• 7
• 8
• • Diamond Log
  • Favorite Log
  • Feature on profile
  • Embed
  • Report

• The 128mm FlaK 40

The 128mm FlaK 40 was one of the largest anti-aircraft weapon systems employed by the Germans in World War 2. Design of the type began as early as 1936 under the charge of the Rheinmetall-Borsig concern and then known as the "Gerat 40", intended as an in-the-field gun system for the German Army. Little priority was given to the project initially and a pilot gun was tested in 1937, proving the design sound though heavy and of limited value to the Army and its mobile nature. As such, the weapon was now redirected for the static anti-aircraft role that saw her mounting platform reworked in response.

The end result became the "12.8cm FlaK 40", a fine anti-aircraft system that would see combat action in World War 2 while being limited by general availability.Outwardly, the weapon was designed in the traditional German scope concerning its FlaK gun family. The weapon rotated freely upon a fixed platform that would be bolted into solid ground helping to counter the inherently violent recoil of the massive gun. The barrel was affixed to the gun mount and contained the necessary recoil mechanism and traversing controls. Multiple crew were required to manage the weapon successfully. Overall weight was nearly 37,500lbs while the gun barrel measured in at over 25 feet long. The FlaK 40 fired a 128mm projectile up to 35,000 (perhaps as high as 48,500 feet according to some sources). The crew managed a horizontal sliding breech for loading/reloading with a powered rammer and the recoil mechanism was hydropneumatic in nature. Elevation of the gun was -3 to +88 degrees with a full 360-degree traversal possible.