German anti-aircraft gun flak 36. Self-propelled guns for the doomed

Flak 37 (88 mm) gun in the Flak 37 Sfl.Auf 18ton Zgkw self-propelled gun

Description

8.8 cm FlaK 37 (German: 8.8-cm - Flugabwehrkanone 37, literally 8.8-cm anti-aircraft gun of the 1937 model), also known as “eight-eight” (German: Acht-acht) - German 88- millimeter anti-aircraft gun, which was in service from 1928 to 1945. One of the best anti-aircraft guns of World War II. It also served as a model for the creation of tank guns for the Tiger and Royal Tiger tanks. These guns were widely used in the role of anti-tank and even field guns. These guns are often called the most famous guns of World War II. Installed on half-track armored personnel carriers s.Zgkw.18t.

The semi-automatic horizontal wedge-type bolt ensured the extraction of the spent cartridge case and the erection of the mainspring due to recoil energy, and had a rate of fire of 15-20 rounds per minute. To return the gun to its original position, a pneumatic knurler was used above the barrel. A spring balancing mechanism is mounted under the gun barrel in two cylinders, facilitating vertical aiming of the gun.

The Flak-37 modification compared to its predecessors (Flak 18.36) had an improved fire control system. The performance characteristics roughly correspond to those of the Flak-18. An important improvement in the design of the gun was the manufacture of the barrel from several elements, which made it possible to replace its worn fragments directly in the field.

Vehicles equipped with these weapons

Main Features

Available projectiles

Historical background

Armor-piercing and high-explosive shells (88 mm)

The main purpose of this weapon on the Warthunder fields will be the destruction of tanks. The gun copes with this task perfectly. She can easily penetrate and destroy opponents not only of her own rank, but also of much higher rank. The gun is anti-aircraft and has excellent upward aiming angles - that is, it is capable of shooting down aircraft, especially slow heavy bombers. The gun turns slowly. There are no high-explosive shells in the game yet that exploded in the air (with a remote fuse) - hitting the plane with fragments and shock wave, so the planes will have to be hit with conventional landmines and armor-piercing direct hits. There are no sub-caliber ones - but in principle they are not needed. High-explosive ones can also resist unarmored vehicles (such as ZSU), they destroy them better. Penetrating a 13mm land mine (which even penetrates some lightly armored vehicles). The fuse of a chamber projectile is designed to penetrate at least 28 mm of armor - this is bad, because it means that the projectile will not explode if the armor upon penetration is less than 28 mm (as is known, not all equipment has such armor). The combat qualities of the gun as a whole are excellent - excellent "crazy" rate of fire, excellent penetration, powerful projectiles, excellent accuracy.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Powerful chamber projectile
Excellent rate of fire.
Excellent projectile flight ballistics and initial speed.
Excellent penetration.

Flaws:

There is no high-explosive projectile with a remote fuse.
The fuse is designed to penetrate at least 28 mm of armor.

Media

Performance characteristics
Caliber, mm	37
Total weight, kg
Total length, m
Projectile weight, kg	0.64 (high explosive)
Vertical guidance angle, degrees.	-8°... +85°
Horizontal guidance angle, degrees.
Initial projectile speed, m/s	820
Maximum effective ceiling, m	4800
Rate of fire, shots/min	160 (in bursts)

When the 37 mm Flak 18 was put into service in 1935, the anti-aircraft gun was considered a medium-caliber air defense weapon. It was developed by the Rheinmetall concern in Switzerland in order to circumvent the restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. For some time it was known as ST 10, or "Solotern" S10-100. Before joining the troops, Flak 18 had a lot serious problems, but even after their elimination it was not considered a very successful weapon.

In the original version, the gun and its frame were moved on a heavy two-axle chassis, which greatly delayed the time of placement in a position and its change. Moreover, the rotation of the frame was slow, and the mechanism of the gun itself was so prone to jamming that only a well-trained, experienced crew could cope with this.
Despite these shortcomings, Flak 18 continued to serve during the war. Until 1939, several guns were supplied to China.

In 1936, the Flak 18 went out of production and was replaced by the new 37 mm Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun, which used new ammunition with one rather than two leading belts.
The significantly reconstructed frame could be moved on a single-axle chassis. "Flac 36" had the same combat characteristics as its predecessor, but was more universal. After this, only one modification was released, model 37, which had complex system with clock mechanism.
Flak 36 and 37 were produced in large quantities: by August 1944, the Luftwaffe alone had 4,211 units of these anti-aircraft guns. IUD was used various models base weapons on special ship support structures, including for submarines. There were several types of improvised self-propelled anti-aircraft installations on trucks, on tank and half-track chassis. The crew's full-time combat schedule included seven people, one of whom worked with a portable rangefinder, but after 1944 this position was abolished. Ammunition was fed into the breech in the form of six-round magazine cartridges tied into a pack.

