Little_Black_Devil

too obscure I guess?

When I play CMBO, I regularly employ my smaller AAA guns in the ground role, particularly against the lighter vehicles. I like the British-Commonwealth Bofors, but I find the German 20mm to be more effective by virtue of their rate of fire. Anyhow, I was doing some reading on the Flak38, and discovered that it was equipt with a telescopic sight for use with ground targets, but little else was specified. I'm just wondering if anyone has any information on the 8x telescopic sight which the Flak38 used when being employed in the ground role? What was its field of view? and in addition, would the earlier Flak30 have carried this sight too, or did it even have a provision to mount it? I'm just wondering what kind of effect an 8x sight might be able to contribute to my smaller AAA guns in the ground role, and if some of the earlier variats (Flak30 for instance) might also have access to this sight. Thanks

Thanks for the responses guys. I already had PzIV Universe bookmarked - great site. I'm still left wondering though, whether the K.Gr.rot.Pz was AP,APC or APCBC and which (if any) HEAT round the PzIV would have carried as a standard loadout by June 1941.

I've been doing some reading up on the "early" or "earlier" tanks which the Germans would have been using on the Eastern Front - you know, all in preperation (or should I say anticipation) of my next addiction. Anyhow, I was reading up on the early Panzer IV's, in particular the ones armed with the short barrelled low velocity 75mm L/24 gun. The term "T-34 Bait" comes to mind. Back to my point - I'm wondering if anyone here can answer these questions. I have run into a bit of confusion surrounding the types of rounds the 75mm L/24 gun would have fired (during the opening stages of Barbarosa), either specifically in an anti-armour role or against other hard targets (like bunkers for instance). The biggest issue I have run into is the K.Gr.rot.Pz round. Is it AP, APC or APCBC? Would this round still have been in use by the time Barbarosa rolled around, or would it likely have been replaced by the Pzgr.39 round, which I believe is APCBC? In regards to the initial hollow charge or HEAT rounds, I understand the very first one available for the Stuk37 L/24 (for the early StuG III's) to have been the Gr.38 HL or Gr.38 H1, succedded by the Gr.38 H1/A. Which of these would have likely been in service by June 1941 - and moreover would the early L/24 equipt PzIV's have carried any of these at all? Thanks in advance for your help. P.S. - sorry if this is a double post, the first one didn't seem to appear.

Oops [ June 15, 2002, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: Little_Black_Devil ]

I thought that looked a little too good to be true. Thanks for clearing that up.

Did I read correctly - that some crews were able to abandon their weapons and then return to them?

Does anyone know of a good/reputeable research firm or web-site which might have access to this kind of obscure and detailed information? I don't think its likely I'll find a book containing this stuff. Perhaps there is a useful exerpt from an old issue of AFV news magazine. Thanks

Thanks for the link Mattias - very interesting stuff. I'm still curious about the specific month that Pzgr40 become available for the 20mm KwK L/55 though. Not sure if thats something I'll ever be able to find. Still, lots of good info. Aside from the effects of the incendiary rounds on Infantry, I wonder how they would also perform against armour? Thanks again guys

Well that too is a good question, though what little I understand about anti-armour MG rounds and their use in WWII, is that it was quite rare. I may be mistaken about that. What I do know - is the a Pzgr40 round for the 20mm KwK30 L/55 Gun will enable it to still efectively take on some of the lighter Soviet tanks. In short - it will still concieveably be employable as a "battle tank" against these lighter tanks, and armoured cars. While the biggest problem is getting a thinnly armoured Panzer II close enough to make use of its Pzgr40 rounds against a lot of 45mm armed Soviet AFVs - but that problem is for me to enjoy figuring out. I just want to know if I'll have that option, or if I'll be left with just AP to pull my proverbial rabbit out of a hat. Of course, the history buff in me wants to know the dates for the implementation of Pzgr40 rounds for this specific gun for general interests sake. If 20mm Pzgr40 was actually in service during the opening stages of Barbarosa, and was used, then I say - bring it on! [ April 11, 2002, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Little_Black_Devil ]

...and another lurker emerges from the woodwork I've got a question for some of the super-grogs out there as I can't find the answer; I'm a big fan of the smaller, less significant tanks. I fully expect to see the earlier versions of the Panzer II in the game, as they were a good part of the armoured backbone which was present during the opening months of Operation Barbarosa. What I'am curious about is the availability of AP-40 or Pzgr40 rounds to this vehicles armament, the 20mm KwK30 L/55 automatic cannon. I know AP-40/Pzgr40 rounds existed for the 20mm gun, I'm just not clear on the details. I'm not exactly sure when this type of round (APCR) initially became available to this vehicle and its respective armament, or for long it was available (as I do know that Tungsten became harder and harder to come by as the war progressed). Surely - this round would help give a lighter tank like the Pz II more hitting power at close range considering some of its propsective opponents. I'm just hoping its available early enough in the campaign to actually be of some use before I start running into larger numbers of Soviet medium tanks. Does any one have the answer or can they reccomend a source where I might obtain it? Thanks

Hey - I've shot at that turret before! I wondered what the heck it was from.

Yup - Rexford's book is indeed at Angleray Books! I just ordered my copy here. When I visited the site, the specific link to Rexford's particular book was down temporarily - being addressed by the very kind folks at Angleray Books as I type here. Regardless, I ordered mine by phone - and the book IS indeed in stock. I should have mine in 4-7 business days. Cheers [ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Little_Black_Devil ]</p>

Yup - Rexford's book is indeed at Angleray Books! I just ordered my copy here. When I visited the site, the specific link to Rexford's particular book was down temporarily - being addressed by the very kind folks at Angleray Books as I type here. Regardless, I ordered mine by phone - and the book IS indeed in stock. I should have mine in 4-7 business days. Cheers [ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Little_Black_Devil ]</p>

I just sent you an email as well. Not sure if you check it regularly or not - didn't want to take the risk. I really want a copy of "the book". Thanks again Cheers [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Little_Black_Devil ]</p>

I just sent you an email as well. Not sure if you check it regularly or not - didn't want to take the risk. I really want a copy of "the book". Thanks again Cheers [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: Little_Black_Devil ]</p>

I'd have to agree with earlier comments, that it appears that the space between the chassis and turret on the T-34/85 is too pronounced.