<!– @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } –

Flak 18 ( Right ) and Flak 36 ( Left ), Note the difference of Barrel. The new Gun was designated 8.8 Flak 18, and first used in action with the German backed Nationalist Forces in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39, where it was mainly employed in the anti-aircraft role for which it was designed. The Flak 18 was carried on a cruciform mounting with a wheeled bogie fore and aft for towing. before firing it had to be lowered from the bogies and emplaced. Battle experience in Spain showed the need for a reduction in time taken to get the weapon into action, and provision for barrel changing after prolonged fire.

In 1936-37, therefore, improvements were made on the basic design, and the revised model, the 8.8 Flak 36, had a multi-section interchangeable barrel and a new trailer/ mounting, designated Sonderanhaenger 201, with an improved cruciform platform and a simpler method of lowering it for emplacement.

Lowering was effected by unwinding the winches on the two bogie/limber assemblies so that they tilted and thus lowered the platform to the ground. the bogie/limber assemblies were then wheeled clear and the cruciform side arms lowered. The mounting was levelled via the jacks on the end of each arm of the cruciform and spikes driven through the arms into the ground completed the emplacement of the weapon.

Most important improvement with the Sonderanhaenger 201, however, was the` facility for firing the gun at low angle against ground targets without the need for lowering the mounting to the ground. For firing from the traveling position, the side arms of the cruciform were lowered, the wheel brakes were applied by hand on the rear trailer, and chocks were placed behind the wheels. From 1938 many Flak 18s were retrospectively fitted on the Sonderanhaenger 201, and 50 of these were further modified so that one man could lay the gun for both line and elevation, though this feature was not continued.

At the onset of the civil war, Spain possessed numerous guns and artillery pieces, both domestic and imports of surplus war stock from the nations of the first World War, especially France. With the escalation of the war into the international arena, both sides in the conflict relied on their foreign allies, Italy, Russia and Germany, to provide ordnance to their ever expanding armies, causing the diversity of artillery used in Spain to be truly remarkable.



On the Nationalist side, Franco came to rely on his artillery more than either armour or air power, to provide consistent offensive force against the Republicans before an infantry attack. Large artillery barrages would soften up huge areas in a style reminiscent of World War I prepatory to an attack. On the defensive side, lacking effective armour of their own, the Nationalists also used their artillery as a practical means to neutralize attacking Republican tanks.



For the Republicans, who sometimes possessed more guns than did the Nationalists, training and supply continued to be acute problems. Artillery attacks were haphazard, sometimes shelling friendly troops. It was not unknown for shells to be withheld from a battle for purely political reasons, forcing Republican generals to order their guns to fire blanks as the only available ammunition, in order to keep up friendly morale.



The professionalism of Franco’s forces, aided by his allies, allowed him to consistently exploit his artillery arm. For the Republicans, by the time they had shed their amateurism through the sad experience of loss in combat, their well of supply had dried up, and though the will and know-how were there, the guns were not.



The following list suggests the probable and possible guns for use in Spain.

1.Mortaio da 45 “Brixia”: Standard type of mortar seeing use with Italians in Spain. See also Italian Ordnance Note 1.

2. 5cm leGr W 36: Type of light German mortar possibly supplied to Nationalists troops later in the war. See also German Ordnance Note 1.

3. 50mm RM obr. 38/39: The earlier version of the obr. 40, this mortar could have seen action by Republican troops in later battles, such as the Ebro. See also Russian Ordnance Note 1.

4. Mortero de 51mm: The Spanish version of this mortar was commonly used by both sides. See also British Ordnance Note 1.

5. Mortier de 81 mle 27/31: Possessed by both sides, 81mm mortars became more popular than the 51mm as the war progressed. See also French Ordnance Note 3.

6. 8cm GrW 34: As the access to French Ordnance became more restricted to both sides, the Nationalists were supplied by the Germans. See also German Ordnance Note 2.

7. 82mm BM obr. 37: As France was reluctant to supply the Republic, the Soviet Union stepped in. Mortars such as this saw action as early as the battle of Teruel. See also Russian Ordnance Note 2.

8. Fusil Anticarro Ruso: Anti-tank rifle supplied to Republican troops by the Soviet Union. See also French Ordnance Note 4.

9. 3.7cm PaK 35/36: This gun was provided early on to the Nationalists. See also German Ordnance Note 6.

10. Cannone-cc da 37/45: This gun was used both by the Italians and the Spanish Nationalists. Captured models were acquired by the Republicans after Guadalahara. See also Italian Ordnance Note 4.

11. 37mm PTP obr. 30: A common anti-tank gun provided to the Spanish Republicans and Basques. See also Russian Ordnance Note 6.

12. 45mm PTP obr. 32: Some of these guns were used by the Basques defending their provinces, so it is likely that the Nationalists acquired at least a few. See also Russian Ordnance Note 7.

