Paragraph
Scope   ..............................................................................................		1
Characteristics   ..................................................................................		2
Data   .................................................................................................		3

1. SCOPE.

a. This manual is published for the information and guidance of the using arms and services.

b. There is included as much technical information required for identification, use, and care of the German 88-mm antiaircraft gun as can be ascertained from printed matter and the materiel on hand. Corrections and additions to this manual will be published as the information becomes available.

c. In all cases where the nature of the repair, modification, or adjustment is beyond the scope or facilities of the unit or beyond the scope of this manual, the responsible ordnance service should be informed so that proper instructions may be issued.

2. CHARACTERISTICS.

a. The mount is a circular pedestal antiaircraft type suspended from two bogies when in traveling position. The mount is equipped with a data transmission indicator for antiaircraft fire. There are also provisions for installing a direct laying sight for antitank fire and a dial sight for indirect fire. A hand driven fuze setter is fitted to the left side of the top carriage. The traversing and elevating mechanism data transmission indicators and direct laying sight are on the right side.

Figure 1 — German 88-mm Antiaircraft Gun — Firing Position

b. Normally, the bottom carriage is in contact with the ground during firing and is stabilized by outriggers. There are four leveling jacks, one at each extremity of the outriggers for leveling the bottom carriage. The top carriage is leveled by two handwheels located 45 degrees from either side of the center line of the front outrigger on the bottom carriage. The leveling system has a range of 9 degrees. The front of the mount is protected by a flat shield of armor plate.

Figure 2 — German 88-mm Antiaircraft Gun — Traveling Position

3. DATA.

a. Gun.

Type		Tube and loose 3 section liner
Total weight		2,947 lb
Weight of removable components:
Breech ring		505.5 lb
Outer tube		785 lb
Inner tube		805.5 lb
Liner (muzzle section)		600 lb
Liner (center section)		199 lb
Liner (breech section)		58 lb
Retaining rings		34 lb
Over-all length of tube		185 in. (470 cm)
Over-all length of gun and tube		194.1 in. (493.8 cm)
Length in calibers		56
Distance from center line of trunnions to breech face		6.5 in.
Travel of projectile in bore		157.4 in. (400 cm)
Volume of chamber		226 cu in.
Rated maximum powder pressure		33,000 lb per sq in. (approx.)
Muzzle velocity		2,690 ft per sec
Maximum range:
Horizontal		16,200 yd
Vertical		39,000 ft
Maximum effective ceiling		25,000 ft (at 70-deg elevation)
Rifling:
Length		157.4 in. (400 cm)
Direction		Right-hand
Twist		Increasing 1 turn in 45 calibers to 1 turn in 30 calibers
Number of grooves		32
Depth of grooves		0.0394 in. (1 mm)
Width of grooves		0.1969 in. (5 mm)
Width of lands		0.1181 in. (3 mm)
Type of breech mechanism		Semiautomatic horizontal sliding block
Rate of fire		15 rounds per min (practical rate at a mechanized target)
		20 rounds per min (practical rate at an aerial target)

b. Recoil Mechanism.

Type		Independent liquid and hydropneumatic
Total weight		524 lb
Weight of recuperator cylinder		285 lb
Weight of recoil cylinder		239 lb
Weight of recoiling parts in recoil mechanism		108.5 lb
Total weight of recoiling parts (with gun and tube)		3,159 lb
Type of recoil		Control rod type with secondary control rod type regulating counterrecoil
Normal recoil:
0-degree elevation		41.5 in. (105 cm)
25-degree elevation		33.46 in. (85 cm)
Maximum elevation		27.75 in. (70 cm)
Capacity of recoil cylinder		2.5 gal
Capacity of recuperator cylinder		4.5 gal

c. Mount.

Weight (less cannon and recoil mechanism)		8,404 lb
Maximum elevation		85 deg
Maximum depression		minus 3 deg
Traverse		360 deg
Loading angles		All angles
Height of trunnion above ground (firing position)		5.2 ft
Height of working platform (firing)		0.8 ft
Height of trunnion above working platform		4.4 ft
Leveling		Pivots located 45 deg from either side of center line of front outrigger (total of 9 deg each)
Number of turns of handwheel to elevate from 0 to 85 degrees:
High gear		42.5
Low gear		85
Elevation for one turn of elevating handwheel:
High gear		2 deg (35.4 mils)
Low gear		1 deg (17.7 mils)
Number of turns of handwheel to traverse 360 degrees:
High gear		100
Low gear		200
Traverse for one turn of handwheel:
High gear		3.6 deg (63.8 mils)
Low gear		1.8 deg (31.9 mils)
Effort required at elevating handwheel (in.-lb):
To Elevate      High Gear Low Gear 0 deg                55              110   20 deg     110   160   40 deg     192   110   60 deg     214   55   80 deg     209   50     To Depress High Gear Low Gear 0 deg                275              220   20 deg     193   28   40 deg     138   50   60 deg     110   77   80 deg     165   77
Effort required at traversing handwheel (in.-lb):
To Traverse Left High Gear Low Gear 0 deg                55              39 90 deg     28   6 180 deg     11   11 270 deg     22   17   To Traverse Right High Gear Low Gear 0 deg     10   6 90 deg     44   17 180 deg     61   44 270 deg     20   17
Time to elevate from minus 3 to plus 85 degrees:
High gear		15.02 sec
Low gear		25.90 sec
Time to depress from plus 85 to minus 3 degrees:
High gear		21.44 sec
Low gear		34.90 sec
Time to traverse 360 degrees:
High gear		33.90 sec
Low gear		69.79 sec
Over-all dimensions in firing position:
Length		19 ft
Height		6.9 ft
Width		16.87 ft w/outriggers
Over-all dimensions in traveling position:
Length		25.5 ft w/drawbar
Height		7.9 ft
Width (front)		7.20 ft
Width (rear)		7.60 ft
Length of outriggers		4.8 ft
Number of bogies		2
Type of bogies		Single axle. Single wheels on front; dual wheels on rear
Weight of front bogie		1,825 lb
Weight of rear bogie		2,645 lb
Pneumatic tire size		32 in. x 6½ in. (6½ extra 20); also marked 7:50 x 20
Wheel base		13.75 ft
Type of brakes		Vacuum air brakes on all wheels; hand-operated parking brakes on rear wheels also
Type and number of jacks		4 jacks integral with mount for leveling bottom carriage; one on each end of outriggers and carriage
Leveling		4.5 deg leveling either side of horizontal
Road clearance		1.14 ft
Tread (front)		5.8 ft
Tread (rear)		6 ft
Height of axis of bore above ground (firing)		5 ft
Time to change from traveling to firing position		2½ min with 6-man crew (approx.)
Time to change from firing to traveling position		3½ min with 6-man crew (approx.)
Weight of entire carriage		16,325 lb
Rear wheel reactions		9,830 lb
Front wheel reactions		6,510 lb
Type of equilibrators		Spring type with built-in spring compressors

d. Essential Translations.

Schnell		Quick
Normal		Normal
Automatik		Automatic
Hand		Hand
Wiederspannen		Recock
Los		Loose
Fest		Tight
Linksgewinde		Left-hand thread
Mundung		Muzzle
Feuer		Fire
Sicher		Safe