how does flak ammunition work

World War I. Nevertheless, it did a good job of stopping shell blasts, rocket fragments, and slow speed bullets fired at a moderate range. As most of the British heavy anti-aircraft guns were deployed in a long, thin coastal strip, dud shells fell into the sea, safely out of reach of capture. Luftwaffe flak batteries could be assigned to the army at any time and thousands were. Understanding how the shell types behave and when to use them is important to achieving optimum results in battle. The T-3 fuze had a 52% success against a water target when tested in January, 1942. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Marines christened their new recruit "Reckless" for the work she would do in resupplying recoilless rifles, known as "reckless rifles" in Marine jargon. Wooden precise replica of the German 88mm anti-aircraft FlaK guns and Tiger-I ammunition - 8.8cm Sprgr.Patr. Both AA guns and the defending fighters played a role in the defence of Guadalcanal. The Germans used flak guns against the 82nd and allied infantry during the battles in the Ardenne. These included planar electrodes and packing the components in wax and oil to equalize the stresses. [64] [65], During WW2, the Germans had at least five acoustic fuzes for anti-aircraft use under development, though none saw operational service. Little priority was given to the project . Fine condition. Please see ooredoo . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. [39] It was not a fuze for anti-aircraft shells, the most valuable type. [20], The first reference to the concept of radar in the UK was made by W. A. S. Butement and P. E. Pollard, who constructed a small breadboard model of a pulsed radar in 1931. There was a reason the official histories downplayed the effectiveness of German flak. Flak is a contraction of German Flugabwehrkanone (also referred to as Fliegerabwehrkanone) meaning aircraft-defense cannon, the original purpose of the weapon. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Step 1: Loading. The designation VT means variable time. There are two basic ways to do that, make the shell explode at the time when it is near the target, or make it explode when the shell is simply near the target. Shorter barrel, a little less velocity, and a good bit more stress on hollow point performance through barriers. against light targets such as infantry and non-armored vehicles. With their moderate rate of fire, and typically inexpensive ammunition, they can make for good defensive weapons. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Japanese did not develop a robust AA defensive system. [6] For production times check Crafting. If the amplified beat frequency signal's amplitude was large enough, indicating a nearby object, then it triggered the fourth tube a gas-filled thyratron. The idea of a proximity fuse had long been considered militarily useful. One-Handed Flail The flail is a medieval weapon that's instantly familiar. Why dont we use flak on people. That is exac. " Therefore, firing a +1 arrow from a +1 shortbow results in a +2 to the attack and damage rolls. The combination of these three inventions was successful in shooting down many V-1 flying bombs aimed at London and Antwerp, otherwise difficult targets for anti-aircraft guns due to their small size and high speed. It was justifiably feared by Allied airmen, tankers, and foot soldiers because of its accuracy, lethality, and versatility. It's hard to hit a fast moving target with a bullet, which is why they use shotguns with shot ammo with a lot of small pellets inside to hunt birds, to basically have the bird fly through a rain of pellets, ensuring that at least one hits it. The bullets were at first scarce, and as a result, a mix of ball, AP, Mk IV incendiary tracer and Mk VI incendiary were used until production increased to sufficient levels. The most developmentally advanced of the German acoustic fuze designs was the Rheinmetall-Borsig Kranich (German for Crane) which was a mechanical device utilizing a diaphragm tone filter sensitive to frequencies between 140 and 500Hz connected to a resonating vibratory reed switch used to fire an electrical igniter. The units come from different Camps in Warpath. what happened to the owners of warwick castle? A time- or height-triggered fuze requires good prediction by the gunner and accurate timing by the fuze. While it doesn't do as much damage per shot as the Longneck (165 damage compared to the Longneck's 280) it can be fired 8 times before needing to be reloaded. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Is paralegal higher than legal assistant? The Browning M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun, Heavy barrel is an automatic, recoil operated, air-cooled machine gun with adjustable headspace and is crew transportable with limited amounts of . Procurement contracts increased from $60 million in 1942, to $200 million in 1943, to $300 million in 1944 and were topped by $450 million in 1945. There were also over two thousand suppliers and subsuppliers, ranging from powder manufacturers to machine shops. [10], In September 1940, the Tizard Mission travelled to the US to introduce their researchers to a number of UK developments, and the topic of proximity fuses was raised. Berlin has repeatedly lobbied Bern to shift policy after requests for permission to send Ukraine Swiss-made ammunition acquired by Germany decades ago were denied. It's also against Geneva conversations to use flak guns against infantry. Regular $49.99 (Save $15.00) Before then, they always