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8.8cm FlaK 41

1943 WORLD WAR 2

History

Prior to World War II, no other country seemed to have the same technological advantage as the Germans, who had built up an impressive military stockpile and the sophisticated tactics that accompany it years before. The development of the excellent FlaK 18 series of anti-aircraft guns - improved in the upcoming FlaK 36 and FlaK 37 versions - provided the platform for other later artillery projects.

By 1939, the German authorities were interested in aircraft advancements around the world and learned that their original anti-aircraft guns would soon become obsolete for all-metal skinned aircraft, and better engines ensured that they could now fly higher and faster fuselage. once.

For this reason, the German government commissioned the company Rheinmetall to produce a suitable advanced replacement for the existing "88s" series - an arbitrary term used to describe the excellent firearms of the 8.8 cm FlaK and to designate a series. This time, however, the Germans had the advantage of being able to use the excellent inherent characteristics of their predecessors to produce a better end product. Additionally, it was discovered that these early anti-aircraft guns could also act as effective tank killing machines, so the new weapon design was from the outset a dual-purpose weapon system - capable of either throwing explosives at advancing enemy aircraft or firing at the same time with the same zeal Advance enemy tanks. In response, Rheinmetall offered the 88 mm (8.8 cm) "Gerat 37" for evaluation in 1941. By this time Germany had fully participated in the First World War.

The system is an entirely new design requiring its own dedicated 88mm ammunition supply as well as pre-existing 88mm gun development.

The Gerat 37 is officially designated as the "8.8 cm FlaK 41" in the German military inventory and is designed to be identical to the original FlaK gun in terms of scope and functionality. Caliber remains at the aforementioned 88mm, and the gun can reach aircraft up to 48,230 feet. A new, longer barrel with three or four sections was released, and a completely new frame was used.

Multi-piece barrel assemblies allow crews to replace only the worn parts of the barrel, not the entire assembly, saving time and money. A single projectile weighs 20.7 pounds, and the vehicle itself weighs 17,200 pounds at rest and 24,700 pounds in transit. The gun measures 31 feet 8 inches long, 7 feet 10.5 inches wide and 7 feet 9 inches high. The barrel itself is 21 feet 6 inches long, and the rifle is about 17 feet 9 inches from the barrel. Altitude caps are +90 degrees and -3 degrees, making it an effective dual-purpose weapon capable of engaging both ground and air targets.

Because the FlaK 41 is mounted on its own revolving gun mount, it can rotate 360 ??degrees. Muzzle velocity is rated at 3,280 feet per second, and trained crew members can fire up to 25 rounds per minute.

An automatic fuse setter was introduced along with the loading mechanism, as well as a power rammer. The FlaK 41 is equipped with a traditional cross bracket and is designed to be attached to a moving vehicle for transport.

From the outset, the Flak 41 proved to be a complex weapon and, when elements of German artillery were introduced, was therefore an expensive mass-produced weapon - a common problem with many well-designed German weapons of war . Some early assessments led to various inconsistencies in their performance, and early problems soon emerged. When the system picks up a spent cartridge, special brass ammo boxes must be made to solve the persistent jamming problem.

While some issues were formally resolved, others proved too complex to be fully resolved, forcing development to fail in 1943. At the same time, Germany was at war on multiple fronts, looking for resources everywhere and desperately in need of more war equipment.

So the FlaK 41 was thrown into battle with unresolved issues, its baptism of firepower was in Tunisia in the North African campaign, where tank warfare dominated the battlefield. Once in service, the ferocity of the system is evident, but its inherent problems are enough to limit its effectiveness throughout. The FlaK 41 has proven to be a much-needed weapon that requires constant attention and maintenance to extend its usefulness and longevity. With their time in Africa coming to an end and Germany officially losing a foothold on the continent, the FlaK 41 were brought closer to home to defend Germany's perimeter on the continent. Proximity to the German mainland gives Wehrmacht maintenance personnel faster access when servicing their FlaK 41 systems.

All is not lost with the FlaK 41, as it excels by offering a higher rate of fire than previous FlaK artillery series, and few doubt its capabilities, making the FlaK 41 a success in at least one respect.

In any case, fate will inevitably go up against the pretty good FlaK 41. Their technical problems are everywhere, and the maintenance requirements are ridiculously high. Their sophistication proved prohibitive, and the relentless Allied bombing of German factories only helped reduce their operational numbers to just a few hundred - versus the tens of thousands of FlaK 18/36/37 in service by the end of the year Artillery in stark contrast. The year was used for the war.

In order to keep the production of the FlaK 41 in top shape, even an attempt was made to move the manufacturing plant to Pilsen (from Dusseldorf), but this only caused further delays in the number of services.

In early 1945, there were about 318 examples of FlaK 41 available, but supply could never keep up with demand. By May of that year, the war in Germany would be over, and FlaK 41's term would end with it.

In any event, postwar reports considered the FlaK 41 to be an outstanding weapon design with technical advantages, and was considered by it and its enemies to be the best German anti-aircraft gun of the entire war.

Krupp experimented with the FlaK 41 artillery system for various experimental applications, including a tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun platform. The chassis has overlapping wheels for good off-road maneuverability and a foldable platform floor on the side for the rifle group. The gun is mounted mid-hull on its typical swivel base which still provides excellent range and unlimited travel.

This experimental model was tested in 1941. Other FlaK 41 artillery systems are mounted on dedicated platforms for static defense purposes.