Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

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Manuferey
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Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#1

Post by Manuferey » 30 Jul 2014, 23:58

I’ve come across a few Heeres-Flak sections called “Flieger-Abwehr Zug” or “Fla-Zug” (no “k”) that were intended to provide AA defense to some German Army coastal batteries in Normandy by the end of 1943:

- Fla-Zug 1006 near HKB 4./706 (then 1./1262), west of Cherbourg
- Fla-Zug 1076 in the HKAA 1255's sector (from Alain Chazette's book on coastal batteries in Normandy (1939-1944)

Does someone know when a Fla-Zug was assigned to coastal batteries and why, compared to just assigning AA guns?

Emmanuel

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schwarzermai
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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#2

Post by schwarzermai » 31 Jul 2014, 06:30

Hello Emmanuel

the creation of Fla-Halb-Zügen of 2x 2cm AA-guns start already end of may 1940 for railway guns units, later some of those expanded into Fla-Züge of 2x 2cm Vierling or 4x 2cm Zwilling.

2cm (and 3,7cm-) AA-guns named "s.s. M.G. = überschwer" too or just Fla.
At this time the name "Flak" was reserved for Luftwaffe only, Heer have their Fla-Units (2cm and 3,7cm)

1006 - created at 14.10.1941 for Stab s.Art.Abt. (mot.) z.b.V. 676, at 25.5.1942 submitted to Stab schwere Artillerie-Abteilung (mot.) z.b.V. 681.

Main function was the close defense against fighter-bomber (Tiefflieger)

Uwe
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=223633

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#3

Post by jopaerya » 31 Jul 2014, 09:42

If you look on war-time picture's many H.K.B. used the 2 cm KwK 30 as light flak .

Regards Jos

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#4

Post by Manuferey » 01 Aug 2014, 01:37

Thank you, Uwe.

Since there seems to be more HKBs than Fla-Züge with numbers (from what I could find in the December 1943 Frontnachweiser), I'm wondering in which case a Fla-Zug with a number was assigned to an HKB and in which case it was only Flak guns to be manned by existing personnel maybe like an "Alarm-Fla-Zug"? :?

Emmanuel

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#5

Post by pierrot » 04 Aug 2014, 12:08

Hi Emmanuel

Fla-Zug 1026 and 1036 in Belgium in 1943 with HKAA 823 and HKAA 826. These two HKAA's were put together later to form the HKAR 1240.

Gr.

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Fla-Zug.jpg
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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#6

Post by Manuferey » 04 Aug 2014, 15:30

Thank you, Pierrot.

It looks like each Fla-Zug could have been actually responsible for AA guns of several batteries e.g. Fla-Zug 1036 for 1., 2. and 3./826 (total : 3 x 2 cm Flak = 1 Zug) and Fla-Zug 1026 for 1., 2. and 3./823 (total : 3 x 2 cm Flak = 1 Zug).

Here is a list of Fla-Züge in the Frontnachweiser of December 1943. There are mostly Heerestruppen with Nr. 1xxx6 except for Fla-Zug attached to Infanterie-Divisions. I suspect that the Fla-Züge with numbers ending with « 6 » (except 1316) were assigned to coastal batteries.

Image

Emmanuel

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#7

Post by pierrot » 04 Aug 2014, 20:06

Sorry Emmanuel but in Belgium, no 2cm Flak gun , just a single MG34 manned by 6(?) men.

Gr.

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HKAA 823.jpg
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HKAA 826.jpg
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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#8

Post by Manuferey » 05 Aug 2014, 16:20

Thank you, Pierrot.

It's becoming more intriguing to me: a special AA section just with one MG dedicated to a coastal battery. :?

Emmanuel

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#9

Post by jopaerya » 13 Aug 2014, 14:56

Found this , I know it's very hard to read , they are talking about a Flak Halbzug 1076 with 3.7 cm flak guns .

Regards Jos
Attachments
axis 12.JPG

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#10

Post by Manuferey » 13 Aug 2014, 17:23

Thanks, Jos. It looks like the text mentions a half section : "Halbzug", "Flakhalbzuges".

I cannot read the number of guns.

Emmanuel

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#11

Post by jopaerya » 13 Aug 2014, 17:43

Hello Emmanuel

I think 6 x 3.7 cm flak guns but that is a Halbzug and not a complete Zug .

Regards Jos

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#12

Post by Manuferey » 14 Aug 2014, 01:57

Thanks, Jos.

6 guns is quite a lot for a "half Zug". A Heeres Zug would then have 12 guns which would make it equivalent to a Luftwaffe light Flak battery. :?

Emmanuel

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#13

Post by schwarzermai » 25 Aug 2014, 07:06

hello

with order from July-30th 1941 these Fla-Züge of 4x 2cm Fla were created for "bodenständigen Einsatz ohne Kfz."
1006, 1016, 1026, 1036, 1046, 1056, 1066, 1076, 1086, 1096 and 1106

they were ready for action at September 14th 1941

at october 8th 1941 the Fla-Züge were planed for Heeres-Küsten-Artillerie-Abteilungen, and at October 14h 1941 the Fla-Züge were "kriegsgliederungsmäßig" assigned to

1006 --> HKAA 676
1016 --> HKAA 769
1026 --> HKAA 823
1036 --> HKAA 826
1046 --> HKAA 832
1056 --> HKAA 738
1066 --> HKAA 827
1076 --> HKAA 510
1086 --> HKAA 778
1096 --> HKAA 799
1106 --> HKAA 770

Uwe
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My Bookproject: "Organisationsgeschichte der deutschen Heeresartillerie im II. Weltkrieg"

http://balsi.de/Heeresartillerie/

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#14

Post by Manuferey » 26 Aug 2014, 02:34

Great find, uwe ! :D

Emmanuel

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Re: Fla-Zug with Heer coastal batteries

#15

Post by Manuferey » 30 Aug 2014, 02:44

Based on the Kriegsgliederung des Feldheeres from 1942, it appears that Fla-Zuege were provided only to the HKAAs positionned along the occupied English Channel coast ("Kanalkueste").

But I cannot find any data about HKAA 676. Where was it positioned? :?

Emmanuel

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