A U.S. intelligence report on German predictor used to control antiaircraft fire in WWII, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 40, December 16, 1943. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

GERMAN PREDICTOR 40 The Kommandogerät or Kappagerät 40 is the standard German predictor used to control the fire of 88-mm, 105-mm and 128-mm antiaircraft guns. It is used with the various guns by fitting it to the appropriate cams. In the operation of the Kommandogerät 40 allowances can be made for change of course as well as change of height. The height and range-finder used is a stereoscopic instrument. a. Personnel The number of men required to operate the Kommandogerät 40 is a commander and five men and their duties in action are: Commander       Supervises work of the detachment No. 1 Rangetaker No. 2 Layer for line No. 3 Layer for elevation No. 4 Course-bearing plotter No. 5 Feeds in corrections and operates switches. It is the duty of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 to report all changes of height or course to No. 5. If a change of height is reported, No. 5 operates the switch marked "Höhenanderung" (target altering height); if a change of course is reported, No. 5 operates the switch marked "Zeil dreht" (target changing course). b. Data Traverse     360° Elevation 0 to 90° Slant range 1,308 to 19,620 yds Ground range to present position 654 to 16,350 yds Ground range to future position 654 to 16,350 yds Height of target 0 to 39,360 ft Horizontal speed of target 0 to 670 mph Vertical speed of target 0 to 446 mph Distance in azimuth travelled by target     during time of flight of shell 0 to 6,540 yds Lateral deflection 0 to 60° Course bearing correction 0 to 90° Height correction 0 to 9,840 ft Displacement (horizontal) 0 to 1,640 ft Displacement (vertical) 0 to 656 ft Time of flight 0 to 30 sec Drill time 0 to 10 sec c. Weights Computing mechanism     2,090 lbs Mounting 990 lbs Trailer 1,890 lbs Weight of equipment in transport 2.2 ton* Weight of equipment in action 1.6 ton* d. Disadvantages The disadvantages of the predictor appear to be that a very high standard of training and careful handling of the instrument are required from the crew, especially Nos. 4 and 5, and it is reported that the complex construction of the instrument (24 motors and 34 differentials are included) renders it unsuitable for use in mobile warfare. * British long ton

Back to Articles by Subject | Intel Bulletin by Issue | T&TT by Issue | Home Page