Welcome to The Few Good Men

Thanks for visiting our club and having a look around, there is a lot to see. Why not consider becoming a member?

88mm Flak Gun

Bootie

FGM OWNER
Staff member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
22,713
Reaction score
6,194
Age
46
Location
Scotland
Website
www.youtube.com
The 88 mm gun (eighty-eight) was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognized German weapons of the war. Development of the original models led to a wide variety of guns.

03.jpg

The name applies to a series of guns, the first one officially called the 8,8 cm Flak 18, the improved 8,8 cm Flak 36, and later the 8,8 cm Flak 37. Flak is a contraction of German Flugzeugabwehrkanone[SUP] [/SUP]meaning "anti-aircraft cannon", the original purpose of the eighty-eight.

In informal German use, the guns were universally known as the Acht-acht, a contraction of Acht-komma-acht Zentimeter ("8,8 cm"). In English language, "flak" became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire.

004.jpg

The versatile carriage allowed the eighty-eight to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode when still on wheels, and to be completely emplaced in only two-and-a-half minutes. Its successful use as an improvised anti-tank gun led to the development of a tank gun based upon it. These related guns served as the main armament of tanks such as the Tiger I: the 8,8 cm KwK 36, with the "KwK" abbreviation standing for KampfwagenKanone ("fighting vehicle cannon").

In addition to these Krupp's designs, Rheinmetall created later a more powerful anti-aircraft gun, the 8,8 cm Flak 41, produced in relatively small numbers. Krupp responded with another prototype of long-barreled 88 mm gun, which became developed into the anti-tank 8.8 cm Pak 43 and vehicle-mounted 8.8 cm KwK 43 guns
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oh yes, the most infamous... >;D


didn't know it was designed in 1928 tho...
 
I love the way Rommel experimented with them as anti tank guns in North Africa.
 
My stepfather was a gunner on a 8,8 in the late war. They were placed at Hamm-Rhynern in the north of the Ruhrkessel and had fought against the 9th U.S. Tank-Army.
60 tanks against two FlaK - any questions?
 
Please, tell us more, Steiner! :) Was that Your father who whistled "Unsere Fahne flattert uns voran" during erecting a flag for the football WM? :D Or was that another one?

Greetings :)
 
Yes Ralf, that`s the one.
More? Well, this was the end of the war for him.
You see, not all of them young guys were total fanatics, like many movies want to make us believe. You know, not all of them died on the battlefield.
 
I hope he saw the end of the war unharmed! But nevertheless it would be great to know more about the fighting and how he dealt with the opportunity to die during the fight. Don´t understand me wrong! It´s no pervers but "educational" interest why I ask. If it´s too personal I´m apologize and don´t ask further.

Greetings :)
 
Yes, Ralf. Today he is 83 years old.

I`m telling you about this part in the "Ruhrkessel".
The german HKL is holding by an Infantry-Platoon. Every morning comes an american tank and fires a few rounds to the german trenches. The Infantryleader - an Lieutenant - speaks with the batteryleader abaout this.
Next morning the tank comes again, but before he can place one shot he is smashed by an eighty-eight-grenade.
With an infernal "Hurra!" the comrades from the infantry give the cheers for the gunners.

to be continued...
 
Needle someone over what he can bear and he will strike back! ;) And thanks for Your "continued" answer. I´m really looking forward to hear/read more.

Greetings and have a nice celebration/mourning day! :)
 
I do not know where else to post this but this seems like a super area.

Rommel-out
 

Attachments

  • DSC00414.JPG
    DSC00414.JPG
    2.8 MB · Views: 15
  • DSC00413.JPG
    DSC00413.JPG
    2.8 MB · Views: 15
Recharging
3BLlgCC.jpg
 
Back
Top