After 1940, Flak anti-aircraft guns models 18, 36 and 37 became the standard weapon of the German Armed Forces against low-flying aircraft; They were usually equipped in batteries of 9 or 12 guns. Many were placed on air defense towers, providing effective all-round protection. Special air defense trains running across Germany to repel massive Allied raids were also equipped with Flak 36 or Flak 37 anti-aircraft guns. The production of Flak 36 and Flak 37 anti-aircraft guns did not stop until the end of the war in the three main industrial centers, but it was quite complex and expensive. The result was Flak 43.

Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun

Semi-automatic anti-aircraft guns large caliber(75-105 mm) were created in Germany during the First World War. However, the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles prohibited the Germans from having anti-aircraft artillery and all Reichswehr guns were destroyed.

Work on their creation resumed secretly in the second half of the 20s and was carried out by German designers both in Germany itself and in Sweden, Holland and other countries. Moreover, all new field and anti-aircraft guns designed in Germany during these years received the number 18 in the designation, that is, “1918 model.” In case of requests from the governments of England or France, the Germans could answer that these were not new guns, but old ones, created back in 1918, during the First World War. For purposes of secrecy, anti-aircraft units until 1935 were called “mobile battalions” (Fahrabteilung).

A group of designers from the Krupp company began designing an 88-mm anti-aircraft gun in 1931 in Sweden. Then the technical documentation was delivered to Essen, where the first samples of guns were manufactured. Since 1933, anti-aircraft guns, designated 8.8 cm Flak 18 (in Germany, as you know, gun calibers are measured in centimeters), began to enter the troops.

Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun from the Jacques Littlefeed private museum, USA

The gun barrel consisted of a casing, a free pipe and a breech. The shutter is semi-automatic horizontal, wedge.

The recoil devices consisted of a spindle-type hydraulic recoil brake and a hydropneumatic knurler. The rollback length is variable. The recoil brake was equipped with a compensator.

The base of the carriage was a crosspiece, in which the side frames, when transferred to the stowed position, rose upward, and the main longitudinal beam served as a cart. A cabinet was attached to the base of the carriage, on which a swivel (upper machine) was installed. The lower end of the swivel pin was embedded in the slide of the leveling mechanism. The lifting and rotating devices each had two guidance speeds. The balancing mechanism was spring-pull type.

The gun was transported using two moves (rolling single-axle trolleys) Sd.Anh.201, which were disconnected when the gun was transferred from the traveling position to the combat position. The moves are not interchangeable: the front one has single-wheel drive, the rear one has double-wheel drive.

In 1936, the modernized 88-mm Flak 36 cannon entered service. The changes mainly affected the design of the barrel, which received a detachable front part, which made it easier to manufacture. At the same time, the internal structure and ballistics of the barrel remained the same as those of the Flak 18. All brass parts of the gun were replaced with steel ones, which made it possible to significantly reduce its cost. The carriage also underwent modernization - its front and rear frames became interchangeable. To tow the gun, two identical Sd.Anh.202 moves with dual-pitch wheels were used. Other smaller changes were also made. In general, both guns were structurally identical.

A year later, the next modification appeared - Flak 37. The gun had an improved firing direction indication system, connected by a cable to the fire control device.
An 8-ton Sd.Kfz.7 half-track tractor from Kraus-Maffei was used as an anti-aircraft towing vehicle.

Sd.Kfz.7 tractor with Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun

88-mm anti-aircraft guns received their baptism of fire in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, where they were sent as part of the German Condor Legion. Based on the experience of this war, guns began to be equipped with a shield.

By September 1, 1939 in anti-aircraft units The Luftwaffe had 2,459 Flak 18 and Flak 36 guns, which were in service with both the Reich air defense forces and the army air defense. Moreover, it was as part of the latter that they distinguished themselves to the greatest extent, and not only in shooting at aircraft. During the French campaign, it became clear that 37-mm German anti-tank guns were absolutely powerless against the armor of most French tanks. But the 88-mm anti-aircraft guns that remained “unemployed” (German aviation reigned supreme in the air) brilliantly coped with this task. More higher value The use of these guns as an anti-tank weapon increased during the battles in North Africa and on the Eastern Front.

It’s strange, but these guns did not have outstanding combat characteristics. For example, the Soviet 85-mm anti-aircraft gun 52K was in no way inferior to the German one, including in terms of armor penetration, but did not become so famous. What's the matter? Why “aht-aht” (“eight-eight”), as the German soldiers called this gun, earned such fame both in the Wehrmacht and in the armies of countries anti-Hitler coalition? The reason for its popularity lies in its unusual tactics of application.

