During the war, the Allies and Soviet forces began using ground attack aircraft armed with cannons, bombs or rockets to stop German tank columns. As a result, German field commanders demanded that their units be equipped with effective armoured anti-aircraft weapons. Tank expert Thomas Anderson explains how the weapons were first mounted on light trucks and then, even more effectively, on the chassis of light, medium or heavy half-track vehicles before the order was placed for a special armoured anti-aircraft tank - the 2 cm Flakpanzer 38(t) on the chassis of a Czechia-built PzKpfw 38(t). The effectiveness of this type led to the development of four other vehicles on the PzKpfw IV chassis: the FlakPz IV Wirbelwind, the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 L/50 Ostwind, the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 L/60 Möbelwagen and the 2 cm Vierlingsflak 38 L/55. In the final stages of the war, German field engineers also mounted anti-aircraft guns on all available heavy truck or half-track chassis. Based on after-action reports, original wartime documents, and rare, previously unpublished photographs, this is a comprehensive and fully illustrated study of the German development of anti-aircraft tanks during the Second World War.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Anderson, Thomas
Title
Flak-Artillerie
Details
English text, numerous bw-illustrations. 288 pages.
