WWII German 12.8cm Flak 40 Zwilling

The 12.8 cm Flak 40 was a German anti-aircraft gun used during World War II, most famously in the Flakturms around some of the major cities in Germany including of course Berlin.

Although this gun was intended to replace the 88 mm gun it was unsuccessful in it’s bid for major production numbers but remained one of the most effective anti-aircraft guns of the war. This twin mount cannon 12.8 cm FlaK 40 Zwilling Twin mounted anti-aircraft was capable of firing 20 rounds per minute. Production started in 1942 with 10 twin sets produced, then another eight in 1943 and in February 1945 a total of 34 were available for the German forces. 

 The barrel weighed 12 tons in firing position, making it difficult to deploy and move, so in 1938, new solutions were made. The solution had to simplify the platform fire based on the idea that this gun would be mounted only on a concrete slab. Nevertheless, the system carried the weight of the barrel to 26.5 tons, making it impossible to tow the field. In August 1944, 450 of the single mount guns had been built and it was intended to equip the 250 anti-aircraft towers around Berlin and the other mounted on rail-cars.

AA versions firing a shell 26 kg with an initial velocity of 880 m / s 10 675m, compared to 88; 128 used 4 times more powder to initiate the explosive charge. The AT versions firing a shell of 26.4 kilograms could penetrate 200 mm of armour at close range, 120 mm at 2,000 m.