88/56 gun
(IT551)
(German FlaK 36 anti-aircraft gun in Italian hands)
The German ‘88’ was a highly prized duel purpose weapon, and in Italian hands it was put to good use in the anti-tank role. It supplemented the excellent truck mounted 90/53 in the desert accounting for many destroyed allied tanks.
The 88/56 gun was especially useful when heavier armoured British vehicles such as the Matilda, Grant, Sherman and Churchill began to show up in the allied forces. The 88/56 gun first arrived in Italian hands in 1940 as a response from Germany for a request for improved equipment.
The ‘88’s were given to the Italians to help protect large cities and industry from French and later Allied air raids.
Two Battalions were formed in Florence and after training in Germany the first battalion was sent to North Africa to be used in an anti-aircraft role, a little later the second battalion followed.
They were soon pressed into service in the anti-tank role during the battles for Gazala.
The ‘88’s were given to the Italians to help protect large cities and industry from French and later Allied air raids.
Two Battalions were formed in Florence and after training in Germany the first battalion was sent to North Africa to be used in an anti-aircraft role, a little later the second battalion followed.
They were soon pressed into service in the anti-tank role during the battles for Gazala.
At El Alamein a battery of eight 88/56 guns were attached to the Divisione Fanteria Brescia, X Corpo d’Armata, another eight were part of the Corps troops for the XX Corpo d’Armata di Manovra (Motorised Corps), eight were part of Ariete Armoured division, and twelve were in the Littorio Armoured Division. Ariete and German ‘88’s were often attached to other Italian units to give support.
It was common for Italian employed 88/56 guns not to have gun shields.
In Flames Of War
88/56 can be brought as a Heavy Anti-tank Platoon to support any Italian Compagnia. Like its German counterpart you can upgrade it to 8 or more crew for +10 points and increase its ROF to 3.
It has Range 40”/100cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 13, Firepower 3+, a Turntable, is Heavy Anti-aircraft and Immobile.
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Battlefront Miniatures Europe Ltd
Tissington Close Unit 4C
Nottingham, Vereinigtes Königreich, NG9 6QG
customerservicerow@battlefront.co.nz
https://www.flamesofwar.com/
Responsible person:
Frontline Games
Faerbereiweg 3A
Schleswig-Holstein
Huetten, Deutschland, 24358
info@frontlinegames.de
https://www.frontlinegames.de/
