January-February - Air Defense Artillery

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The Antiaircraft Defens of Munich By Captain Dan H. Barbour, Coast Artillery Corps The antiaircraft of ~lunich was seldom the same two months in succession, especially after early 1942. The everincreasing frequency and ferocity of Allied Air attacks, together with the pressure exerted by Allied ground forces, caused the Munich defenses to be changed frequently both in reference to troops available and to their disposition. \Vith the possible exception of the anti-buzz-bomb defense in the Antwerp sector, the AA defense of German cities was somewhat different from the AA defenses established by Allied troops on the continent. No target defended by our troops was ever subjected to the large number of mass raids, of ever-increasing intensity, which the large German cities were subjected to. Consequently, most of the AA defenses established by our troops were of a temporary nature, while those of the Gennans were more elaborate and more permanent. Inasmuch frequently, as the AA defenses of Munich it is di£licult to select one set-up were and chanQed o to call it "The AA Defense." Therefore, the sites located after the American troops occupied the Munich area gave little information as to the set-up in the past. In order to procure information about the past history of the Munich defenses, it was, necessary to interview fonner officers of the AA defenses of Southern Germal1\'. Two officers were interviewed and both were very c~perative. It is believed that the information given by them is completely reliable. The AA defense of Munich was a part of the air defense of Southern German\'. This sector included the cities of Munich, Augsburg. Niirn berg, Innsbruck, and Salzburg, but did not include the defense of Berchtesgaden, a duty taken over by special 55 troops. EARLY \VARNING SYSTE\[ The standard early warning system used throughout other sections of German\' was also used in this sector. The Air \Varning Service op~rated by fighter divisions of the Luftwaffe was available to all AA units through liaison officers stationed at fighter control centers. In addition to this service, ground radar units were used in air surveillance and information was sent both to higher and lower commands. These ground radars were of two types; the longrange, and gun-laying units. Ground observers were also used to provide air warning service to all units concerned. The German procedure for the distribution of air raid warning information was for the detecting unit to notify fighter control headquarters where the data was plotted on the air situation map and then relayed to all other units. In addition to the units immediately concerned, all other units along and adjacent to the path' of Right of hostile air- ~_~r. '''~_~ ~1~~ _~.:c~..l ~r .h~ .,~~ ..~, ..I, .. C , .' ~ O:~h. In order to distinguish between friendly and e planes. friendly aircraft were recluircd to submit plans or follow prescribed courses. As an additional caution, friendly flights \\-ere tracked and the Hight pI on the air situation map at the Fighter Control Cc The Germans also used radio identification which separate from the radar unit. LInder this system, frie planes transmitted a coded signal which was picked up the ground receiver station. At the end. the Y sy utilizing radio apparatus FLIC 16 ZY, was used. DEPLOntENT The German concept of 1\1\ defense was basically al the same as ours. The position of heavy flak batteries determined primarily by the expected speed and altitud the attacking planes. The avenue of approach was also sidered, but in the case of Munich, this was a minor fa because approaches to the city were not channelized. F
