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Anti-aircraft gun From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 3.7 cm Flak M42 was the marine version of the 3.7-centimetre (1.5 in) Flak 36/37 and used by the Kriegsmarine on surface ships and as the M42U on Type VII and Type IX U-boats. The 3.7 cm Flak M42U used several types of mounts and entered service in autumn 1943.[2]
3.7 cm/69 Flak M42[1] | |
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![]() A single 3.7 cm Flak M42U gun on the LM 42U mount. | |
Type | Anti-aircraft gun |
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Service history | |
In service | 1943–1945 |
Used by | Kriegsmarine |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1942 |
Manufacturer | Rheinmetal-Borsig |
Produced | 1943–1945 |
Specifications (3.7 cm Flak M42) | |
Mass | 109 kg (240 lb) |
Barrel length | 2.56 cm (1.01 in) bore (69 calibers) |
Crew | 3–4 |
Shell | 37 × 249R |
Shell weight | 635–700 g (1.400–1.543 lb) |
Caliber | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
Action | Recoil-operated |
Breech | sliding breech block |
Elevation | -10° to +90° |
Traverse | 360° |
Rate of fire | 250 rounds per minute (cyclic) |
Muzzle velocity | 815–865 m/s (2,670–2,840 ft/s) |
Effective firing range |
|
Feed system | 5-round clips |
The 3.7 cm Flak M42 was a longer caliber version of the Wehrmacht's 3.7 cm Flak 36, 69 caliber as opposed to 57 caliber. It replaced the older 3.7 cm SK C/30 that had been designed in 1930. The gun was loaded with a five-round ammunition clip, giving it a rate of fire of 250 rounds per minute, unlike the SK C/30 which was single-shot with a rate of 30 rounds per minute. The M42 was also about 134 kg (295 lb) lighter than the SK C/30 and had gun shields.[1][3]
The LM 42U mount was developed specifically for the 3.7 cm Flak M42U. It was manned by a 3-man crew, with a fourth man operating as the loader.[4]
The twin mount was based on the LM 42U design, in which the 3.7 cm Flak M42U guns were mounted side by side.[5]
The LM 43U mount was the final design of mount used on U-boats. It was a further improvement on the LM 42U. The LM 43U was only known to be installed on these U-boats (U-249, U-826, U-977, U-1023, U-1171, U-1305 and U-1306).[5]
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