10.5cm FlaK39 Railway car (GBX87) (Direct Only) includes one 10.5cm Flak39 Railway car with one 10.5cm Flak39 gun and 10 crew figures. The 10.5cm Flak39 was the standard German heavy anti-aircraft weapon. While this was its primary use, like the famous 'Eighty-eight', the 10.cm FlaK gun was also provided with anti-tank sights and APC shells. Designed and built by Rheinmetall, it was produced in both static and mobile versions and was also mounted on railed vehicles. Check out the 10.5cm Flak39 Railway car in the online store here...

In many parts of Germany mobile FlaK units were employed with guns on railway mounts. They could be equipped with any of the following calibres: 20mm (single or four-barrelled), 37mm, 75mm, 88mm, or 105mm. These units moved from place to place in special FlaK trains, with their own living and kitchen accommodations. The width of the broad-type heavy FlaK cars was extended with a folding flap, allowing crews space to operate the guns effectively. The heavy guns were not generally fired on the move. On arrival at their destination, the trains were broken up, and the guns and equipment were sited on sidings.

Berlin: German In January 1945 the German Ardennes offensive in the west failed to force the Allies to the negotiating table. The British and Americans are ready to cross into Germany. The newly-raised Panzerdivision ‘Clauswitz’ and troops from the schools and training battalions are thrown into the fight. Every fighting man is utilised in the defence of the Reich. In the east, the Germans traded ground for time, falling back into western Poland and east Prussia and establishing Festerplatz, or fortress cities. An eerie calm settled in for the first few weeks of the new year as both sides prepare.

Considerable reliance was placed by the Germans on these railway FlaK units as a means of providing rapid reinforcement to threatened areas. Frequently railway was moved to ground defence areas after a heavy air attack, in the expectation of further attacks on subsequent nights. Instances were also reported of the employment of railway FlaK at objectives where, for reasons of expediency, no permanent FlaK protection was provided. Apart from the reinforcement of ground defence areas, railway FlaK units were used, especially in theatres of active operations, for mobile protection of railway communications, as stations, junctions, loading bays, and sidings were particularly vulnerable to low-flying attacks.

Designed by Evan Allen Painted by Aaron Mathie