The capability of the FlaK 30 was hampered by the gun’s low rate of fire, so Mauser was allocated the task of boosting the firing rate and, at the same time, significantly reducing the gun’s tendency to jam. The result was the 2cm Flak 38 that appeared in 1940 with a revised breech mechanism improving the cyclic and practical rates of fire to 420-480 and 180-220rpm respectively. The feed system and carriage/trailer were essentially unaltered, but sighting was now effected by means of the Flakvisier 38, a complex and somewhat fragile and expensive unit replaced from 1941 by the Linealvisier 38 open ring sight, itself succeeded from a time late in 1944 by the Schwebekreisvisier 38.
The FlaK 38 supplemented but did not supplant the FlaK 30, and during August 1944 the German air force alone had in service just under 17,600 Flak 30 and FlaK 38 guns. The FlaK 38 used the same ammunition as the Flak 30 and had the same detachment, and was also carried on a number of self-propelled mountings including the leichte Selbstfahrlafette (2cm FlaK 38) (SdKfz 10/5), the 2cm Flak 38 auf Mannschaftkraftwagen, the 2cm FlaK 38 auf le gl Lkw Kfz 70, the mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (2cm FlaK 38) (SdKfz 251), the SdKfz 251/17, and the leichte Flakpanzer 18(t) (SdKfz 140).
Specifications
- Type
- light towed AA gun
- Calibre
- 20mm (0.8in)
- Vehicle Length
- n/a
- Length of Barrel
- 2.2525m (88.68in)
- Weight Travelling
- 750kg (1,654lb)
- Weight in Action
- 420kg (926lb)
- Elevation Arc
- -20° to +90°
- Traverse Arc
- 360°
- Effective Ceiling
- 2200m (6630ft)
- Road Range
- n/a
- Range
- n/a
- Projectile Weight
- 0.119kg (0.2625lb)
- Armour
- n/a
- Engine
- n/a
- Muzzle Velocity
- 900mps (2953fps)
- Speed
- n/a