While the British, for example, North Africa limited the role of their very powerful 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns to fighting aircraft, the Germans used 88-mm guns to fire at both aircraft and tanks. In November 1941, the entire Afrika Korps had only 35 88 mm cannons, but moving with the tanks, these guns inflicted huge losses on the British Matildas and Valentines. On the Eastern Front, 88-mm guns were also in the battle formations of tank units. When the latter encountered new ones soviet tanks T-34 and KB, anti-aircraft guns went into action. Similar tactics were used by German troops until the end of the war. Naturally, as the troops became saturated with new anti-tank guns, the importance of 88-mm anti-aircraft guns as an anti-tank weapon gradually decreased. However, by 1944, 13 anti-tank artillery units were equipped with these anti-aircraft guns. As of August 1944, the troops had 10,930 Flak 18, 36 and 37 guns, which were used on all fronts and in the Reich's air defense.

These guns were also widely used in coastal artillery.

As an actual anti-aircraft gun, this gun had exhausted its usefulness by the beginning of World War II. Therefore, in 1939, the Rheinmetall company began designing a new anti-aircraft gun with improved ballistic characteristics - Gerat 37. When the first prototype, the name was changed to 8.8 cm Flak 41. In 1942, 44 guns were sent for testing to North Africa. However, half of them ended up at the bottom Mediterranean Sea along with the transports that delivered them. The rest still arrived in Tunisia.

During front-line testing, it turned out that Flak 41 has many minor shortcomings, which can be eliminated in short terms it was impossible. Nevertheless, this gun with a barrel length of 74 calibers, a muzzle velocity of a high-explosive fragmentation grenade of 1000 m/s and a ballistic ceiling of 14,700 m became the best medium-caliber anti-aircraft gun of the Second World War. The production of Flak 41 anti-aircraft guns increased very slowly, and their use was complicated by the inability to use Flak 18/36 ammunition. In February 1944, the Reich air defense had only 279 Flak 41 units.

88 mm Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun:
1 - knurl; 2 - upper machine; 3 - rammer tray; 4 - vertical guidance mechanism; 5 - fuse installation mechanism; 6 - flywheel of the leveling mechanism; 7 - cabinet; 8 - left cylinder of the balancing mechanism; 9-bracket for mounting the barrel in a traveling manner; 10 - gunner's seat; 11 - seat of the fuse installer; 12 - fuse installation indicator; 13 - vertical guidance indicator; 14 - horizontal guidance indicator; 15 - cradle; 16 - rollback brake; 17 - right cylinder of the balancing mechanism; 18 - horizontal guidance mechanism; 19 - vertical guidance mechanism; 20 - longitudinal beam of the carriage; 21 - anti-aircraft sight; 22 - left folding bed; 23 - right folding bed.

Sources of information

M. KNYAZEV "EIGHT-EIGHT". "Model designer" No. 4, 2001

20-mm triple anti-aircraft gun "MG-151/20 Drilling", created on the basis aircraft gun"MG-151/20" by combining single-barrel guns into one installation. The total ammunition capacity of the installation was 3000 rounds. The installations were equipped with armored vehicles, armored boats, railway armored platforms, etc. A total of 5,114 units were produced. In addition, the units produced semi-makeshift installations with MG-151 guns. In total, about 15 thousand performance characteristics of the installation were redone: caliber - 20 mm; length – 1.7 m; trunk length – 1.1 m; single-barreled gun weight – 42 kg; rate of fire - 750 rounds per minute; projectile weight - 115 kg; initial speed – 725 m/s; ammunition - 20x82 mm: ammunition - belt in boxes (450 rounds per central barrel, 240 per side); effective firing range – 600 m.

The 20-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun of the 1934 model was produced by order of Germany by the Swiss company Oerlikon under the designation “2-cm Flak 28/29” in various options– from towed guns to twin installations on ships and self-propelled guns. Approximately about 3 thousand guns were supplied. Performance characteristics of the most common version: caliber - 20 mm; length – 2.2 m; weight – 68 kg; rate of fire - from 300 to 650 shots depending on the gun version; maximum firing range – 4.4 km, effective – 1.1 km; ammunition - 20x110mm; ammunition - magazine for 30 rounds of ammunition; initial speed – 830 m/s; projectile weight - 120 g.

