FlakpanzerI
| FlakpanzerI | |
|---|---|
 Flakpanzer Is on theEastern Front | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941–1943 |
| Used by | Wehrmacht |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Krupp |
| Produced | 1941 |
| No.built | approx. 24 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5.5 tons |
| Crew | 4 |
Main armament | 1 ×2 cm Flak 38 |
| Engine | Krupp M 305 four-cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine 60PS(59hp,44kW) |
Operational range | 145 km (road) or 100 km (off-road) |
| Maximum speed | 37 km/h |
The2 cmFlak 38 auf PanzerIAusführungA,commonly known as theFlakpanzerI,[1]was a rareself-propelled anti-aircraft gunconversion of thePanzer Iin use by the military ofNazi GermanyduringWorld War II.[2]
Development[edit]
TheFlakpanzerI was developed during theBattle of Francewhen it was recognized that the motorised Flak was insufficiently armoured.[2]The GermanHeereswaffenamtdecided to combine light anti-aircraft guns with tank chassis.[2]The chassis of thePanzer Iwas used for these conversions, simply because it was available. The conversions were done byStoewer.[2]
In total, 24 of these vehicles were built.[2]During the conversion, parts of the frontal superstructure and the complete cover of the engine compartment were removed to gain more flat space to stand on.[2]To achieve a better centre of gravity the frontal armour of the superstructure was moved about 18mm forward.[2]The flaps on the side were made from simple sheet metal and did not offer real protection.[2]When in action they were folded down and used to stand on.[2]To gain more space (the Panzer I was a very small armoured vehicle) the radio was dismounted; communication was done with hand signals.[2]The vehicles were armed with theFlak 38;additionally, the crew was armed with small arms, like theKarabiner 98k.[2]To make it easier for the driver to enter the vehicle, the main gun was mounted not centrally, but slightly to the right.[2]The ammunition was stored under the driver's seat and behind the loader.[2]Due to insufficient space inside the vehicle, a coupling for theSonderanhänger 51trailer was added, with additional ammunition and replacement barrels for the gun transported in the trailer.[2]
Service[edit]
Only one unit, the Fla.-Btl.(mot) 614 (Motorized Flak Battalion 614) was equipped with the Flakpanzer I.[2]The unit was assembled in 1941 and in the same year was stationed in Romania.[2]From there they moved into the southern part of the eastern front.[2]In service the underarmed vehicles were of limited use against aircraft, but were mostly used against ground targets.[2]Due to the insufficient protection of the crew in this sort of deployment, they suffered high losses.[2]The companies of the battalion were assigned to other units for this.[2]The whole battalion was wiped out in 1943 during theBattle of Stalingrad,even though most of the vehicles had probably been abandoned or destroyed already.[2]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
- [1]Archived2018-04-05 at theWayback MachineInformation on the Panzer I and Flakpanzer I
| Tanks |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled artillery | ||
| Assault guns | ||
| Tank destroyers (Panzerjäger,Jagdpanzer) | ||
| Half-tracks | ||
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| Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns |
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| Demolition vehicles | ||
| Experimental vehicles, prototypes | ||
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