Small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery of Germany in the second world war. Small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery of Germany in the second world war

Shots / min

History

2 cm FlaK 30

Before the start of World War II, at the beginning of 1939, each infantry division of the Wehrmacht was supposed to have 12 20-mm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft guns or FlaK 38.

The guns were used until the end of World War II.

2 cm FlaK 38

In 1938, based on the results combat use in Spain, the Mauser company upgraded the 2 cm FlaK 30 - the upgraded sample received the designation 2 cm FlaK 38 and was adopted by the German army.

New installation had the same ballistics and ammunition, both guns were mounted on the same type of light wheeled carriages, providing in a combat position circular fire with a maximum elevation angle of 90 °. Changes in carriages were minimal - in particular for 2 cm FlaK 38 a second speed was introduced in manual guidance drives. Basically, all the changes in the upgraded gun were aimed at increasing the rate of fire, which increased from 240-280 rds / min. up to 420-480 rds / min. The principle of operation of the mechanisms of the FlaK 38 assault rifle remained the same - the use of recoil force with a short barrel stroke. The increase in the rate of fire was achieved by reducing the weight of moving parts and increasing their speeds of movement, in connection with which special shock absorber buffers were introduced. In addition, the introduction of a copier spatial accelerator made it possible to combine the release of the shutter with the transfer of kinetic energy to it.

Description

The anti-aircraft gun was equipped with a mechanical computer sight.

Notes

1. Artillery in Spain (translated from English) // Military Foreigner, No. 2, 1938. - P. 74-79.
2. Lehren des spanischen Krieges // "Deutsche Wehr", 16.VI.1938. - s. 398-399

20-mm built-in anti-aircraft gun "MG-151 / 20 Drilling", created on the basis of aircraft gun"MG-151/20" by combining single-barreled guns into one installation. The total ammunition of the installation was 3000 rounds. Armored vehicles, armored boats, railway armored platforms, etc. were equipped with installations. A total of 5114 installations were released. In addition, semi-handicraft installations with MG-151 guns were made in parts. In total, about 15 thousand performance characteristics of the installation were redone: caliber - 20 mm; length - 1.7 m; barrel length - 1.1 m; weight of a single-barrel gun - 42 kg; rate of fire - 750 rounds per minute; projectile weight - 115 kg; starting speed– 725 m/s; ammunition - 20x82 mm: ammunition - tape in boxes (450 rounds for the central barrel, 240 for the side ones); effective firing range - 600 m.

20 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun Model 1934 was produced by order of Germany by the Swiss company "Oerlikon" under the designation "2-cm Flak 28/29" in various versions - from towed guns to twin installations on ships and self-propelled guns. Approximately 3 thousand guns were delivered. TTX of the most common option: caliber - 20 mm; length - 2.2 m; weight - 68 kg; rate of fire - from 300 to 650 shots, depending on the version of the gun; maximum range firing - 4.4 km, effective - 1.1 km; ammunition - 20x110mm; ammunition supply - magazine for 30 ammunition; initial speed - 830 m / s; projectile weight - 120 g.

The Flak-30 gun was developed by Rheinmetall and began to enter service with the Air Force in 1934. The anti-aircraft gun was equipped with a mechanical computer sight High Quality and accuracy. The gun was exported to Holland and China. TTX guns: caliber 20 mm; length - 2.3 m; width - 1.8 m; height - 1.6 m; barrel length - 1.3 m; weight in combat position - 450 kg, in marching position - 770 kg; projectile weight - 120 g; ammunition supply - magazine for 20 ammunition (20 × 138B); initial speed - 900 m / s; rate of fire - 480 rounds per minute; effective range - 4.8 km, armor penetration - 9 mm at a distance of 1,000 m; calculation - 7 people.

Quad installation "Flak-36 Vierling" was created on the basis of "Flak-30". It was installed in the back of trucks, on armored vehicles and also had a towed version. TTX: caliber - 20 mm; length - 2.2 m; width - 2.4 m; height - 2.2 m; weight - 1.5 tons; rate of fire - 800 rounds per minute; initial speed - 900 m / s; firing range - 4.8 km.

The gun is the result of the modernization of the FlaK-30 gun - the barrel length has been reduced by 2 calibers, and total weight- 30 kg. She began to enter the troops in 1940. Total amount issued guns of all modifications is about 130 thousand. The gun delivered to Romania had the designation “Tunul antiaerian Gustloff, cal. 20mm, md. 1938". TTX guns: caliber - 20 mm; length - 4 m; width - 1.8 m; height - 1.6 m; weight - 405 kg; projectile weight - 120 g; barrel length - 115 calibers; ammunition supply - 20 (20x138V) ammunition in the store; initial speed - 900 m / s; rate of fire - 480 rounds per minute; effective range - 2.2 km, armor penetration - 9 mm at a distance of 1000 m.

The FlaKvierling is a quadruple variant of the 20mm FlaK-38 anti-aircraft gun. The installation was used both stationary and towed, and was also installed on self-propelled guns, ships, etc. A total of 2,140 units were produced. TTX guns: caliber - 20 mm; length - 4 m; width - 1.8 m; height - 1.6 m; weight - 1.5 tons; barrel length - 1.3 m; projectile weight - 120 g; ammunition supply - magazine for 20 ammunition (20x138V); initial speed - 900 m / s; rate of fire - 1,800 rounds per minute; effective range - 2.2 km, armor penetration - 9 mm at a distance of 1,000 m.