The Flak-30 gun was developed by Rheinmetall and began entering service with the Air Force in 1934. The anti-aircraft gun was equipped with a mechanical computational sight high quality and accuracy. The gun was exported to Holland and China. TTX guns: caliber 20 mm; length – 2.3 m; width – 1.8 m; height – 1.6 m; trunk length – 1.3 m; weight in combat position - 450 kg, in stowed position - 770 kg; projectile weight – 120 g; ammunition supply – magazine for 20 ammunition (20×138B); initial speed – 900 m/s; rate of fire - 480 rounds per minute; effective range - 4.8 km, armor penetration - 9 mm at a distance of 1,000 m; calculation – 7 people.

The quadruple installation "Flak-36 Vierling" was created on the basis of the "Flak-30". It was installed in truck bodies, on armored vehicles and also had a towed version. TTX: caliber – 20 mm; length – 2.2 m; width - 2.4 m; height – 2.2 m; weight – 1.5 t; rate of fire - 800 rounds per minute; initial speed – 900 m/s; firing range - 4.8 km.

The gun is the result of modernization of the FlaK-30 gun - the barrel length was reduced by 2 calibers, and the total weight was reduced by 30 kg. The troops began to receive them in 1940. Total quantity The number of guns of all modifications produced is about 130 thousand. The gun supplied to Romania was designated “Tunul antiaerian Gustloff, cal. 20 mm, md. 1938". TTX guns: caliber – 20 mm; length – 4 m; width – 1.8 m; height – 1.6 m; weight – 405 kg; projectile weight – 120 g; barrel length - 115 calibers; ammunition supply - 20 (20x138V) ammunition in the magazine; initial speed – 900 m/s; rate of fire - 480 rounds per minute; effective range - 2.2 km, armor penetration - 9 mm at a distance of 1000 m.

"FlaKvierling" is a quad version of the "20-mm FlaK-38" anti-aircraft gun. The installation was used both stationary and towed, and was also installed on self-propelled guns, ships, etc. A total of 2,140 units were produced. TTX guns: caliber – 20 mm; length – 4 m; width – 1.8 m; height - 1.6 m; weight – 1.5 t; trunk length – 1.3 m; projectile weight – 120 g; ammunition supply - magazine for 20 ammunition (20x138V); initial speed – 900 m/s; rate of fire - 1,800 rounds per minute; effective range - 2.2 km, armor penetration - 9 mm at a distance of 1,000 m.

The 20-mm Gebirgsflak 38 cannon is a lightweight copy of the 2-cm Flak-38 cannon, intended for use in mountain conditions and was put into service in 1942. The gun had a small shield and a two-wheel pneumatic drive. It could be transported either by tow or disassembled into several parts for separate transportation. The gun had a dual purpose, i.e. It was used against both air and ground targets. TTX guns: caliber – 20 mm; weight in transport position 374 kg; weight in combat position - 276 kg; length in transport position – 3.6 m; trunk length - 1.4 m; width – 1.2 m; ammunition - 20x138 mm; ammunition - magazine for 20 rounds; calculation – 4 people.

Anti-aircraft gun 3 cm Flak-103/38

Quadruple installation - Flakvierling-103/38

The Flak-103 gun was created by superimposing a 30 mm MK-103 aircraft cannon onto the carriage of a 20 mm Flak-38 automatic anti-aircraft gun. The design uses components and mechanisms of Flak-30/38 anti-aircraft installations. In addition to single guns, a quadruple installation “Flakvierling-103/38” was developed. The chassis of the Pz-IV tank was equipped with a turret with a twin system of 30 mm guns, which was called the Kugelblitz. A total of 189 guns were manufactured. In addition to the Flak-103/38, the MK-303 Br anti-aircraft gun was also created on the basis of the MK-103, which was distinguished by an even higher initial projectile speed (1,080 m/s). 222 such guns were produced. TTX guns: caliber – 30 mm; length – 2.4 m; trunk length – 1.3 m; weight in combat position - 619 kg, in stowed position - 879 kg; the initial speed of a fragmentation projectile is 900 m/s, an armor-piercing projectile is 800 m/s; rate of fire - 250 rounds per minute; firing range - 5.7 km; projectile weight - 815 g; ammunition supply - magazine for 30 - 40 ammunition; ground clearance – 430 mm; calculation – 5 people; transportation speed – up to 60 km/h.

