Flak 36

[pariah]

Something i never could figure out: Why was the Flak 36 used as an anti-air weapon? It seems so wrong for that role - Slow turning & slow firing; How does that make for effective anti-air?!

I would think the Flak 38 would be far better...

[Tico_1990]

For one, the Flak 36 (as well as the Flak 38 for that matter) used shrapnel shots, so total accuracy wasn't required, also, when firing in aa mode, they'd generally be pointing towards the sky and to the general direction of the attacker. Thirdly, they'd be deployed in larger numbers, creating a carpet of shrapnel in the air, in short, they didn't need to be able to track high level bombers perfectly.
Which brings me to my last point, the hight at which the bombers flew means that their displacement was easily kept up by the Flak 36.

[Otto Halfhand]

The Flak 36 was designed for AA use. At the time no one considered such a heavy caliber gun would be necessary to knock out Char Bs and Matildas! They were found to be effective against Soviet Tanks in Spain in 1936.
The 88mm had a range of about 22,000 vertical feet and could be wired into sophisticated fire control systems for day and nighttime use. The 20mm and 37mm AA weapons couldn't compare when used against high flying aircraft.
The Primary Ammunition for AA use was HE. Concussion would damage fragile equipment and change the aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft in the vicinity of the blast causing a loss of control.The Shrapnel effect was secondary.

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/88mm-flak-series-flugabwehrkanone.htm

[Paciat]

In short Flak 88 was a high altitude AA gun. It was designed when there were no dive bombers or any other effective low altitude close air support planes. It was perfect to shoot down lumbering bombers like

or

[Sommarkatze]

What a cute plane<3 Looks like a stupid retard dog or something<3
Also the flak36 have a very psycologic effect. Imagine D-day as a Airborne. Jumping out in the dark surrounded by shrapnel fire ¨snakes¨ lines from the flaks

[pariah]

Well, that's most interesting. Thanks, guys.

[RedGuard]

I'd rather just have the flak 38 

[Otto Halfhand]

At Red Guard: I'd rather have a Wirbelwind. But I'd Settle for a Bergetiger with a Flak 36 mounted on it.

[pariah]

I'd rather have a fighter plane.

[BurroDiablo]

Wasserfall rockets ftw!

[Tico_1990]

Btw, another good reason: Flak means Flugzeug abwehr kanonnen (I haven't written German for years so the spelling might be of), translated it means something like: Aircraft defense gun, or anti air gun.

[pariah]

Yeah, i thought it might be an abbreviation. I don't know much German, but i figured the "Fl" would be "flug" or however you spell it, since that means to fly, or something of the sort.

[Max 'DonXavi' von B.]

Flugabehrkanone.

[pariah]

Recht.

[Walentin 'Walki' L.]

Aircountercanon

Is this the right translation? word for word