Pilots of early Junkers Ju 87 Stukas repeatedly disabled the sirens because the initial installation lacked a convenient independent control. The intended terror effect collided with the experience of crews who also had to hear the device during routine flight. The same gap between plans and field use appears in German armored vehicles whose wheel or armor arrangements created maintenance and weight problems. Museum displays and design drawings may preserve an official configuration that soldiers did not retain in service. Equipment as used can differ substantially from equipment as designed.
Notable Point · 44:23-46:07
Stuka sirens and the gap between designed and fielded equipment
The Stuka's siren introduces a broader discussion of how crews disable irritating features and simplify equipment under field conditions.