Flakpanzer 38 (t)

Side view

The Flakpanzer 38 (t) was the first anti- aircraft tank of the German Wehrmacht in World War II , which was also designed as such.

In 1943 the danger that the Allied air forces, especially low-flying planes, threatened the German troops , became ever more acute. German weapons technicians worked feverishly on various flak tanks to provide better protection for the front line units and the supply units.

One of the results was the Flakpanzer 38 (t) with a 20-mm anti-aircraft gun. It was based on the drive of the Czechoslovakian Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t) , which was delivered to the Wehrmacht in large numbers and was the basis for many different Wehrmacht tank types during the war (see Marder III tank destroyer and Jagdpanzer 38 (t) tank destroyer ).

An M version specially modified for self-propelled guns was used . The engine was relocated to the center of the vehicle to create space for the gun mount in the rear area. The upper area of the hull was redesigned with a beveled, thinly armored front plate and a detached driver's bay with an exit hatch. The previous engine compartment was closed by a steel plate that was set about 55 cm deep into the floor. Under the plate there were compartments for ammunition and equipment that could be reached via flaps.

The 2 cm Flak 38 , which was also used for fighting infantry, served as armament . However, the flak was no longer up to the more modern Allied aircraft and could only very rarely achieve victories against air targets. Only the older Russian Polikarpow Po-2 attack aircraft could be hit dangerously. Otherwise the 2 cm cannon could only achieve a noticeable effect in conjunction with larger calibers (e.g. the 3.7 cm Flak 43 ). But there was enough of it for that. The crew consisted of four men ( driver , commander , gunner , loader ).

Between November 1943 and February 1944, 141 Flakpanzer 38 (t) Ausf. L were manufactured by BMM, 85 of them were still in service at the end of the war.

literature

Peter Chamberlain, Hilary L. Doyle and Thomas L. Jentz (Technical Editor): Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two: A Complete Illustrated Directory of German Battle Tanks, Armored Cars, Self-propelled Guns, and Semi-tracked Vehicles, 1933 -1945 . Arms and Armor Press, London 1978 (revised edition 1993), ISBN 1-85409-214-6 .

Web links

Commons : Flakpanzer 38 - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

^ Marder III & Grille by Vladimir Francev and Charles K. Kliment, MBI series books 1999, ISBN 80-902238-5-0 .

[1] Marder III & Grille by Vladimir Francev and Charles K. Kliment, MBI series books 1999, ISBN 80-902238-5-0 .