The 20 mm Gebirgsflak 38 cannon is a lightweight copy of the 2 cm Flak-38 cannon, designed for use in mountainous conditions and was put into service in 1942. The gun had a small shield, a two-wheeled pneumatic move. She could be transported both in tow and disassembled into several parts for separate transportation. The gun had a dual purpose, i.e. used for both air and ground targets. TTX guns: caliber - 20 mm; mass in transport position 374 kg; weight in combat position - 276 kg; length in transport position - 3.6 m; barrel length - 1.4 m; width - 1.2 m; ammunition - 20x138 mm; ammunition - magazine for 20 rounds; calculation - 4 people.

Anti-aircraft gun 3 cm Flak-103/38

Quad installation - Flakvierling-103/38

The Flak-103 gun was created by imposing a 30 mm MK-103 aircraft gun on the carriage of a 20 mm Flak-38 automatic anti-aircraft gun. The design used nodes and mechanisms anti-aircraft installations"Flak-30/38". In addition to single guns, the Flakvierling-103 / 38 quadruple installation was developed. On the chassis of the tank "Pz-IV" was installed a tower with a twin system of 30-mm guns, which was called "Kugelblitz". A total of 189 guns were made. In addition to Flak-103 / 38, the MK-303 Br anti-aircraft gun was also created on the basis of the MK-103, which was distinguished by an even higher muzzle velocity (1,080 m / s). Such guns were produced 222 units. TTX guns: caliber - 30 mm; length - 2.4 m; barrel length - 1.3 m; weight in combat position - 619 kg, in marching position - 879 kg; the initial speed of a fragmentation projectile - 900 m / s, armor-piercing - 800 m / s; rate of fire - 250 rounds per minute; firing range - 5.7 km; projectile weight - 815 g; ammunition - store for 30 - 40 ammunition; clearance - 430 mm; calculation - 5 people; transportation speed - up to 60 km / h.

Anti-aircraft gun 3.7-cm FlaK-18

Anti-aircraft gun 3,7-cm FlaK-37

3.7-cm FlaK-37 gun mounted on a tractor platform

3.7 cm FlaK-37 gun mounted on a tank chassis

The gun was developed by Rheinmetall on the basis of the ST-10 cannon and put into service in 1935. The gun was fired from a pedestal carriage that had a cruciform base resting on the ground. IN stowed position the gun was mounted on a four-axle wagon, later on a four-beam carriage with a detachable two-wheeled wagon. The guns were equipped with a shield cover to protect against bullets and shrapnel. Modification "Flak-36" differed from the base model "Flak-18" reduced to 1,550 kg. weighing in combat position and up to 2,400 kg. on a hike. After equipping the gun with the Flakvisier-37 sight, it received the designation "3.7-cm Flak-37". The gun was widely used by the troops, both on standard frames and on railway platforms and vehicles - armored and unarmored under the designation "37-mm Flak-36/37". 123 such guns were supplied to the ZSU of an 8-ton half-track tractor. Guns were also installed on the chassis of decommissioned tanks. In total, 12 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 37 mm; length - 5.5 m; width - 2.4 m; height - 2.1 m; barrel length - 98 klb; weight in the stowed position - 3.5 tons, in the stowed position - 1.7 kg; projectile weight - 635 g; ammunition - store for 6 or 8 ammunition; initial speed - 820 m / s; rate of fire - 160 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 13.7 km; effective range - 4.8 km; armor penetration - 25 mm at a distance of 1,000 m.

The Flak-43 cannon was created on the basis of the FlaK-18, which differed in a higher rate of fire. It was put into service in 1943. A modification of the gun was the two-gun installation "3.7-cm Flakzwilling 43", which has two machine guns located one above the other. A total of 5918 units were produced. Under the designation "Tunul antiaerian Rheinmetall, cal. 37mm, md. 1939" the cannon was used by the Romanian troops. TTX guns: caliber 37 mm; weight in the stowed position - 2 tons, in combat - 1.2 tons, 2-barrel installation - 2.5 tons; length - 3.4 m; width - 2.4 m; height - 2.4 m; barrel length - 2.1 m; projectile weight - 635 g; rate of fire - 150-230 rounds per minute; dual installation rate of fire - 300-360 rounds per minute; initial speed - 770-1150 m / s; maximum firing range - 6.5 km; effective range - 4.7 km; ammunition supply - magazine for 8 ammunition; armor penetration - 24 mm at a distance of 1000 m.

The 37-mm twin automatic gun "SK C / 30" was manufactured by Rheinmetall and entered service in 1935. The gun was used on almost all warships until 1944. A modification is known under the designation "3.7-cm SK C / 30U" for submarines. Often the gun was equipped with a cover shield 8 mm thick. The gun ammunition included tracer and high-explosive shells. In total, about 1.6 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 37 mm; height - 2.5 m; barrel length - 2.9 m; installation weight - 3.6 tons; barrel weight with bolt - 243 kg; ammunition weight - 2.1 kg; projectile weight - 742 g; projectile length - 162 mm; initial speed - 1,000 m / s; rate of fire - 30 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 8 km; calculation - 6 people.