return false. The reverse side is maker marked 'A' for the manufacturing firm of Assmann. All of this in one go, it would not be possible to do it like it is shown ingame. As the saying goes, the more flak that's incoming, the more certain you can be that you are over the target. There were a few that were specifically armoured like the Russian Il-2 and German Hs 129 ground attack aircraft to withstand light flak hits. Throw a couple hundred of em into the air and theyll do work. At the start of The Blitz, it was estimated that it took 20,000 rounds to shoot down a single aircraft, [6] other estimates put the figure as high as 100,000[7] or as low as 2,500. Advanced Cannons and some simple weapons use custom shells designed by players through Ammo Controllers and customisers. If the Luftwaffe had this shell the Allied bombing campaign would have been far more costly, or stopped altogether. hospital valet job description how does flak ammunition work. How effective was it in WW2? Great story. Flak detonation clouds Early on during the war, two kinds of flak rounds were used. When the cell current changed a certain amount in a certain time interval, the detonation was triggered. I think the TF2 Engineer summed it up perfectly: "How am I going to stop some big mean mother hubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous new behind? Press J to jump to the feed. The huge flak towers Hitler had built got to actual military use finally. The largest artillery pieces employed by the Army against Axis forces was the M1 240mm howitzer, which could fire 360-pound shell out to a range of 23,000 meters (14.3 miles). Make a 1:1 scale print and you will shurely understand why this cartridge type deserves all due respect. The 3D kit is a Sondernhnger Sd. Reverse is maker marked S.H.u.Co. The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes will feature the finest cuts from this site along with exclusive new articles, explosive photography and gorgeous bespoke illustrations. 4. Thank you. Empyrion - Galactic Survival > General Discussions > Topic Details. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 56/57 single axle ammunition trailer towed by late war self-propelled Flak guns. Pressure sensors are usually used in combination with other fuze detonation technologies such as acoustic and magnetic induction. Work was split in 1942, with Tuve's group working on proximity fuzes for shells, while the National Bureau of Standards researchers focused on the technically easier task of bombs and rockets. If either is wrong, then even accurately aimed shells may explode harmlessly before reaching the target or after passing it. A minor problem encountered by the British was that the fuze was sensitive enough to detonate the shell if it passed too close to a seabird and a number of seabird "kills" were recorded. In December of that year the British Air Ministry purchased the design. When the reflected signal was in phase, the oscillator amplitude would increase and the oscillator's plate current would also increase. Consequently, a low frequency signal, corresponding to the frequency difference between the oscillator and the received signal, developed at the oscillator's plate terminal. When I say sheer firepower, in January 1944 20,625 flak guns were protecting the Reich, and even a German Flak officer estimated 4,000 x 88mm shells were needed to down one bomber. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrapnel_shell. 50 Rounds of 124gr MC 9mm Ammo by Remington. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Although flak jackets offered some basic protection against small caliber bullets and shell fragments (which was valued by their users), ultimately they proved to be less effective than hoped. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney_hunting_incident. According to 5e designer Jeremy Crawford, " Bonuses stack, unless a feature or item tells you otherwise. [35][36] On 6 May 1941, the NBS team built six fuzes which were placed in air-dropped bombs and successfully tested over water. This signal is sent through a band-pass filter, amplified, and triggers the detonation when it exceeds a given amplitude. To shoot in flans mod you need your weapon and specific ammo (M249 SAW and M249 ammo) To load press R and the ammo should transfer to your gun. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They provide a more sophisticated trigger mechanism than the common contact fuze or timed fuze. Another, is a barometric fuse, a fuse that's triggered when a certian altitude is reach by measuring air pressure. Weapons and Ammunition. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. [38], While working for a defense contractor in the mid-1940s, Soviet spy Julius Rosenberg stole a working model of an American proximity fuze and delivered it to Soviet intelligence. Upon being triggered, the thyratron conducted a large current that set off the electrical detonator. Magazines contain . This doesnt take into account the number of aircraft that were severely damaged by flak.. While smaller shells without fuzes will need to actually hit the aircraft to damage it, most all other AAA will have some type of fuzing. When the target was far away, little of the oscillator's transmitted energy would be reflected to the fuze. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [50] Once inspections of the finished product were complete, a sample of the fuzes produced from each lot was shipped to the National Bureau of Standards, where they were subjected to a series of rigorous tests at the specially built Control Testing Laboratory. It took away from the narrative of how successful the Allied bombing campaign was and the heavy price they paid. AA guns are actually rather effective against soft ground targets, too. [40], In the US, NDRC focused on radio fuzes for use with anti-aircraft artillery, where acceleration was up to 20,000g as opposed to about 100g for rockets and much less for dropped bombs. It examines heavy flak defences, flak over the battlefield, the failure of ship AA defences early in the war; specifically the Bismarck and the sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse in 1941, AA . Vote! All of this in one go, it would not be possible to do it like it is shown ingame. It examines heavy flak defences, flak over the battlefield, the failure of ship AA defences early in the war; specifically the Bismarck and the sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse in 1941, AA defences against the worlds first cruise missile (V-1), right up to the human guided missile that was the kamikaze in the Pacific., I was inspired after reading Edward B. Westermanns book Flak: German Anti-Aircraft Defenses 1914-1945. the ASRAAM and AA-12 Adder) use lasers to trigger detonation. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. "I've never really looked at it like that," he said. e Weapons. One may use a timed fuse in the shell. First large scale production of tubes for the new fuzes[9] was at a General Electric plant in Cleveland, Ohio formerly used for manufacture of Christmas-tree lamps. Getting that right was harder than you would think with the limited means of getting the planes altitude and speed right and they would only have a few minutes at most to do so. That means the fuse was outperforming traditional rounds three to one in routine combat conditions. Incendiary ammunition is a type of ammunition that contains a chemical that, upon hitting a hard obstacle, has the characteristic of causing fire/setting flammable materials in the vicinity of the impact on fire. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The gun pits were arranged to enable the high altitude flak guns ( probably British army 3.7 in guns) fire in unison to create a box pattern when the shells exploded at the preset height and would follow the track of the bombers That was the means a lethal zone was put where the bombers were expected to be. Therefore, their speed is much lower and this makes them less dangerous to those on the ground. The explosive power, coupled with the flash on impact which guided their aim, was much appreciated by pilots. In many ways the term gun-laying was a misnomer when applied to the GL I. (U.S. Navy) It even potentially saved the life of one of its creators, Dr. Van Allen. [54], Vannevar Bush, head of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) during the war, credited the proximity fuze with three significant effects. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". So Shrapnel is designed to explode BEFORE it hits the ground, using a timed fuse or a proximity fuse. This gun served as the main armament of the Tiger I heavy tank. Ammunition. unopened, unused, Kit: UPC: : Does not apply . New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Measures 1 5/8 inches wide by 2 1/8 inches tall. Check out the main categories below. What does cholera look like under a microscope? The weapon was deployed on German tanks, as an antitank gun, an assault gun, and for antiaircraft purposes.Mar 8, 2016. You are at a gateway to WWII discussion, research, exploration, & analysis. 50 Rounds of 115gr FMJ 9mm Ammo by Winchester. EDIT: And it's only used against airborne targets because airplanes have to be light-weight in order to be able to fly; a cloud of tiny pellets like that will shred an airplane, but won't do much against a tank or battleship or other such armored targets. [9] Tuve's group was known as Section T, not APL, throughout the war. [citation needed] To prevent premature detonation, the inbuilt battery that armed the shell had a several millisecond delay before its electrolytes were activated, giving the projectile time to clear the area of the gun.[45]. Their first project was a revival of their original work on coast defense, but they were soon told to start a second project to develop a range-only radar to aid anti-aircraft guns.[23]. [44] One tube was an oscillator connected to an antenna; it functioned as both a transmitter and an autodyne detector (receiver). Magnetic sensing can only be applied to detect huge masses of iron such as ships. We directly support the repository at WW2.ORG, and several other worthwhile projects that add to the historical record. Exiting that black smoke is the invisible shrapnel that will hit the aircraft. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. After so many seconds, the shell would detonate like a times bomb. The versatile 88mm cannon was Germany's main heavy antiaircraftor flakgun during World War II. Each unit has its own specified abilities and stats. If you show up late for work for a third day, you'll probably take some flak from your coworkers they'll take verbal shots at you. Life on Royal Navy aircraft carrier(1960), Hush-Kit Joe talking 10 favouriteaircraft, The case for the P-47 Thunderbolt being the greatest fighter of the Second WorldWar, The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt MafiaFamily, 10 things you need to know about the P-47Thunderbolt. The Fabricated Sniper Rifle is a ranged weapon, a more advanced version of the Longneck Rifle. