2cm FlaK on Panzer I Ausf.A
Already in 1940, while the war in France, it was shown that the existing motorized FlaK on Sd.Kfz.10/4 was inadequate because of missing armor. So in 1941 it was considered how to motorize AA-guns with armor. So the decision was taken to mount a 2cm FlaK on the obsolete Panzer I Ausf.A chassis, which was the oldest and weakest model which was available. But the background for this decision was obvious because the germans needed the "better" chassis for combat tanks, so the obsolete Panzer IA could make a contribution for AA-combats. However this decision was fatal for the crew of such vehicle, which was overloaded, susceptible for breakdowns and very light armored.
Fitting the Panzer I with a more powerful weapon was no new idea, because in early 1937 at least six Panzer I were fitted with the italian 20mm L/65 Breda Model 1935 Flak. These tanks were used in the spanish civil war mainly against ground targets, especially the T-26. Combat service of these in WW2 seems not to be happened.
Back to the Panzer I Ausf.A with german 2cm FlaK: Although Army Ordnance Office instructed Alkett and Daimler-Benz for converting Flakpanzer I, the surviving crews of the Flakpanzer unit assured that the conversion was done at Stoewer in Stettin. So it may be imaginable that Alkett and Daimler-Benz did the preparatory works and the Flakpanzers were finished at Stoewer. The 2cm FlaK38, which was the standard AA-gun of the germans, were put into a modified superstructure of a Panzer I Ausf.A.
24 of these Flakpanzers were converted and were put into the Fla.-Btl.(mot) 614, which was raised in May 1941 in Altwarp, and which was the only battalion which was equipped with these Flakpanzers. There were 3 companies each with a 1st and 2nd platoon with four Flapanzers each. Additional each platoon got four ammo carriers on Panzer I and per company two 2cm quad-AA-guns on special trailer in the 3rd platoon.
Until August 1941 the practical and theoretical training was done, then the railroad transport of the unit to Jassy in Romania was done. From there they drove the 600km to their target area, the southern part of the eastern front. The bataillon was there used mainly for ground attacks and the whole bataillon was devided up to their platoons which were placed under the command of other units. Thats why there are very less reports of the Fla-Btl.(mot) 614 and teir Flakpanzer I. 1943 the whole unit was destroyed at Stalingrad.
Let's look on the details of the Flakpanzer I: The original chassis of the Panzer I Ausf.A was made for a two men crew, the gear unit and the Krupp-engine with 57hp were much too weak, the engine overheated too fast and the idler wheel, touching the ground, was blamed that at fast turns the tracks were thrown off, which ofted had fatal consequences in ground combat. On these weak chassis the conversion to Flakpanzer I was done and should give room for up to 8 men while in AA-combat!
For the conversion a part of the frontal superstructure and the complete enginedeck was removed. For getting a good balance for the gun the frontal superstructure was moved about 18cm to the front which resulted in a gap between superstructure and hull armor. This was simply closed with an vertical armored plate, giving a distinct step on the frontal hull, which was an excellent shot trap. Therefor the crews often hid it with spare track links. To get the driver a bit more room for getting in, the gun was mounted a bit to the right. The engine deck was rebuilt and was now plain, horizontal and probably made of thinner sheet metal than before to get better cooling of the engine, which was also done by five ventilating holes on each side of the engine compartment. The radio set was deinstalled to get more space and the hole for the antenna was welded with a piece of armored metal. The communication now was done by hand signals. 
The side flaps were made from simple sheet metal and gave no protection at all, they were rather than fold down for getting more place to stand on. These side flaps were held by narrow, triangular, movable racks which were located at the rear side of the side flaps and held the side flaps by plug-bolts (Can be seen on the picture on the right). The rear flap was also movable but was most often used as rack for accessory parts. The ammo for the 2cm FlaK was mostly stored within the tank behind the two seats for driver and co-driver, but it is not known how many rounds there were on a Flakpanzer I. Because of the very limited space the Panzer I provided the Flakpanzer I got a new modified tow-bar to tow the Sd.Ah.51, which got a big box in which most accessory parts and ammo was put. The spare barrels were put there also very often.
In combat it was shown that the Flakpanzer I as AA-vehicle was succesful and got several planes down, but the increasing number of ground combats with the Flakpanzer I resulted in heavy losses, because the crew was unprotected against enemy fire from the sides and often the 13mm armor was insufficient. Mainly the 14.5mm PTRS anti tank rifle shot through the 13mm armor, even at 500 metres.
Indeed often a combat was won, because of the superior firepower of the 2cm FlaK but too often the price for that was the death or wounding of experienced crews.
The Fla.-Btl.(mot) 614 got the landquenet's drum as units sign, which different colors showed the different companies. So the 1st company got white, the 2nd red and the 3rd yellow. The staff got green markings.
Because there are so less reports and no surviving original plans of the Flakpanzer I, it is very difficult to get details, technical data, pictures and combat reports. Following I put some technical info together what is known so far:
The chassis remained mostly unchanged from the original Panzer I Ausf.A with 13mm all around armor protection, 28cm wide tracks, the engine with 57hp and the main width of 2.06m. Because of the changed tow-bar the length was now about 4.38m and with the 2cm FlaK38 the height was approximately 2.05m. The weight of the Flakpanzer I is unknown, but it is said that it must be around 5.5 tons, which would result in equal driving perfomances as the Panzer I Ausf.A. Also the number of ammo on board is unknown, even experts won't guess the number. As secondary armament some Karabiner 98K rifles were on the tank for fighting infantry.
If someone got more, further or other information or pictures of this Flakpanzer I, PLEASE write an email to me!!
If you're interested in more info or photos, please read the following mentioned books.
Literatur:
- Panzerkampfwagen I und seine Abarten, Fleischer, Podzun-Pallas, 1997
- The Military Machine #1
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