Luftwaffe Field Division 88mm Flak 37

Luftwaffe Field Division 88mm Flak 37

Originally designed as the Flak 37 8.8cm (or eighty-eight, as it was known by the Allied troops) it had a high muzzle velocity so that it could achieve the higher ranges that modern bombers were then capable of. This would make it an exceptionally deadly anti-tank weapon, as many allied tank crews would learn to their peril. The 88 could also be used as a conventional artillery gun - as one infantryman remarked, the 88 was "anti-everything."

The 88 could fire in extremis whilst still attached to its wheeled carriage and could be fully deployed onto its cruciform firing platform to be ready to fire in around two and a half minutes.

Many 88s were fitted with a substantial shield although there were many examples of this being omitted. Being such a large and heavy weapon it could only be towed by larger prime movers such as the Sd.Kfz 7 half-track.
The 88 saw service during the Spanish Civil War as well as on all fronts where the Germans fought in World War II. Capable of penetrating up to 108mm of armour plate at ranges of up to 1,100 metres the 88 grew in stature during its deployment in the Western Desert where it was one of the only weapons capable of dealing with the British Matilda II Infantry Tanks. A similar scenario developed on the Eastern Front as the 88 was among the rare weapons capable of engaging the new Soviet heavy KV tanks.

The Flak 37 was the last production iteration of the 88, near identical to the Flak 36 bar the updated instruments that allowed a greater level of autonomy in fire control.

This Flak 37 kit comes supplied with 8.8cm shells and spent shell cases and can be built to both traverse and elevate - neither enemy armour nor aircraft are safe!

Includes:
- 8.8cm Flak 37 (plastic)
- 7 man Luftwaffe crew (metal)
- Action stat card
- Full-colour waterslide decal sheet
- Construction leaflet

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints and glue not included.