The 3.7-cm Flak-M42 naval anti-aircraft gun has been manufactured by Rheinmetal-Borsig since 1942 on the basis of the 3.7-cm/83 SK C/30. Unlike its predecessor, it had a higher rate of fire and a lighter shield. The gun was produced in single and double-barreled versions with separate ammunition. Guns were installed on small ships and submarines. In total, about 1.4 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 37 mm; barrel length - 2.6 m; installation weight - 1.3 tons; barrel weight with bolt - 240 kg; ammunition weight - 3 kg; projectile weight - 1.4 kg; projectile length - 162 mm; initial speed - 865 m / s; rate of fire - 250 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 7 km; ammunition 2 thousand shots; calculation - 6 people.

The 50-mm anti-aircraft gun "Flak-41" was put into service in 1941 and entered service with the light anti-aircraft divisions of the Luftwaffe. "Flak-41" was produced in two versions. The stationary gun was intended for the defense of strategically important objects. The mobile anti-aircraft gun moved on a biaxial carriage. In the stowed position, the installation was transported on a four-wheeled cart. In combat position, both moves rolled back. If necessary, the gun was also used for firing at light tanks and armored vehicles.

Despite the relatively large caliber, the 50mm rounds lacked power. In addition, the flashes of shots blinded the gunner, even on a clear sunny day. The carriage turned out to be too bulky and uncomfortable in real combat conditions. The horizontal aiming mechanism was too weak and worked slowly. A total of 94 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 50 mm; length - 8.5 m; width - 4.6 m; height - 2.36 m; weight in the stowed position - 5.5 tons, in combat - 3.1 tons; projectile weight - 2.3 kg; initial speed - 840 m / s; rate of fire - 130 rounds per minute; firing range - 12 km; ammunition - store for 5-10 shots; calculation - 5 people; the time of transferring the gun from marching to combat position is 1 minute.

Anti-aircraft gun 5.5-cm Flak - 58

"Flak-58" is prototype, built by Rheinmetall in 1944, in which many technical solutions characteristic of post-war anti-aircraft guns. The carriage had a sprung wheel travel and pneumatic tires. Guidance was carried out automatically at the commands of POISOT by the gunner using electro-hydraulic drives or by the gunner using mechanical guidance drives and optical sight(when firing at ground targets). Hydraulic jacks were used to transfer the gun to the firing position from the marching position. A total of 2 guns were built. TTX guns: caliber - 55 mm; installation length - 8.5 m; width - 3.4 m; barrel length - 5.8 m; weight in the stowed position - 5.5 tons, in combat - 2.9 tons; ammunition weight - 5 kg; weight high-explosive projectile- 2 kg; initial speed - 1,070 m / s; rate of fire - 140 rounds per minute; firing range - 12 km; calculation - 5 people.

The 75 mm L/60 gun was developed in 1930 on the basis of the 7.5 cm Flak-L/59 gun, which was not put into production. In 1938, Krupp began production of the L/60 for the Navy and for export. The gun was produced both on wheels and in the form of stationary installations. Variants known self-propelled units. In Norway, the gun had the designation "7.5 cm Flak-L / 45 MK32", in France - "7.5 cm Flak-M17 / 34". About 50 guns were used in Germany. TTX guns: caliber - 75 mm; barrel length - 4.4 m; weight in combat position - 2.9 tons; initial speed - 800 m / s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; firing range - 9 km; projectile weight - 6.6 kg.

The dual-purpose gun was put into service in 1933 and was installed on hunters, submarines and auxiliary ships. Known anti-aircraft modification in 1941 - "KM-41". A total of 670 guns were used. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; barrel length - 3.9 m; barrel weight - 5.6 tons; weight - 1.2 t; projectile weight - 10 kg; projectile length - 385 mm; initial speed - 790 m / s; rate of fire - 15 shots; firing range - 14 km.

The ship's gun was put into service in 1933 and was installed on Lutzow-class ships in turret mounts. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; length - 6.9 m; barrel length - 6.3 m; installation weight - 27 tons; gun weight - 4.2 tons; ammunition weight - 18.5 kg; projectile weight - 9.4 kg; charge mass - 4.5 kg; initial speed - 950 m / s; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; firing range - 17.8 km.

The ship's gun was put into service in 1934 and was installed on light cruisers. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; height - 3.4 m; barrel length - 6.3 m; installation weight - 23 tons; weight - barrel 3.6 t; ammunition weight - 15.2 kg; projectile weight - 9.3 kg; charge mass - 2.9 kg; projectile length - 397 mm; initial speed - 950 m / s; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; ammunition - 400 shots; firing range - 18.8 km.

The ship's gun was put into service in 1938 to equip submarines, minesweepers and merchant ships. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; length - 4 m; height - 3.2 m; barrel length - 3.7 m; installation weight - 5.3 tons; gun weight - 776 kg; ammunition weight - 15 kg; projectile weight - 10.2 kg; charge mass - 2.1 kg; projectile length - 385 mm; initial speed - 700 m / s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; firing range - 12 km.

The gun was put into service in 1906 and was installed on destroyers and torpedo boats. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; barrel length - 4 m; weight - 2.5 tons; ammunition weight - 15 kg; projectile weight - 10 kg; projectile length - 385 mm; initial speed - 790 m / s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; firing range - 14 km.

