Shield of the 8.8 cm Flak 18, 36 and 37

[Manuferey]

I have not been able to find much information about an important part of some 8.8 cm Flak 18, 36 and 37 guns: the shield (“Schutzschild” in German). I am excluding the Bufla (self-propelled and towed versions) which featured a shield from the beginning. Note that the shield of the towed Bufla version (and on some of the first self-propelled Bufla vehicles) was taller than the shield mounted later on the towed Flak guns.

Here are a few questions for a start:
- When was a shield introduced in the field? Before, during or after the Battle of France?
- Was it first introduced with guns of Heeresflak units ?
- Was it used with Luftwaffe Flak units classified as motorized (mot.) and mobile (v) or possibly just the motorized (mot.) units ?

So far, I have not seen any picture of a "static" 8,8 cm Flak gun (i.e. without the "Kreuzlafette") with a shield. I assume that these static guns being installed to protect the rear from air attacks were not supposed to provide AT defense under normal circumstances.

Emmanuel

[Manuferey]

I have found the following information in the book “Dreaded Threat – The 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37 in the anti-tank role” by Thomas Jentz:
"After employment in Belgium and France in May and June 1940, the commanding general of the I. Flakkorps noted in the experience report dated 10 July 1940 that: All anti-aircraft guns assigned to the Flakkorps must be provided with Schutzschielden (armored shields). Further development of Flak with armor protection should be a requirement in 1940."

Does this mean that no 8,8 cm Flak 18/36 employed by the Luftwaffe in the western campaign of 1940 had a shield?

Emmanuel

[schwarzermai]

Hello

i found these information in the standard-book about german Flakartillerie

Horst-Adalbert Koch - Flak
Die Geschichte der deutschen Flakartillerie und der Einsatz der Luftwaffenhelfer
2nd edition, Podzun, 1965

"Ab 1940 wurden die Kanonen aller Kaliber der im frontnahen Bereich eingesetzten mot. Batterien mit Stahlschutzschildern ausgerüstet."

"From 1940, the cannons of all calibers of the motorized batteries used in the near-front area were equipped with steel protection shields."

Uwe

[Sparre]

Is there anyone who knows how much protection these shields gave? Could they withhold 2 cm rounds for instance? Or is it just small arm rounds and shrapnels?

[Grzesio]

Obviously it could stop only small arms projectiles (even not AP ones) and splinters.
20 mm cannon had penetration in order of 15-20 mm at distances of 100-500 m, the shield was clearly not that thick.