PaK 43/41 (Pt. 2 of 2)

The amount of modifications made the PaK 43/41 new technology to the crews and such new technologies have a learning curve and as such a cost. It bore little semblance to the original 88s. The new barrel length was now 71 calibres and fitted with a double baffle muzzle break to reduce recoil forces. This …

PaK 43/41 (Pt. 1 of 2)

War is a game of escalation until someone can't go any further, you get semi-automatic weapons the enemy gets automatic you get bullet proof armour the enemy gets armour piercing rounds and so on. The Germans had the PaK 41 the Russians got the T-34. The performance of the 88 had to be improved if …

PaK 43 (Pt. 2 of 2)

With the boogie wheels removed the combat weight was now 3,700kg and when positioned on the front the outrigger arms could be hammered into the ground with metal stakes to prevent recoil movement. The firing mechanism was electric which was an unusual feature for field weaponry, with many safety switches to prevent accidental firing on …

PaK 43 (Pt. 1 of 2)

In response to the changing environment Krupp modified the FlaK 37 which was then known as the 88mm PaK 43 and entered service in 1943. This new vehicle had a lower profile and better sloping armour to protect the crew. The gun was still mounted to the cruciform platform and had pneumatic tyres for towing. …

The PaK Guns (Pt. 3 of 3)

With Rommel in Africa the Germans in Europe were prepping for Operation Barbarossa. It was here that the 88 would be tested. When the Soviets started using the T-34 was the 88 pressed into service. When deployed in Russia 10 of these guns were grouped together into a concentrated defensive position called a 'PaK front'. …

The PaK Guns (Pt. 2 of 3)

Despite having 24 88mm guns per division they were spread thing on account of the area they were fighting over. Some even say the Rommel himself ordered 24 guns from the Luftwaffe FlaK regiment to be deployed in an anti-tank role. They could have afforded to lend the guns as they had air superiority in …

The PaK Guns (Pt. 1 of 3)

On the 10th of May 1940 the German Blitzkrieg was launched across Europe in France, Holland and Belgium. Local resistance was non-existent and whatever was there retreated in the face of German armoured assault. By the 21st of May the combined remnants of the French and English allied forces consolidated and launched a counter-attack. Leading …

88mm FlaK – Self-Propelled Guns (Pt. 2 of 2)

In August of 1942 there were 3 prototypes of the PzSf that were ready for trials however at this point in the war the Germans were engaging the Russians and this meant that tank production had to be prioritized. At this point the worth of the gun was beginning to come into question. It was …

88mm FlaK – Self-Propelled Guns (Pt. 1 of 2)

Armies are not static, that would defeat their purpose. A static army cannot gain new ground, they may be able to defend their territory but they can't pursue their enemies these are just a few of the pitfalls of a static army. In order to keep up then an army must invest in getting its …

88mm FlaK – FlaK 41

By this point the FlaK design was sound and proven, it was the backbone of the German air defense and could be used in anti-tank roles, quite the range. Yet still the Luftwaffe wanted a gun with a higher ceiling and greater muzzle velocity. Rheinmetall-Borsig began to develop one with the prototype coming as early …