An interim self-propelled anti-aircraft gun using the Ausf. M chassis (also used in the Grille and late Marder III models), Flakpanzer 38(t) was rapidly created at the BMM factory (formerly ČKD) to provide German armored divisions with a counter for enemy warplanes while work continued on Panzer IV anti-aircraft variants. By simply combining the proven self-propelled gun chassis with a 2 cm FlaK 38 encased in folding armor plates, the factory could quickly provide the requisite 141 Flakpanzer 38(t) vehicles, which entered service by spring of 1944 on the Eastern Front, in Italy, and France. By then, the limitations of the 20mm FlaK became apparent and production halted, with ten unfinished chassis sent back for completion as Grilles. The Flakpanzer had a limited impact on the course of the war, primarily due to the underpowered weapons and cumbersome design of the fighting compartment.
Strategy[ | ]
The Gepard is a weak AA gun and must be used in numbers to even repel aircraft. Due to its cost compared to other armored cars, it is rather impractical as an infantry support vehicle.
