Vehicles of the Wehrmacht

Vehicles of the Wehrmacht 1939-1945

2cm Flakvierling 38 auf Selbstfahrlafette
Sd.Kfz.7/1

The Sd.Kfz. 7/1 was a standard Sd.Kfz. 7 halftrack mounted with a special superstructure to allow installation of a fully traversible 20mm Flakvierling 38. The Flakvierling mounted four 20mm Flak 38 guns and had maximum rate of fire of 1800 rounds per minute. Though intended for anti-aircraft use, it was also effective against ground targets. The vehicle was designated as 2cm Flakvierling 38 auf Selbstfahrlafette (Sd.Kfz. 7/1). The guns were fitted with Flakvisier 38 and later with Flakvisier 40 gun sights and could be traversed 360 degrees by hand. They could be elevated from -10 to +100 degrees. The crew was composed of ten men-the gun commander, eight gunners and a driver. The vehicle carried 600 rounds of 20mm ammunition. An additional 1,800 rounds were towed in a special single-axle trailer-the Sonder Anhaenger 56. Some vehicles were fitted with small gun shields, while others had larger gun shields. The first 100 vehicles were produced from April 1940 to mid-1941 and continued at a rate of ten per month until August 1942, when the monthly rate was significantly increased. Some 750 to 800 vehicles were produced by October/December 1944. From 1942, the majority of vehicles was fitted with lightly armored driver's cabs and plate protecting the engine compartment. The armor was 8mm thick. They were issued to Flak units of the Luftwaffe and Panzer units of the Army. There were 319 Sd.Kfz. 7/1 in service with the German Army as of March 1st 1945. Sd.Kfz. 7/1 units were used to protect armored units against low flying aircraft but were also often used against ground targets.

Color photographs were provided and are property of Geoffrey Zimmer.

Specifications

Weight:	11550kg
Crew:	10 men
Engine:	Maybach HL 62TUK / 6-cylinder / 140hp Maybach HL 64TR / 6-cylinder / 140hp
Speed:	Road: 50km/h Cross-Country: --km/h
Range:	Road: 250km Cross-Country: 100km
Fuel Capacity:	203 litres
Lenght:	6.80m
Width:	2.50m
Height:	3.30m
Armament:	20mm Flak 38 L/112.5
Ammo:	20mm - 600 rounds
Armor:	8mm

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