88mm Flak 36 AT/AA

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88mm Flak 36 AT/AA
WarCP Icons 88.gif Flak88.gif
Placement
Faction Wehrmacht Panzer Elite
Doctrine Defensive Luftwaffe
Tree Any Any
Price
Mp icon 30.pngManpower 600 720
Mu icon 30.pngAmmunition 0 0
Fu icon 30.pngFuel 250 200
Pop icon 30.pngPopulation 8 8
Attributes
Squad Size 3 3
Health 325 375
Crew Health 70 85
Targeting
Target Type flak flak
Crew Type infantry infantry
Crew Cover heavy halftrack
Vision
Sight 35 35
Detection 0/0 0/0
Wehrmacht 88mm Flak 36 AT/AA Abilities
Vehicle Cover
Wehrmacht 88mm Flak 36 AT/AA Weapons
Weaponicon.png 88mm Flak 36
Panzer Elite 88mm Flak 36 AT/AA Abilities
Vehicle Cover
Panzer Elite 88mm Flak 36 AT/AA Weapons
Weaponicon.png 88mm Flak 36

The 88 mm gun is a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. They were widely used throughout the war, and could be found on almost every battlefield. Developments of the original models led to a wide variety of guns that could be identified as "an 88".

In OMG they are commonly referred to as a Flak 88 and can be found in both the Defensive Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe Panzer Elite doctrines.

History

The 8.8cm FlaK36 was a heavy anti-aircraft gun initially designed for hitting high altitude planes. Its History is dating back to the first World War, where huge guns with high muzzle velocity were first tested against high altitude airplanes. It was then later in the early twenties developed by the Germans together with Bofors in Sweden and adopted as Flak 18 in 1933. Flak36 was a simplified Model of the Flak18 with a three pieced barrel.

Its usefulness as an anti-tank gun was capitalized upon during the initial invasion of France, when the Panzer Is and IIs being used by the Germans were unable to knock out British and French heavy tanks. The only other anti-tank gun available at the time was the 3.7cm PaK36, also the main gun of the Panzer III, which acquired the nickname of "doorknocker" as it harmlessly clanged off of the heavier tanks. The high velocity round from the FlaK18's of the time easily defeated any amour it was fired upon.

A tank version of the FlaK36 was developed and became the KwK36 mounted in the Tiger I. Luftwaffe updated their Flaks by 1941 with a much improved Version with a longer barrel, higher muzzle velocity and new ammunition incompatible to the old one. This Flak 41 was superior in terms of range and firing speed (up to 25 rounds per minute compared to 18 with the Flak36/37). Its model was completely redesigned, but this made it more complicated to manufacture and maintain. That is why a new version of the KwK36 was introduced as the KwK43 used in the Tiger II and Jagdpanther and also for the Pak43. Having the same 88mm Caliber and using the rounds of the old Flak36 this gun was lengthened to 6,28metres (L71) and had similar amour piercing capabilities as the Flak41, but came with a lower firing speed. This gun had one of the best amour penetration capabilities of all tank guns throughout the war.

A Flak 88 battery.

Tactics & Tips

  • The biggest AT gun in the game, the 88mm flak will devastate any armor, however it is stationary and an easy target for enemy artillery.
  • In order to minimize the damage taken from artillery and to increase the longevity of the crew manning the weapon, always sandbag the immediate perimeter of the Flak 88.
  • The Flak 88 can clear hedgerows and other non-building obstacles to take advantage of a greater field of fire. You can do this by attacking ground at the hedgerow/ non-building obstacles.
  • It is advisable to keep a motorcycle near to provide a longer field of fire and to eliminate the threat of allied snipers.
  • The Flak 88 has a greater range than its line of sight, therefore sending a camouflaged sniper or motorcycle ahead of the 88 will alert the gun sooner to enemy activity.
  • Because the Flak 88 is stationary, it is quite vulnerable to enemy infantry. Be sure to build bunkers around it. MG42 support is also recommended.
  • If paratroopers drop over the Flak it will not fire on them. Take this into consideration when defending your flak.
  • The gun will survive much longer than its crew. It's normal for the gun to switch crews 5 times or more before it dies.
  • Anti-Infantry units like the MG 42´s or and Ostwinds are needed protect and cover the gun.
  • You can use "attack ground" to clear the fire line for the weapon (kill those hedgerows) and to actually fire over the max range.
  • Flak 88s are rather effective versus enemy infantry due to their high accuracy and splash damage. Do not take it for granted though - it will loose to a determined infantry push.
  • Flak 88s are fearsome, however they tend to occasionally not penetrate enemy armor , and are easily circle strafed. Consider placing a Pak 38 or a few landmines to protect it.

See Also

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