Mass production of the 88-mm caliber gun was started in 1932 at the Krupp factories under the designation "Flak-18". The cannon was transported using a two-axle trailer, the rear axle of which had dual wheels, and the front axle had single wheels. The first use of the cannon occurred in Spain, where it was also used to fight tanks. The values ​​of the elevation angle, rotation and installation of the fuse required for firing at air targets were determined by the fire control device and transmitted to the gun to the tube transmission device through a 108-core cable. The same information could be transferred to the gunner by phone. The 88 mm FlaK-18/36/37 anti-aircraft gun served as a model for the creation of anti-tank guns and tank guns for the Tiger tanks.

The Flak-36 gun was produced since 1935 and differed from the prototype in a simplified carriage design and an improved barrel. The next modification, the Flak-37, created a year later, had an improved fire control system. In 1940, guns of all modifications were equipped with armored shields. The Flak-36 gun was a combined gun that could be used to combat air and ground targets, while the Flak-37 was manufactured as an anti-aircraft gun, permanently installed in batteries of four guns in fortified positions and no carts for transportation were completed.

Most of the nodes of the guns arr. 18, 36 and 37 were interchangeable. A total of 20.7 thousand guns were fired. Tactical and technical characteristics of these modifications roughly correspond to the characteristics of the Flak-18. Unitary ammunition was used for firing. Fragmentation shells with a remote fuse were used against aircraft. The initial speed of such a projectile was 820 m / s, with a projectile weight of 9 kg, a charge explosive was 0.87 kg. The armor-piercing projectile "Pzgr-40" at a distance of 1500 m pierced armor 123 mm thick, and the cumulative "HL-Gr 39" - 90 mm at a distance of 3000 m. Under the designation "Tunul antiaerian Krupp, cal. 88mm, md. 1936" gun was delivered to Romania. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; barrel length - 56 klb; length - 4.9 m; width - 2.3 m; height - 2.3 m; weight in the stowed position - 8.2 tons, in combat - 4.9 tons; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; effective range - 9 km; calculation - 11 people.

The 88-mm Flak-41 cannon was developed in 1939 by Rheinmetal-Borsig and only from 1943 began to enter the army. The gun was transported by mechanical traction using two single-axle bogies similar to the Flak-36. A total of 279 guns were produced. For Flak-41, 5 types of projectiles were developed: 2 high-explosive fragmentation with various types of fuses and 3 armor-piercing. The initial speed of the projectile: fragmentation with a mass of 9.4 kg - 1,000 m / s; armor-piercing with a mass of 10 kg - 980 m / s.

Armor penetration at a distance of 1000 m: armor-piercing projectile - 159 mm, sub-caliber - 192 mm. TTX guns: caliber - 88 mm; length - 6.5 m; width - 2.4 m; height - 2.6 m; barrel length - 6.5 m; weight in combat position - 7.8 tons, in marching position - 11.2 tons; rate of fire - 25 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 20 km, effective range - 12.3 km.

Shipborne anti-aircraft gun 10.5-cm SK С/33

The 105-mm gun was developed as a naval anti-aircraft gun under the designation "10.5-cm SK C / 33" and was put into service in 1935. It was installed on cruisers and large ships. At the end of 1937, its land version was adopted to protect cities, enterprises and bases from air raids under the designation "Flak-38". The gun was mounted on railway platforms, stationary positions and on conventional carriages. The carriage had a cruciform arrangement of the beds - this made it possible to conduct circular fire with an elevation angle of up to 85 °. To aim the gun at the target, DC electric motors were used. In 1940, the Flak-39 guns began to enter the troops, which differ from the Flak-38 in the design of the carriage and in the fact that AC motors were installed, not DC. A total of 4045 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 105 mm; length - 8.4 m; width - 2.4 m; height - 2.9 m, trunk length - 6.8 m; the mass of a two-gun ship installation is 27.8 tons, the mass of a land gun in a combat position is 10.2 tons, in a stowed position - 14.6 tons; gun barrel weight - 4.5 tons; ammunition weight - 26.5 kg; projectile weight - 15 kg; charge mass - 5.2 kg; explosive mass - 1.5 kg; projectile length - 438 mm; initial speed - 880-900 m / s; rate of fire - 15-18 rounds per minute; firing range - 17.7 km; armor penetration - 138 mm at a distance of 1,500 m.

The 128-mm Flak-40 anti-aircraft gun was put into service at the end of 1941. It served to protect the most important objects on the territory of the Third Reich and was installed on stationary positions and railway platforms, sometimes on wheeled carriages. "Flak-40" is an electrified gun with power motors to the fuze installer, rammer and to each guidance mechanism. To provide the guns with electricity, each battery had an autonomous electric generator with a capacity of 48 kW. Fire control was carried out using a control device. The design of the carriage and guidance mechanisms made it possible to give the barrel a maximum elevation angle of 87 °, in the horizontal plane circular fire was provided. Shooting from the gun was carried out with unitary shots with fragmentation shells. Technically, the gun provided a height reach of 14.8 km, however remote fuse allowed to fire only up to 12.8 km. The gun could also fire armor-piercing shells that pierced armor up to 157 mm thick at a distance of 1500 m. However, these shells were mainly used in Jagdtigr tank destroyers armed with modified Flak-40 anti-aircraft guns. A total of 1,129 guns were manufactured. TTX guns: caliber - 128 mm; length - 7.8 m; width - 2.5 m; height - 3.5 m; weight in combat position - 17 tons, in marching position - 26 tons; rate of fire - 14 rounds per minute; fragmentation projectile weight - 26 kg, armor-piercing 28.3 kg; initial speed - 875 m / s; calculation 5 people.

