WesWorld

German land-based anti-aircraft defences

In 1935, the responsibility for anti-aircraft defenses is spread across several different organizations. The Heer has responsibility for defending it's bases and formations, the Kriegsmarine has responsibility for defending it's bases, and the Luftwaffe has responsibility for defending the country as a whole and overall responsibility for anti-aircraft defenses.


Cannon:

Heavy AA:

In 1935, the primary heavy AA weapon in service is the 8.8 cm L/56 FLaK 30 cannon (the historical FLaK 18 ). Two derived versions of the weapon are under development, one for use by mobile formations (primarily the Heer heavy AA formations) (the historical FLaK 36), and one for use in a mostly static role (the historical FLaK 37). The FLaK 30 fires a 9 kg shell to altitudes of over 8000m at a ROF of between 15 and 20 rpm.

There are concerns about the maximum altitude of the FLaK 30's projectiles, these concerns have led to several different projects. First, there are projects that extend the height that the shells reach and burst at, second, there is a project to develop an improved 8.8 cm FLaK gun (based, in part, on the 8.8 cm L/72 developed for the KM), and there are projects for larger guns. These last projects are based on 10.5cm, 12.8cm, and 15cm bores, and are of decreasing priority and funding (the 15cm projects at Krupp and Rheinmetall are of almost no interest to the Luftwaffe or the Heer at current, being funded by company funds and interest from the KM for a dual-purpose 15cm cannon aboard ships). None of these projects are expected to see production before 1937 at the earliest.


Medium AA:

In 1935, there really are no medium AA weapons in service if medium is defined as between 8.8cm and 3.7cm in bore. There are projects led by the Heer and the KM to develop such a weapon, but no current contract exists for such a weapon. Interest is quite high, however, so that may change soon.


Light AA:

In 1935, the light AA category is filled by the 3.7cm and 2cm cannon (the use of the 7.92mm MGs in the AA role is supported by their mountings and some training, but they are not considered AA weapons). The 3.7cm cannon is the 3.7cm FLaK 30 (the historical 3.7cm FLaK 18 ), which in 1935 is getting a new mounting and new sights and the new designation of 3.7cm FLaK 35 (bringing it up to the historical FLaK 37 standard), currently found only in single ground mountings. The 2cm cannon is the 2cm FLaK 28 (the same weapon as the KMs 2cm/65 SK C/28 ), and can be found in single and twin ground mountings (the "flakvierling" quad mount recently adopted by the KM is being examined by the Heer in 1935 and is likely to be adopted, with other changes, in 1936). A half-track mounted 2cm FLaK 28 single mount has been demonstrated, but no contract has been placed. In general, the 3.7cm and 2cm weapons are used only by the Heer, currently the Luftwaffe FLaK batteries do not include light AA weapons.

In 1935, there are doubts in the Heer AA command that the 2cm gun is really sufficient to the need, as aircraft speeds increase and aircraft become less and less wood and cloth and more and more made of metal. Certainly the 2cm weapons are better than 7.92mm MGs, but does the higher probability of a hit (over the current 3.7cm weapons) outweigh the lower damage per hit? The likelihood is high that a new 3.7cm weapon will be requested in the near future, though the 2cm Flakvierling will, perhaps, delay this a bit.


Balloons:

In 1935, the use of barrage balloons (filled with hydrogen) is still experimental: tests are being carried out with small balloons (containing up to 77 cubic meters of gas) flying at up to 900 meters.


Detection

In 1935, the best way of detecting and localizing an aircraft is the Mk 1 eyeball, supported by optical rangefinders. However, there are technical means of helping the gunners eyes find the target, these include searchlights, sound detection equipment, and decimetric telegraphy (the German camouflage phrase used for what would become known as RADAR).

Searchlights:

In 1935, two sizes of searchlight are in production: the 60cm, 135 million candela light searchlight and the 150cm, 990 million candela heavy searchlight (a 110cm searchlight is obsolete but still in service). The light searchlight has a detection range of about 5 km against a target flying at 1500m altitude, while the heavy searchlight has a detection range of 8 km against a target flying at up to 5000m altitude.