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [9] A breadboard circuit was constructed and the concept was tested in the laboratory by moving a sheet of tin at various distances. Flak as we know it ( the exploding ordinance variety ) works by using fuses. Due to their specialist nature they tend to be more expensive and larger than their standard counterparts. 56.25 degrees Back; It is unclear how the air brakes of the trailers are relevant to unlimbered guns. Both are surrounded by an oval oak leaf wreath. I once interviewed a WWII flak veteran, who talked about how they used their cannons against enemy infantry and soon, that became a more common use of their cannons than actually firing at airplanes. A contact fuze would explode when it hit the ground; it would not be very effective at scattering shrapnel. However, as the bullet had to be made by hand rather than mass-produced, Major C. Aubrey Dixon of the British Royal Arsenal at Woolwich developed a greatly improved bullet with similar incendiary capabilities. It is possible that this is a mistake by the author of the report, and that his is intended to refer to limbered guns . How do they get the shells to explode at the correct altitude? Use a gun. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The main suppliers were Crosley, RCA, Eastman Kodak, McQuay-Norris and Sylvania. It was understood that the limited application was not ideal; a proximity fuze would be useful on all types of artillery and especially anti-aircraft artillery, but those had very high accelerations. [9] Their system involved a small, short range, Doppler radar. Its price point is 75 cents per round and its bullet weight is between 147 and 175 grains. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". [9][33][34], In just two days, Diamond was able to come up with a new fuze design and managed to demonstrate its feasibility through extensive testing at the Naval Proving Ground at Dahlgren, Virginia. The heavy gun could propel its 20.25-pound high-explosive shell to altitudes beyond 30,000 feet at a rate of about 15 projectiles per minute. Our aviation shop ishereand our Twitter account here@Hush_Kit. This gun served as the main armament of the Tiger I heavy tank. The Army was suddenly extremely interested in the topic of radar, and sent Butement and Pollard to Bawdsey to form what became known as the "Army Cell". [48] Testing also occurred at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, where about 15,000 bombs were fired. 4,000 guns were made, but they only really had value as propaganda. Pen and Sword, 2014, p.42, Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 23:27, Telecommunications Research Establishment, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, was received by British Intelligence as part of the Oslo Report, Office of Scientific Research and Development, Allied technological cooperation during World War II, "Allen V. Astin Is Dead at 79; Headed Bureau of Standards", The Proximity Fuse - Secret Weapon of World War 2, Critical Challenge: A History of the Proximity Fuze presented, Anti-Aircraft Radio Proximity Fuze (19391942) (conceptual and prototype design work), "Historic Properties Report: Harry Diamond Laboratories, Maryland and Satellite Installations Woodbridge Research Facility, Virginia and Blossom Point Field Test Facility, Maryland", "Request for information about the Isleta Pueblo Ordnance Impact Area", "Calculate the Value of $1.00 in 1945. Furthermore, they were required to carry written orders on their person when engaging these targets. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What is the black smoke coming out of the shells? Proximity fuzes are designed for targets such as planes, missiles, ships at sea, and ground forces. How did flak guns work in WW2? Also in 1944, fuzes were allocated to the British Army's Anti-Aircraft Command, that was engaged in defending Britain against the V-1 flying bomb. If my health was such that I was still in to historical board and miniatures games I betcha this would, umm, lets say, engender energetic conversation, in that realm. Though deadly, the effective range of these bullets was only 350 yards (320 m), as the phosphorus charge burned quickly. Length of the cartridge case is 139mm, the body diameter of the shell 20 mm. Click to subscribe! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The distance between the fuze and the target was not constant but rather constantly changing due to the high speed of the fuze and any motion of the target. The details of the British experiments were passed to the United States Naval Research Laboratory and National Defense Research Committee (NDRC). Absolute yikes. The main targets for these proximity fuze detonated bombs and rockets were anti-aircraft emplacements and airfields.