Book Review of
2 CM FLAK 38, Flakvierling 38
Author: Alan Ranger
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP)
Camera On 29
ISBN: 978-83-66549-11-1
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2023
MSRP: $25.00
Camera On 29
ISBN: 978-83-66549-11-1
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2023
MSRP: $25.00
HISTORY:
The Flak 30 (Flugzeugabwehrkanone 30) and improved Flak 38 were 20 mm anti-aircraft guns used by various German forces throughout World War II. It was not only the primary German light anti-aircraft gun but by far the most numerously produced German artillery piece throughout the war. It was produced in a variety of models, notably the Flakvierling 38 which combined four Flak 38 autocannons onto a single carriage.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: April 1934–1945
Wars: World War II
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig, Mauser, Ostmarkwerk
Unit cost: 3500 Reichsmark
Produced: 1934–1945
No. built: more than 144,000
(Flakvierling count per barrel): Flak 30: 8,000+, Flak 38: 40,000+
Variants: 2 cm Flak 38, Gebirgsflak 38, Flakvierling 38
Mass: Flak 30: 450 kg (990 lb.), Flak 38: 405 kg (893 lb.)
Length: 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in)
Barrel length: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) L/65
Width: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Crew: 5
Shell: 20×138mmB
Caliber: 20 mm (.79 in)
Elevation: -12°to ±90°
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: Flak 30: 280 rpm (cyclic)/120 rpm (practical), Flak 38: 450 rpm (cyclic)/180 rpm (practical)
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Effective firing range: 2,200 m (2,406 yds) (anti-aircraft)
Maximum firing range: 5,783 m (5,230 yds) (ground range)
Feed system: 20 round box magazine
THE BOOK:
Mushroom Model Publications (Stratus) is based in Poland.
This book is of soft-cover in 28 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format
The cover art shows a black and white wartime photo of the single-barreled 2cm FLAK 38, sitting off it’s trailer and sitting on what looks like a desert.
The back cover shows black and white cover-arts of 4 other MMP books: “Renault R35 & R40”, “Schwerer Glandegangiger Personenkraftwagen & Successors”, “2cm FLAK 28 & 30” and Henschel HS-126.
The book contains 51 black and white wartime photos of the 2cm FLAK 38, including a repeat of the cover art.
Also, there are 47 black and white wartime photos of the Flakvierling 38.
Both guns have been photographed on and off the trailer and with and without gun crews.
The guns are also shown atop a Sd.Kfz. 10/4 & 10/5 and a Sd.Kfz. 7/1 half-track and on railroad flat-cars.
I recently did kit reviews of versions of this gun. They are in the Artillery section on the site.
This book will be of interest to modelers planning on building a 2cm FLAK 38 or Flakvierling 38 and to military historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of MMP books and all MMP titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Flak 30 (Flugzeugabwehrkanone 30) and improved Flak 38 were 20 mm anti-aircraft guns used by various German forces throughout World War II. It was not only the primary German light anti-aircraft gun but by far the most numerously produced German artillery piece throughout the war. It was produced in a variety of models, notably the Flakvierling 38 which combined four Flak 38 autocannons onto a single carriage.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: April 1934–1945
Wars: World War II
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig, Mauser, Ostmarkwerk
Unit cost: 3500 Reichsmark
Produced: 1934–1945
No. built: more than 144,000
(Flakvierling count per barrel): Flak 30: 8,000+, Flak 38: 40,000+
Variants: 2 cm Flak 38, Gebirgsflak 38, Flakvierling 38
Mass: Flak 30: 450 kg (990 lb.), Flak 38: 405 kg (893 lb.)
Length: 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in)
Barrel length: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) L/65
Width: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Crew: 5
Shell: 20×138mmB
Caliber: 20 mm (.79 in)
Elevation: -12°to ±90°
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: Flak 30: 280 rpm (cyclic)/120 rpm (practical), Flak 38: 450 rpm (cyclic)/180 rpm (practical)
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Effective firing range: 2,200 m (2,406 yds) (anti-aircraft)
Maximum firing range: 5,783 m (5,230 yds) (ground range)
Feed system: 20 round box magazine
THE BOOK:
Mushroom Model Publications (Stratus) is based in Poland.
This book is of soft-cover in 28 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format
The cover art shows a black and white wartime photo of the single-barreled 2cm FLAK 38, sitting off it’s trailer and sitting on what looks like a desert.
The back cover shows black and white cover-arts of 4 other MMP books: “Renault R35 & R40”, “Schwerer Glandegangiger Personenkraftwagen & Successors”, “2cm FLAK 28 & 30” and Henschel HS-126.
The book contains 51 black and white wartime photos of the 2cm FLAK 38, including a repeat of the cover art.
Also, there are 47 black and white wartime photos of the Flakvierling 38.
Both guns have been photographed on and off the trailer and with and without gun crews.
The guns are also shown atop a Sd.Kfz. 10/4 & 10/5 and a Sd.Kfz. 7/1 half-track and on railroad flat-cars.
I recently did kit reviews of versions of this gun. They are in the Artillery section on the site.
This book will be of interest to modelers planning on building a 2cm FLAK 38 or Flakvierling 38 and to military historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of MMP books and all MMP titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.