Flak 40

[Ralph A]

This is for Max Von, in response to a request to see pictures of these. Incidentally, the gun in the lower pic is where my avatar originated.

These 12.8 cm monsters were statically mounted in pairs, and could loft a shell nearly 15,000 meters. The lower picture shows one of only six completed in mobile form.

I believe I am correct in asserting that this gun was the same as mounted in the PzKw VIb variant JadgTiger?

[Max Von]

Thanks Ralph the pics are great. What an awesome weapon. Sure would have hated to be on the wrong end of this monster. Thanks again, Max.

[DonC]

Correct!

Hi Ralph -

You ar4e correct - the 128 in modified form was mounted in the Jagdtiger.

Don

[dm5000]

The Berlin Zoo Flak Tower...

Weren't these things mounted in pairs on top of the Berlin Zoo Flak Tower?
There is a really good story by a vet named Harry Schweitzer? in "With Our Backs to Berlin" who was HJ and was conscripted into the flak helpers on the Berlin Zoo Flak Tower. Apparently, every once in a while, the shells would dentonate before they got to the breach. After having the detonating device armed to the correct altitude, using radar data, they would roll on a conveyor to the gun. If the conveyor was not maintained properly, a shell would explode.

I think that is correct. This is all from memory, I read the book this Spring. Anybody remember this story?

Dave

[moranimal]

12.8cm & the Jagdtiger

Actually, I believe that the gun in the Jagdtiger was adopted from the 12.8cm KwK 44, which was later to become the PaK 44. It's seems that the 8.8cm PaK 43 & 43/41 were becoming insufficient for knocking out the later model Russian heavy tanks.

The 12.8cm AA variant is of the same family, and they were mounted in pairs in flak towers in Hamburg, Berlin, and Vienna. I think that the flak towers in Hamburg and Vienna still exist. (Vienna I am certain of, at least as of 1999.)

There is a Schiffer publication called "The Flak Towers" for $9.95 that has some nice pictures, kind of then & now. It also has details of the twin 12.8cm mounts.

[dm5000]

The Vienna Flak Tower..

I drove by the Vienna Flak Tower in 1995, its pretty awesome. Anybody know anything about it? Is it locked up? tours?
Dave

[dm5000]

Answered my own question...

I found this somewhere on the net....

Flak Tower, Vienna The following recording was made in Vienna, at one of the six Flak towers built by the Nazis during the second World War. These massive reinforced concrete structures, built in pairs, were intended to defend Vienna against Allied air attacks. Since the end of the war the Austrian government has considered more than a dozen proposals for civilian uses of the towers, including plans for luxury apartments, shops, parking lots, and theatres. Because they were built to be indestructible, it is believed that they could not be demolished without considerable damage to the surrounding neighbourhoods. One tower has been used to house an aquarium and contemporary art projects, and as a place for climbing practice, and another as a storage depot. This recording was made in October, 2001, at one of the towers in the Augarten park in the second district, formerly the Jewish quarter, now a red-light district, and an area which is presently experiencing an urban revival.

[Brian M]

anyone have images they could share of the flak towers? I'd be interested to see them. I always thought flak implacements made interesting photos... there is a cool one in Backbone of the Wehrmacht I believe, on the roof of one of the buildings at the Mauser Oberndorff factory. really cool shot showing a painting on the roof parapet wall of the surrounding area with distances shown to objects in the vicinity.
Bri

[dm5000]

Try this...

Start with this site...

http://www.flaktuerme.com

Good luck,
Dave

[Brian M]

Great site Dave!
thanks,
Brian