German Artillery in Combat
Page 4
(a) Combat echelon, consisting of—
Battery headquarters,
Gun and instrument detachments,
Communication detachments,
Light Flak section,
Ammunition detachment,
Combat train.
(b) Ration transport.
(c) Baggage transport.
(3) Light and medium battery.—A light battery in a mixed battalion comprises four gun sections and one 60-cm searchlight section of four searchlights (one searchlight is normally allotted to each gun section), and is subdivided as follows:
(a) Combat echelon, consisting of—
Battery headquarters,
Gun and searchlight detachments,
Communication detachment,
Ammunition detachment,
Combat train.
(b) Ration transport.
(c) Baggage transport.
(4) Searchlight battery.—The heavy searchlight battery is usually organized as follows:
(a) Combat echelon, consisting of—
Battery headquarters,
Searchlight detachments,
Communication detachment,
Combat train.
(b) Ration transport.
(c) Baggage transport.
The exact employment of the light 60-cm searchlight batteries is not known, but it is believed that the battery is subdivided into sections to permit employment of individual detachments with gun sections. This practice is somewhat similar to the system used with searchlights which are an organic part of the light gun batteries of mixed battalions. In the latter case, the four searchlights in the section are broken down into four detachments, thus allowing one light searchlight for each gun section.
e. The Zug
The closest U.S. military equivalent of the Zug is "platoon." It is the smallest operational unit above the single gun and ordinarily applies only to the light or medium gun platoon of three guns, although in rare cases two heavy guns may operate as a platoon. In the heavy searchlight battery, there are usually three platoons of three lights each.
f. Railway Flak Units
Antiaircraft guns are also mounted on railway cars. Railway Flak units are organized into regiments, battalions, and batteries. The precise composition of the units is not known, but it is believed that the regimental organization forms a pool from which units may be drawn as necessity arises, either for mobile defense or for train-protection purposes. Although Railway Flak units are part of the Air Force and are administered through the usual Air Force channels, it is probable that train-protection detachments are operationally subordinate to the transport authorities. There is also some evidence that AA guns provided for the defense of military trains may in certain circumstances be manned by organic Army personnel. It is interesting to note that the AA guns on railway mounts may be light or heavy, and may consist of any of the following calibers: 20-mm (single- or four-barreled), 37-mm, 75-mm (probably), 88-mm, 105-mm, and possibly even the 150-mm.
4. Antiaircraft Organic to the Army
a. General
Although German AA artillery as an arm is an organic part of the Air Force, there are independent AA battalions which belong to the infantry and artillery of the Army, and are therefore organically a part of the German Army ground forces. The general term Heeresflak is applied to these independent units when distinguishing them, in staff tables or on orders of battle in chart form, as a category distinct from other troops, and also when referring to organic Army AA troops as distinguished from the standard Air Force AA troops. Actually, the term Heeresflak covers two distinct types of units: the Flabataillon1 and the Heeresflak Abteilung. The term Fla is an abbreviation of "Flugabwehr," which means "AA defense."
b. Fla Battalion
Flabataillon troops belong to the infantry arm and wear its distinctive white piping. There are two different types of Fla battalions: the battalion of six companies in which the company apparently is the tactical unit, and the battalion of three companies in which the battalion itself is the tactical unit, although its companies may on occasion be found operating independently. The Fla battalion is equipped with standard machine guns, and either 20-mm (both single- and four-barreled) or 37-mm AA guns, all on self-propelled mounts. These guns are available for additional use in antitank or other roles against ground targets.
c. Heeresflak Abteilung
Heeresflak Abteilung troops belong to the artillery arm and wear its distinctive red piping. Heeresflak battalions are mechanized, and in most cases consist of three heavy batteries each of four 88-mm guns, and two light batteries each of either twelve 20-mm guns or nine 37-mm guns. All equipment may be used in AA and in antitank or other ground roles.
d. Operational Control
The operational control of these special types of AA units is extremely flexible. Although they are normally allotted from a GHQ pool to an army, army corps, or division for permanent organic AA protection, they have been known to be subordinated to Luftwaffe Flak divisions and regiments.
