Danish 2cm flak

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 20 Jan 2003 12:32

Hallo!

I`m looking for the German name of the Danish Madsen 2cm flak.
Supposed to be a single barreled gun on pivot mounting (like the Mg-34 flak)

Erik

Robert Hurst · Post by **Robert Hurst** » 20 Jan 2003 15:27

Hi Erik E

Any guns of this type that fell into German hands were taken over as the 2 cm Flugabwehrkanone Madsen (2 cm Flak Madsen for short).

Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, Belgium, France as well as Denmark all provided weapons of this type for German use.

The weapon itself was an air-cooled recoil-operated gun which could be mounted on a wide variety of sturdy mounts. The most common mount was a turntable rotating an a cruciform mounting but simple tripods and twin-mounts were also used. Both HE and AP rounds could be fired from ten or fifteen round magazines, but a special sixty round magazine could also be used.

Data

Calibre: 20 mm
Length of piece: 2,250 mm
Length of barrel (L/60): 1,200 mm
Weight of gun: 52 kg
Weight complete: 307 kg
Weight in action: 260 kg
Traverse: 360 degrees
Elevation: -5 degrees to + 85 degrees
Type of feed: 10 or 15 round magazine; also special 60 magazine
Muzzle velocity (AP): 730 m/sec; (HE): 890 m/sec
Shot weight: 0.128 kg
Shell weight: 0.136 kg
Max. effective ceiling: 2,120 m
Rate of fire (cyclic): 400 rpm; (practical): 200-250 rpm

Photo a was taken from 'WW2 Fact Files: Anti-Aircraft Guns', by Peter Chamberlain and Terry Gander.

The data and photo b were taken from 'Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the Third Reich', by Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain.

Regards

Bob

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 20 Jan 2003 18:01

The weapon was also a valid AT weapon, and placed on the At mount, it had a low silouhette. The AT version had a 30 round magazine, so I would think that the AA version had this too...

Disabled 12 German armoured vehicles at April 9th 1940...

Christian

Juha Tompuri · Post by **Juha Tompuri** » 20 Jan 2003 18:33

Hi!

Some info about the AT-version:
http://www.winterwar.com/Weapons/FinAT/ ... ank.htm#20

Regards, Juha

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 20 Jan 2003 20:40

Well, well, well......

Again I am impressed of the knowledgde on this forum!

Thanks to all of you 8)

EE

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 20 Jan 2003 20:53

Thanks for the info, Juha! The gun could also be mounted on a motorcycle, and on a wheelless mount

Christian

Juha Tompuri · Post by **Juha Tompuri** » 20 Jan 2003 23:46

Christian,

Motorcycle mount

When did the production end? AFAIK "you" produced them during the German occupation too.

Regards, Juha

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 20 Jan 2003 23:56

Yes, I believe they were produced during occupation as well. The company was disbanded after the war, though, probably as an event following the hippie-socialists that occupied Denmark after Germany left...

As for the motorcycle mount, it was possible to detach them, and in the end I wouldn't like a motorcycle fireing 20mm rounds after me.

Christian

JTV · Post by **JTV** » 23 Jan 2003 08:37

Some info about 20 mm Madsen in Finnish use can be found from these two pages:

http://www.ankkurinvarsi.net/jaeger/AT_GUNS1.htm

http://www.ankkurinvarsi.net/jaeger/AA_GUNS1.htm

Bill 13 · Post by **Bill 13** » 02 Jun 2007 04:11

Day All
Pic Source e-bay
Is this a Madsen too. Looks like it but I can never be sure?

jopaerya · Post by **jopaerya** » 02 Jun 2007 06:19

Hello Bill

You are right it's a 2 cm Madsen gun .

Photo - Ebay.de

Regards Jos

Tony Williams · Post by **Tony Williams** » 03 Jun 2007 06:34

The Madsen used its own unique ammunition, not interchangeble with that of other 20mm guns. In the pic below (from the Ammunition Photo Gallery on my website), the Madsen is the 20x120. The usual German 2cm Flak round is the 20x138B. The 20x110 is for the Hispano aircraft gun.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

Manuferey · Post by **Manuferey** » 03 Jun 2007 12:38

I'm surprised that the German "Beutename" would not include a letter indicating the Danish origin as with (t) for Czeskoslovakia, (f) for France, (e) for England, (i) for Italy, (r) for Russia, ... Or is it because it already included the manufacturer's name i.e. Madsen ?

Could it be " 2 cm Flak Madsen (d) " for instance ?

Emmanuel

Wehrmann · Post by **Wehrmann** » 04 Sep 2007 23:11

Here is our Madsen 20mm before restoration.

Regards Wehrmann

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 05 Sep 2007 19:22

I'm surprised that the German "Beutename" would not include a letter indicating the Danish origin

Without being too sure, I would say it`s becouse these weapons were produced for the German, not just captured.....
You also see other examples like the 4cm Flak 28 produced at Kongsberg, Norway. This is infact a Bofors gun, but there are no (n), (s) or whatsoever.

Here is a manual in german published by the danish manufacturer:

Axis History Forum

Danish 2cm flak

Danish 2cm flak

2 cm Danish Flak

20-mm Madsen in Finnish use

Danish 2cm flak