Originally developed as an anti-aircraft gun, the 8.8cm FLugzeugAbwehrKanone ("Flak") was first employed in the anti-tank gun role in 1936, when the German Condor Legion was testing out its equipment during the Spanish Civil War. Amazingly, German war planners had designed the gun as an AA weapon with a heavy cruciform platform and central fire control operation, not as a multi-purpose anti-tank gun with proper anti-tank sights. Nevertheless, its capability was seen and quietly noted by commanders operating in the field. While the gun was occassionally used in the anti-tank gun role during the Polish and French campaigns, it wasn't until the Afrika Korps joined battle in Cyrenaica with the British Eighth Army that the "88" really showed its prowess as a tank killer. Here the tactical situation was such that it was possible to deploy the guns in their anti-aircraft role in positions that would allow them to be re-trained as anti-tank guns. Moreover their range and penetrating power enabled their crews to dispose of British tanks long before the enemy was close enough to engage the guns with their own two- or six-pounder guns.

Now Minichamps has faithfully recreated the German 88mm flak 36/37 anti-aircraft gun in exquisite detail. The flak gun comes with four wheels and a tow hook so that it can be attached to the Sd. Kfz. 7 prime mover that was recently released. Both sets of wheels can be removed so that the gun, mounted on a cruciform platform, can be set up in a firing position. Gun elevates and fully traverses. This particular version is painted in the early war feldgrau ("field grey") scheme of the Wehrmacht and features kill rings lining the length of the gun barrel. Sold Out!

Note: This is a very delicate instrument of war so please be careful attaching and detaching the wheel assemblies.

Dimensions:
Length: 7-1/2-inches
Width: 3-inches
Height: 3-1/2-inches

Release Date: January 2003

Original Issue Price: $99.99

Historical Account: "Fifty Shades of Grey" - After June 1940, Dunkelgrau (dark grey) was the only color to be used on vehicles and equipment of the Wehrmacht. Because of its rather blackish appearance, this meant that the vehicles didn't blend in with the environment nearly as well as they did with a Dunkelbraun (dark brown) camouflage.

It should be noted that vehicles captured during the campaigns of this period were left in their original paint scheme. Sometimes they were re-painted, but this was the exception rather than the rule. The Czech-built Pz.Kpfw 35(t) and Pz.Kpfw 38(t), however, were painted in the standard German colors. Equipment produced in other occupied countries were also painted in standard German colors.

In North Africa, Dunkelgrau wasn't exactly the color of choice to use, as the initial fighting quickly bore out. Therefore, in March 1941, it was decided to use RAL 8000 Gelb-braun (yellow-brown) or RAL 8020 Braun (Brown) as the base color. Over this RAL 7008 Grau-grun (grey-green) or RAL 7027 Grau (grey) was to be applied in patches by the crews as a means of camouflage (information courtesy of Panzerworld.com).