eark \'ears of the war. the gun ring was located abom ht kilo'meters fro~ the center of the city, but as the 'tude and speed of the attacking planes were increased. rino was mm'ed to twelve kilometers from the center of o e to\\'n. 1 he Germans also used the priority system of target protion. Although the Air Defense Command was charged 'th the general antiaircraft defense of the city of ~ Iunich. vhest priority was given to manufacturing plants. trans- ~tation facilities. and airfields. AA INSTALLATIONS OF MUNICH REPORTED BY DISARMAMENT UNITS .. .. o.~. h ... q * .. •$ - .. *• .. THE :\:'\TIAIRCHAFf DEFE~SES OF ~IU:,(ICH The light guns were deployed in and around the highpriority targets, and the city in general. to protect them from low-altitude attack. Lights. employed much more frequently by the Germans than by Allied AA troops. were placed around the city to illuminate aircraft attacking at night. According to the P\Vs questioned. these lights were not used for homing lost or disabled planes. Smoke companies were also an integral part of the 1\ Iunich defenses but were used only to prevent reconnais- • 80 90 +70 +70 -l • "* .... -CJ- + ..-"..- *• ...... • ~ .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. .- • .. "* .. .. -l-l ..• .- "* • ~6 .. * • LEGEND 6 GUN HE.AVY POSITION 6 G UN II II (POSSIBLE) LIGHT GUN LIGHT SEARCHLIGHT 4 GUN HEAVY POSITION RAILWAY GUN 8 GUN HEAVY POSITION HEAVY SEARCHLIGHT 3 GUN LIGHT POSI TION SCALE. 1:100,000 MAP of MUNICH ANO V,CIN,TY Sheets X-G, X-5, W'6 OVERLAY PREPARED f,Y /33 AAA GUN !3N. *t: 43
Page 1 and 2: ANIIARY-FFRRr IARY rQ4.li
Page 3 and 4: OAST ARTILLERY JOURNAL NDED IN 1892
Page 5 and 6: ing the Army Air Forces have come t
Page 7 and 8: Receil'er-Receives the weak echoes
Page 9 and 10: RADAR - \ SURVEY used on the SCR-58
Page 11 and 12: l STAFF o.tes here are a oreat manv
Page 13 and 14: THE GER~IAN GENERAL ST \FF ABDICATE
Page 15 and 16: THE GER~lt\N GEi'\ERAL STAFF ABDICA
Page 17 and 18: .. rther. attaching AA groups and b
Page 19 and 20: L'aisoJ' \\ as established \\"ith o
Page 21 and 22: FRO.\l THE FlGHTL'\G FRO.'\TS \I .1
Page 23 and 24: and with it the use of searchlights
Page 25 and 26: FRO~l THE FIGHTI~G FRO:\'TS appro.l
Page 27 and 28: FR01\l THE FIGHTI:\G FRO~TS "ng out
Page 29 and 30: FHO;\1 THE FIGHTI,'\G FRO,'\TS eith
Page 31 and 32: 11\' had been killed. two wounded a
Page 33 and 34: 1 jamming the gun as it accumulates
Page 35 and 36: FRO~I THE FIGHTE\G FRO:'\TS { one t
Page 37 and 38: ghly recommended by this headquarte
Page 39 and 40: A SI~GLE DEPART:-'lENT OF NATIONAL
Page 41 and 42: :\ SI:\GLE DEPART:-'IEi'\T OF ~ATI0
Page 43: Decoys Artillerymen have long been
Page 47 and 48: THE ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFE0:SES OF ~lllN
Page 49 and 50: \bout the middle of 1942 when it be
Page 51 and 52: 1946 :\IRBOR~E AAA I~ NEW GlII~EA P
Page 53 and 54: I a fight had started. and began to
Page 55 and 56: AIRBORNE AAA IN ;\,E\\' GLIl0.'Et\
Page 57 and 58: little Dauid This new mortar, descr
Page 59 and 60: th II Corps in the Camino-i\lignano
Page 61 and 62: led for fire. which \\'as deli\-ere
Page 63 and 64: 2300 rounds. It was one of these wh
Page 65 and 66: ~rale of troops include: correct cl
Page 67 and 68: .\:\' I:\'CIDE:\'T OF FIGHTER-SEARC
Page 69 and 70: But the 6x6 suffers the same disad,
Page 71 and 72: Jand-Control at Fort Story k of the
Page 73 and 74: CO~ST ~RTILLERY Citations and Comme
Page 75 and 76: LT. COL. JAl\lES T. BARBER LT. COL.
Page 77 and 78: Crystal-Ball Department 0:E\\'S A:'
Page 79 and 80: "\'lindow" off the Secret List Narr
Page 81 and 82: te preparations to le;;rn ",len W l
Page 83 and 84: 0JE\\'S A~D CO~IME~T med to regard
Page 85 and 86: High Altitude Radio ~h altitude com
Page 87 and 88: ntiaircraft Replac~ment Training Ce
Page 89 and 90: 273 AAA Command tGAOlER GENERAL LEO
Page 91 and 92: Seabee Saga r,t O~IAHA TO OKINA \VA
Page 93 and 94: BOOK REnEWS him the Presidency. E\'
Page 95 and 96:
L OAST ARTILLERY RINGS LADIES' MINI
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January-February - Air Defense Artillery

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