Sound detection equipment:

Arrays of directional aural horns connected to microphones to determine the bearings of aircraft. Used primarily to support searchlight units, but similar units of sound location gear are used by the Heer to attempt to locate enemy artillery batteries.

Decimetric telegraphy:

In 1935, no decimetric telegraphy systems are in service to support anti-aircraft operations (though the 2m wavelength Freya and 50cm wavelength Wurzburg sets are being developed for detection and localization of aircraft).

German land-based anti-aircraft defences, 1936 update

Cannon:

Heavy AA:

In 1936, the primary heavy AA weapon in service remains the 8.8 cm L/56 FLaK 30 cannon (the historical FLaK 18 ), with trial quantities of the FLaK35 (the mobile mounting, the historical FLaK36) and the FLaK36 (the static mounting, the historical FLaK37). The FLaK 30 fires a 9 kg shell to altitudes of over 8000m at a ROF of between 15 and 20 rpm.

Projects continue to extend the height that the FLaK30's shells reach and burst at, second, there is a project to develop an improved 8.8 cm FLaK gun (based, in part, on the 8.8 cm L/72 developed for the KM), and there are projects for larger guns. These last projects are based on 10.5cm, 12.8cm, and 15cm bores, and are of decreasing priority and funding (the 15cm projects at Krupp and Rheinmetall are of almost no interest to the Luftwaffe or the Heer at current, being funded by company funds and interest from the KM for a dual-purpose 15cm cannon aboard ships). None of these projects are expected to see production before 1937 at the earliest.


Medium AA:

The 5.7cm Vickers weapon is in service in small numbers, and Rheinmettall continues to work on a 5cm weapon.


Light AA:

The only change from 1935 is that the likelihood of the adoption of a variant of the naval 2cm quad mounting is higher.


Balloons:

No change from 1935.


Detection

The major change from 1935 is that decimetric telegraphy units have reached the field in small numbers.

Decimetric telegraphy:

By the end of 1936, 15 2m wavelength Freya and 12 50cm wavelength Wurzburg sets are in service.

German land-based anti-aircraft defences, 1937 update

Cannon:

Heavy AA:

In 1937, the primary heavy AA weapon in service remains the 8.8 cm L/56 FLaK 30 cannon (the historical FLaK 18 ), with increasing quantities of the FLaK35 (the mobile mounting, the historical FLaK36) and the FLaK36 (the static mounting, the historical FLaK37). The FLaK 30 fires a 9 kg shell to altitudes of over 8000m at a ROF of between 15 and 20 rpm.

Two new projects have reached the trials stage: a higher velocity 8.8cm gun, and a 10.5 cm gun. Both are currently focused on static mounts, though a mobile mounting is being designed for the 8.8cm weapon.

Projects continue to extend the height that the FLaK30's shells reach and burst at, work continues on improving the ballistics of the projectiles to extend their altitude performance. Projects also continue, slowly, on larger FLaK guns in the 12.8cm and 15cm bore ranges, and are of decreasing priority and funding (the 15cm projects at Krupp and Rheinmetall are of almost no interest to the Luftwaffe or the Heer at current, being funded by company funds and interest from the KM for a dual-purpose 15cm cannon aboard ships).


Medium AA:

The 5.7cm Vickers weapon is in service in small numbers, and Rheinmettall continues to work on a 5cm weapon.


Light AA:

The only change from 1935 is that the adoption of a variant of the naval 2cm quad mounting has occurred, being called the 2cm Flakvierling 37.


Balloons:

No change from 1935.


Detection

The major change from 1935 is that decimetric telegraphy units are reaching the field in increasing numbers. Work has started on decimetric telegraphy sets that trade a static mounting for longer range and higher performance. Initial work is focused on an enlarged and improved version of the Freya set, but other designs were also being worked on.

Decimetric telegraphy:

By the end of 1937, 37 2m wavelength Freya and 32 50cm wavelength Wurzburg sets are in service.