Anti-aircraft gun 3.7 cm FlaK-18

Anti-aircraft gun 3.7 cm FlaK-37

3.7 cm FlaK-37 cannon mounted on a tractor platform

3.7 cm FlaK-37 cannon mounted on a tank chassis

The gun was developed by Rheinmetall on the basis of the ST-10 cannon and put into service in 1935. Firing was carried out from a pedestal carriage that had a cruciform base resting on the ground. In the stowed position, the gun was mounted on a four-axle cart, and later on a four-frame carriage with a detachable two-wheeled cart. The guns were equipped with a shield cover to protect them from bullets and shrapnel. The “Flak-36” modification differed from the basic “Flak-18” model by reducing its weight to 1,550 kg. weighing in combat position and up to 2,400 kg. in marching mode. After equipping the gun with the “Flakvisier-37” sight, it received the designation “3.7-cm Flak-37”. The gun was widely used by the troops, both on standard frames and on railway platforms and vehicles - armored and unarmored under the designation “37-mm Flak-36/37”. 123 of these guns were installed on the ZSU of an 8-ton half-track tractor. Guns were also installed on the chassis of decommissioned tanks. A total of 12 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber – 37 mm; length – 5.5 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2.1 m; barrel length - 98 klb; weight in stowed position - 3.5 tons, in stowed position - 1.7 kg; projectile weight - 635 g; ammunition supply - magazine for 6 or 8 ammunition; initial speed – 820 m/s; rate of fire - 160 rounds per minute; maximum firing range – 13.7 km; effective range – 4.8 km; armor penetration - 25 mm at a distance of 1,000 m.

The Flak-43 cannon was created on the basis of the FlaK-18, from which it had a higher rate of fire. It was put into service in 1943. A modification of the gun was the two-gun mount “3.7-cm Flakzwilling 43”, which had two machine guns located one above the other. A total of 5918 units were produced. Under the designation "Tunul antiaerian Rheinmetall, cal. 37 mm, md. 1939" gun was used by Romanian troops. TTX guns: caliber 37 mm; weight in stowed position - 2 tons, in combat position - 1.2 tons, 2-barrel installation - 2.5 tons; length – 3.4 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2.4 m; trunk length – 2.1 m; projectile weight - 635 g; rate of fire - 150-230 rounds per minute; rate of fire of a dual installation - 300-360 rounds per minute; initial speed – 770-1150 m/s; maximum firing range - 6.5 km; effective range – 4.7 km; ammunition supply – magazine for 8 rounds of ammunition; armor penetration - 24 mm at a distance of 1000 m.

The 37-mm twin automatic cannon "SK C/30" was produced by Rheinmetall and entered service in 1935. The gun was used on almost all warships until 1944. A modification is known under the designation "3.7-cm SK C/30U" for submarines. The gun was often equipped with a cover shield 8 mm thick. The gun's ammunition included tracer and high-explosive shells. In total, about 1.6 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber – 37 mm; height – 2.5 m; trunk length – 2.9 m; installation weight – 3.6 t; barrel weight with bolt - 243 kg; ammunition weight - 2.1 kg; projectile weight - 742 g; projectile length – 162 mm; initial speed – 1,000 m/s; rate of fire - 30 rounds per minute; maximum firing range – 8 km; calculation – 6 people.

The 3.7-cm Flak-M42 naval anti-aircraft gun has been produced by Rheinmetal-Borsig since 1942 on the basis of the 3.7-cm/83 SK C/30. Unlike its predecessor, it had a higher rate of fire and a lighter shield. The gun was produced in single and double-barreled versions with separate ammunition supply. The guns were installed on small ships and submarines. In total, about 1.4 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber – 37 mm; trunk length – 2.6 m; installation weight – 1.3 t; barrel weight with bolt - 240 kg; ammunition weight - 3 kg; projectile weight – 1.4 kg; projectile length – 162 mm; initial speed – 865 m/s; rate of fire - 250 rounds per minute; maximum firing range – 7 km; ammunition 2 thousand rounds; calculation – 6 people.

The 50-mm Flak-41 anti-aircraft gun was put into service in 1941 and entered service with the light anti-aircraft divisions of the Luftwaffe. "Flak-41" was produced in two versions. The stationary gun was intended for the defense of strategically important objects. The mobile anti-aircraft gun moved on a biaxial carriage. In the stowed position, the installation was transported on a four-wheeled cart. In a combat position, both moves were rolled back. If necessary, the gun was also used to fire at light tanks and armored vehicles.

Despite the relatively large caliber, 50 mm shells lacked power. In addition, the flashes of the shots blinded the gunner, even on a clear sunny day. The carriage turned out to be too bulky and inconvenient in real combat conditions. The horizontal aiming mechanism was too weak and worked slowly. A total of 94 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber – 50 mm; length – 8.5 m; width – 4.6 m; height – 2.36 m; weight in traveling position - 5.5 tons, in combat position - 3.1 tons; projectile weight - 2.3 kg; initial speed – 840 m/s; rate of fire - 130 rounds per minute; firing range - 12 km; ammunition supply - magazine for 5-10 shots; calculation – 5 people; the time it takes to transfer the gun from traveling to firing position is 1 minute.

