3.7 cm Flak M42
# 3.7 cm Flak M42

The 3.7 cm Flak M42 was the marine version of the 3.7-centimetre (1.5 in) Flak 36/37 and used by the Kriegsmarine on surface ships and as the M42U on Type VII and Type IX U-boats. The 3.7 cm Flak M42U used several types of mounts and entered service in autumn 1943.

## 3.7 cm Flak M42

The 3.7 cm Flak M42 was a longer caliber version of the Wehrmacht's 3.7 cm Flak 36, 69 caliber as opposed to 57 caliber. It replaced the older 3.7 cm SK C/30 that had been designed in 1930. The gun was loaded with a five-round ammunition clip, giving it a rate of fire of 250 rounds per minute, unlike the SK C/30 which was single-shot with a rate of 30 rounds per minute. The M42 was also about 134 kg (295 lb) lighter than the SK C/30 and had gun shields.

### LM 42U Mount

The LM 42U mount was developed specifically for the 3.7 cm Flak M42U. It was manned by a 3-man crew, with a fourth man operating as the loader.

### DLM 42U Mount

The twin mount was based on the LM 42U design, in which the 3.7 cm Flak M42U guns were mounted side by side.

### LM 43U Mount

The LM 43U mount was the final design of mount used on U-boats. It was a further improvement on the LM 42U. The LM 43U was only known to be installed on these U-boats (U-249, U-826, U-977, U-1023, U-1171, U-1305 and U-1306).

## Gallery

* 3.7 cm Flak M42U used on U-boats.
* A single 3.7 cm Flak M42U gun on the LM 42U mount.
* A single 3.7 cm Flak M42U gun on the LM 43U mount.
* Twin 3.7 cm Flak M42U guns on the DLM 42U mount.
