Does anybody know how long it took to convert the weapon from the AA role to the AT role? And how this conversion proceeded?
Good question! I did not find out the actual "time table "-if you want to know that, but I do think the sights were good for shooting tanks ( the usual German standard ) and once you had the suitable ammo just keep shooting! The profile was quite high and unprotected so the gun was quite vulnerable, even though the name was feared. Sites on this: The 88mm Flak was an extremely accurate anti-aircraft gun which was first used in 1936 by the Condor Legion in Spain. It was Rommel's Afrika Korps who first pioneered the use of the 88mm as anti-gun against British armour in the North African Desert and so successful were the results that it became the most potent anti-tank gun of the war. Soviet and Allied tank crews dreaded and feared the 88mm as it could penetrate the armour of any tank in service during W.W.II. It was fitted to the MkIV Panzer chassis which became known as the Hummell SP gun. It was also fitted in a modified form complete with a muzzle brake to the Tiger I and II. It could fire HE, AP and white phosphorus rounds which were particularly effective in "blinding" enemy tank crews. The 8.8-cm (88-mm) PAK 43 ("Neuntöter") was developed by Krupp; it was introduced to the troops in large numbers in 1944. The carriage rested on a cruciform platform, but was lower than that of the similar 8.8-cm Model 18 antiaircraft gun. The barrel was 6,280 mm (20.9 ft.) in length with a drop breech mechanism. Depending on the type of ammunition used, the gun's maximum penetration capability was 274 mm (11 in.) of armour at 500 metres (550 yd.) and 241 mm (9.6 in.) at 1,000 metres (1,100 yd.). Its maximum range was 17,500 metres (19,250 yd.). Well, something on the maneuvere itself to make the weapon for AT-position: An 88mm gun prior to its deployement into the firing position. The whole platfrom was lowered by means of a winch and the two carriges at either end were pulled clear. http://www.forces70.freeserve.co.uk/Waffen%20SS%20Text+Images/ANTI-TANK%20WEAPONS.htm http://www.ogm.wwiionline.com/Antitank.htm http://www.strategyplanet.com/commandos/88mm.html http://w1.183.telia.com/~u18313395/normandy/gerob/othghq/3flak.html --------- 88mm Flak 36 18 Probably the most legendary artillery piece in the German Army was the 8.8-cm (88-mm) antiaircraft gun, Models 18, 36, and 37, which were also deployed to great effect against tanks. The gun was developed in the late 1920s and early 1930s by Krupp engineers in collaboration with the Swedish Bofors firm. It was introduced to the troops in 1933 as Model 18; Models 36 and 37 came in 1939. The carriage consisted of a cruciform platform resting on two two-wheeled trails, the Special Trailer 201. Before firing, the weapon had to be emplaced. The actual pedestal rested on the base plate, which permitted a swivel compass of 360 degrees. The barrel was 4,930 mm (16.4 ft.) in length. It had a semi-automatic, horizontally sliding breech block. With a muzzle velocity of 820-840 meters per second (902-924 yd./sec.), depending on the type of cartridge used, the gun's maximum range was 14,860 metres (16,346 yd.) and its maximum ceiling 9,900 metres (10,890 yd.), although the maximum effective ceiling was 8,000 metres (8,800 yd.). The rate of fire was 15 shots per minute. The choice of ammunition depended upon the type of engagement, but at 1,000 meters (1,100 yd.) at an angle of impact of 60 degrees, armour piercing shot could pierce armour 103 mm (4 in.) thick. Contributing greatly to the effectiveness of the 8.8-cm gun, which weighed 4,985 kg (10,967 lb.), were such special equipment as fuse setters, devices to facilitate loading at high elevations, and data transmission equipment for ballistic calculations. In 1943 the troops received a more effective variant in the 8.8-cm (88-mm) Model 41 antiaircraft gun. With a barrel 6,545 mm (21.8 ft.) in length, it had a range of 19,735 metres (21,709 yd.), a maximum ceiling of 15,000 metres (16,500 yd.), and a maximum effective ceiling of 10,675 metres (11,743 yd.). http://www.forces70.freeserve.co.uk/Waffen%20SS%20Text+Images/ANTI-AIRCRAFT%20WEAPONS.htm ---------- The Flak 37 had improvements to the sights and fire control system over the 36. Gunlayers dials were changed to a simpler system known as "follow the pointer" which made the accuracy task much simpler. Two sets of dials fitted with two sets of differently colored pointers were mounted on the gun. This advanced dial system received information sent via electrical signals transmitted from the battery central fire direction post. When the electrical information was sent to the gun one of the colored pointers within the dial moved to a determined setting. The two crew members then simply had to position the gun to the correct angle of elevation and azimuth