Anti-aircraft gun 5.5-cm Flak - 58

"Flak-58" is a prototype built by Rheinmetall in 1944 in which many technical solutions, characteristic of post-war anti-aircraft guns. The carriage had sprung wheel travel and pneumatic tires. Guidance was carried out automatically according to PUAZO commands by the gunner using electro-hydraulic drives or by the gunner using mechanical guidance drives and optical sight(when firing at ground targets). Hydraulic jacks were used to transfer the gun to the firing position from the traveling position. A total of 2 guns were built. TTX guns: caliber – 55 mm; installation length – 8.5 m; width – 3.4 m; trunk length – 5.8 m; weight in traveling position - 5.5 tons, in combat position - 2.9 tons; ammunition weight - 5 kg; weight high-explosive fragmentation projectile– 2 kg; initial speed – 1,070 m/s; rate of fire - 140 rounds per minute; firing range – 12 km; calculation – 5 people.

The 75 mm L/60 gun was developed in 1930 on the basis of the 7.5 cm Flak-L/59 gun, which was not put into production. In 1938, Krupp began production of the L/60 for naval and export applications. The gun was produced both on wheels and in the form of stationary installations. Variants known self-propelled units. In Norway the gun was designated “7.5 cm Flak-L/45 MK32”, in France – “7.5 cm Flak- M17/34”. About 50 guns were used in Germany. TTX guns: caliber – 75 mm; trunk length – 4.4 m; weight in combat position - 2.9 tons; initial speed – 800 m/s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; firing range – 9 km; projectile weight - 6.6 kg.

The dual-purpose weapon was adopted in 1933 and was installed on hunters, submarines and auxiliary ships. The anti-aircraft modification of 1941 is known - “KM-41”. A total of 670 guns were used. Performance characteristics of the gun: caliber – 88 mm; trunk length - 3.9 m; barrel weight - 5.6 tons; weight – 1.2 t; projectile weight – 10 kg; projectile length – 385 mm; initial speed – 790 m/s; rate of fire - 15 shots; firing range – 14 km.

The ship's gun was put into service in 1933 and was installed on Lutzow-class ships in turret mounts. Performance characteristics of the gun: caliber – 88 mm; length – 6.9 m; trunk length – 6.3 m; installation weight – 27 tons; gun weight – 4.2 tons; ammunition weight - 18.5 kg; projectile weight - 9.4 kg; charge weight – 4.5 kg; initial speed – 950 m/s; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; firing range - 17.8 km.

The naval gun was put into service in 1934 and was installed on light cruisers. Performance characteristics of the gun: caliber – 88 mm; height – 3.4 m; trunk length – 6.3 m; installation weight – 23 t; weight – barrel 3.6 t; ammunition weight - 15.2 kg; projectile weight - 9.3 kg; charge weight – 2.9 kg; projectile length – 397 mm; initial speed – 950 m/s; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; ammunition - 400 rounds; firing range - 18.8 km.

The naval gun was put into service in 1938 to equip submarines, minesweepers and merchant ships. Performance characteristics of the gun: caliber – 88 mm; length – 4 m; height – 3.2 m; trunk length – 3.7 m; installation weight – 5.3 t; gun weight – 776 kg; ammunition weight - 15 kg; projectile weight - 10.2 kg; charge weight – 2.1 kg; projectile length – 385 mm; initial speed – 700 m/s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; firing range - 12 km.

The gun was put into service in 1906 and was installed on destroyers and torpedo boats. Performance characteristics of the gun: caliber – 88 mm; trunk length – 4 m; weight – 2.5 t; ammunition weight - 15 kg; projectile weight – 10 kg; projectile length – 385 mm; initial speed – 790 m/s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; firing range – 14 km.

Mass production of the 88-mm caliber gun began in 1932 at Krupp factories under the designation “Flak-18”. The gun was transported using a two-axle trailer, the rear axle of which had double wheels, and the front axle had single wheels. The first use of the gun occurred in Spain, where it was also used to fight tanks. The values of elevation angle, rotation and fuse installation required for firing at air targets were determined by the fire control device and transmitted to the gun to a tube transmitting device through a 108-core cable. The same information could be transmitted to the gunner by telephone. The 88 mm FlaK-18/36/37 anti-aircraft gun served as a model for the creation of anti-tank guns and tank guns for Tiger tanks.

The Flak-36 cannon was produced since 1935 and differed from the prototype in its simplified carriage design and improved barrel. Created a year later, the next modification, Flak-37, had an improved fire control system. In 1940, guns of all modifications were equipped with armored shields. The Flak-36 gun was a combined gun that could be used to combat air and ground targets, while the Flak-37 was manufactured as an anti-aircraft gun, permanently installed in batteries of four guns in fortified positions and was not equipped with trolleys for transportation.

