Published on
September 12, 2010 in
German.
The 2 cm Flakvierling 38, consisting of four 2 cm Flak 38′s on a quadruple mounting, may be employed against both ground and aerial targets. It is normally transported on a trailer (Sd. Ah. 52) but may be mounted on railed or semi-tracked vehicles. The Trailer 52 consists of a wishbone-shaped, welded 1/4 inch steel plate frame supported on pneumatic tires. Because of its collapsing seats, folding handles, and handy ammunition racks, the Flakvierling 38 is a trim, compact, and conveniently operated weapon. The monobloc barrels may be quickly and easily changed, and the piece rapidly emplaced for fire.
The method of operation is basically that of the Solothurn. Both barrel and bolt recoil a short distance together; the barrel stops, and the bolt continues on to the rear. The guns fire from an open bolt position and may be operated either automatically or semi-automatically. Each one is equipped with a spring type equilibrator that is attached to the mount.
The mount consists of a triangular base which has a jack at each apex for leveling the gun when it is in firing position; a traversing ring which is fixed to the base and upon which the carriage body sits; and the carriage body, which in turn supports the four barrels and accessories. A compensator bolted to the carriage body counteracts muzzle preponderance.
The guns are fired by a set of foot pedals; each of two pedals fires two diametrically opposite guns. The mount is traversed and elevated manually by the tracker who has the two handwheels within easy reach. Empty cartridge cases are ejected toward the center of the gun mount into chutes leading to a deflector box which holds about 500 cases.
Sighting equipment for the Flakvierling 38 consists of the tachymetric sight, Flakvisier 40, or for ground targets, the Linealvisier 21.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
2 cm (.79 in.) |
| Length of tube |
|
45.82 ins. plus flash hider of 5.75 ins. |
| Weight (travelling position) |
|
4,890 lb. |
| Weight (firing position) |
|
3,200 lb. |
| Length (overall) |
|
169 ins. |
| Length (firing position) |
| Height (travelling position) |
|
84 ins. |
| Height (firing position) guns elevated |
|
10 ft., 1 in. |
| Width (overall), (travelling position) |
|
95 ins. |
| Width of trail spread |
| Length of bore |
| No. of grooves |
|
8 lands and grooves |
| Width of grooves |
| Depth of grooves |
| Width of lands |
| Muzzle velocity |
|
(H.E. shell) 2,950 f.s.
(A.P. shell) 2,624 f.s. |
| Max. range (horizontal) |
|
5,246 yds. |
| Max. range (vertical) |
|
4,012 yds. |
| Rate of fire |
|
800 practical; 1,400 cyclic rds. per min. |
| Traverse |
|
360° |
| Elevation |
|
100° |
| Depression |
|
-10° |
| Length of recoil |
| Ammunition |
|
H.E. four types; A.P. two types |
| Wt. of 1 magazine of 20 rds |
|
21 lb. |
| Ammunition stowage |
|
320 rds. |
German: p. 133
Published on
December 28, 2009 in
German.
This equipment consists of the four-barrelled 2 cm (.79 in.) antiaircraft gun mounted on the Pz. Kpfw. IV chassis. The gun has been mounted in an open topped, nine-sided turret. Elevation is from 10° to 90° and traverse is 360°.
The gun is the normal 2 cm Flakvierling 38 with the triangular base removed. Two guns are mounted on either side of the cradle. The guns are fired by a set of foot pedals; each pedal operates the trigger mechanism of the two diametrically opposite guns. The weapon is traversed and elevated manually by the gunner who also aims and fires it.
The 2 cm Flakvierling 38 is supported by two four-inch I-beams which are located 15 inches below the normal tank turret ring. The I-beams are in the center below the turret opening and extend across the width of the tank chassis.
There is no traversing rack on the turret ring. A rod from the gun upper carriage supports the gunner’s seat and is fastened by a U-bolt to the turret to form a connection between the gun mount and the turret armor. At the front of each side of the upper carriage is a collapsible rod which also can be fastened to the turret armor. In this manner, the gun mount and turret traverse together.
The turret is 43 inches high, 6 feet, 6 inches wide, and 8 feet long. The armor plate is 15 mm thick. Each side of the turret is composed of two plates of equal dimensions welded together. The top plates are sloped at an angle of approximately 30 degrees and the bottom plates are undercut at the same angle.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight |
|
26 tons (estimated) |
| Length |
|
19 ft., 4 ins. |
| Width |
|
9 ft., 8 ins. |
| Height |
|
9 ft. |
| Ground clearance |
|
15 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
7 ft., 10 7/8 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
11 ft., 6 ins. |
| Width of track |
|
15 ins. |
| Pitch of track |
|
4 3/4 ins. |
| Track links |
|
98 |
| Fording depth |
|
3 ft. |
| Theoretical radius of action: |
| Roads |
|
130 miles |
| Cross country |
|
80 miles |
| Speed: |
| Roads |
|
25 m.p.h. |
| Cross country |
|
15 m.p.h. |
| Armor: |
| Front plate of superstructure |
|
85 mm at 10° to vertical |
| Sides of superstructure |
|
30 mm |
| Armament |
|
2 cm Flakvierling 38 |
| Ammunition |
|
H.E. Shell, tracer; H.E.-Incendiary; A.P. shell, tracer. |
| Rounds |
|
16 clips in turret (20 rds in each); 15 boxes in tank. |
| Engine |
|
Maybach HL 120 TRM, 320 hp. |
| Transmission |
|
Synchromesh—6 speeds forward, 1 reverse |
| Steering |
|
Epicylic, clutch brake |
| Crew |
|
5 |
German: p. 34.1 (August 1, 1945)
Published on
September 22, 2009 in
German.
The 2 cm Flakvierling 38 has been mounted, as illustrated above, on the chassis of the 8-ton medium semitrack prime mover described on page 54. Details of the weapon and its performance may be found on page 133.
German: p. 54.1 (April 1, 1945)