"128-mm Flak-40 Zwilling" (twin) was designed to increase the density of anti-aircraft fire. The gun was produced by the Ganomag company since 1942 and entered service with the Luftwaffe units. In total, at least 33 guns were fired. Structurally, it consisted of two barrels of a 128-mm Flak-40 gun mounted on the same carriage with common mechanisms guidance. However, each barrel had its own device for installing a fuse and independent system loading. TTX guns: caliber - 128 mm; length - 7.8 m; width - 5 m; height 2.9 m; barrel length - 61 klb; weight - 27 tons; initial speed - 880 m / s; firing range - 20 km; projectile weight - 26 kg; rate of fire - 28 rounds per minute.

The 150-mm Flak-50 anti-aircraft gun created by Krupp was a fully electrified gun with an electro-hydraulic guidance system and an automatic loading system with a rammer and an ammunition lift. For transportation, it had to be disassembled into 4 parts: the bed, the lower part of the gun carriage, top part carriage and barrel. For this reason, it was intended to be used on stationary firing positions. TTX guns: caliber - 149.1 mm; weight - 22.2 tons; rate of fire - 10 rounds per minute; fragmentation projectile weight - 40 kg; initial speed - 890 m / s; vertical firing range - 15.2 km.

At the firing position.

FlaK 38 in the museum.

Image of the FlaK 38 anti-aircraft gun

Characteristics

Year of issue
1938

Total produced
?

Weight
14600 kg
Payment
? human
Shooting characteristics
Caliber
105 mm
Initial projectile speed
880 m/s
Maximum firing range
17700 m
height reach
11800 m
rate of fire
up to 15 rds / min.

Description

The gun was developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig as a naval anti-aircraft gun, but it was decided to adapt it for use on land. The land version of the gun was put into service at the end of 1937 under the designation "105-mm anti-aircraft gun model 38".
During the Second World War, the cannon was used for air defense cities, industrial enterprises and naval bases. Because of heavy weight in the stowed position (14,600 kg), the gun was practically not used in the air defense system of the troops.
A significant part of the FlaK-38 guns was mounted on carriages with a cruciform arrangement of beds, the design of which provided circular firing with the highest elevation angle of 85 °. The hydraulic system of horizontal and vertical guidance was driven by DC electric motors powered by an autonomous generator. The gun had a semi-automatic wedge bolt with an electric trigger, which allowed firing at a rate of 12-15 rounds per minute.
In 1939, the FlaK 38 was upgraded and received the designation FlaK-39, which differed from the original model in the design of the carriage, as well as in the fact that the electric motors of this gun did not operate on direct current, but on alternating current, which made it possible to connect the power supply system of the gun to a conventional electrical network without using autonomous current generators. FlaK-39 cannon batteries also had improved fire control devices. The aircraft were fired with fragmentation projectiles weighing 15.1 kg with an initial speed of 880 m / s. The gun was also designed armor-piercing projectile weighing 15.6 kg with an initial speed of 860 m / s.
In August 1944, the Luftwaffe anti-aircraft units responsible for the country's air defense were armed with 2018 FlaK-38/39 guns. Of this number, 116 guns were mounted on railway platforms, 877 on stationary positions, and 1025 on conventional carriages.

After the defeat in the First World War, Treaty of Versailles Germany was forbidden to have anti-aircraft artillery in general, and the existing anti-aircraft guns were to be destroyed. Therefore, from the end of the 1920s until 1933, German designers worked secretly on anti-aircraft guns both in Germany and in Sweden, Holland and other countries. At the beginning of the 1930s, anti-aircraft units were also created in Germany, which, for the purpose of secrecy, until 1935 were called "railway battalions". For the same reason, all new field and anti-aircraft guns designed in Germany in 1928-1933 were called “mod. eighteen". Thus, in the case of requests from the governments of England and France, the Germans could answer that these were not new guns, but old ones, created back in 1918 during the First World War.

In the early 1930s, in connection with the rapid development of aviation, an increase in the speed and range of flight, the creation of all-metal aircraft and the use of aviation armor, the issue of covering troops from attack aircraft became acute.
The existing anti-aircraft guns created during the First World War did not match much modern requirements in terms of rate of fire and aiming speed, and anti-aircraft guns rifle caliber was not satisfied in terms of range and power of action.

Under these conditions, small-caliber anti-aircraft guns (MZA), caliber 20-50 mm, turned out to be in demand. Having good indicators of rate of fire, range of effective fire and damaging effect of the projectile.

Anti-aircraft gun 2.0 cm FlaK 30(German 2.0 cm Flugzeugabwehrkanone 30 - 20 mm anti-aircraft gun model 1930). Developed by Rheinmetall in 1930. The Wehrmacht began to receive cannons from 1934. In addition, the 20-mm Flak 30 was exported by Rheinmetall to Holland and China.

