2 cm Flak 30, Flak 38 and Flakvierling 38
| 2 cm Flak 30/38 | |
|---|---|
2 cm Flak 30 in travel configuration in the Imperial War Museum London | |
| Type | Anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | April 1934–1945 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | World War II Portuguese Colonial War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall-Borsig Mauser Ostmarkwerk |
| Unit cost | 3500 Reichsmark |
| Produced | 1934–1945 |
| No. built | more than 144,000 (Flakvierling count per barrel) Flak 30: 8,000+ Flak 38: 40,000+ |
| Variants | 2 cm Flak 38, Gebirgsflak 38, Flakvierling 38 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Flak 30: 450 kg (990 lb) Flak 38: 405 kg (893 lb) |
| Length | 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) |
| Barrel length | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) L/65 |
| Width | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Height | 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Shell | 20×138mmB |
| Caliber | 20 mm (.79 in) |
| Elevation | -12°to ±90° |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | Flak 30: 280 rpm (cyclic)/120 rpm (practical) Flak 38: 450 rpm (cyclic)/180 rpm (practical) |
| Muzzle velocity | 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 2,200 m (2,406 yds) (anti-aircraft) |
| Maximum firing range | 5,783 m (5,230 yds) (ground range) |
| Feed system | 20 round box magazine |
The Flak 30 (Flugzeugabwehrkanone 30) and improved Flak 38 were 20 mm anti-aircraft guns used by various German forces throughout World War II. It was not only the primary German light anti-aircraft gun but by far the most numerously produced German artillery piece throughout the war. It was produced in a variety of models, notably the Flakvierling 38 which combined four Flak 38 autocannons onto a single carriage.