Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette 38(t) Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 140)

By Mark Khan

The Rex and Rod Cadman collection Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette38(t) Ausf. M (Sd.Kfz. 140)

As a result of the German Occupation of Czechoslovakia on March 15 1939 the German war machine benefited enormously by capturing the Czech armament manufacturing Capability, The Czechs produced a range of armoured Vehicles. An example of one of these vehicles was the ŠKODATNHP tank which was incorporated into the German inventory as the Pz.Kpfw.38 (t). With the development of heavier tank armament by by the Russians in 1941 the Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) became obsolete as a tank, but the chassis continued to be utilsed as a self-propelled carriage. One of the variants developed in 1943/44 was the Flakpanzer 38 (t) (2cm).Mounting a single 2cm FLAK 38 anti-aircraft gun, examples of this vehicles were known to have been deployed with the 12th SS Panzer Division ‘ Hitlerjugend’ in Normandy in 1944. As a result of cleaning the hulk of a FLAKPANZER 38 belonging to The Rex & Rod Cadman Collection a number of artefacts were found, This report identifies each one.

A model of a FLAKPANZER 38

American soldiers playing cards in front of a destroyed Flakpanzer 38(t) in Normandy, 1944

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Armoured vehicles by nature are of complicated construction. As a result of use, Items of equipment are often dropped and fall into inaccessible places and are lost. When a Vehicle is restored, often these items are re-discovered and can give an indication to the use of the vehicle. Falling to different layers within the vehicle, items will collect. The examples here are the cabin and chassis layers of the FLAKPANZER 38.

CABIN LEVEL

CHASSIS LEVEL

A picture of the interior of a destroyed Flakpanzer 38(t) showing the complicated nature of the layout. HE 20cm Ammunition For the Flak 38 - 20mm Cannon

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The following artefacts were recovered during the cleaning of the vehicle chassis

German 27mm Rauchpatrone Signal (Signal Cartridge Smoke, puff, flash and Sound)

The band around case maybe grey. This color is often a blue - grey (in german: blaugrau). The name "Rauchpatrone" is not written on the case. The rim is roughly milled half way round. This is the code for a white (or yellow) light. The R - Patrone is a simulator for projectiile air - burst. There is a loud sound, a white flashlight and a greyish cloud of smoke.

A German Walther Signal pistol

Original German Box Label

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German 27mm Red Single Star Signal Pistol Cartridge (Signalpatron Einzelstern rot)

This example has ignited most likely during a fire. The round was live and has detonated, bursting the case open. The colour indicator is due to the base of case being milled all the way round. This is a night identification aid and indicates it was a red star signal.

Original German Label

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Blendkorper 2h - Glass smoke fragments

Comparative picture - an intact

Comparative picture - an intact grenade

An original box containing grenades A section drawing

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9mm Steel case Pistolenpatronen m E. Round

1

S t +

D 8

4 asb 2

44 3 Original boxes containing 15 rounds Headstamp Key 1 Steel case - improved draw process

2 Manufacture - lot number. 3 Year of Manufacture

Manufacturer code - asb” DWM 4 Deutche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken

Left: weapons using The 9mm round Luger And

Above: An original outer Box containing 832 9mm rounds

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