The advantages of the 2-cm Flak 30 assault rifle were the simplicity of the device, the ability to quickly disassemble and assemble, and relatively low weight.

On August 28, 1930, an agreement was signed with the German company BYuTAST (front office of the Rheinmetall company) on the supply to the USSR, among other guns, of a 20-mm anti-aircraft automatic gun. The Rheinmetall company supplied all the documentation for the 20-mm anti-aircraft gun, two samples guns and one spare oscillating part.
After testing, the 20-mm Rheinmetall gun was put into service under the name 20-mm automatic anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun Model 1930. Production of the 20 mm gun Model 1930. It was transferred to Plant No. 8 (Podlipki, Moscow Region), where it was assigned the index 2K. Serial production of guns was started by plant No. 8 in 1932. However, the quality of the produced guns turned out to be extremely low. Military acceptance refused to accept anti-aircraft guns. As a result, the scammers from the Kalinin plant (No. 8) were unable to cope with the production of the gun.

Based on the results of the combat use of the 20-mm Flak 30 in Spain, the Mauser company carried out its modernization. The modernized model was called 2.0 cm Flak 38. The new installation had the same ballistics and ammunition.

All changes in the device were aimed at increasing the rate of fire, which increased from 245 rds / min to 420-480 rds / min. It had a height reach: 2200-3700 m, firing range: up to 4800 m. Weight in combat position: 450 kg, weight in stowed position: 770 kg.
Light automatic Flak guns-30 and Flak-38 had basically the same design. Both guns were mounted on a light wheeled carriage, providing in a combat position a circular fire with a maximum elevation angle of 90 °.

The principle of operation of the mechanisms of the machine gun arr. 38 remained the same - the use of recoil force with a short barrel stroke. The increase in the rate of fire was achieved by reducing the weight of moving parts and increasing their speed of movement, in connection with which special shock absorber buffers were introduced. In addition, the introduction of a copier spatial accelerator made it possible to combine the release of the shutter with the transfer of kinetic energy to it.
The automatic building sights of these guns developed vertical and lateral lead and made it possible to point the guns directly at the target. The input data to the sights were entered manually and determined by eye, except for the range, which was measured by a stereo rangefinder.

Changes to the carriages were minimal, in particular, a second speed was introduced in manual guidance drives.
There was a special disassembled "pack" version for mountain army units. In this version, the Flak 38 gun remained the same, but a small and, accordingly, lighter carriage was used. The gun was called the 2 cm Gebirgeflak 38 mountain anti-aircraft gun and was a weapon designed to destroy both air and ground targets.
The 20-mm Flak 38 began to enter the troops in the second half of 1940.

Flak-30 and Flak-38 anti-aircraft guns were a very widely used air defense weapon of the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and SS troops. A company of such guns (12 pieces) was part of the anti-tank division of all infantry divisions, the same company was integral part each motorized anti-aircraft division of the RGK, attached to tank and motorized divisions.

In addition to being towed, it was created a large number of self-propelled guns. Trucks, tanks, various tractors and armored personnel carriers were used as chassis.
In addition to their direct purpose, by the end of the war they were increasingly used to combat manpower and light armored vehicles of the enemy.

The scale of the use of Flak-30/38 guns is evidenced by the fact that in May 1944 ground troops had 6,355 cannons of this type, and the Luftwaffe units providing German air defense - more than 20,000 20-mm cannons.

To increase the density of fire based on the Flak-38, a quad installation was developed 2 cm Flakvierling 38. The effectiveness of the anti-aircraft installation was very high.

Although the Germans throughout the war constantly experienced a shortage of these anti-aircraft installations. Flakvirling 38 were used in the German army, in the air defense units of the Luftwaffe and in the German Navy.

To increase mobility, many different anti-aircraft self-propelled guns were created on their basis.

There was a version intended for installation on armored trains. An installation was being developed, the fire of which was supposed to be controlled using radar.

In addition to the Flak-30 and Flak-38 in German air defense, a 20-mm machine gun was used in smaller quantities. 2 cm Flak 28.
This anti-aircraft gun traces its lineage to the German "Becker gun", which was developed back in the First World War. The Oerlikon company, named after its location - a suburb of Zurich, acquired all the rights to develop a gun.
By 1927, the Oerlikon company had developed and put on the conveyor a model called Oerlikon S (three years later it became simply 1S). Compared to the original model, it was chambered for a more powerful 20×110mm cartridge and featured a higher muzzle velocity of 830 m/s.

In Germany, the gun was widely used as a means of air defense of ships, however, there were also field versions of the gun, which were widely used in the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe anti-aircraft troops, under the designation - 2 cm Flak 28 And 2 cm VKPL vz. 36.

Between 1940 and 1944, the volume of transactions of the parent company Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon (WO) with only the Axis powers - Germany, Italy and Romania - amounted to 543.4 million Swiss francs. francs, and included the supply of 7013 20-mm guns, 14.76 million pieces of cartridges for them, 12,520 spare barrels and 40 thousand guns. ammo boxes(Here is such a Swiss "neutrality"!).
Several hundred of these anti-aircraft guns were captured in Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Norway.

