88 mm Flak gun

E38420

The 88 mm Flak gun was a versatile German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery piece renowned for its effectiveness and iconic role in World War II combat.


Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf anti-aircraft gun
anti-tank gun
artillery piece
adaptedInto self-propelled gun mounts
tank main armament
alsoKnownAs German 88
associatedWith German Blitzkrieg tactics
defense against Allied bombers
caliber 88 mm
couldBeEmplacedAs static air-defense position
towed field gun
countryOfOrigin Germany
crewSizeApproximate 10 men
designedAs anti-aircraft gun
developedBy Krupp
Rheinmetall
famousFor effectiveness against armored vehicles
high muzzle velocity
iconic status in World War II
long effective range
historicalReputation one of the most effective artillery pieces of World War II
influencedDesignOf 8.8 cm KwK 36
8.8 cm Pak 43
introducedInDecade 1930s
languageOfName German
laterAdaptedAs anti-tank gun
mountingType cruciform carriage
nameInGerman 8,8 cm Flak
NATOCaliberEquivalent ~3.46 inch
notableFor ability to engage both air and ground targets
notableUseTheater Eastern Front
North African Campaign
Western Front
notableVariant 8.8 cm Flak 18
8.8 cm Flak 36
8.8 cm Flak 37
8.8 cm Flak 41
operatedBy gun crew
primaryRole high-altitude air defense
secondaryRole anti-tank warfare
field artillery
shellTypes armor-piercing shell
high-explosive shell
time-fuzed anti-aircraft shell
usedBy German Army anti-aircraft units
German Army anti-tank units
Luftwaffe
Wehrmacht
usedInConflict Spanish Civil War
World War II

Referenced by (7)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
88 mm Flak gun ("8.8 cm Flak 18")
88 mm Flak gun ("8.8 cm Flak 36")
88 mm Flak gun ("8.8 cm Flak 37")
88 mm Flak gun ("8.8 cm Flak 41")
notableVariant
88 mm Flak gun ("8.8 cm KwK 36")
88 mm Flak gun ("8.8 cm Pak 43")
influencedDesignOf
Defense of the Reich
usedWeapon

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