The 88mm FLAK in the First and Second World Wars

51 Pages·1997·45.68 MB·English

by  Werner Muller, All new photo collection of the famed 88mm in its anti-air and tank roles on a variety of war fronts.

THE 88mm FLAK

Nig oad SIAN ID S| @X@)\ DRO) EDRs
Werner Muller
The 88 mm FLAK
in the First and Second
World Wars

Werner Miiller
SOURCES

Fred. Krsop AG, “Enige arlerstische Ergebnisse ces Kreges’

Fred: Krupp AG, 1919, wth ats

Fed. Krupp AG, "Entacklung des Artest Welt’

Frid, Krupp AG. 137, ih ais;

Koch, Hort Asbo, se, Peder, Pun Palas Vedag, 2rd

‘MS, Weer, “Dia Geschite .Onunge- and Feuereagerae
dor achweren Fak”, Predeberg, Posaun-Palas Vera, 1088;

ahr ed, "Da Gerst ce iethtenacilona vor. nun each
dem Wetareg" Parts, A Avert Wapone

Neolaleen, Hane Ditcs, “rupposfauor und Salvertakt, Seo-
‘Svaiag Bur, 198

etoiungon fir round ws Forerer dos Museums histones

Werrachnk eV RelRenbach, asuss 201026,

LUitwaten Serco Manual, Lv wih pend D (T1702;
Cotta,

unm Vereg

COVER PICTURE:

28 nn Fa postin on me Abate Wat

Foreword

Sin he 88 mm Flak gun has aoady been described thor.
cushy in Waten Arsenal aumes 27 are 10%, we can dspense
Fare with dong Wtover again Yt te interest nis weapon, 3
‘we cauld 9 tor may Yeades ltrs, ico gret het we have
‘cid is esture ho lghy-Egh nis mand acon n Work
irs and tin anetnor Woapen vzenal volume. These tues
were nat previously pablisnes meer othe afoternentoned A
“Volumes, Some affhom wore ton by amstous arate quay
ose net completly measure upto our present day requirements,
fh we boleve that we can presen them fo our adore for tat
‘ower at exeresion and we hankthe possessor for putlng ess
Detar a eu disposal

PHOTO CREDITS

Federal Actives, Kotler Kam Het Ari
Essen Mutter, Ares, -Das Gerat ce leichen aril vor
Und nach dom Wethrag” Beet 1029, om ho pate arcves
‘otioas. Raina Frank ot Giching, Jens Freees of Franky
Maan, Michael Foodrowe of Hannover, Biome Mle af Bad
Hersiag Alved Ote of Hannover, Voker Soult of Hecaber,
‘eer Sunany of wets, Werner Sunkal of Limburg. and For
tha Lirwate Series Manual Ly T1VO8 and (UT 1702,

‘Geran by Don Cox
Copyrins © 1998 by Senter Pubshing. Ls

lights reserve. No par ofthis werk may be reproduce or
tsogin any forms or by any means graph, ection
mechanical incuding photocopying or infrmaion storage anc
fotieval systems urtan permission Wom the cay
fight hot.

Pind in China.
ISBN 0.7643.0500-7

“This book was nny published under te ie,
Walton arsenal 8) FLAK M4 EWSAT2 | und I Wetiroly
by Podaun Pallas Vorag

We are intrstodin hearing from authors with book eas on
Folated tps.

E-mnt Sthiferh! com
eke waters eects.
88 mm Flak in World War |

Vary soon ater World War | bogan, the cry was heard
from th front for more effective artilery to use against en:
fey infant and fighter planes. The rebuilding of fild at
lery guns for ant-srraftuse, sometimes"adverturous" rom
modern-day standpoints, proved to be insuficient. Thus,
the frst Inspactor-Genoral of Ant-Alrraft Defense had &
‘lear conception of what kind of guns ware needed for such
tasks. The new weapon should have a greater caliber than
the earlor 75 oF 76.2 mm guns, and should also have a
‘greater range, a shorier fight ime (hus & gresier velociy),
‘and better means of aiming. Soin 1816, an 80 and an 88
mm truck-mounted Flak gun arrived atthe front, and they
‘aan probabiy be regarded as the forerunners ofthe 88 mm
Flak gun that became almost legendary in later years

