3.7 cm FlaK 43
The 3.7 cm Flak 43 was a light anti-aircraft (AA) gun used by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was derived from the 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37 series of AA guns. It was provided with single- and twin-gun mounts, the latter being designated as the 3.7 cm Flak 43 Zwilling and was in service from 1944 to 1945. In addition to versions used by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy), it served as the main armament of the Ostwind and Möbelwagen and was proposed for use in the Flakpanzer Coelian self-propelled AA guns.
Also recorded as 3.7 cm Flakzwilling 43 · 37mm Flak 43
3.7 cm FlaK 43
Kurth · Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-301-1957-26 / Kurth / CC-BY-SA 3.0 · This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Name
- 3.7 cm Flak 43
- Field
- 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 · anti-aircraft gun · autocannon
- Region
- Nazi Germany · Germany
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Documentary summary
The 3.7 cm Flak 43 was a light anti-aircraft (AA) gun used by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was derived from the 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37 series of AA guns. It was provided with single- and twin-gun mounts, the latter being designated as the 3.7 cm Flak 43 Zwilling and was in service from 1944 to 1945. In addition to versions used by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy), it served as the main armament of the Ostwind and Möbelwagen and was proposed for use in the Flakpanzer Coelian self-propelled AA guns.
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Broader Term · outgoing
3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43
Term
This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project . The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation
Broader Term · outgoing
anti-aircraft gun
Term
No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims).
Broader Term · outgoing
autocannon
Term
Own work
Located In · outgoing
Germany
Place
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Authority files
wikidata · Q23936240 · wikipedia · 3.7 cm Flak 43
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — 3.7 cm Flak 43 • Origin — Nazi Germany • Type — Anti-aircraft gun • Is Ranged — yes • Is Explosive — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1944-1945 • Used By — Germany • Wars — World War II • Designer — Rheinmetall-Borsig • Design Date — 1939–1943 • Production Date — 1944–1945 • Part Length — (57 calibers) • Crew — 3–4 • Cartridge — 37 × 263B • Rate — *250 rounds per minute (cyclic) • 180 rounds per minute (practical) • Velocity — 790 - • Range — *6585 m (ground targets) • (ceiling) • Feed — 8-round clips • Breech — Gas-operated • Elevation — -10° to +90° • Traverse — 360°
Naval use
Service
Service
The first Flak 43s were reported in Luftwaffe service in August 1944, 431 single guns and 41 Zwilling mounts. By February 1945, these increased to 1032 single guns and 380 Zwillings.
Background and description
Rheinmetall-Borsig redesigned the Flak 36/37 to incorporate the gas-operated breech mechanism of the 3 cm MK 103 and to reduce the number of man-hours required to manufacture it from 4320 to 1000. The most obvious change was the adoption of a horizontal feed system from the vertical system of the earlier guns. The feed tray was positioned inside the oversized trunnions at the gun's center of gravity so it could be reloaded without disturbing the gun's aim. These changes significantly lightened the gun and made it faster to traverse and elevate.
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which 3.7 cm FlaK 43 stands. Manufactured by Rheinmetall AG. 3.7 cm FlaK 43 is recorded as artillery model.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “3.7 cm Flak 43”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q23936240: 3.7 cm FlaK 43
Unverified · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
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Further particulars
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Further particulars
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The identifiers under which 3.7 cm FlaK 43 may be traced in institutional catalogues.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43Terminology
- 3.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz M.15Terminology
- 3.7 cm KwK 36Terminology
- 3.7 cm PaK 36Terminology
- 3.7 cm SK C/30Terminology
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