| 3.7 cm/69 Flak M42 | |
| Origin: | Nazi Germany |
| Type: | Anti-aircraft gun |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Is Explosive: | yes |
| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Service: | 1943–1945 |
| Used By: | Kriegsmarine |
| Wars: | World War II |
| Design Date: | 1942 |
| Manufacturer: | Rheinmetal-Borsig |
| Production Date: | 1943–1945 |
| Spec Label: | 3.7 cm Flak M42 |
| Part Length: | bore (69 calibers) |
| Crew: | 3–4 |
| Cartridge: | 37 × 249R |
| Action: | Recoil-operated |
| Rate: | 250 rounds per minute (cyclic) |
| Velocity: | 815- |
| Range: |
|
| Feed: | 5-round clips |
| Breech: | sliding breech block |
| Elevation: | -10° to +90° |
| Traverse: | 360° |
The 3.7 cm Flak M42 was the marine version of the 3.7cm (01.5inches) 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.[1]
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 lighter than the SK C/30 and had gun shields.
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.[2]
The twin mount was based on the LM 42U design, in which the 3.7 cm Flak M42U guns were mounted side by side.[3]
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 (and).[3]