FlaK 18.

This is coolbert:

From my previous blog entry:

"It was during the Battle of France 1940 that the famous German 88 mm gun was employed as an anti-tank gun? A role for the weapon was most suitable."

And thanks to the wiki we have the answer.

It would seem that I am part right and part wrong.

German units during the Battle of France 1940 employing the FlaK 18 [88 mm gun] in the anti-tank role with effectiveness, but as an expedient solution!

"Rommel ordered the division's 88 mm (3.46 in) FlaK 18 anti-aircraft guns and 105 mm (4.1 in) field guns be formed into a defensive line and fire anti-tank and HE rounds in a last-ditch effort to stop the Matildas. The BEF's advance was halted with heavy losses."

This was the destruction of Frankforce. Covering force for the British evacuation of Dunkirk [Dynamo]. Frankforce a multi-divisional command with armor augmentation [French and British both], the English Mathilda tank impervious to smaller caliber German anti-tank guns BUT NOT SO TO THE FlaK 18!!

FlaK 18 the German designation for the 88 mm gun.

"Frankforce, consisted of two divisions—the 5th Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, plus 74 tanks from the 1st Army Tank Brigade and 60 supporting French tanks"

Let it be understood NOT the first time the 88 mm gun used in the anti-tank role.

"Despite common misconception, the FlaK 18 was not used for the first time as an anti-tank gun at Arras. Several years earlier, during the Spanish Civil War, the German volunteer unit Condor Legion had used FlaK 18s against armour and other ground targets.

Thanks be to the wiki, I am beholden!

coolbert.