In the USSR, the word "Oerlikon" became a household name for all small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery during the Second World War.

For all their merits, 20-mm anti-aircraft guns were unable to guarantee 100% penetration of the Il-2 attack aircraft armor.
To correct this situation, in 1943, the Mauser company, by imposing a 3 cm MK-103 aircraft gun on a carriage of a 2 cm Flak 38 automatic anti-aircraft gun, created the Flak 103/38 anti-aircraft gun. The gun had a double-sided belt feed. The action of the machine mechanisms was based on a mixed principle: the barrel bore was unlocked and the bolt was cocked due to the energy of the powder gases discharged through the side channel in the barrel, and the feed mechanisms were operated due to the energy of the rolling barrel.

IN mass production Flak 103/38 launched in 1944. A total of 371 guns were produced.
In addition to single-barreled, in a small number, twin and quad 30-mm installations were produced.

In 1942-1943 the Waffen-Werke enterprise in Brune based on the 3-cm aircraft gun MK 103 created an anti-aircraft automatic gun MK 303 Br. It was distinguished from the Flak 103/38 gun by better ballistics. For a projectile weighing 320 g, its initial velocity for the MK 303 Br was 1080 m/s versus 900 m/s for the Flak 103/38. For a projectile weighing 440 g, these values ​​were 1000 m/s and 800 m/s, respectively.

Automation worked both due to the energy of the gases discharged from the bore, and due to the recoil of the barrel during its short course. The shutter is wedge. The delivery of cartridges was carried out by the rammer along the entire path of the movement of the cartridge into the chamber. muzzle brake had an efficiency of 30%.
The production of MK 303 Br guns began in October 1944. A total of 32 guns were delivered by the end of the year, and another 190 in 1945.

30-mm installations were much more effective than 20-mm ones, but the Germans did not have time to launch a large-scale production of these anti-aircraft guns.

In violation of the Versailles agreements, the Rheinmetall company in the late 20s began work on the creation of a 3.7-cm automatic anti-aircraft gun.
The automatics of the gun worked due to the recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. Shooting was carried out from a pedestal carriage, which was supported by a cruciform base on the ground. In the stowed position, the gun was mounted on a four-wheeled cart.

The 37-mm anti-aircraft gun was intended to fight aircraft flying at low altitudes (1500-3000 meters) and to fight ground armored targets.

The 3.7-cm cannon of the Rheinmetall company, together with the 2-cm automatic cannon, were sold in 1930 by the BYuTAST office Soviet Union. In fact, only complete technological documentation and a set of semi-finished products were delivered, while the guns themselves were not delivered.
In the USSR, the gun received the name "37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun mod. 1930". Sometimes it was called the 37-mm cannon "H" (German). The production of the gun was started in 1931 at the plant number 8, where the gun received the index 4K. In 1931, 3 guns were presented. For 1932, the plan was 25 guns, the plant presented 3, but the military acceptance did not accept a single one. At the end of 1932, the system had to be discontinued. Not a single 37-mm cannon mod. 1930

The Rheinmetall 3.7 cm automatic gun entered service in 1935 under the name 3.7 cm Flak 18. One of the significant drawbacks was the four-wheeled wagon. It turned out to be heavy and clumsy, so a new four-bed carriage with a detachable two-wheel drive was developed to replace it.
3.7-cm anti-aircraft automatic gun with a new two-wheeled carriage and a number of changes in the design of the machine was named 3.7 cm Flak 36.

There was another option 3.7 cm Flak 37, which differed only in a complex, controlled sight with a calculating device and a proactive system.

In addition to regular gun carriages arr. 1936, 3.7 cm Flak 18 and Flak 36 assault rifles were installed on railway platforms and various trucks and armored personnel carriers, as well as on tank chassis.

The production of Flak 36 and 37 was carried out until the very end of the war at three factories (one of them was in Czechoslovakia). By the end of the war, the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht had about 4,000 37 mm anti-aircraft guns.

Already during the war, on the basis of 3.7 cm Flak 36, Rheinmetall developed a new 3.7 cm machine gun Flak 43.

Automatic arr. 43 had fundamentally new scheme automation, when part of the operations was carried out due to the energy of the exhaust gases, and part - due to the rolling parts. The Flak 43 magazine held 8 rounds, while the Flak 36 had a 6 round magazine.

3.7 cm machine guns arr. 43 were installed on both single and twin mounts.

During the Second World War, there was a “difficult” level of altitudes for anti-aircraft guns from 1500 m to 3000. Here, the aircraft turned out to be inaccessible for light anti-aircraft guns, and this height was too low for heavy anti-aircraft artillery guns. In order to solve the problem, it seemed natural to create anti-aircraft guns of some intermediate caliber.

The German designers of the Rheinmetall company offered the military a cannon, known under the index 5 cm Flak 41.

The action of automation is based on a mixed principle. Unlocking the bore, extracting the sleeve, throwing the bolt back and compressing the spring of the bolt knurler occurred due to the energy of the powder gases discharged through the side channel in the barrel. And the supply of cartridges was carried out due to the energy of the rolling barrel. In addition, a partial fixed roll-out of the barrel was used in automation.
The bore was locked with a wedge sliding bolt. The supply of the machine with cartridges is lateral, along the horizontal feed table using a clip for 5 cartridges.
In the stowed position, the installation was transported on a four-wheeled cart. In combat position, both moves rolled back.

