ICM 35718 1/35 2cm Flak 38 Anti-aircraft Gun with Crews

Includes 2 cm Flak 38 anti-aircraft gun and four figures: gun commander, gunner, rangefinder operator, and loader
Figures depicted in a combat scene, preparing to open fire
Anti-aircraft gun can be assembled with two different barrel elevation angles, with or without armor protection
Includes color schemes with various camouflage options and decals with markings for the 2 cm Flak 38 gun
At the beginning of World War II, the German Army’s anti-aircraft defense relied on specialized motorized companies, each equipped with 12 automatic anti-aircraft guns. However, as the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the need to protect units from enemy attack aircraft and fighter-bombers intensified. Many Wehrmacht combat formations began incorporating anti-aircraft units armed with heavy 88-mm guns, complemented by 20-mm automatic cannons-the 2 cm Flak 38. The 2 cm Flak 38 anti-aircraft gun entered service in the second half of 1940, deployed to both Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe ground units. Over time, these small-caliber anti-aircraft guns grew in number, becoming the primary means of close-range air defense. By May 1944, the Wehrmacht’s ground forces boasted 6,355 single-barreled and 925 quadruple-barreled 20-mm guns. While the full combat crew for the 2 cm Flak 38 consisted of five personnel, combat conditions often saw four or even three soldiers effectively operating the gun and fulfilling various tasks.