5. Antiaircraft in the Navy
The German Navy mans AA artillery in certain coastal forts. Except for being emplaced on permanent mounts, these AA guns do not differ materially from the normal Flak armament, and the same applies to AA guns on board ships. From the point of view of organization of rear-area defenses, it should be noted that the AA armament in these coastal forts, as well as the AA guns on board Navy ships undergoing repair or at rest in harbor, is used at need as a part of the AA ground defense of the immediate area.
SECTION II. WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
6. Trend of Development
a. Historical
With the tremendous strides in development of combat aviation during the period between World War I and World War II, it became increasingly evident that a corresponding development of AA materiel and tactics was quite necessary. Although the Germans were limited in their military establishment as a result of World War I, they nevertheless conducted extensive research and tests to develop new AA materiel. During this post-war period, also, came experiments with mechanized armored vehicles, and new doctrine as to the possibilities of their employment. Under the circumstances, it was only logical that some experimentation should take place with the object of designing a gun which could be used against either aircraft or mechanized ground vehicles. In 1936 the Spanish Civil War gave the Germans a chance to test their first efforts along these lines; in 1939 the campaign in Poland permitted a full test of the refined product, and results were used as a guide on which to base standardization and further development. The later campaign in France and other campaigns have, of course, served as further proving grounds.
b. Mobility
One of the main results of the battle experiences of the Germans has been vindication of the concept that AA guns used in any but purely static positions must be highly mobile, and that even in static situations it is to the best interests of protection against hostile aircraft to have a certain proportion of the AA artillery defenses in a highly mobile state for purposes of flexibility. Furthermore, the increased use of AA weapons with mobile units in the field has given a great spur to development of AA mobility.
c. Dual-Purpose Construction
With the practical tests of 1936 in the Spanish Civil War came the realization that with some modifications the then current AA weapons would have definite possibilities as effective antitank weapons. This finding was the more acceptable in view of the German military precept of acting on the offense wherever possible. The possibility of employing AA guns in forward areas in an offensive role definitely removed them from the status of defensive weapons and placed them in the category of important offensive weapons. The Polish Campaign, the French Campaign, and the early successes of Rommel in the Libyan Desert are eloquent proofs of the increasing development and use of AA weapons against mechanized ground targets. It should be remembered, of course, that AA gunnery demands weapons with a high rate of fire, rapid fire-control calculation, fast tracking
speeds, and a high muzzle velocity. These factors contributed materially in the decision to adapt these weapons to an AT role. The original difficulty in making these AA weapons dual-purpose rested mainly in securing a satisfactory mobile carriage or mount which could withstand equally well the shock and recoil of high-elevation AA fire, and of horizontal and subhorizontal fire.
d. Multipurpose Use
With satisfactory development and use of the AA gun as an AT weapon came the logical discovery that the main AA/AT weapons could be used against targets other than aircraft or tanks. Thus we hear of the 88-mm guns being used against fortified gun positions, as well as for the direct support of ground troops, for interdiction fire against enemy communications, and for fire against river and coastal targets. We even hear of its being mounted on U-boats. As a result of these and similar experiences, German field commanders have found AA artillery to be one of their most useful weapons, and there is evidence of a trend suggesting that German artillery of the future, up to a certain caliber, will include an even greater proportion of AA weapons placed on multipurpose mounts.
e. German Classification of Flak Weapons
Although Flak weapons are generally referred to by the United Nations as light Flak and heavy Flak, probably because of the classification of AA Abteilungen into heavy (mixed) and light units, the Germans divide their Flak guns into the three general classifications: light, medium, and heavy. Light guns include only the various types of 20-mm Flak weapons; medium guns include the 37-mm, 40-mm, 47-mm, and reported 50-mm Flak weapons; and heavy Flak consists of the 75-mm, 88-mm, 105-mm, 127-mm, and 150-mm weapons. Of these guns, only the 20-mm, 37-mm, 88-mm, 105-mm, and 150-mm are used by the Germans to any great extent.
