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Post Info TOPIC: German motor guns -what were they?
Centurion


Legend

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German motor guns -what were they?
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Reading an account by Lt Spremberg - commander of 5th co (52nd Infantry Regiment) - an tank killing squad-  who was heavily involved at Cambrai. He recounts his unit facing some 30 Mk IVs coming from the direction of Bapaume and being, to put it mildly, in some trouble when "Suddenly (at 4:30), behind us is heard a characteristic and well known din. We saw at the road bend toward Cambrai and awaited with some delight, two motor guns." He goes on to describe how in cooperation with the commander of the guns he set up an anti tank ambush.


 Does anyone know what a German motor gun was? Were they a specialist anti tank capability? Where they armoured in any way? AND has any one got a photograph or drawing?



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28juni14


Hero

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The motor guns refered to were most likely a battery of Ehrhardt or Daimler platform trucks mounting 7.7cm guns.  These were the same BAK / Flak weapons discussed frequently in this forum.    It is factual that a number of these batteries engaged this large tank assault, and I have their kill totals from this action on file (I'm not home at the moment).


 



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Rhomboid


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Here's a photo from Gibot and Gorcynski's Cambrai book. They also provide an appendix listing tank "kills" by each Flak battery.

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K Flak truck.jpg (13.5 kb)
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28juni14


Hero

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Excellent, Rhomboid!   Can you provide that list for us on forum? 


(The pic is an example of the Ehrhardt Model 1914 platform truck.)



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Centurion


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Thanks Rhomboid


Were these motor guns used against tanks in subsequent battles?



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Rhomboid


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Here is the info from Appendix VIII (p.169) of "Following the Tanks, Cambrai", by Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorcynski:


Battery          Tanks destroyed           Commander                      Group


K. Flak 7            12                         Hptm. Hachner (8)              Caudry


                                                    Lt. Zorn (4)


K. Flak 92            7                         Lt. Borkowitz                       Arras


K. Flak 29            7                         Lt. Koll                              Caudry


K. Flak 5             7                          Lt. Cuwie                          1/2 Lewarde


K. Flak 30            4                         Lt. Spirlhoff                       


K. Flak 70            3                         Bz. Wachtm. Suchard             Caudry


K. Flak 96            3                         Lt. Janzen


K. Flak 69            3                         Lt. Suchanel


Flak 710 (horse)   2                         Bz. Wachtm. Werbel              Busigny


K. Flak 99            2                         Lt. Wuest


K. Flak 94            1 (F.W.1)              Lt. Bormann                         Caudry


K. Flak 4             12                        Lt. Paulat                            1/2 Busigny


K. Flak 2              1 (C.14)                   ?                                     Arras


K. Flak 55,46,106,158     ?


I'll need to check my references regarding the  employment of the Kraftwagen Flak batteries in other engagements.


The attachment shows an artist's impression of K. Flak battery 7 in action at Fontaine-Notre-Dame, from the same publication.


 



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Fontaine.jpg (21.3 kb)
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Tim R


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Hey guys


 How about the improvised AA/AntiTank vehicles used at Cambrai???


Any information, or photos.


All the Best


Tim R



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28juni14


Hero

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... I suspect the "improvision" was applying an AA weapon for flat trajectory tactical support.  Though we do know the Germans were preparing to meet the Allies' "Plan 1919" with large numbers of lorry-mounted field gun batteries.  Photo evidence suggests the trucks were all of the 5 ton class with cab and windscreen removed.  the FK then had a clear field of fire forward.  Not all, but a good number of the batteries were armed with captured 75mm Belgian Krupp guns that had been held in artillerie parks for home defense.



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Tim R


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Any chance, you might post some pic's, of the trucks and the 75mm Belgian Krupp.


All the Best


Tim R



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