The first copy appeared in 1936. The refinement process was very slow, as a result, the gun was put into mass production only in 1940.
A total of 60 anti-aircraft guns of this brand were produced. As soon as the first of them entered the active army in 1941, major shortcomings were revealed (as if they were not at the training ground).
The main problem was ammunition, which was poorly adapted for use in anti-aircraft gun.

Despite the relatively large caliber, the 50mm rounds lacked power. In addition, the flashes of shots blinded the gunner, even on a clear sunny day. The carriage turned out to be too bulky and uncomfortable in real combat conditions. The horizontal aiming mechanism was too weak and worked slowly.

Flak 41 was produced in two versions. The mobile anti-aircraft gun moved on a biaxial carriage. The stationary gun was intended for the defense of strategically important objects, such as the Ruhr dams. Despite the fact that the gun turned out, to put it mildly, unsuccessful, it continued to serve until the end of the war. True, by that time there were only 24 units left.

In fairness, it should be said that guns of this caliber were never created in any of the warring countries.
The anti-aircraft 57-mm S-60 was created in the USSR by V.G. Grabin after the war.

Assessing the actions of the German small-caliber artillery, it is worth noting its exceptional efficiency. The anti-aircraft cover of the German troops was much better than the Soviet one, especially for initial period war.

It was anti-aircraft fire that destroyed most lost for combat reasons IL-2.
The very high losses of the IL-2 should be explained, first of all, by the specifics of the combat use of these attack aircraft. Unlike bombers and fighters, they worked exclusively from low altitudes - which means that more often and longer than other aircraft, they were in the field of actual fire from German small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery.
The extreme danger posed to our aviation by German small-caliber anti-aircraft guns was due, firstly, to the perfection of the material part of this. The design of anti-aircraft installations made it possible to very quickly maneuver trajectories in the vertical and horizontal planes, each gun was equipped with an anti-aircraft artillery fire control device, which gave corrections for the speed and course of the aircraft; tracer shells made it easier to adjust the fire. Finally, German anti-aircraft guns had a high rate of fire; so, the 37-mm Flak 36 installation fired 188 rounds per minute, and the 20-mm Flak 38 - 480.
Secondly, the saturation of these means of troops and air defense rear facilities among the Germans was very high. The number of barrels covering the targets of the Il-2 attacks continuously increased, and at the beginning of 1945, up to 200-250 20- and 37-mm shells could be fired per second (!) at an attack aircraft operating in the German fortified area.
The reaction time was very short, from the moment of discovery to the opening of fire. First aimed shot small-caliber anti-aircraft battery was ready to give in 20 seconds after the detection of Soviet aircraft; corrections for changing the course of the IL-2, the angle of their dive, speed, range to the target, the Germans entered within 2-3 seconds. The concentration of fire of several guns used by them on one target also increased the probability of hitting

According to materials:
http://www.xliby.ru/transport_i_aviacija/tehnika_i_vooruzhenie_1998_08/p3.php
http://zonawar.ru/artileru/leg_zenit_2mw.html
http://www.plam.ru/hist/_sokoly_umytye_krovyu_pochemu_sovetskie_vvs_voevali_huzhe_lyuftvaffe/p3.php
A.B. Shirokograd "God of War of the Third Reich"

20-mm anti-aircraft guns were widespread in the German troops and were an effective weapon to combat low-flying air targets. Although before the start of World War II, the main forces of anti-aircraft artillery were part of the Luftwaffe, nevertheless, each division of the Wehrmacht had at its disposal 12 20-mm Flak.30 / 38 assault rifles.

20 mm Flak.30 anti-aircraft gun was developed by the company Rheinmetall"in the early 20s and consisted of a monoblock barrel equipped with a muzzle brake / flash hider, sled, cradle, recoil devices, gun carriage and sights. The action of automation was based on the use of recoil of the barrel and the shutter with a short rollback of the barrel. Trigger mechanism allowed single and automatic fire. The descent was made by pressing the pedal, and box magazines with a capacity of 20 rounds were used to power the machine. In the stowed position, the anti-aircraft gun was transported on a two-wheeled sprung cart.

The Flak.30 gun was lightweight and simple. The monoblock barrel was easily separated from receiver, thanks to which it was quickly replaced with continuous firing. The disadvantages of the machine were high sensitivity to changes in the elevation of the barrel, contamination and thickening of the lubricant, and most importantly, insufficient rate of fire due to the lack of continuous power.

The first anti-aircraft guns of this type began to enter the German troops in 1935, and three years later, the new version of this weapon, Flak.38, which had the same ballistics and ammunition, but featured a higher rate of fire due to a reduction in the weight of moving parts and an increase in their speed. Flak.38 assault rifles appeared at the front in 1940, and in the same year a quad installation was created based on them.

In addition to the two-wheeled carriage, Flak.30 / 38 anti-aircraft guns were also mounted on various types of self-propelled chassis, for example, in the bodies of Opel Blitz and Ford Maultier trucks, on half-tracked transporters SdKfz 10/5. In the middle of 1944, the German troops had over 26 thousand anti-aircraft installations of this type.