‘On October 8, 1916, all ofthe offensive and datensivo
siforces became unitad under the offoa ofthe Command:
ing General ofthe Ar Forces. With this move, the separa
tion of ant-areraftartilocy from the othr field ailary was
compl. This devolopment made senso, for attacking a
target that could move quichyinthree-dimensional space
required avery diferent ring process diferent tacos, and
‘mora spatialzac guns and aiming devices than tose pos:
sessed by the Feld artiloy

‘With the constantly increasing use of enemy infantry
‘an fghter planes atthe fron, some of the Flak had tobe
‘advanced close to te frontlines, so as to be adle to tke as
{ar as possible over he ground ahead of them. Their bright
rmuzze lashes, though, cuickly beayed tir positions to
‘enemy observation planes or barrage balloons, which then
rected heavy artilory fre at them. This could be avoided
tly thraugh quick changes of position. which could be car

ee eee ena
pe ting penton nce ee
paw

lee out most quickly with guns mounted on trucks wit oft
‘oad capabilty, but tho armamonts Industry, overburdened
ast was, could send only limited numbers of these tothe
front For examplo, Krupp dolivored 78 ofthe 80mm "heavy
‘ruc gune' ftom Apri 1917 10 Api 1918. Butsinc the guns
‘were Nat comlately satisfactory ballistically, their produc:
‘ton was halted Bofore the war ended, The 68 mm "heavy
‘ruck gun’ made chiefly by Krupp, which performed better,
became the primary weapon af the antiaircraft forces, and
460 of tem had been delivered by the war's end.

Because of thelr great weight, it was no longer pos:
sible to mount the 80,68 and 105 mm truck guns on trucks.
Now they were mounted on two-axle platform trallos and
towed by tractors, whoso avorage speed onthe road, tow:
ing the gun trailer was about 25 kph. The three gun types
‘generally ciffered in toms of construction only inthelr mea:
‘surements,

‘The 100 HP KO.L. Arilly Tractor made by Daimler
‘served asthe towing vehicle. It hada four-speed gearbox.
For diving en smooth cr rough grounc, fp. 4] ts large wheels
‘were fitec with shovelike grippers. With thelhep ofa winch
‘on tho rear ofthe vehicl, the unhooked gun Wailer could
be towed up grades of as much as 45 degrees. The 88 mm
K-Zugflak L/45 made by Aheinmetall was towed by the
*Eshard towing tractor, which had four-nhaol drive bu dc
not perform as wellin rough country as te Daimler tractor
‘Although the gun mada by Rhsinmetal, what with its bar
ral, mount and targeting-apparatus design, had proved i
‘olf wear was constantly improved url 1818, 28 01910,
{for the sake of uniformity, Rheinmetall was also supposed
{ince the 88 mm K-Zupfak 19, fist made by Krupp. in
Is construction program. Bocauso the war ended, tis id
not take place
“The 68 im K-Zugflak L'45 made by Krupp had full
‘arrol with serewed-on base, With its sem-automatc sid-
ing-wedge breech-block, It coud be fired from the right or
Jef side. The mount rested on a column that rose fom the
{Gun traller and, with the ep ofthe taversing machinery,
‘ould be rtated'360 degrees. The recollbrakewas mounted
in the cradle, with the pneumatic recuperator above the
barrel. The elevating machinery consisted of an angle-of-
site apparatus hal Served to Iniorsoct the target, and an
anglef-elevation apparatus that was set tothe required
flovation, according fo the shot tables. The two devices
wore coupled tagetner by aplanetary crive and hus formed

{he entire elevation apparatus. The il af elevation ranged
‘tom 0 10 70 degrees. The two gunners who operated sat
{othe right, while the erewmen who operated te traversing
_apparalus could werk rom elther the lef or right side.

Both the 88 mm Flak made by Krupp and inat made by
heinmatall fred the same ammunition. The explosive
charge of tho shel, which weighed 8.6 klograms in al,
weighed 0.6 kg Alfirst the Z,S.26 fuse was used. This was
8 completely burning fuse without Az. with a grade division
‘of 24.200 degrees. In 1918 the Dopp.2.16 o.A2 mechani-
Cal ime fuse, which could be installed with a key, bocame:
avaiiadle

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‘henmaial parc poston The jun was lone by Me
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‘inte ann’ Sal Sento ste cud Os cued
An 80 rn Li yn
Inarenng poston aied onoinaly fone

‘Theva ofa guncrowhad cons op Mores

Fig The 85mm Fak i by Hope as ase

agit On th 88 KZ 5 by He,
Sop dren rg pean te ve haan

{Sr iheevouny ane eorany moctensms we
Sire tay bred ta een ree TS
‘oes ty carataged poste oan 88m K-Zugaky Keo Was tekan on he Sonne, Sco Be Fk gue we
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MEASUREMENTS, WEIGHTS, BALLISTIC DATA