7. Types of AA Guns
a. 7.92-mm Standard Machine Gun
(1) Description.—The Germans now use one standard machine gun to fill all roles; namely, the air-cooled 7.92-mm (.31-inch) MG 34. This is considered a light machine gun when used with its light bipod, and a heavy machine gun when used with the heavy tripod mount. It is fitted in special single and dual mounts for AA purposes, and is also found in armored cars, carriers, and tanks. It fires all the types of 7.92-mm (.31-inch) ammunition which the German rifles and aircraft machine guns use. But lately there has been a marked emphasis on the use of armor-piercing ammunition in all 7.92-mm weapons. Belt feed is normally employed for the machine gun, but it is quite common for two or more 50-round belts to be joined end to end, thus reducing the delays involved in the changing of belts. A special belt drum, holding one 50-round belt compactly coiled within it, may be fitted on the left of the gun when the weapon is used as a light machine gun or for AA purposes. The gun weighs 15 1/2 pounds without the mount. The barrel is changed after each 250 rounds of continuous fire.
(2) Use in AA Role.—On the AA amount, this machine gun is used organically by all branches of the German Army for local protection against low-flying aircraft. It supplements the fire furnished by rifles. Strictly speaking, this weapon is not classed as a Flak weapon, the 20-mm cannon usually being considered the smallest caliber in the Flak class.
b. 20-mm AA/AT Gun (Models 30 and 38) (figs. 3 and 4)
(1) Description.—The 2-cm2 Flak 30 (.79-inch) was introduced into the German Navy in 1930 and into the German Air Force in 1935. It has been the main armament of light AA units, and can be used in an antitank role. The gun is fed by a flat box-magazine containing 20 rounds, and is recoil-operated. It has a detachable barrel, and is provided with automatic and single-shot mechanisms. The trigger mechanism is pedal-operated. The gun may be mounted on road or railway vehicles.
Figure 3.—2-cm (20-mm) AA/AT gun 30 in action.
Figure 4.—2-cm (20-mm) AA/AT gun 38 in action on self-propelled mount.
It is normally transported on a single-axle trailer. This trailer may be drawn by motor transport or by horse, and is easily manhandled. The gun and its mount may also be split into loads for transport in particularly difficult country. The gun is normally fired with its mount on the ground and with the trailer removed. It can, however, be fired from the trailer in an emergency (i.e., on the march), rough traverse being obtained by pushing the trailer around.
A later version of the model 30 is contained in the 2-cm Flak 38, which does not differ materially from the earlier version apart from having higher theoretical and practical rates of fire. Particulars pertaining to the 2-cm Flak 38 are as follows:
•Muzzle velocity (HE): 2,950 f/s
•Muzzle velocity (AP): 2,720 f/s
•Maximum horizontal range: 5,230 yds
•Maximum vertical range: 12,465 ft
•Maximum effective ceiling with self-destroying tracer ammunition.: 7,215 ft with 6 secs time of flight
•Theoretical rate of fire (rpm): (Model 30: 280), Model 38: 420–480
•Practical rate of fire (rpm): (Model 30: 120), Model 38 (estimated): 180–220
•Weight in action: 906 lbs
•Weight in draft: 1,650 lbs
•Elevation: -12° to +90°
•Traverse: 360°
•Length of barrel: 65 cals (51.2 inches)
•Ammunition—three classes, as follows:
(i) Self-destroying HE tracer with percussion fuze (weight of projectile, 4.1 ounces; weight of complete round, 10.6 ounces)
(ii) AP tracer (weight of projectile, 5.2 ounces; weight of complete round, 11.6 ounces)
(iii) Practice (HE and AP)
Normally the penetration performance with AP is 45 mm (1.77 inches) of armor at 100 yards.
