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Normandy Air Defense Question
Jberardi
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Georgia, United States
Joined: July 10, 2007
KitMaker: 95 posts
Armorama: 88 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 04:02 AM UTC
Hello all -

Planning my next dio while finishing one on the bench. The scene will be set on the outskirts of St. Mere Eglise with a stone-built barn being the centerpiece. The idea is to depict a German unit a day or two prior to the 82nd dropping in on D-Day. I have some cool ideas about portraying the figures passing the time waiting for the inevitable invasion. An early title could be "Calm Before the Storm."

I wanted to include an AA battery in the farm yard. Not sure if the quad flak 38's were in the area or is the 88 a better choice? Using the smaller 38's would help limit the size of the dio. Also was the Luftwaffe still responsible for air defenses late in the war or was it more of a mixed unit?

As always thanks for the help.
VLADPANZER
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Lebanon
Joined: December 20, 2010
KitMaker: 568 posts
Armorama: 549 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 04:19 AM UTC
Hi Jim,

What I do know is that the area around St Mere Eglise was defended by an Austrian anti aircraft gunners. By the time of the invasion the quality of the troops had really diminished(No offence to anyone, I actually am talking about fighting capabilities) . I am pretty sure they did not have 88 guns. What would be appropriate in my opinion, is the 2cm flack 30.

I hope I helped! (If my info is wrong please correct me)
Regards,
captnenglish
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California, United States
Joined: May 20, 2008
KitMaker: 1,184 posts
Armorama: 770 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 04:37 AM UTC
I'd go with the flak 38, at least that is what I am planning to use in what could be the "after" to your "before"
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 09:58 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello all -

Planning my next dio while finishing one on the bench. The scene will be set on the outskirts of St. Mere Eglise with a stone-built barn being the centerpiece. The idea is to depict a German unit a day or two prior to the 82nd dropping in on D-Day. I have some cool ideas about portraying the figures passing the time waiting for the inevitable invasion. An early title could be "Calm Before the Storm."

I wanted to include an AA battery in the farm yard. Not sure if the quad flak 38's were in the area or is the 88 a better choice? Using the smaller 38's would help limit the size of the dio. Also was the Luftwaffe still responsible for air defenses late in the war or was it more of a mixed unit?

As always thanks for the help.

There were Luftwaffe antiaircraft units, known as "Flak" battalions, and Army antiaircraft units, known as "Fla" battalions. I presume Waffen SS also had organic AA units, though I don't known their designations.
Small caliber antiaircraft guns (2 cm and 3.7 cm) was used for fast moving, low altitude targets, like single-engined, ground attack planes. Medium and high altitude targets would be engaged by 8.8 cm guns, so both types would be present.
When emplacing an AA gun, consider its field of fire. It won't be next to a building, if this can be avoided, as it won't have a clear 360 degree field of fire against aerial targets. Of course, your unit could be depicted on the move, and stopping briefly in the farm yard.
Jberardi
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Georgia, United States
Joined: July 10, 2007
KitMaker: 95 posts
Armorama: 88 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 02:54 PM UTC
Thanks to everybody for the feedback.

Gerald, great point on the field of fire. Don't want the 38 shooting up the barn. Perhaps I'll go with a howitzer or nebelwerfer that has been pre sighted on one of the beach exits. I want the scene to appear as a fixed position, so the unit passing through won't work with the ideas I have.

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