2cm FlaK 30

History

Automotive and defense manufacturer Rheinmetall-Borsig has been awarded a defense contract from the German government to produce a new light anti-aircraft gun system. Design work began in the early 1930s, coinciding with the German military's reorganization program, culminating in the production of a variety of excellent armored vehicles, aircraft, and artillery systems.

The requirement calls for a 20mm cannon system to help counter low-flying attack aircraft, and some portability to be able to be towed by the vehicle across the road and positioned by its operator. The resulting design was finalized, evaluated and incorporated into the Bundeswehr stockpile as the "2cm FlaK 30" (FlaK = "Fliegerabwehrkanone", which translates to "anti-aircraft gun"). Serial production soon began in 1934, and the weapon reached operational status in 1935.

Before World War II officially began with the German-Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, the FlaK 30 was used by the Chinese government and, interestingly, the Dutch government as well.

The 2 cm FlaK 30 is piloted by a crew of 5, but in practice this is usually reduced to save manpower, especially when the weapon system is mounted as a static defense mount. It has two wheels for ground transport and turns in place to fine-tune the launch angle. The single barrel was placed between the two wheel fenders and mounted on a bracket.

The barrel holds a 20x138mm B cartridge, which feeds these projectiles into the firebox from a 20-round magazine. Altitudes are set at +90 and -12 degrees, and due to its drivability, true traversal is essentially infinite at 360 degrees. It weighs 992 pounds and takes the strength of several soldiers to position it in the heat of battle.

In service, the gun's rate of fire was between 120 and 180 rounds per minute. The muzzle velocity is rated at 2,953 feet per second, and the effective range is up to 2,406 yards.

Positioned as "ready to fire", the FlaK 30 sits on a triangular launch platform with a simple two-piece gunner's seat aft. The shooter will use a complex reflex sight to aim the weapon, and adding a prediction mechanism will only make the operation more time-consuming.

After a short period of service, this sighting system eventually gave way to a simple point-and-shoot iron sight assembly for ease of manufacture and use in the field.

In combat, the FlaK 30 proved to be just as good at air targets as ground targets, this was achieved by using armor-piercing special ammunition instead of the explosive air type. Wherever the Wehrmacht is operating, the FlaK 30 can be transported to the front in a land vehicle and assembled in minutes.

The Luftwaffe also found value in Army systems, creating a network of FlaK 30 systems to defend air bases, among other things. In an interesting but often overlooked method of this defense, the FlaK 30 also served on German "armored" trains to protect stores from low-level enemy machine guns, bombardment, and missile attacks.

It also proved to be a well-documented defensive mount on various German half-tracks and adaptable military truck chassis for basic mobile air defense to protect convoys in transit. In addition to being used by the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe, the anti-aircraft gun 30 was also put into service by the German Navy for warships (known as "C/38"), where its double penetration and anti-aircraft deterrence were highly regarded.

However, the FlaK 30 series is not without its flaws, as the feed mechanism has a mysterious tendency to jam throughout its lifespan. Perhaps more importantly, by early 1941, their inherent rate of fire was considered slow and unable to compete in speed with advances in enemy aircraft technology. For this reason, the FlaK 30 was modified into the "FlaK 38" variant with a firing capacity of 220 rounds per minute. This inevitably caused the original FlaK 30 system to fall out of favor with Commanders, who naturally preferred the expanded capabilities of the newer FlaK 38. Therefore, while it is being replaced, the FlaK 30 must be allowed to expire and the remaining parts to continue to operate until their service machinery fails beyond repair or is lost by the enemy.

Despite this, the FlaK 30 served in Germany until the end of the war in 1945.

During wartime production, the German firearms company Mauser was also commissioned to produce the more manageable FlaK 30 for use by German paratroopers and mountain troops. The frame was redesigned to be lighter and simpler, and the final product was called the "2cm GebFlaK 38".

Production proceeded rapidly in 1941, and the weapon entered service the following year.

Another notable incarnation of the FlaK 30 is the "2cm Flakvierling 38" air defense system. Armed with 4 x 20mm FlaK 30 cannons, arranged in pairs on a rotating/elevating mount, this weapon has been around since the 1940 Mach, while still feeding from the original 20-round magazine.

The total rate of fire is about 800 rounds per minute. The Mauser also received attention for its design and manufacture, and required 8 recommended crew members to operate.

Finland became another important operator of the FlaK 30 air defense system.

2cm FlaK 30 size

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

20 bullets in jacketed magazine (4 magazines)

Changes