Flak 30

Flak 30. The 2 cm Flak 30 was a German anti-aircraft gun developed in the early 1930s by the armaments firm Rheinmetall. It became a standard light anti-aircraft weapon for the Wehrmacht, seeing extensive use during World War II across all fronts to defend against low-flying aircraft. Although reliable, its relatively low rate of fire led to the development of an improved successor, the Flak 38.

Development and design

The Flak 30 was developed by Rheinmetall in the early 1930s, building upon earlier designs like the ST-5 sold to the Swiss Army. The gun was a gas-operated, fully automatic weapon firing the powerful 20×138mmB cartridge. Its design featured a single-piece barrel and a prominent conical flash hider, mounted on a lightweight, portable carriage with folding legs for stability. The primary fire control instrument was the sophisticated Flakvisier 35 computing sight. While mechanically simple and robust, the design's major limitation was its practical rate of fire, which was constrained by its 20-round box magazine and the physical strain of reloading on the crew.

Service history

The Flak 30 entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1934 and first saw combat during the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion. During World War II, it was deployed ubiquitously across all theaters, from the frozen steppes of the Eastern Front to the deserts of North Africa and the defenses of the Atlantic Wall. It was used to protect Luftwaffe airfields, Kriegsmarine vessels, and army columns from attack by aircraft like the Ilyushin Il-2 and Hawker Typhoon. Its effectiveness diminished as war progressed against faster, more resilient aircraft, but it remained in service until 1945, often used in a secondary ground support role against infantry and light vehicles.

Variants

The primary variant was the 2 cm Flak 30, but its most significant derivative was the improved Flak 38, which featured a much higher cyclic rate of fire. A dedicated naval version, the 2 cm C/30, was developed for the Kriegsmarine and used on vessels like the U-boat and Bismarck-class battleships. For airborne and mountain troops, a lightweight version known as the 2 cm Gebirgsflak 38 was created. The gun was also mounted on various self-propelled carriers, most notably the Sd.Kfz. 10/4 half-track, creating the mobile Flakpanzer I, and was a common armament on German armored trains.

Specifications

The Flak 30 had a caliber of 20 mm with a barrel length of 65 calibers (L/65). It fired the 20×138mmB cartridge, which included HE-T and AP-T rounds, with a muzzle velocity of 900 meters per second. Its effective vertical ceiling was approximately 2,200 meters, with a maximum horizontal range of 4,800 meters. The gun's cyclic rate of fire was 280 rounds per minute, though its practical rate was lower. It was served by a crew of seven and could be brought into action in about 90 seconds, with a traverse of 360 degrees and an elevation range from -12 to +90 degrees.

Operators

The primary operator was Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht, including the Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine. It was also widely exported before and during the war to allies such as Finland, Hungary, and Romania. Captured guns were frequently pressed into service by opposing forces, including the Red Army and various Partisan groups. After the war, surviving examples saw continued use with several nations, including Albania, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia.

Category:World War II anti-aircraft guns Category:20 mm artillery Category:Nazi Germany anti-aircraft guns