Periscope Armoured Vehicle Image Intensified L5A1.
The nightscope is fitted to the drivers hatch in place of the standard drivers periscope, allowing driving at night. A lead is connected to the RF filter up in the left hand corner. Infra-red lenses are fitted to the inner pair of headlights. The headlights are switched on, aswell as the blackout switch. This will turn off all the other lights and as the lenses are fitted, the vehicle appears to the naked eye, not to have any lights on at all! To power the actual scope, as it is powered through the RF filter which in turn gets its feed from the wiper switch, I disconnect the cable that goes to the wipers (at the wiper switch), and basically switch on the wipers. The nightscope has either a lever or knob switch (as there are a couple of types) which darkens or brightens the image seen in the scope.
Nightscope stowage.
When not in use the nightscope is stowed in the cubby hole between the drivers left knee and the pack.
How to fit your driver's nightscope.
The procedure to fit your nightscope is the same as the drivers scope, just slacken the knurled nuts at the bottom of the supporting lugs, swing the lower part of the periscope forward to clear the lugs, and then remove the periscope from the mounting. Replace driver's periscope with the nightscope, and tighten knurled nuts. Finally connect lead from scope to RF filter.
Looking after your periscopes.
Clean the inside of the periscope aperature and wipe with a lightly oiled clean cloth. Any mud or dirt accumalated on the periscope glass should be washed of with water, and dried. Don't remove mud when it is dry as this will scratch the lens.
Another tip, if possible avoid storing the periscopes in situ, in the vehicle. Due to the body of the periscope being aluminum and the hatch steel, they can react against each other and cause the periscope to corrode in place. This may result in the persicope being unable to be removed without damaging it. See the last picture a clever way to blank the driver's periscope aperature, as seen on a fv434 that was waiting for disposal.
