShit]

I can't imagine sitting inside of a papier mache replica of a dead tree in the middle of no man's land. They'd never be the same fellow again.

[@jackx4311]

I've noticed, in looking at photos taken later on in the war, they were almost all barely out of their teens (if that) - but they all have old men's eyes.

[@AldoSchmedack]

It may make you feel -holy- wholey... pew pew

[@maxasaurus3008]

They wouldn’t even be the same collection of organs let alone the same mind 😢

[@randydewees7338]

Actually, there is a lot more optically going on inside that periscope. In order to have a wide field of view there is a system of relay and field lenses in between the prime focal plane up by the head prism, and the relayed image plane that the eyepiece views. Without this relay system the field of view would be just like looking down a long narrow pipe. It appears that the objective lens, probably just downstream of the head prism, has an aperture of about 8 - 10mm. I would guess that the exit pupil is 7mm so that it has a bright image and is easy to look through. The magnification would then be 8mm/7mm = 1.14X to 10mm/7mm = 1.4X.

[@Christopher-N]

(0:20) This demonstrates the importance of not being seen - not to stand up.

[@commonsense2497]

The first periscope i ever saw was on a golf course. During a tournament it was hard to see over people. The periscope was sold at the concessions stand. Now we just attach a camera on the rifle and look through a monitor.

[@jamesslick4790]

When I was a kid, (late 1960s) My grandfather ( a camera "nut") got me a toy pair of binoculars, Those were pretty cool, But he also got a toy periscope. MIND BLOWING thing for a 5 year old! He also introduced me to magic that IS the View Master! 👍😊👍

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

“Some clever hat camouflage might be in order…” Lt George, 1917

[@whyjnot420]

I had a plastic toy trench periscope when I was a kid. It was one of the box/tube types. It was one of my favorite toys back in elementary school. I wonder if its still sitting in my moms attic.

[@fukkitful]

Same. I had a red one. i think TASCO made it.

[@BaronSamedi1959]

Contrary to what many seem to think, the binocular artillery periscopes (16:27) do not have a range finding capability. They are simple spotting scopes, but being mounted on a tripod and having an aiming circle, allow the artillery observer to accurately measure the bearing to the target from the relative safety of a dugout or observation post.

[@davebeedon3424]

Nice history! I had a toy periscope in the 1950s in Rochester, New York. I think it was a round cardboard tube about 24 inches (61 cm) long, with end caps (of plastic?) that held the mirrors. My weak memory says the body was yellow. We had no trenches to look out of, but did have corners to look around.

[@b.griffin317]

Update: Trench periscopes have made a reappearance on both sides in the trench warfare in Ukraine, pulled from old Soviet stocks. The Soviets of course stockpiled some in the event the Cold War turning hot resulting in the return of trench warfare.

[@bok..]

Interesting!

[@KenshiroPlayDotA]

@@bok.. Actually, one could say that trench periscopes haven't completely died ; the German MG 3 machine gun can use the Feldlafette tripod, on which one can mount a Zielfernrohr 4 × 24 periscope sight. It allows the user to be partially in cover, maybe completely if there's a tall enough parapet/sandbag wall in front of the MG, as the top of the user's head seems to be at the height of the MG, or even a bit lower.

[@AldoSchmedack]

I got one from Poland before war started. Has a huge wide fov too. Well made. Soviet item but was in Poland.

[@koiyujo1543]

really? why did militaries around the world completely stopped using them?

[@FairladyS130]

I was wondering about if periscopes were being used, with or without guns. Haven't seen any in the videos.

[@paulbrogger655]

Gilles: You might have added a period-inauthentic bow tie to that WWI infantry uniform.

[@jacquesmertens3369]

You must have spent weeks on that replica. So accurate ! I love this channel.

[@jamesslick4790]

"...gifted with a shiny NEW orifice.." Made me "choke" on my coffee!

[@airspeedmph]

I so enjoy these funny little skits of yours. 🤣

[@philipdove6987]

The UK senior school I attended in the early 197s0 had made trench periscopes for the British army during the first world war. as far as i remember from the only time i saw one it looked like the wooden tube, but I don't recall it having a fixing spike or folding in half.

[@MD-qm6gy]

Your corniness adds so much value to your videos. Never change my friend.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

Amazing photos of the kit in use.

[@stevebailey325]

Great episode! Coincidentally, I rewatched " They shall not grow old" last night.

[@user-gs6lp9ko1c]

When the US entered the war, we had such a shortage of good optics equipment the secretary of the Navy (Franklin Roosevelt) put ads in National Geographic (and probably other magazines) asking citizens to donate their German made binoculars.

[@Darthdoodoo]

This channel is awesome i was wondering if anyone was doing the equipment of wars etc and not just the guns. Love it

[@neilspires7259]

Nice job on the periscope.

[@mgpBLARG]

I want a modern version of that officers tube parascope. That is very neat

[@AldoSchmedack]

I have a Russian periscope I am restoring but it is more for field artillery sighting system and needs refilled with inert gas and resealed and the seals are worn out. They almost seem like finish putty. Handy items to have to see in war! Most are of a zoom level of some sort, but this has no zoom and wide field of view, hence why I have it. Came from Poland but is Ruskie made. Have field case for it too.

