LW on Crete

[PeterPaul]

I am looking for information about the gem.Flak-Abt. 286(v) which ended the war on Crete in 1945.

Does anybody know what caliber AAs they had ? And why the (v) ?

[mufasa]

I am looking for information about the gem.Flak-Abt. 286(v) which ended the war on Crete in 1945.

Does anybody know what caliber AAs they had ? And why the (v) ?

I do not know the German abbreviation of "(v)" but I know that a "(v)" Abteilung, meaning it had to rely on an external source for movement the batteries....

Hard to say the exact number and the caliber of a Flak units in 1945, I think from 4 to 6 Batteries (of 8,8 cm Flak , but in Greece they were also used many captured Italian anti-aircraft artillery )

[PeterPaul]

Yes the Germans was never afraid to use captured weapons.

Are we sure about the heavy guns? gem. is short for Gemische which Means mixed. Mixed weapon calibers I think ?

Thanks for your reply

[mufasa]

the schwere (schw.) had cannon 8.8 cm and upward (in Italy also great italian 90/53).
the gemischt (gem.) had heavy guns as above, and 2cm or 3.7cm guns
the leichte (le.) only with 2cm or 3.7cm.

I did some research about a Gem-Flak unit in Italy but I never understood the exact percentages.
I had found (I think of a book on Dorfler Verlag) this composition on a Gem.Flak.Abt. type:

Stab Nachr.Zg
1-3. Bttr. (8,8 cm) 4 x 8,8 cm Flak, 4 x 2cm Flak
4-5. Bttr. (2cm) 9 x 2 cm Flak, 3 x 2 cm Flak Vierling


but I can not sign in blood!

[PeterPaul]

Allright that's great info, thx

[PeterPaul]

The unit I am asking about was on Crete in 1945. I would guess it was very possible that had Italien 90/53 there ?

As the heavy guns, together with or instead of the 88s ?

[mufasa]

The unit I am asking about was on Crete in 1945. I would guess it was very possible that had Italien 90/53 there ?

As the heavy guns, together with or instead of the 88s ?

no, because this guns (renamed by Germans 9-cm Flak 42) were very sophisticated and efficient, and the few available were used by the Germans only for the defense on the Germany ... if they had the Italians guns in Kreta were probably older 75/46


Instead! otherwise they would have had many complications on ammo

[PeterPaul]

Yes I guess you are right.

Do you have any idea of where this unit was stationed on Crete ?

[mufasa]

Yes I guess you are right.

Do you have any idea of where this unit was stationed on Crete ?

[PeterPaul]

Ant another thing, did the 1-3 batt. have 4 x 88 each, or in total for all 3 batts. ?

[mufasa]

Ant another thing, did the 1-3 batt. have 4 x 88 each, or in total for all 3 batts. ?

nr. 4 8,8 each batt.

[PeterPaul]

Thanks for info, great stuff