88mm FlaK The FlaK 88mm gun is a well known, perhaps even the best known, German piece of artillery. Used as intended, Flugzeugabwehr Kanon, it claimed many Allied aircraft, but also in its groundcombat role, it proved to be a huge threat. The 88mm FlaK found itself used as tankguns in various versions, the KwK 36, Kwk 43, PaK 43. However, I want to talk about the FlaK 88. And why the? Because it just inst like that. When talking about FlaK 88, it encompasses a range of both guns, cariages and barrels, which is something the generally interested do not immediately realize. So lets start with what is, within the boundaries of the 2nd World War, the first FlaK 88 gun. Developed from Krupps 88mm S.K. FlaK used in the 1st World War, Krupp had been developing a new 88mm FlaK since 1929. Requirements for the FlaK gun included: - Effective single round - Achieve 8000 meters height within 25 seconds from firing - Slant range 2500 to 6000 meters - Deployable in a battlefield artillery zone A selfpropelled FlaK version was rejected on basis of cost, tactical and fire-technical disadvantages. The new FlaK was to be towed. It was decided that the 88mm shell fitted the requirements, and it should replace the 75mm FlaK. Even heavier FlaK was already on the table, namely the 105mm FlaK. Already in 1931 a matter or urgency entered the FlaK development. I must point out, this is BEFORE the NSDAP came to power in 1933 so it is not part of their re-armament program. An interim solution had been drawn up for an 88mm FlaK on a towed cross-platform. Krupp had reported in fiscal year 31/32 that 2 88mm m.Fl.P.E. and 10 FlaKkreuzlafetten with trailers had been accepted by the Waffenamt. After trials the FlaKkreuzlafette was accepted into the troops. Further refinement of the FlaK gun happened at Abteilung A,K. and this resulted in it becoming ready for series production as the FlaK 18. Oddly enough, while Krupp was developer of the FlaK 18, apart from 200 Kreuzlafetten Sd.Ah. 201, Krupp was not part of the mass production which totalled 1058 FlaK 18 delivered to the troops by 10 OCtober 1936. In the year following, 1937, a review of the FlaK program was conducted. It was concluded that development was progressing satisfactory. On basis of current guns, the 88mm FlaK 18 and 105mm FlaK 38, higher muzzle velocity whilst maintaining accuracy was requested, at no to minimal increase in weight. Upon this, the FlaK 36 was developed. Now, here it becomes important to start seperating the gun from its barrel. Where the FlaK 18 encompassed the whole thing, gun, barrel and carriage, with the FlaK 36, this was not the case anymore. Reason being the interchangability of FlaK 18 and FlaK 36 barrels. The Flak 18 and FlaK 36 gun could take both the FlaK 18 barrel as well as the new FlaK 36 barrel. So, one could have the FlaK 18 gun with a FlaK 36 barrel and vice versa. The FlaK 18 gun however could only be mounted on the FlaK 18 Lafette and the same for the FlaK 36 gun on the FlaK 36 Lafette, with the latter towed on the Sd.Ah.202. A FlaK 18 Lafette is instantly recognizable by having circular groundplates at the ends of the arms, the FlaK 36 Lafette has square ones. The naming of the model of gun was detailed in the manual for the FlaK 36, L. Dv. 436 Beiheft. It stated that: Regardless of the gun tube installed (FlaK Rohr 18 or 36) guns on Lafettenkreuz 18 are 8.8cm FlaK 18 and those on Lafettenkreuz 36 are 8.8cm FlaK 36. It was also stipulated that the FlaK 18 was only to be transported on the Sd. Ah. 201 and the FlaK 36 on the Sd.Ah. 202. After the campaign in Western Europe, a Schutzschild was requested. This was introduced in June 1941 in the shape of a 10mm thick flat plate with foldable extensions. An additional 25cm wide Zwischenschild provided extra workingspace for operating the FlaKzielfernrohr 20. When transporting the gun, this Zwischenschild had to be removed, the Schutzschild could remain mounted. The follow up to the FlaK 36 was the FlaK 37. This basically remained identical to the FlaK 36, except that the Lampenempfänger (light signal receiver) was replaced by a Folgezeigeemfämger (directional indicator with dials). This makes determining which FlaK gun it is easy. Do you see dials? FlaK 37. The FlaK Rohr was simplified and produced as FlaK Rohr 37, when the FlaK 37 entered production in 1942 and by March 1943 had completely replaced both FlaK 18 and FlaK 36 production. As before, the barrels were interchangable so any leftover FlaK Rohr 18 or 36 could be used on the FlaK 37 and the other way around. The FlaK Rohre 18, 36 and 37 had a callibre lenght of L/56. Even though the FlaK 88 L/56 performed well, as proven in the Spanish Civil War, a better version was desired, with a higher ceiling and greater muzzle velocity. Enter Rheinmetal-Borsig. By 1941 prototypes of the FlaK 41 were ready, but it was not until March 1943 that the first ones were delivered. The FlaK 41 differed in just about everything from the FlaK 18, 36 and 37. The former versions were easily spotted on the battlefield for their high silhouette and as the FlaK was used as an anti-tank weapon was well, plus also the simple reason that even when used as intended, enemy troops could easily pick it out, a lower design was made. The cradle was changed from a vertical to horizontal design and the pedestal mounting replaced by a turntable on the platform, not only aiding the lowering of the height, but also adding to stability of the gun. Originally the FlaK 41 Rohr was a 3 piece barrel of L/74 but difficulties in extracting the fired shell cases led to a re-design into a 2 piece L/72 barrel. Muzzle velocity was 1000 meters per second, and vertical range 10.000 meters high effective, though the maximum was a staggering 15.000 meters. Used in the anti tank role, it could fire up to a range of 19.700 meters. Production of the Rohr 41 exceeded production of the FlaK 41 gun, so as a stop-gap solution, FlaK 36 guncarriages were fitted with FlaK 41 Rohre and named FlaK 36/41. Later, when FlaK 37 replaced FlaK 36 production, this led to the FlaK 37/41. However, only 12 Flak 37/41 were needed as FlaK 41 gun production was then keeping up with Rohr production. Also part of the FlaK 41 design was the gunshield, being a wider protective item. Although early on already dismissed, attempts were undertaken to mobilize the FlaK 88. This included mounting the FlaK on VOMAG 2X6 trucks and later development of the VersuchsFlaKWagen. The FlaK mounted on SdKfz 8 halftracks were used as bunker-busters.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:40:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015