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Flak 88: Accidental Tank Killer?

The 8.8 cm Flak (Flak 18, 36, 37 and 41) is famous or infamous for being a tank killer in World War 2. Yet, this weapon was by its designation an anti-aircraft gun. This raises the question: Why was there a armor-piercing ammo available for this gun during the Battle of France (1940)? Was it designed as a multi-purpose gun from the start, later on or was is the background for this? »» SUPPORT MHV «« » paypal donation - https://paypal.me/mhvis » patreon - https://www.patreon.com/mhv » subscribe star - https://www.subscribestar.com/mhv » Book Wishlist https://www.amazon.de/gp/registry/wishlist/3LJIXNJIUXJES/ref=cm_wl_huc_view?language=en_GB »» MERCHANDISE «« » teespring - https://teespring.com/stores/military-history-visualized » SOURCES « Jentz, Thomas L.: The Dreaded Threat. The 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37 in the Anti-Tank Role. Panzer Tracts: Boyds, MD, USA, 2001 amazon.com (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2MBJSX3 amazon.de (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2WSvRs6 Neuman, Ernst: Handbuch für den Flakartilleristen (Der Kanonier). Waffen und Ausbildung der Flakbatterie – 8,8 cm-Flak und 2cm-Flak. 8. Verbesserte Auflage. Verlag „Offene Worte“, Berlin, 1941. Armee Oberkommando 6, Abt. Ia/op. Nr. 130/40: Neufassung Aufmarschanweisung „Gelb“, 11. März 1940 - http://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/de/nodes/6939#page/53/mode/grid/zoom/1, Accessed: 4th March 2019) War Department: German Antiaircraft Artillery, Special Series No. 10, MIS 461, February 8, 1943. McNab, Chris: Flak 88. 8.8cm Flugabwehrkanone (Models 18/36/37/41). Owners' Workshop Manual. Haynes Publishing: Somerset, UK, 2018. amazon.com (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2K2Pdod amazon.de (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2WpOSxJ Fennell, Jonathan: Fighting the People’s War. The British and Commonwealth Armies and the Second World War. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2019 Amazon.com (affiliate): https://amzn.to/2G6ylLs Amazon.de (affiliate): https://amzn.to/2UCTVtV Wilbeck, Christopher W.: Sledgehammers. Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II. The Aberjona Press: Bedford, PA, USA, 2004. amazon.com (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2QNabKP amazon.de (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2Qs5Ehq Millen, Raymond A.: The Resilient Defense. Land Warfare Paper No. 100, May 2014: The Institute of Land Warfare. Arlington, Virginia, 2014. Zaloga, Steven J. (2011). Panzer IV vs Char B1 bis: France 1940. Oxford: Osprey amazon.com (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2KBYUJC amazon.de (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/31kgcAT Hahn, Fritz: Waffen und Geheimwaffen des deutschen Heeres 1933-1945. Dörfler Verlag: Eggolsheim, o.J. Amazon.de (affiliate): http://amzn.to/2BpWWbp Fletcher, David: British Battle Tanks. British-made Tanks of World War II. Osprey Publishing: Oxford, UK, 2017 Amazon.com (affiliate): https://amzn.to/2D5JNTn Amazon.de (affiliate): https://amzn.to/2UBNgjQ Dierich, Fritz-Herbert: Der Flieger. Dienstunterricht Fliegertruppe. Verlag von E.S. Mitller & Sohn, Berlin: 1941. French, David: Raising Churchill’s Army. The British Army and the War against Germany 1919-1945. Oxford University Press: London, 2001. amazon.com (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2K4rYtM amazon.de (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/31hBvDl Senger und Etterlin, F. M. (Hrsg.): Die deutschen Geschütze 1939-1945. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn, 1998. amazon.de (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/31i9yeM » DISCLAIMER « As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Käufen.

Comments

7th Level Johnny

It may not have been designed as an AT gun but when you have a shortage of everything, imagination & an apparently versatile gun platform like that, you do what you have to.

Ellis Davison

Well done, as expected. An interesting topic - compare the similar development of the British 17 pounder and American 90 mm guns. (Although the Allies had their North Africa experience with the 88 to motivate them.) There is mention of the 17 pounder being effective in the Italian campaign.

Military History Visualized

Might do it at some time, originally it was planned to do a companion video on why the British ?? inch AA gun was not used as an anti-tank gun as well, since there was a common complaint about that, but I had to cut it due to time issues.