Published on
October 26, 2009 in
German.
The 3.7 cm Flak 43, a light, fully-automatic, gas-operated antiaircraft weapon, may be statically emplaced, transported on a mobile mounting, or mounted on a self-propelled chassis. The gun consists of a removable, monobloc barrel fitted with a muzzle brake with six elongated ports and multi-perforated flash eliminator, and a breech casing which houses the breech mechanism. The gun is fed horizontally from the left in clips of eight rounds from a fixed loading tray, and is operated by the recoil of the gun itself. A hydro-spring buffer with variable recoil is located below the barrel, and two return springs lie side by side above the barrel.
Mounting is of the pedestal type, the gun being hung from a single-ring type trunnion on the right. The feed to the gun is mounted through the ring and on the axis of the trunnion, making unnecessary any alteration in the position of the center of gravity of the gun and other elevating parts with variation in the quantity of ammunition in the clips and feed mechanism. Elevating and traversing handwheels are both on the right of the gun, the former being vertical and the latter horizontal.
The equipment, which is of low build, is fitted with a shield varying in thickness from 9 mm at the center to 6 mm at the outer edges. The shield slopes backward at a 30° angle and is 4.2 feet high. In the middle is a space through which the mantlet elevates and depresses. A twin version of the 3.7 cm Flak 43 also exists. It is known as the 3.7 cm Flakzwilling 43.
The weapon fires only the single rotating band projectiles.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber | | 37 mm (1.45 ins.) |
| Weight (traveling position) | | 4,180 lbs. |
| Weight (firing position) | | 2,750 lbs. |
| Length (traveling position) |
| Length (firing position) |
| Height (traveling position) |
| Height of trunnion | | 29.9 ins. |
| Length of piece (excluding muzzle brake) | | 9.68 ft. |
| Length of muzzle brake | | 14.96 ins. |
| Length of bore | | 7 ft. |
| No. of grooves | | 20 |
| Width of grooves |
| Depth of grooves |
| Width of lands |
| Muzzle velocity (HE shell) | | 2,750 f/s |
| Max. range (horizontal) | | 7,200 yds. (approx.) |
| Effective range (vertical) | | 9,000 ft. (approx.) |
| Rate of fire (theoretical) | | 250 rds./min. |
| (practical) | | 150 rds./min. |
| Traverse | | 360° |
| Elevation | | 90° |
| Depression | | -6° |
| Type of recoil | | Variable |
| Ammunition | | AP/HE; H.E.; HE/T-HE/I/T;
HE/I and HE/I/short T |
German: p. 130.2 (August 1, 1945)
Published on
October 26, 2009 in
German.
The 10.5 cm Geb. H. 40, introduced into the German Army in 1942, is the companion piece to the 7.5 cm Geb. G. 36 described on page 118. Its design is basically the same as that of the 10.5 cm le. F. H. 18 (M). The weapon can be split into nine loads for transport.
The barrel, of monobloc construction, is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake with wide side flanges; the breech mechanism is of the horizontal sliding block type. A hydraulic buffer is built into the cradle on which the barrel slides in recoil, and a hydro-pneumatic recuperator is mounted above the barrel.
The split trail carriage has trails of riveted box construction which are fitted with large detachable spades. It is mounted on wheels of cast light alloy with detachable rims and solid rubber tires. The wheels are mounted on stub axles fitted to the trail legs and remain parallel to the legs when they are opened. Internal expanding brakes, adjusted by a handwheel from the front, are fitted to both wheels. The traversing and elevating handwheels are located on the left and right sides of the carriage respectively.