setting until the second set of pointers matched the first. This electrical transmission system was basically a mechanical analogue computer which was used to calculate the position of an aircraft and the firing data for the AA gun. The operator used a tracking telescope to acquire the target and from this, the aircraft's azimuth and elevation was calculated by means of an in-built clock. This target information was fed to the gun position along with the speed and course of the aircraft. The computer also contained information about the site of the gun and ballistic data on the type of shell and fuse. Once the position of the aircraft had been calculated the computer would compare weapons data and calculate the optimum time to fire so that the shell intercepted the target at the right time and height. The crew would inset the nose of the shell into the guns fuse setter which automatically set the time fuse of the round to detonate at the correct height. Some versions of the Flak 37 were dedicated AA guns with a fixed 4 point pedestal system and could not engage ground targets. Other 88's were towables and often were pulled by Half Tracks and Semi Tracks including the SdKfz 7. White rings were often painted on the barrel to indicate number of credited "kills". http://www.onsitediecast.com/flak.htm ----------- The PAK version since 1943 http://www.wwiitanks.co.uk/tankdata/1943-Germany-PzKpfwIIIIV-SdKfz16488cmPak431GwIIIIV.html
I don't know if vulnerable is a good word to use. If spotted by a/c then it was taken out by artillery fire. The 8.8cm could take out anything in existance and at any long range over any Allied tank. The flak 36 served in a multipurpose role with the Wehrmacht and SS panzer divisions in the Flak role but was mostly used from 44-45 in the ground roles heavily dug in and camouflaged. 9th SS Panzer put there 8.8's in a defensive half arc around Cambrai in August or September 44 and destroyed more than 35 Shermnas in one days battle. The 23rd SS also had a flak zug which defended itself quite well in the last months in the Ost against heavy JS II tanks. Kai, what can you find on the Flak 41 which was first used in Afrika and then later in the ETO... ? Quite a killer of a weapon with a low silhouette and faster rate of fire. E
Erich, as ordered...(?!) No, it´s useful for me as well to see these things! Type: 8.8 cm Flak 18 Kaliber; 88 mm Lengte loop (L/56); 4930 mm Lengte velden; 4124 mm Totale lengte; 7620 mm Breedte; 2305 mm Hoogte; 2418 mm Totaal gewicht; 6861 kg Gewicht in aktie; 5150 kg Elevatie; -3 tot 85 graden Draaicirkel; 360 graden Bereik vertikaal; 8000 m Bereik horizontaal; +/- 4900 m Vuursnelheid: praktisch 15 - 20 schoten/min Mondingssnelheid; 820 m/s HE 790 m/s AP Gewicht granaat; 9,24 kg HE percussion 9,54 kg AP **************** Type: 8.8 cm Flak 41 Kaliber; 88 mm Lengte loop (L/47); 6548 mm Lengte velden; 5411 mm Totale lengte; 9658 mm Breedte; 2400 mm Hoogte; 2360 mm Totaal gewicht; 11240 kg Gewicht in aktie; 7840 kg Elevatie; -3 tot 90 graden Draaicirkel; 360 graden Bereik vertikaal; 15000 m Bereik horizontaal; +/- 6600 m Vuursnelheid: praktisch 20 schoten/min Mondingssnelheid; 1000 m/s HE Gewicht granaat; 9,4 kg HE percussion 10,2 kg APCBC The difference from http://www.go2war2.nl/landmacht/_geschut/dui_88mm/artikel.htm ------------- The Flak 41 was started manufacturing in 1943 so it did not get to Africa until the final battles.This was made by Rheinmetal, and the Krupps version was made into the PAK 43. ------- In 1943 the troops received a more effective variant in the 8.8-cm (88-mm) Model 41 antiaircraft gun. With a barrel 6,545 mm (21.8 ft.) in length, it had a range of 19,735 metres (21,709 yd.), a maximum ceiling of 15,000 metres (16,500 yd.), and a maximum effective ceiling of 10,675 metres (11,743 yd.). http://www.eliteforces.freewire.co.uk/Waffen%20SS%20Text+Images/ANTI-AIRCRAFT%20WEAPONS.htm ---------- http://wnet.suomi.net/kotisivu/harri.kaarre/88series.html --------- That´s all I found. I did learn a lot, hope this helps you as well!
Kai : thanks for the info. I've got three pics of the Flak 41 captured by British troops in N. Afrika. And a small cine film of the unit blasting Soviet armor in 1945. E
Rheinmetall-Borsig's 8.8cm Flak 41 was a very well-performing gun but it did have inherent problems, and partly due to this overall production was limited. The barrel was originally designed in three sections ; this led to extraction problems with steel-cased cartridges. The first 152 guns could only use brass cases. The next 133 guns were made with two-piece barrels but the problem still persisted. A third design change improved matters but by this time only another 271 guns were able to be produced. So a potentially excellent artillery piece was spoiled by an 'achilles heel' and I reckon it's fair to say that the Flak 36 was more durable overall....