Krupp Keupp— Rbeinmetall
somm sam 8mm

Barellengh in

aloo. {48-2600 mm L45=2900 mm Lj6n2068 mm

Brooch ype Semfautorate sliding wedge broech
Moz ceagn Pedestal on vacr‘owed taller

Elevation feld 01070 deg. Oto TOdegr. 41070doyrecs
Travwrse fed 360 dogrees 360 degrees 360 degrase

Faeolee 0 rounds por minke
Shall Use chet

Shelweih 80k 96kg 98ig

Fuse 2omior Z8e6ady. Zes0ALe

Zieome. dbi-z 160A
Muzze valoety 715 msecond 7a socand 785 misocond
Maximum range 10100 meters 10600 metere. 10800 meters
Maxima aude 6450 meter "8850 metre SSO mate

Walghe ready to a
tractaier 260% 301049 2.795 k9
Vehicle weight c800 iq = 7300k3 72003

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THE 88mm FLAK
AND ITS VARIOUS USES

“The German 88 mm Flak gun had already shown, wile
in use by the Condor Legion” in the 1896-1939 Spanish
Givi War, that in addition to ts original combat use 8s an
‘ani-aireraft weapon, it could also bo a successful mut
purpose weapon wien condllans required it. The exper-
fence gained then infrant-line action, in suppor ofthe i
Tanty, shooting sown point targets of all Kinds, ant-tank
‘and artillery tks, was evaluated extensively in Werld War
IV and utlzed successfully. Thus, the fasting, aceuratoly
shooting a8 mm Flak became a weapon feared by the @n-
fey in all theaters of war. Along with is use as an ant-
aircraft gun, in batteries of four guns (end later, the home-
land area, in double and mutiple batores of up to 24 guns)
in fixed postions, it was also ullized atthe front in feld
postions, in which the four guns were arranged intha shape
fadiamond, to alow thee guns tobe used in acton against
‘10und targets, even at low elevations, without endanger-
ing each other,

For mobile support of the front-ine troops in ground
action, Fiak combat troops were detailed from motorized
Fak units. Their armaments consisted of one 88 mm and
{wo 2 em Flak guns. Somotimes too, lust one 88 mm gun
was taken out of a baltary for use as a so-called working
‘gun. This type of combat action had already proved ise!
‘excellenty in te French campaign, sinos the 88 mm Flak
was the only gun with which the heaviest French battle tanks
could be put out of acon a that time.

Be cero
munea tee
Seeccerees
eueneremone
cnscvemanas
ame ete
Paeet ee

(Of the massed large-scale use of Flak gun during the
‘war, just to wll a cited here as examples. In 1943, a kind
of "Flak Bell" was bull upto secure the supply lines tothe
‘woop at the Kuban bridgehead on the read from Kertsch,
‘Somethingsimlar was done lateron te road ftom Messina
to secure the troop withdrawal from the island of Sicily. In
Germany, industial sites vial to the war etfor were glven
‘massive Flak protection, hough they were not abie to pre-
vent large-scale bombardment by Bish and American ait-
crt

For the reader new tothe subject, ere are some tech
‘ical data of the 88 mm Flak gun thet shouldbe of intrest
“The gun could be traversed tice 360 degrees tothe left or
right, the elevation exierded from -3 to +85 daprees, and
the rate of re depended on the capabilty of he KS loader.
Fitoen to twenty-five rounds per minute could be attained
“The maximum shot range was 14,860 meters, the greatest
‘hot height 10,600 meters, with a muzzle velocity of 840
meters per second for exposive shells and 795 misec for
anitank sols. The oxplosivo sll weighed 14.7 kilograms,
the anti-tank shell 15.4 kg. The shot weight was 9 kg or
410.2 kg, These data apply tothe tree 88 mm gun types
named above, while the weight athe ammunition changed
slightly, depending on the type of shel, during the war. The
186 mm Flak 18 could be cifreblates rom the Flak 96 by
tha erase-braces an the mount. Inthe Flak 37, the former
light brackets with result indicators for lateral ard elevation
‘Values, a8 wel as for the fuse-seting values, hac been re-
Placed by the Transmission Davice37, in which, instead of
Indiestor igh, an indicator had to be uncovered,