German crew of a 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun resting in an Italian town, 1943.

Now that's a Gun!

When it looked like Germany might soon be at war with Czechoslovakia in 1938, the high command ordered that ten 8.8cm FlaK18 anti-aircraft guns should be modified for use against the fortified positions on the Czech border. War was avoided, but the need remained and ten 8.8cm FlaK18 anti-aircraft guns were mounted on Daimler-Benz DB10 12 tonne half-tracks. The resulting 8.8cm FlaK18 (Sfl) auf Zugkraftwagen 12t was fitted with a low armoured cab and a small armoured cupola for the driver that allowed the gun to be fired to the front. The gun was mounted on a simple platform over the tracks. Known as the ‘Bufla’ or ‘Bunkerflak’, this self-propelled mount was equally useful against fortifications and heavy tanks. The 8.8cm FlaK18 (Sfl) auf Zugkraftwagen 12t were issued to the 8. Schwere Panzerjagerabteilung and were used in action in Poland in 1939 and France with 1. and 2. Panzer Divisions in 1940. They fought French tanks (including the heavy Char B) on several occasions, losing two vehicles in the process. 8. Schwere Panzerjagerabteilung was attached to the XXXIX Armeekorps for the invasion of Russia. In mid-1942 the four  surviving vehicles joined 521. Schwere Panzerjagerabteilung and fought in the Caucasus alongside the Dicker Max and the two Sturer Emil heavy tank-hunters.

8.8cm FlaK18 Sfl Specifications

Designation
8.8cm FlaK18 (Sfl) auf
Zugkraftwagen 12t (Sd Kfz 8)
Crew
9 (cdr, gnr, ldr (6), dvr)
Weight
44,090lb/20,000kg
Length
24’6”/7.35m
Height
9’5”/2.8m
Width
8’7”/2.5m
Armament
1 x 8.8cm FlaK18 gun;
1 x 7.92mm MG34 machine-gun
Ammunition Stowage
40 x 8.8cm; 600 x 7.92mm
Armour Thickness
8mm to 14.5mm
Engine
Maybach HL85TUKRM 12-cylinder petrol,
520cu in/9 litre, 185hp 
Suspension
Torsion bar
Maximum Speed
31mph/50km/h
Road Radius
162 miles/260km

8.8cm FlaK18 Sfl Tank-hunter

German 8.8cm FlaK anti-aircraft gun in North Africa, Apr-May 1943.