German 88mm FLAK 36 |
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|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Type | German 88mm FLAK 36 |
| Period | ww2 |
Album of 69 photos of a German 88mm FLAK 36
| German 88mm FLAK 36 – Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 69 |
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Primary Role and Nomenclature
The 8.8 cm Flak 36 (Flugabwehrkanone, meaning “aircraft-defense cannon”) was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun, universally known by both German and Allied soldiers as the “Eighty-Eight” or Acht-acht.
- Design Origin: Developed by Krupp in the 1930s as an evolution of the earlier Flak 18.
- Anti-Aircraft Role: Its original and primary function was a high-velocity, high-ceiling heavy anti-aircraft weapon, used effectively against Allied bombers like the B-17 and B-24. Fire control was often aided by sophisticated Kommandogerät (command device) fire control computers or Würzburg radar.
Versatility and Anti-Tank Use
The Flak 36 gained legendary status for its lethality in an improvised secondary role: as an anti-tank (AT) gun. Its high muzzle velocity and powerful 88mm shell proved capable of penetrating the armor of virtually any Allied tank early in the war, including the Sherman and T-34.
- Deployment: It was first successfully used against ground targets by Rommel’s Afrika Korps in the North African Campaign.
- Carriage: The versatile cruciform gun carriage allowed it to be emplaced for 360-degree rotation in as little as two and a half minutes, and even to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode while still on its transport wheels (Special Trailer 201).
- Derivatives: The success of the gun led to the development of a dedicated tank gun, the 8.8 cm KwK 36, which became the main armament of the formidable Tiger I heavy tank.
Technical Specifications (Flak 36)
While various models existed (Flak 18, 36, 37, 41), the Flak 36 was one of the most widely used versions, known for its modular barrel, which allowed for easier repair and replacement.
- Caliber: 88 mm (8.8 cm).
- Muzzle Velocity: Approximately 820-840 m/s (depending on ammunition).
- Rate of Fire: Up to 15 rounds per minute.
- Anti-Tank Penetration: Could pierce over 100 mm of armor at 1,000 meters at a 60-degree impact angle with Armor-Piercing (AP) rounds.
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