There are two range drum scales: one in mils ranging from 0 to 1,250; the other in meters ranging from 0 to 1,500 for hollow charge ammunition and from 1,500 to 9,675 for high explosive shells, both with charge 6 in the lower register.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
105 mm (4.14 ins.) |
| Weight (traveling position) |
|
|
| Weight (firing position) |
|
3,660 lb. |
| Length of piece |
|
10 ft., 4 ins. |
| Length (firing position) |
|
18 ft., 6 ins. |
| Height (traveling position) |
|
|
| Height (firing position) |
|
4 ft., 11 ins. |
| Width (overall) |
|
4 ft., 6 ins. |
| Width of trail spread |
|
|
| Length of bore |
|
9 ft., 5 ins. |
| No. of grooves |
|
32 |
| Width of grooves |
|
|
| Depth of grooves |
|
|
| Width of lands |
|
|
| Muzzle velocity |
|
1,870 f/s |
| Max. range (horizontal) |
|
13,807 yds. (Chg. 7) |
| Max. range (vertical) |
|
|
| Rate of fire |
|
|
| Traverse |
|
25°, 20′ left and right |
| Elevation |
|
70° |
| Depression |
|
-4°, 47′ |
| Length of recoil (variable) |
|
19.7 ins. to 49.2 ins. |
| Ammunition |
|
10.5 cm F.H. Gr. Al. (32 lb.)*
10.5 cm F.H. Gr. 38 Al.
10.5 cm F.H. Gr. Buntrauch (32 lb.)
10.5 cm 39 rot HL/A and HL/B (25.8 lb.)–Chg. 6 only.
10.5 cm 39 rot AL/C |
*A star shell is also reported to be fired with Charge 6.
German: p. 108.2
Published on
October 26, 2009 in
German.
This vehicle, one model of which is shown above, is called an armored car by the Germans. Production began in 1941 and continued through 1943. Models VK 1201, VK 1202, and VK 1303 were manufactured by Maschienfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg.
The box-shaped superstructure is built in with the hull chassis. The thickness of armor of the Lynx is 30 mm on the front of the turret and hull and 20 mm on the turret and hull sides. One gasoline tank located inside on the right holds 83 gallons.
Track guards are provided well over the sprockets and idlers only. The turret roof slopes down towards the front and terminates in a cylindrical shape. The engine compartment is at the rear. Old models had smoke projectors, three on each side which were electrically operated. New model 1303 has no such provision.
Throat microphones were used for intra-tank communication. Periscopes and an optical sighting device are provided in the turret.
The suspension consists of torsion bar straddle-mounted Christie type bogie wheels with center guide steel track, front drive sprocket and rear idler.
The first two models were equipped with Dreislufenlenkung, three-step clutch type steering, while Model VK 1303 has the same system as the Panther—Einradien-Lenkgetriebe, one radius steering. Evolution of this vehicle stems from development of the Pz. Kpfw. II, Models D and E. It is believed that this vehicle served its main purpose in perfecting one radius steering.
The transmission is synchromesh selective and adapts itself to the steering mechanism. There are seven speeds forward and one reverse; synchromesh cones are provided for all gear ratios except low and reverse.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight | | 12.9 tons |
| Length (overall) | | 15 ft., 2 ins. |
| Width (overall) | | 8 ft., 1 1/2 ins. |
| Height (overall) | | 7 ft., 3 ins. |
| Ground clearance | | 16 ins. |
| Tread centers | | 6 ft., 10 ins. |
| Ground contact | | 7 ft., 3 ins. |
| Width of track | | 14 ins. |
| Pitch of track |
| Track links | | 67 |
| Fording depth | | 4 ft., 7 ins. |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads | | 155 miles |
| Cross-country | | 93 miles |
| Speed |
| Roads | | 50 m.p.h. |
| Cross-Country | | 25-30 m.p.h. |
| Armor |
| Front | | 30 mm |
| Sides | | 20 mm |
| Armament | | One 2 cm Kw. K. 38 and one 7.92 mm M. G. 34 |
| Ammunition (Rds.) | | 400 (2 cm): 1.200 (M. G. 34) |
| Engine | | 178 British B.H.P. |
| Transmission | | Synchromesh, 7 speeds forward; 1 reverse |
| Steering | | One radius double drive epicyclic |
| Crew | | 4 |
German: p. 8.1
