Officially designated 8.8cm FlaK 18 the improved FlaK 36 and later FlaK 37 are German 88mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery guns used throughout WW2 and by many European countries in post-war era. A potent weapon system it is reported Finnish examples were still in use into the early 2000s.
FlaK is a contraction of German Flugzeugabwehrkanone meaning 'aircraft-defence cannon', the original purpose of the weapon. In English 'flak' became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft artillery fire. In informal use, the guns were universally known as the Acht-acht (eight-eight) by Germans and eighty-eight by the Allies.
The versatile SdAh 202 carriage allowed the 8.8cm FlaK to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode when still on its wheels. For normal emplacement the single-axle bogies were detached from the front and rear outriggers and side outriggers were then hinged from the vertical position to the ground. The total time to set up was estimated at two and a half minutes. Both modes of operation made the gun much more suitable for fast-moving operations, the basic concept of the blitzkrieg.
FlaK 36s were often fitted with an armoured shield that provided limited protection for the gunners. These shields could be retrofitted on older Flak 18s as well. The weight of the gun meant that only large vehicles could move it, the SdKfz 7 half-track becoming a common prime mover.
Targeting indicators were attached from the central controller to each of the four guns of a battery, allowing for coordinated fire. With the automatic loading system, the gun layers’ job was to keep the gun barrel trained on the target area based on the signals from the controller. The loaders would keep the weapon fed with live ammunition which would fire immediately upon insertion — all while the gun layer aimed the weapon according to the data.
The later model FlaK 37 which included updated instrumentation to allow the gun layers to follow directions from the single director more easily.
The parts of the various versions of the guns were interchangeable, and it was not uncommon for various parts to be 'mixed and matched' on a particular example. A total of 20,754 were produced, with examples having been supplied to other countries both before (new) and after WW2 (mostly 'surplus' weapons. The 'FlaK 88's were also deployed by allied forces during 1944/5 with at least 2 US temporary or provisional battalions being formed to specialise in the use of captured German guns.
Product Highlights:
- Options to build either a FlaK 36 or FlaK 37
- Gun can rotate and elevate with movable outriggers
- Gun can be mounted and dismounted from the SdAh 202 carriages
- Includes both new & spent AA/AT shells and ammo crates
- Includes 8 early-war plastic gun crew in Heer uniform
- Additional gun crew available in blister packs (sold separately)