German 88mm flak gun
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:10 am
Does anyone know how a German 88 was positioned to fire? For example, if the gun was pointed straight up - 90° - to shoot at incoming bombers and it needed to be moved into a more standard artillery positions - 45° - how would the crew maneuver it? Did it have wheels to crank it around?
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:16 am
Also, could it rotate 360° on its base?
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:20 am
I have seen some technical documents about this gun. By the way- one of my friend have been trained on this weapon and I know for sure that it could be rotated 360 degre.
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:30 am
This answers my questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPLdRReUZ8&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPLdRReUZ8&NR=1
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:31 am
See this short clip of the 88mm in anti-artillery config... but it gives you an idea of the elevation and turning wheel configuration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPLdRReUZ8
Also check out detail shots at http://www.americanaeroservices.com -- they have restored two 88mm flak cannons -- one for the Collings Foundation and another for Gerry Yagen - Fighter Factory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPLdRReUZ8
Also check out detail shots at http://www.americanaeroservices.com -- they have restored two 88mm flak cannons -- one for the Collings Foundation and another for Gerry Yagen - Fighter Factory.
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:42 am
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay addresses the firing performance of 88mm AAA in detail in his book MISSION WITH LEMAY. He was a Colonel and the CO of 305th BG when he was contemplating these firing problems. TonyM.
Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:50 am
My dad's maintenance battalion was tasked with moving a couple of 88s in North Africa so that 1st Armored brass could inspect and examine them. The Wermacht had used them to good effect against British and US armor, and there was lots of interest in capturing them. Dad's guys only transported them to a back area, but he said they were quite a machine from what he was able to determine.
Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:16 am
gsheff wrote:This answers my questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVPLdRReUZ8&NR=1
lmfao, looks like fun
Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:13 am
My Dad had some experience with the German 88's---------------------Being SHOT AT by them 
He had a dud go through the wing of his Mustang once. He used to tell the story, "flying along trying not to get hit by those dirty black puffs of smoke, when a hole jumped in my wing" I don't remember which wing it was, but he made back to base ok.
Robbie
He had a dud go through the wing of his Mustang once. He used to tell the story, "flying along trying not to get hit by those dirty black puffs of smoke, when a hole jumped in my wing" I don't remember which wing it was, but he made back to base ok.
Robbie
Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:15 pm
Amazing, any pics by chance?
Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:06 pm
Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:47 am
JägerMarty wrote:Amazing, any pics by chance?
No pictures that I have or know about of this incident.
Robbie