[@alancranford3398]

Various periscopes and mirrors are used in police and security work. One of my bomb search tools for vehicle screening and reacting to telephonic bomb threats is an automobile inspection mirror. Police supply houses have a variety of mirrors and periscopes used by SWAT and bomb squads. Permanently mounted mirrors, surveillance cameras, and camera drones are becoming more common but "trench periscopes" are still around in significant numbers.

[@pretzelsbuns5990]

great video ive loved periscopes since i was a child. thanks for posting

[@fredblonder7850]

A lot of these make me think of the ACME Corporation, frequently patronized by Wile E. Coyote.

[@CanadianMacGyver]

Fun fact: Looney Tunes was making fun of the fact that at the time, many companies were named "Acme" (meaning "peak" or "pinnacle") because it showed up first in the phone book.

[@fredblonder7850]

@@CanadianMacGyver It was a common game for companies to give themselves oddball names for this reason. They also tried to be the last listing in the phone book. Around 1970, the Baltimore, Maryland phone book listed (I am not making this up.) “Zzyzzy Zzyzzy Zub Zug”. I have no idea what this company did.

[@sealpiercing8476]

That must be a very common result when conscript armies from industrialized polities get into a relatively static fight. Lots of mechanically adept folks with spare time, boredom, gum, wire and a pressing interest in surviving the next interruption to the boredom.

[@junahsong130]

Good for corners, tanks, heck, I Love periscopes

[@-r-495]

Monsieur, thank you for your entertaining videos with practical demonstrations and tidbits not shared elsewhere. We both probably enjoyed a specific Table at a Chefs restaurant. I like your intro. Well done!

[@panzerdragoonss4021]

I've never seen your channel before. This is excellent.

[@jp-um2fr]

Another superb video, however no adds in the middle, please.

[@bauer431]

Your channel is amazing. Its great to see such good information presented.

[@kingcosworth2643]

The trench periscope was not under appreciated here in Australia. I live in Canberra where we have the War Memorial which is an amazing museum. Going there as a child when they discussed WW! the periscope was always mentioned. The slaughter at Gallipoli is a BIG part of Oz's history and culture so a lot has been discussed regarding WW1 trench warfare.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

One of the best museums I have ever visited. A little sad that they studiously, religiously avoid mentioning the NZ part of ANZAC anywhere in the museum. Even though the Americans never fought beside Australian troops in WW1, THEY get a mention, but in some fit of, I don't know what to call it, self doubt? greed for glory undiminished by sharing? , New Zealand is not mentioned once in the entire building.

[@kingcosworth2643]

Regarding the heliograph remember, general's always start fighting the last war. The last war is everybody's point of reference and considering every major war has been so different to each other, you can't blame them. Human's imagination for the future is as good as useless.

[@tarstarkusz]

I've heard Ukraine described over and over as a 1914 rerun.

[@tomhenry897]

When a reservist the 80s was told had these in our war stocks

[@jameslawrie3807]

They were used extensively in Stalingrad as well. As a result of this experience they were in Soviet inventories right up to the dissolution of the USSR.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

Duerr's are still making jam, and on their website they mention the trench periscopes.

[@noahway13]

. This guy does his best work indoors.

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

I'd like to see a trench gun that's literally a barrel and a bolt carrier above a trigger group...

[@RCAvhstape]

Anyone else make one of these out of a milk carton and a couple of shaving mirrors when they were a kid?

[@petercarlisle2927]

"Shiney new orafice" lol

[@FirstDagger]

13:15 You could use needle nose pilers to open that.

[@miinyoo]

Cool gear. I do not understand the scissor platform though and how it applies lol.

[@CanadianMacGyver]

It is a periscope like all the others, with a 45-degree mirror at the top and bottom. The pantograph/scissor lift mechanism allows it to be folded down to a compact size for storage.

[@CL-vz6ch]

It's magic.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

If portable periscope is needed that telescopic contraption does deliver. It has many drawbacks because of it's convenience of carry so it really is not that good at intended use.

[@Laundry_Hamper]

Which was the model where the objective looks like an eyeball which makes a string plucking noise as it blinks?

[@stevekaczynski3793]

A German sniper shot an inch-wide scope from 400 yards. Impressive...

[@51WCDodge]

Those tube type telescopes are still British Army Issue. why poke head around cover , when tube can do it?

[@j7ndominica051]

How long was it before the Germans found out about Paper Mache trees and shot them to smithereens?

[@jackx4311]

Take a look at photos of the front line; in places, there were so many dead trees you could fire off thousands of rounds, and still not hit the one with an observer inside. Have a look at this photo of Passchendaele, October, 1917: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chateauwood.jpg

[@maciek19882]

Mr Messier didn't know the first rule of not being seen...

[@gregorymacneil2836]

Do you have plans for the periscope?

[@CanadianMacGyver]

No, but I can draw some up for you if you like.

[@dieselgoinham]

I’ve watched like 100 of these videos and I still can’t figure out how to pronounce dudes name

[@peteacher52]

Bloody awful intro. I don't appreciate sudden bangs when unexpected. But I'm a '47 model so I have permission to be a bit cranky.

[@FlattardiansSuck]

War breeds invention, sadly. But gotta love the ingenuity 😊