Most gun assemblies mod. 18, 36 and 37 were interchangeable. A total of 20.7 thousand guns were produced. The tactical and technical characteristics of these modifications approximately correspond to the characteristics of the Flak-18. Unitary ammunition was used for shooting. Fragmentation shells with a remote fuse were used against aircraft. The initial speed of such a projectile was 820 m/sec, with a projectile weight of 9 kg, the explosive charge was 0.87 kg. The Pzgr-40 armor-piercing projectile penetrated 123 mm thick armor at a distance of 1500 m, and the cumulative “HL-Gr 39” - 90 mm at a distance of 3000 m. Under the designation “Tunul antiaerian Krupp, cal. 88 mm, md. 1936" gun was delivered to Romania. TTX guns: caliber – 88 mm; barrel length - 56 klb; length – 4.9 m; width – 2.3 m; height – 2.3 m; weight in stowed position - 8.2 tons, in combat position - 4.9 tons; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; effective range – 9 km; calculation – 11 people.

The 88-mm Flak-41 cannon was developed in 1939 by the Rheinmetal-Borsig company and only began to enter service with the troops in 1943. The gun was transported by mechanical traction using two single-axle bogies similar to the Flak-36. A total of 279 guns were produced. For “Flak-41” 5 types of projectiles were developed: 2 high-explosive fragmentation various types fuses and 3 armor-piercing ones. Initial projectile speed: fragmentation projectile with a mass of 9.4 kg - 1,000 m/s; armor-piercing with a mass of 10 kg - 980 m/s.

Armor penetration at a distance of 1000 m: with an armor-piercing projectile - 159 mm, with a sub-caliber projectile - 192 mm. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; length – 6.5 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2.6 m; trunk length – 6.5 m; weight in combat position - 7.8 tons, in stowed position - 11.2 tons; rate of fire - 25 rounds per minute; maximum firing range – 20 km, effective range – 12.3 km.

Shipborne anti-aircraft gun 10.5-cm SK C/33

The 105-mm gun was developed as a naval anti-aircraft gun under the designation “10.5-cm SK C/33” and was put into service in 1935. It was installed on cruisers and large ships. At the end of 1937, its land version was adopted to protect cities, enterprises and bases from air raids under the designation “Flak-38”. The gun was mounted on railway platforms, stationary positions and on ordinary carriages. The carriage had a cross-shaped frame arrangement - this made it possible to conduct all-round fire with an elevation angle of up to 85°. DC electric motors were used to aim the gun at the target. In 1940, the troops began to receive Flak-39 cannons, which differed from the Flak-38 in the design of the carriage and the fact that AC motors were installed rather than DC. A total of 4,045 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber – 105 mm; length – 8.4 m; width – 2.4 m; height – 2.9 m, trunk length – 6.8 m; weight of a two-gun ship installation - 27.8 tons, weight of a land gun in firing position - 10.2 tons, in stowed position - 14.6 tons; gun barrel weight - 4.5 tons; ammunition weight - 26.5 kg; projectile weight – 15 kg; charge weight – 5.2 kg; explosive mass – 1.5 kg; projectile length – 438 mm; initial speed – 880-900 m/s; rate of fire - 15-18 rounds per minute; firing range - 17.7 km; armor penetration - 138 mm at a distance of 1,500 m.

The 128-mm Flak-40 anti-aircraft gun was put into service at the end of 1941. It served to protect the most important objects on the territory of the Third Reich and was installed on stationary positions and railway platforms, sometimes on wheeled carriages. The Flak-40 is an electrified weapon with power motors for the fuze setter, rammer and each guidance mechanism. To provide the guns with electricity, each battery had an autonomous electric generator with a capacity of 48 kW. Fire control was carried out using a control device. The design of the carriage and the guidance mechanisms made it possible to give the barrel a maximum elevation angle of 87°, and circular fire was ensured in the horizontal plane. The gun was fired using unitary shots with fragmentation shells. Technically, the gun provided an altitude reach of 14.8 km, but the remote fuse allowed firing only up to 12.8 km. The gun could also fire armor-piercing shells that penetrated armor up to 157 mm thick at a distance of 1500 m. However, these shells were mainly used in Jagdtiger tank destroyers armed with modified Flak-40 anti-aircraft guns. A total of 1,129 guns were manufactured. TTX guns: caliber – 128 mm; length – 7.8 m; width – 2.5 m; height – 3.5 m; weight in combat position - 17 tons, in stowed position - 26 tons; rate of fire - 14 rounds per minute; fragmentation projectile weight - 26 kg, armor-piercing projectile 28.3 kg; initial speed – 875 m/s; calculation of 5 people.

