SdKfz 222 Turret Question

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by SGTGunn

Ok! I wasn't aware that flak weapons couldn't fire while pinned - that's good to know! Do you happen to know if the mounting designed with the intent that it could be used as an AA weapon? Or if the Germans actually employed it as such?

Thanks,

Adrian

No - it was not used or conceived as an AAA weapon, even supplementary. It is realy more like the modern RARDEN cannon - a small amount of ready ammo which was used mainly in the self-loading mode, with an option to roll off a single auto burst if necessary.

The last thing you probably want is one of your recce vehicles randomly popping off at planes flying by - would give away your positions and/or scouting intentions to a human opponent?.

The high elevation would be useful fighting in close terrain to fire upwards, perhaps. Similar to Post-war Russian use of ZSU-23-4 to clear the top floors of multi-story buildings of Chechen fighters. But later versions of the 222 usually had an anti hand-grenade screen fitted, so likely they would be too vulnerable in towns etc with the original open top turret. And SP does not have the concept of floors in towns either.

Andy