An automatic AA gun designed for easy production and in service in both the Army and the Navy. This was a modified Rheinmetall 108 MK103 aircraft cannon that was a short recoil, gas operated, air cooled and used an eight-round ammunition strip. Trained by shoulder stirrup but elevated via a handwheel. A wet-mount was provided for U-boats.
| Designation | 3.7 cm/57 (1.5") Flak M43 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Adm. Scheer, Lützow, Nürnberg, Köln and Type 35 and Type 37 torpedo boats |
| Date Of Design | 1943 |
| Date In Service | 1945 |
| Gun Weight | 783 lbs. (355 kg) |
| Gun Length oa | 130 in (3,300 m) |
| Barrel Length | 82.9 in (2.106 m) |
| Rifling Length | 72.4 in (1,838 m) |
| Grooves | (20) 0.0217 in deep x 0.142 in (0.55 mm x 3.6 mm) |
| Lands | 0.087 in (2.2 mm) |
| Twist | Increasing RH 1 in 60 to 1 in 35.9 |
| Chamber Volume | 13.85 in3 (0.227 dm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | 250 rounds per minute cyclic
180 rounds per minute practical |
| Type | Fixed |
|---|---|
| Weight of Complete Round | HE incendiary: 3.28 lbs. (1.49 kg)
AP tracer: 3.31 lbs. (1.50 kg) |
| Projectile Types and Weights | HE incendiary: 1.38 lbs. (0.625 kg)
AP tracer: 1.51 lbs. (0.685 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | HE incendiary: N/A
AP tracer: N/A (probably solid bullet) |
| Projectile Length | N/A
HE incendiary, complete round: 14.5 in (368 mm) |
| Propellant Charge | HE incendiary: 0.419 lbs. (0.190 kg) Digl RP-8-2 (2.2/0.85)
AP tracer: 0.408 lbs. (0.185 kg) Digl RP-8-2 (2.2/0.85) |
| Cartridge Case Type, Size and Empty Weight | Brass, 37 x 263B, N/A [1.0 lbs. (0.51 kg) loaded] |
| Muzzle Velocity | HE incendiary: 2,690 fps (820 mps)
AP tracer: 2,592 fps (790 mps) |
| Working Pressure | 16.5 tons/in2 (2,600 kg/cm2) |
| Approximate Barrel Life | 8,000 rounds |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | 2,000 rounds |
- The sources below differ in many areas for this weapon. The figures given in this table come mainly from "German Cruisers of World War Two."
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 45 degrees | 7,100 yards (6,500 m) |
| AA Ceiling @ 90 degrees | 15,750 feet (4,800 m) |
| Designation | Single Mount: Flak LM43
Twin Mount: Flak LM44 (modified Flak LM42 mount) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.38 tons (1.4 mt) |
| Elevation | -10 / +90 degrees |
| Elevation Rate | Manual operation, only |
| Train | 360 degrees |
| Train Rate | Manual operation, only |
| Gun recoil | N/A |
The Vickers Photographic Archive
See photograph numbers 0203 and 0204
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
"German Destroyers of World War Two" (2nd Edition) and "German Cruisers of World War Two" both by M.J. Whitley
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Special help by Anthony G. Williams
05 September 2006 - Benchmark
20 May 2012 - Updated to latest template
02 December 2015 - Changed Vickers Photographic Archive links to point at Wayback Archive
23 April 2020 - Converted to HTML 5 format and reorganized notes