FlaK.18 (88 mm) - Revision history

U12017485: +Ammunition

2024-11-05T22:46:03Z

+Ammunition

U44629479: Undo revision 182584 by U137319744 (talk)

2024-03-09T08:39:32Z

Undo revision 182584 by U137319744 (talk)

U137319744: /* History */

2024-03-08T23:57:15Z

‎History

U38088265: /* History */

2022-10-05T10:40:03Z

‎History

U44629479: Edits

2022-10-01T19:32:06Z

Edits

U137319744: /* History */ added history and links to the 88mm Flak 36 and Flak 37 which are variants of the FlaK.18

2022-10-01T19:10:37Z

‎History: added history and links to the 88mm Flak 36 and Flak 37 which are variants of the FlaK.18

U38088265: Created page

2021-12-15T20:47:26Z

Created page

New page

== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|germ_rdm242}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===
''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''

'''Pros:'''
*

'''Cons:'''
*

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Germany naval cannons}}

[[Category:Naval cannons]]

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 == History ==
-The FlaK 18 is the first variant of the venerable Flak 88 as the Allies taken to calling it. One of the most venerable weapons the arsenal of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) during World War II, it was intended as an anti-aircraft gun and while it served in that capacity throughout the war, it also had a successful career as an anti-tank gun due to its powerful cartridge. The development of the FlaK 18 traces its roots back to World War I. The new field of air combat led to a pressing for anti-aircraft which was achieved in most nations by simply adapting medium-caliber cannons to fire at higher elevations.
+''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''
-This was not an optimal solution however. These guns struggled even against the slow-moving aircraft aircraft and observation balloons of the time period so Germany soon needed a high velocity anti-aircraft gun. Using the 8.8 cm caliber already used by the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy), the FlaK 16 adopted in 1917 was the first dedicated anti-aircraft gun of Germany and their AA weapon of choice during World War I. However, the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the war forbid German arms development in several areas including air defense. However, the arms conglomerate Krupp soon exploited a loophole in the terms of the Treaty to continue developing the design.
+The development of the FlaK 18 traces its roots back to World War I. The new field of air combat led to a pressing need for anti-aircraft defenses which was achieved in most nations by simply adapting medium-calibre cannons to fire at higher elevations. This was not an optimal solution however. These guns struggled even against the slow-moving aircraft and observation balloons of the time period, so Germany soon needed a higher velocity anti-aircraft gun. Using the 8.8 cm calibre already used by the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy), the FlaK 16 adopted in 1917 was the first dedicated anti-aircraft gun of Germany and their AA weapon of choice during World War I. However, the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the war forbade German arms development in several areas including air defense. However, the arms conglomerate Krupp soon exploited a loophole in the terms of the Treaty to continue developing the design: The Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from developing anti-aircraft weapons but did not forbid the development of such weapons in other nations.
-The Treaty of Versailles banned ''German''y from developing anti-aircraft weapons but did not forbid the development of such weapons in other nations. In 1921, Krupp bought a majority share in the Swedish Bofors company and continued development and continued development of a 75mm anti-aircraft gun through Bofors. However, it was later decided to switch back to the more capable 88mm caliber. In 1928 the first prototypes of the FlaK 18 were created with a single-piece, 56-caliber barrel. The "FlaK 18" designation was another deception tactic by the Wiemar Republic implying that the gun was at some stage adopted during World War I and not from after the Treaty of Versailles. With a cruciform gun carriage, and a semi-automatic system that automatically ejected spent casings, the FlaK 18 started seeing widespread production after the Nazis came to power in 1933. It was deployed by German "volunteers" supporting Franco's nationalist faction. Intended to protect the airfields of the German Condor Legion, the FlaK 18 was found to be effective not only against aircraft, but the powerful 8.8 cm gun was an effective anti-tank or bunker-buster weapon and actually exceeded compared to its intended purpose as an anti-aircraft gun. The FlaK 18 saw action in 377 engagements during the Spanish Civil War, but only 31 were against aircraft.
+In 1921, Krupp bought a majority share in the Swedish Bofors company and continued development of a 75 mm anti-aircraft gun through Bofors. However, it was later decided to switch back to the more capable 88 mm calibre. In 1928 the first prototypes of the FlaK 18 were created with a single-piece, 56-calibre barrel. The "FlaK 18" designation was another deception tactic by the Weimar Republic, implying that the gun was at some stage adopted during World War I and not from after the Treaty of Versailles. With a cruciform gun carriage, and a semi-automatic system that automatically ejected spent casings, the FlaK 18 started seeing widespread production after the Nazis came to power in 1933. It was deployed by German "volunteers" supporting Franco's nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War. Intended to protect the airfields of the German Condor Legion, the FlaK 18 was found to be effective not only against aircraft, but the powerful 8.8 cm gun was an effective anti-tank or bunker-buster weapon and actually exceeded compared to its intended purpose as an anti-aircraft gun. The FlaK 18 saw action in 377 engagements during the Spanish Civil War, but only 31 were against aircraft.
-The FlaK 18 also could be fired directly from its wheeled carriage and lacking an stabilizing outriggers. While not the most optimal configuration, this was still an excellent design feature along with a the 2 and a half minute time needed to convert it to stabilized firing. However, the weight meant only large prime movers such as the Sd.Kfz. 7 could transport the gun.
+The FlaK 18 also could be fired directly from its wheeled carriage and while lacking any stabilizing outriggers. While not the most optimal configuration, this was still an excellent design feature along with the 2 and a half minute time needed to convert it to stabilized firing. However, the weight meant only large prime movers such as the Sd.Kfz. 7 could transport the gun.
-The FlaK 18 would see service during World War II along its successor designs the [[Flak.36 (88 mm)|Flak.36]] and FlaK 37 where it served both in the German Air Defense, and as an anti-tank weapon for the Heer (Army) on multiple fronts. The RLM (Reich Air Ministry) also mounted the gun on the [[Krischan der Große]], a prototype anti-aircraft boat produced for low-altitude air defense of the Dutch and French coast and supporting Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of the United Kingdom. The guns were not effective on this boat as they weren't stabilized for naval use and the prototype while accepted for service, it never saw combat.
+The FlaK 18 would see service during World War II along with its successor designs the [[Flak.36 (88 mm)|Flak.36]] and FlaK 37 where it served both in the German Air Defense, and as an anti-tank weapon for the Heer (Army) on multiple fronts. The RLM (Reich Air Ministry) also mounted the gun on the [[Krischan der Große]], a prototype anti-aircraft boat produced for low-altitude air defense of the Dutch and French coast and supporting Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of the United Kingdom. The guns were not effective on this boat as they weren't stabilized for naval use and the prototype, while accepted for service, never saw combat.
 == Media ==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 === Available ammunition ===
 ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
 === Comparison with analogues ===

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 == History ==
 The FlaK 18 is the first variant of the venerable "Flak 88" cannons as known by the Allies. One of the most venerable weapons in the arsenal of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) during World War II, it was intended as an anti-aircraft gun and while it served in that capacity throughout the war, it also had a successful career as an anti-tank gun due to its powerful cartridge.
@@ Line 54: / Line 55: @@
 == External links ==
 ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''other literature.''

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 == See also ==
-''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
-* [[Flak.36 (88 mm)]]: improved variant of the FlaK.18
+* [[Flak.36 (88 mm)]] - Improved variant of the FlaK.18
-* [[Flak.37 (88 mm)]]: further improvement of the FlaK.18
+* [[Flak.37 (88 mm)]] - Further improvement of the FlaK.18
 == External links ==
 ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 * ''topic on the official game forum;''
 * ''other literature.''