128mm FlaK 40 Zwilling – Spacer

128mm FlaK 40 Zwilling
Fotograf	Mateusz Flegal
Lokalizacja	Niewiedzy
Zdjęcia	38

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Concept and Design

The 12.8 cm FlaK 40 was designed by Rheinmetall-Borsig starting in 1936 to counter anticipated high-altitude Allied bombers. It was a massive weapon, firing a 26 kg (57 lb) shell to a maximum effective ceiling of nearly 15,000 meters (48,600 ft), well above the reach of most enemy aircraft.

The immense size and weight of the FlaK 40 made it impractical for frontline use, with its total weight in a firing position being over 13,000 kg. This led to its primary deployment in static, defensive roles

The Zwilling Variant

The most recognizable and powerful version was the 12.8 cm FlaK 40 Zwilling. This variant mounted two FlaK 40 barrels side-by-side on a single, heavy, rotating platform. The *Zwilling* (German for “twin”) configuration aimed to double the gun’s volume of fire, dramatically increasing the chance of a hit against fast-moving aircraft.

The Zwilling mount was incredibly heavy, weighing about 26.5 tonnes, cementing its role as a completely immobile defense system. It was highly complex and costly to produce, with only around 34 units completed by the end of the war.

Deployment and Impact

The FlaK 40 Zwilling guns were almost exclusively mounted atop the massive, heavily fortified concrete anti-aircraft towers, known as Flaktürme (Flak Towers), constructed in major German cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Vienna.

These guns were the heavy backbone of the *Reich’s* home defense, utilizing complex Kommandogerät fire-control systems to direct their fire. During the final battles for Germany, particularly the Battle of Berlin, the Flak Towers were used as citadels and their massive 128 mm guns were depressed to fire on Soviet ground targets, including tanks, proving highly effective in a secondary anti-tank role.

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