88mm FlaK 18/36 as dual purpose gun

[David W]

Does anyone know of any complications regarding the use of an 88mm FlaK 18/36 when changing from engaging aircraft, to engaging ground targets at short notice, apart from the obvious, like depressing the barrel & changing the ammo?
Plus, what about complications in reversing that procedure from engaging ground targets to air?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the latter in particular was less than easy.

[sniper1shot]

Never read anything about it being hard or easy.

[David W]

I have only ever read ONE report of this, so as it was new to me, I "put it out there".

[Quax der Bruchpilot]

The ground version had a lighter barrel and after 500 shots couldn't be operated with high velocity ammunition anymore, as I understand the text below.

[Quax der Bruchpilot]

ARMY INTELLIGENCE REPORT JAN 45

German experiences with Soviet heavy tanks have resulted in
the production of some very powerful guns. Among these is the
Model 1943 88-mni gun. This improved 88 has a very high
muzzle velocity, which enables gunners to lay on and hit even
distant moving targets with considerable ease. In fact, the trajectory
followed by the projectile is so flat that, with certain
sights, the gunner can make his own elevation calculations up lo
a range of 3,700 yards for high-explosive projectiles and 4,400
yards for armor-piercing projectiles. A trajectory as flat as this
naturally means that gunners can open fire on tanks and other
armored vehicles without preliminary registration. The rise of
the shell in its flight seldom will be greater than the height of a
tank.
Besides being used as a direct-laid gun, the variations of the
Model 1943 can also fire either time-fuzed or percussion 20.68pound,
high-explosive shells as far as 16,570 yards.
The verified armor-penetration capabilities of the Model 43
88's are remarkable. With the newer type of 22.4-pound capped
armor-piercing shell (with ballistic cap to provide streamlining),
the following can be achieved:
Range Penetration
(shell hitting at right angles to the armor)
1,000 yards 7.87 inches
2,000 yards 6.61 inches
2,500 yards 6.02 inches
The Model 43 88's have certain drawbacks, however. While
raising the muzzle velocity, the Germans have tried to keep
down the weight of the gun. The result is a light tube with a
considerably reduced safety factor. Therefore, German gun
crews have been warned not to use high-velocity ammunition in
Model 1943 tubes which have fired as many as 500 rounds. To
preserve the gun tube against erosion, they may fire high-explosive
shell with a low-velocity propellant rated at 1,080 feet per
second. This ammunition gives a maximum range of only 7,765
yards.
Thus far the Model 43 88's have appeared in the new Royal
Tiger tank; in the "Elephant" (formerly called the "Ferdinand"),
the "Rhinoceros" (formerly called the "Hornet"), and
Panzerja'ger Panther tank destroyers; and on two towed carriages
(the Pak 43 and the Pak 43/41). Of these, the heavilyarmored
"Elephant" chassis has been found to be too cumbersome
and mechanically unreliable. The "Rhinoceros" chassis
is too slow; its armor is open on top, and provides protection
only against shell splinters and caliber .30 bullets. The Pak
43/41 ground mount also appears to be unsatisfactory. Its conventional
split-trail artillery carriage must be so heavy (9,660
pounds) that the complete piece weighs almost as much as the
12,300-pound 150-mm medium gun-howitzer s.F.H. 18. Such
a weight precludes manhandling, and is a great handicap in getting
the gun trained on a target which appears from an angle
not covered by the carriage's 60-degree traverse.
More suitable is the Pak 43 carriage, which has wheel bogies
in the front and rear, like an 88-mm Flak 18. This carriage not
only better distributes the weight over the ground, but permits
firing from the wheels with a 60-degree traverse. If the out riggers
are emplaced, full 360-degree traverse is possible. With
bogies removed, the Pak 43 has a very low silhouette for so
formidable weapon. In the case of the Pak 43 illustrated on
page 53, the site chosen was on the forward slope of a hill.
Thanks to its range, and to the lack of cover in target areas, the
gun could open instant and effective fire as soon as hostile infantry
or vehicles were detected on the crests of surrounding
hills, or in the defiles between them. While the Pak 43 on this
carriage offers formidable opposition for armored vehicles and
direct-laid weapons, its light shield (two thicknesses of 5 mm
each) gives no side and rear protection for the gun crew. As a
rssult, the Pak 43 is especially vulnerable to indirect-laid artillery
fire.
In this last respect, the Panzer jdger Panther is an improvement
on the Pak 43. By mounting the Model 43 88 in a wellarmored
box on a Panther chassis, the Germans have provided
good protection for crew and gun. Because of the Panther
chassis, the Panzerjdger Panther is also a very handy weapon.
Little traverse is built into the gun mount, but the Panther suspension
is so built that the driver can swing the chassis around
without forward movement. At present the Panzerjdger Panther
is believed to be used as an unusual infantry-support weapon,
Dug-in well to the rear of the main line of resistance, it uses its
long-range, direct-fire capabilities to deal with elusive targets
attacking German positions. Its excellent armor ordinarily
would permit it to act as an assault gun, or to fight tanks at
close range, but scarcity of tanks and bombed-out production
lines cause the Germans to keep the Panzerjdger Panthers out of
close-range fighting, except in emergencies. In their present role
of linking up strong points, these vehicles may prove difficult
weapons to combat, especially when their suspension is protected
by digging-in.
Of the carriages for the new Model 43 88, the best knownis
the improved Tiger tank called the Royal Tiger (Konigstiger)
This Tiger, first introduced on the Eastern Front in the winter
of 1943-44, weighs 75 tons in action (more than 66 British
tons). Just as important as the gun to the Royal Tiger's combat
efficiency is its new armor, which is sloped for added resistance
to armor-piercing projectiles (see page 57). In fact, the Royal
Tiger looks much like the Panther, except for the fact that the
side superstructure armor slants upward from rear to front.
The turret is noticeably different, also.
As in the case of all recent German tanks, the tracks of the
Royal Tiger are very wide—2 feet 8^/o inches. This not only
lessens the likelihood of serious damage by a single mine, but
means that the weight is so distributed that the tank can climb
a 35-degree slope or a 2-foot 9-inch step, and can ford streams
5 feet 9 inches deep. The Royal Tiger can do 24 miles an hour
on roads, but only 9 to 12 miles an hour in cross-country travel.
For close-in defense, the Royal Tiger has a coaxial 7.92-mm
machine gun next to the 88, and another in the hull. An antiaircraft
machine-gun mounting is fitted on top of the commander's
cupola. The crew of five (the commander, gunner, loader,
who are in the turret, and the driver and radio operator, who
are in the front of the hull) have only one pistol port. This port
is in the door in the rear of the turret, and consists of a conical
plug closed by a chain. If the crew find it necessary to open
hatches for observation or to use small arms, the following openings
are available:
Hull Turret
Hatch over driver Hatch on top of commander's
Hatch over radio operator cupola
Hatch on right of top
Hatch on rear slope
Door in rear plate

[David W]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the latter in particular was less than easy.

So do we conclude that the author was mistaken?