Rail mounted artillery

No, I wasn't sure how many 128's were in existence ; but then I guess if the Germans were starting to fit them to AFV's like the Jagdtiger, there can't have been a shortage ?

( Woops ! Sorry - we're drifting O/T a bit ! )

 

Martin, I can't imagine us drifting off-topic!

Here's an interesting one on the Jagdtiger/128 connection. Go to Aberdeen (or find good pics- maybe mine?!), and look closely at teh Jagdtiger they have there. Look at the gun- it is not a 128!!! The Jagdtiger at Aberdeen is actually incredibly rare- the first 40-50 Jagdtigers produced mounted 88mm guns! This is one of them- the gun is clearly an 88, not the 128. There was not actually a real shortage of 128s at this point (at least no more shortage that all teh other german material!), but it did take time for the Germans to convert the 128s for mounting in the vehicle. Yet Hitler insisted the Jagdtigers go into action immediately after production. Hence, the germans fitted a small number with 88s.
I actually noticed this after visiting Aberdeen, while looking at some of the pics I took there (about 300!). The I looked into it and got the info...

Sorry-this is certainly off topic. I thought it was pretty interesting tho!

 

Well, I did not know that...

But the Jagdtiger was a bad tank killer whatever gun it carried...

 

Something else I absolutely did not know ! Thanks...

 

For the 128 twins in flak towers please see the links page, as I posted this to Otto last year. In German and English. There is at least one tower still left in hamburg and is now used as an apratment complex. I do believe the Berlin towers were demolished by the Soveits after the war. For Vienna, yes the towers or what is left of them are still standing. Two of them in the north part of the city in the Augarten, and used as restaurants and boutiques.
There were possibly single 128's on flat cars but usually the dreaded 88 was used. Lighter weight and more stable on a flat car when firing. The Aberdeen site is incorrect stating that the 128's took out more a/c. The 88mm took out the most as there were more of them, everywhere !

E

 

Erich, I would fnd it easy to believe that the 88s were more successful- not only were there more of them, but we have all heard about the value of the 88... And it dosen't suprise me about the caption from aberdeen- I found some of their AFVs mis-labeled as well...

And on the Jagdtiger- for a source, George Forty in World War Two Tanks (Osprey, ISBM 1 85532 532 2) mentions how "due to a shortage of 12.8 cm guns, some had to be fitted with the 8.8cm..." (p. 105)...
I can't be sure about teh Aberdeen specimen- I didn't have any tape measures when I visited! And the Aberdeen caption states that the gun is a 128mm.
http://www.ordmusfound.org/jadgtiger.html
There it is- I have close-ups of the gun and mantle... And the gun certainly looks a bit small, and smaller than the 128s.

Hmmm...
Hmmmm...

 

Well, I am not 100% sure about Berlin towers, but certainly there are ones in Hamburg.

 

In Berlin, the Zoo Tower was demolished long ago and the Friedrichshain Tower was blown up - the rubble has been made into a little hill.
There was one in Aachen until recently - that's gone, too.
The best survivor is now I think the Tower near the TV-tower in Hamburg. This is a massive structure which externally is in original condition. No guns, though - of course !

 

Guys, please check the links that Otto posted on the Flaktürme

E

 

Got it ! The demolished Berlin bunker is 'Humboldthain'. Couldn't find the Hamburg one, though - but there are some really good battlefield relic links there... ! ( O/T again )

 

Links as my computer won't let me get onto the front pages.....of the WW 2 seite.

www.lostplaces.de
www.flaktuerme.de
www.geheimprojekte.at/
//webinsel.lion.cc/spitzbergen/180048/flaktuerme.htm

hope they still exist !

E

 

Got it Erich, thanks ! The 'Lostplaces' link has some excellent photos of the Hamburg Flaktower. I guess this is typical - I look at everyone else's links and never check out our ones !