[62]. Which nation was best at using AAA and why? When the Allies began to use the term is not known. These bombers required repair, causing service rates to fall and thus reducing the number of bombers available for new operations. Shortly after D-Day the Luftwaffe transferred 140 heavy batteries and 50 light flak batteries to Normandy. Ignition is often delayed by varying means until after impact. This addon should work if enabled with new game This addon should not work if spawned by "Test Location" Air Force base is the place with many beds in barracks When entering Flak Challenge zone, there will be warning messages before the challenge actually start If you're taking flak, chances are you're in a bad situation and taking fire from an enemy. The United States Navy accepted that failure rate. Press J to jump to the feed. The cannon was fully automatic and effective against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4,200 m. The cannon was produced in both towed and self-propelled versions. The Columbia survived, but 13 crew members were killed. It was first tested as a part of a detonation device for bombs that were to be dropped over bomber aircraft, part of the UK's Air Ministry's "bombs on bombers" concept. Flak is defined as the bursting shells shot at aircraft from enemy guns on the ground, or criticism or opposition. Though the days of peasant armies wielding them may be over, these archaic weapons are still legal in parts of the U.S., although not in the states of New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts or Pennsylvania. Tracer bullets contain a substance that burns and gives off light, aiding the gunner in aiming. The answer? The tests were to be conducted over two days, but the testing stopped when drones were destroyed early on the first day. 2 Answers. A timer fuze can be set to explode a few meters above the ground but the timing is vital and usually requires observers to provide information for adjusting the timing. it's only used against airborne targets a cloud of tiny pellets "Shrapnel" shells, named for their inventor, are used to kill people with bits of metal even when those people are hiding behind walls, in a trench, etc. Entering service in 1965, the Leopard 1 is one of the most famous tanks of the Cold War and Modern Era. There was a variant of the Stielgranate 41 (hollowed charge, stick grenade) for the 3,7 cm Flak weapons (18, 36, 37, 43) to emergency fight back heavy armored vehicles. The only Allied option was tactical infatry inserted to upset the German air defenses and provide a diversion for the larger forces to come in after. Don't Panic! Bonus Pack. Each ammo type may or may not stack in player's inventory depending on their uniform, and in vehicle or structure's inventory depending on their type. Working with Western Electric Company and Raytheon Company, miniature hearing-aid tubes were modified to withstand this extreme stress. Incendiary ammunition is a type of ammunition that contains a chemical that, upon hitting a hard obstacle, has the characteristic of causing fire/setting flammable materials in the vicinity of the impact on fire. Influence firing mechanisms often use a combination of acoustic and magnetic induction receivers. Darius has done some amazing work researching this vehicle and although he admits there are a few small areas that are still difficult to 100% accurately ascertain, dimensionally . Flak as we know it ( the exploding ordinance variety ) works by using fuses. In 1944 the number of 128mm rounds per aircraft shootdown was 3,000, less than one-fifth the number expended by its 88mm counterpart. Note here that the amplitude of this low frequency 'beat' signal corresponds to the amplitude of the signal reflected from the target. Thousands of aircraft were shot down, and tens of thousands were damaged, not to mention the horrendous cost in lives and those wounded. Because that flak did not actually "miss." By means of its fuzing, it exploded close enough to the aircraft to send an unseen shower of a thousand metal fragments flying out of it and into the aircraft. Coilguns shoot high velocity bolts that deal damage to anything they hit. [33] Later, the Ordnance Development Division of the National Bureau of Standards (which became the Harry Diamond Laboratories and later merged into the Army Research Laboratory in honor of its former chief in subsequent years) developed the first automated production techniques for manufacturing radio proximity fuzes at a low cost. Design of the type began as early as 1936 under the charge of the Rheinmetall-Borsig concern and then known as the "Gerat 40", intended as an in-the-field gun system for the German Army. Anointed item effects are usually activated for a short time at the end of the action skill duration. This is due to the same effect. 4 How many shells does a flak gun fire per minute? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It must be remembered that Flak defences were designed, not to shoot bombers down, but to force them to drop their loads from a higher altitude and thus reduce their accuracy. Flak proved a huge benefit to fighter pilots assigned to attack incoming raids. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Feb 19, 2014 Jack Beckett, Guest Author. This article focuses on which ammo to select in a given . Therefore, their speed is much lower and this makes them less dangerous to those on the ground. Each pocket could carry 1 en bloc clip with 8 rounds for the M1 Rifle or 2 stripper clips with 5 rounds for the M1903 rifle. With the invention of Jet fighters, he explained to me that the flak guns had become obsolete so they had to be repurposed. They never pooled their resources, instead each would go their own way, often siting individual radars in the same place., Two myths about flak: one it was not very effective, from an Allied point of view, and second the Allied bombing campaign against Germany created a second front siphoning off thousands of men to man the guns and robbing the German army of valuable men. So, why was the 8.8 FLAK in WW2 used by german troops against tanks? In other words, artillery is a system with a number of interacting components. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin.

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how does flak ammunition work

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