The "128-mm Flak-40 Zwilling" (twin) was developed to increase the density of anti-aircraft fire. The gun was produced by Hanomag since 1942 and entered service with Luftwaffe units. In total, at least 33 guns were fired. Structurally, it consisted of two barrels of a 128-mm Flak-40 cannon, mounted on the same carriage with common guidance mechanisms. However, each barrel had its own device for installing a fuse and an independent loading system. TTX guns: caliber – 128 mm; length – 7.8 m; width – 5 m; height 2.9 m; barrel length - 61 klb; weight – 27 t; initial speed – 880 m/s; firing range - 20 km; projectile weight - 26 kg; rate of fire - 28 rounds per minute.

The 150-mm Flak-50 anti-aircraft gun created by Krupp was a fully electrified weapon with an electro-hydraulic guidance system and automatic system loading with rammer and ammunition lifter. For transportation it had to be disassembled into 4 parts: the frame, the lower part of the carriage, upper part carriage and barrel. For this reason, it was intended to be used in stationary firing positions. Performance characteristics of the gun: caliber - 149.1 mm; weight – 22.2 t; rate of fire - 10 rounds per minute; mass of fragmentation projectile - 40 kg; initial speed - 890 m/s; vertical firing range - 15.2 km.

FlaK 36 installed on Sd.Kfz. 6/2

Description

Automatic anti-aircraft gun 3.7 cm FlaK 36 used on German second-rank self-propelled guns and is characterized by fairly high efficiency both against aircraft and tanks.

Historically, these guns were actively used during civil war in Spain and at the beginning of the Second World War, allowing effective combat against aircraft, as well as light tanks interwar period, armored vehicles, gun crews and infantry.

Vehicles equipped with these weapons

Main Features

Tell us about tactical and technical characteristics cannon or machine gun.

Composition of tapes

There are 3 ribbons available in the game for this weapon:

Standard belt - Armor-Piercing + Incendiary Fragmentation Tracer round.
PzGr - Armor-piercing projectile. Recommended for use against tanks.
Sprgr.18 - Fragmentation Incendiary Tracer Projectile. Should only be used against unarmored targets (SPAs and aircraft).

Technical characteristics of the tapes are given in the tables:

Title of the tape	Armor penetration: 10m	Armor penetration: 100m	Armor penetration: 500m	Armor penetration: 1000m	Armor penetration: 1500m	Armor penetration: 2000m
Standard	55	48	35	22	16	14
PzGr	55	48	35	22	16	14
Spgr.18	6	6	6	6	6	6

Use in combat

Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics to use against the main opponents. Refrain from creating a “guide” - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Huge firepower.
Large BC (320 rounds/40 cassettes)
Excellent gun stability
Good ballistics.

Flaws:

Quite slow rotation of the gun.

Historical background

The first serial 3.7 cm automatic anti-aircraft gun was the 3.7 cm Flak 18. Its prototype was the ST-10 gun, created by Rheinmetall in the late 1920s. The gun's automatic operation was powered by recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. The shooting was carried out from a pedestal carriage, supported by a cross-shaped base on the ground. In the traveling position, the gun was mounted on a four-wheeled cart. A 3.7 cm cannon from Rheinmetall, together with a 2 cm automatic cannon, was sold by the BYUTAST office in 1930 Soviet Union. In fact, only complete technological documentation and a set of semi-finished products were supplied; the guns themselves were not supplied. In the USSR, the gun received the name “37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun mod. 1930." It was sometimes called the 37 mm "N" (German) gun. Production of the gun began in 1931 at Factory No. 8, where the gun received the 4K index. In 1931, 3 guns were presented. For 1932, the plan was 25 guns, the plant presented 3, but military acceptance did not accept any. At the end of 1932, the system had to be discontinued. Not a single 37-mm cannon model hit the Red Army. 1930

In Germany, the 3.7 cm automatic cannon from Rheinmetall entered service in 1935 under the name 3.7 cm Flak 18. One of the significant drawbacks was the four-wheeled vehicle. It turned out to be heavy and clumsy, so a new four-frame carriage with a separable two-wheel drive was developed to replace it.

The 3.7 cm anti-aircraft automatic gun with a new two-wheeled carriage and a number of changes in the design of the machine gun was called 3.7 cm Flak 36. The cost of such a machine gun was 24 thousand RM. Sometimes the literature mentions a 3.7 cm Flak 37 mount - this is the same Flak 36 mount, but with a different scope (Flakvisier 37 instead of Flakvisier 36).

In addition to standard carriages mod. 1936, 3.7 cm Flak 18 and Flak 36 machine guns were installed on railway platforms and various vehicles, both armored and unarmored.