German gun 8.8 cm Flak 18 & Sd.Anh. 201 COBI 3140 - World War II 1:35

Model 8.8 cm Flak 18 & Sonderanhänger 201 | COBI 3140:

This building set with rich accessories includes the FlaK 18 gun and the detachable Sonderanhänger 201 transport carriage. The assembled model can therefore be displayed in a firing position on its support legs or mounted on the carriage with a towing hitch and connected to a suitable COBI vehicle. Beautiful details include the fire-control handwheels and the white rings of the 3rd battery on the barrel. The set also includes an ammunition crate with shells and two Luftwaffe anti-aircraft defense soldier figures in intimidating black uniforms. Each soldier is equipped with a Mauser 98k rifle.

Did you know:

• The 88 mm anti-aircraft gun was developed by the Krupp company as early as 1928.
• The design was based on a gun from the Swedish company Bofors, which German representatives secretly visited in violation of the Versailles Peace Treaty.
• The FlaK 8.8 was a highly regarded weapon of World War II. Initially, it was the only weapon capable of threatening the armor of heavy Soviet tanks such as the KV-1 and KV-2.
• With the 88 mm barrel, an entire range of related weapons was developed, with or without a carriage, with the portable Würzburg radar, or as a main tank gun.
• The gun was simple, reliable, and accurate. The crew needed only two minutes to bring the gun into firing readiness.
• The average barrel life was 8–10,000 rounds.
• At the end of World War II, in the pursuit of a “wonder weapon,” Germany even considered installing an 88 mm barrel on a heavy bomber. However, such an idea was never realized.
• The first version was the FlaK 18, followed by the FlaK 36, 37, and the rapid-fire FlaK 41.
• Across all versions, more than 21,310 units were produced in the Krupp and Rheinmetall factories.
• The white stripes on the barrel indicated the firing battery order. One stripe = first battery, etc. This marking helped simplify ammunition delivery for supply units, which then knew where to deliver requests, for example from the third battery.
• The Sd.Anh. 201 transport carriages were manufactured according to a common design by five German companies, although each could differ in several details. The largest manufacturer was Deutsche Eisenwerke AG.

Technical specifications of the 8.8 cm Flak 18:

• dimensions: length in firing position 7.62 m, width 2.30 m, height 2.41 m
• barrel length 4.93 m
• caliber 88 mm
• weight 7,407 kg
• maximum range 14,860 m
• ceiling (vertical range) 10,600 m
• rate of fire 15–20 rounds/minute
• muzzle velocity 840 m/s
• accuracy: at 1,000 m – dispersion 100 mm; at 2,000 m – dispersion 1–2 m
• probability of hitting a flying target per shot 2%

Technical specifications of the Sonderanhänger 201:

• construction: welded steel frame – two axles
• suspension: leaf springs
• brakes: drum brakes connected to the towing vehicle
• dimensions: length 3.8 m, width 1.9 m, height 1.3 m
• weight: 1,100 kg
• payload capacity: 7,500 kg

From the memoirs of B-17 pilot John “Lucky” Luckadoo (100th Bomb Group, USAAF):

“During the mission over Bremen, the flak fire was so intense that the puffs of explosions looked like a continuous lawn I could ride across on a bicycle. I thought to myself that this must be what hell looks like—but hell cannot be worse than this. One shell exploded near the cockpit. A window shattered onto me and shrapnel cut through my glove and sleeve, but I was fine.”

About the set :

• COBI building set 3140 FlaK 18 & Sd.Anh. 201 is made of 360 high-quality ABS parts
• scale 1:35
  
• collection World War II
• number of figures: 2
• pad printed – no stickers
• accurate detailing
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building block brands