13. Canon de 37 mle 16 TR: Purchased from France by Republican Spain. See also French Ordnance Note 8.

14. 37mm PP obr. 15R: A commonly supplied gun that was one of the first to be exported to Republican Spain. Also supplied to the first International Brigades. See also Russian Ordnance Note 11.

15. Cannone da 65/17: Supplied to the Nationalists, this gun was featured in the fighting for Madrid. Also, a common element of the Italian forces at Guadalahara, many of these guns were captured by the Republic. See also Italian Ordnance Note 6.

17. Canon de 75 mle 28: This piece saw frequent use by both sides as field artillery, especially in the earlier conflicts for the Guadarrama mountains. See also French Ordnance Note 10.

18. Cannone da 75/27: Exported to the Nationalists. See also Italian Ordnance Note 9.

19. Canon de 75 mle 1897: The famous “French 75″ saw considerable use by both sides in the Spanish Civil War. See also French Ordnance Note 11.

20. 76.2mm P obr. 00/02P: An archaic piece that was exported to the Republic and to the Basques. See also Russian Vehicle Note 13.

21. 76.2mm P obr. 02/30: This gun was probably supplied to the Nationalists. See also Russian Ordnance Note 14.

22. Obice da 100/17: Utilized by Italian forces in Spain. See also Italian Ordnance Note 12.

23. Canon de 105 L mile 13 S: This gun was utilized by both sides in Spain. The Nationalists used it in the battles for the Guadarrama Mountains. See also French Ordnance Note 14.

24. 10.5cmleFH 18: The Germans began to provide a good number of these guns to the Nationalists at a very early date. See also German Ordnance Note 20.

25. Cannone da 105/28: This gun saw use with Italians and was also provided to their Nationalist allies. Some might have been captured by the Republic in the aftermath of Guadalahara. See also Italian Ordnance Note 13.

26. s 10cm K 18: Supplied to Nationalists or manned by Condor Legion personnel. See also German Ordnance Note 21.

27. 107mm p obr. 10/30: This gun was later provided to the Republic as heavy artillery support. See also Russian Ordnance Note 18.

28. 122mm G obr. 10/30: This gun was probably shipped to both the Spanish Republic and the Basque Provinces. See also Russian Ordnance Note 19.

29. Obice da 149/13: This gun was used by both the Spanish Nationalists and the Italians fighting in Spain. See also Italian Ordnance Note 14.

30. OBL 6-in. Howitzer: World War I surplus, this gun might have seen use by the Nationalists, having acquired it from the rebelling portion of the regular army. See also British Ordnance Note 17.

31. 152mm GP obr. 37: This gun was probably suppled to the Republic in the later stages of the war. See also Russian Vehicle 16. 76.2mm PP obr. 27: Supplied to the Republic by the Soviet Union. See also Russian Ordnance Note 12.

32. Canon de 155 C mle 17 S: This gun was inherited by both sides from vestiges of the Regular army and saw much use in early battles. Until supplemented by Russian equipment, this gun provided much of the Republics heavy fire support. See also French Ordnance Note 16.

33. Canon de 155 L mle 17 S: Another probable acquisition of the Spanish Army, a few of these guns would have been found in both camps. See also French Ordnance Note 17.

34. 2cm FlaK 30: Standard light AA gun supplied by Germany to the Nationalists. See also German Ordnance Note 25.

35. Cannone-mitragliera da 20/65: AA gun provided by Italy to the Nationalists and commonly utilized by their own troops in Spain. See also Italian Ordnance Note 17.

36. 3.7cm FlaK 36 o. 37: This AA gun was provided by Germany to the Nationalists with appropriate Condor Legion personnel for training and use. See also German Ordnance Note 28.

37. Bofors 40mm AA: This gun represents a probable acquisition for the Republic before the arrival of Soviet supplies. See British Ordnance Note 21.38. 76.2mm ZP obr. 38: The supplies provided to the Republic by the Soviet Union included a number of AA guns intended to the defence of Madrid. These guns continued to be shipped until a choke hold was placed of Russian shipments. See also Russian Ordnance Note 26.

38. 76.2mmZP obr. 38: The supplies provided to the Republic by the Soviet Union included a number of AA guns intended for the defense of Madrid. These guns continued to be shipped until a choke hold was placed on Russian shipments. See also Russian Ordnance Note 26.

39. 8.8cm FlaK 18 o. 36: The escalation of German involvement in the Spanish conflict also saw the field use of some of their best equipment in the test of actual battle experience. “88″ guns shipped to Spain were also serviced by Condor Legion personnel, maintaining the guns for use in Franco’s offensive. It was in Spain that the Germans realized the “88′s” potent anti-tank capabilities. See also German Ordnance Note 30.