(2) Sights.—The two alternative sights normally used with the 2–cm Flak 30 are the Flakvisier 35 and the Linealvisier 21, both of which are also used with the 2-cm Flak 38. A newer sight, known as the Flakvisier 38, has been developed for use with the 2-cm Flak 38.
It should be noted that all these sights are dependent on some separate continuous and accurate means of providing range. For this purpose, each gun detachment includes a range-taker who is equipped with a portable 1-meter-base stereoscopic range-finder.
In addition, a simple telescopic sight may be used with either the 2-cm Flak 30 or the 2-cm Flak 38.
(a) Flakvisier (AA Sight) 35.—This is a reflecting-mirror sight with a computor mechanism operating on the course-and-speed principle. If the target is kept in the center of the sight, and the appropriate settings for slant range, speed, and course and angle of dive or climb are set in, then the bore of the gun is in correct alignment to pass the shell through the future position of the target. The setting for course is by means of a pointer in the horizontal plane which is kept parallel to the estimated course of the aircraft. The setting for angle of dive or climb is by means of a pointer set in the vertical plane.
(b) Flakvisier (AA Sight) 38.—Information about the Flakvisier 38 is at present very incomplete, but what is known shows that it represents a departure from the course-and-speed principle on which the Flakvisier 35 functions. This sight can be used both against air targets, and against moving and fixed land and sea targets.
The Flakvisier 38 is an electric automatic sight. The layer keeps a cross on his object glass coincident with the target, thus obtaining angle of sight and azimuth. Range, either estimated or called out by the range-taker, is set by the range-setter.
The sighting arrangement consists of illuminated cross wires automatically controlled in terms of super-elevation and deflections. The elevating and traversing gears are coupled to elevating and traversing tachometer-dynamos in such a way that the voltages generated by them vary with the speeds of laying.
The gun's traversing gear is coupled to a tachometer-dynamo, which produces electric voltage varying directly with the rate of traverse. The terminals are connected to a moving coil meter which measures the strength of the electric current. A variable resistance depending on range setting is introduced, so that the current is regulated both by the tachometer-dynamo and by the strength of the range resistance. With short ranges the corresponding resistance is low and the d
eflection large; with long ranges, the deflection is small and the resistance high. The resultant lateral deflection is transmitted to the layer's vertical cross wire, which moves in the direction opposite to the course of the aircraft.
Vertical deflection is obtained by multiplying the rate of change of the angle of sight by the time of flight of the shell. Rate of change is measured by the rate of elevation or depression of the gun, whereas time of flight is taken as a measure of the range set. Superelevation in terms of range is added to the vertical deflection to give the appropriate quadrant elevation. The resultant value is automatically applied to the layer's horizontal cross wire.
(c) Linealviser (Linear Sight) 21 (figs. 6).—This is a form of direct AA sight, giving course, speed, and range adjustment. It consists of a horizontal bar which is graduated from 0 to 1,600 meters. Range is set by turning a cylindrical hand nut on the runner of a cartwheel-type foresight, thus increasing the "lead" as the range is increased.
The ring foresight is rotatable, thus enabling course of the target to be set. A bar showing speed from 11 to 150 meters per second is mounted moveably on the foresight. This speed bar can also be adjusted to the angle of dive or climb. The backsight consists of an aperture set between two layers of nonsplintering glass inclined at 45 degrees to the horizontal bar.
Both the Flakvisier 35 and the Flakvisier 38 must be removed before the Linealvisier 21 can be mounted.
(d) Telescopic sight. —A simple telescopic sight (with a magnification of eight) may also be employed for the engagement of armored vehicles and ground targets.
(3) 1-meter-base range-finder (fig. 7).—The 1-meter (39.37-inch)-base range-finder is employed by light AA detachments manning the 2-cm Flak 30 and 38 and the 3.7-cm Flak 36. Magnification is sixfold, and the range is from 800 to 26,200 feet. This instrument is normally used strapped to the range-taker's shoulders, but there is also provision for a small tripod.