DAK GUNS - 105mm leFH 18

A SdKfz11 halftrack towing a leFH18 105mm gun

The 105MM (4.13in) leFH18 (leichte FeldHaubitze "light field howitzer") was the standard German divisional field-piece used throughout the World War II; it was designed by Rheinmetall in 1929/30 and went into service in 1935. A good, sound, orthodox design, it used a split trail with folding spades and a hydro-pneumatic recoil system split above and below the barrel, but retained a wooden or pressed-steel wheels and was mostly horse-drawn for all its life. However it was so solidly put together that it was rather heavy, and unable to be as mobile as the army would have liked. Although augmented by improved models in 1939/45, it remained in use and was kept in service by several European armies for some years after the war ended.

  

Calibre:	105mm (4.13in)
Weight in action:	1985Kg (4376lb)
Gun lenght:	24.8 calibre: 2.61m (102.7in)
Elevation:	-6.5º to +40.5º
Traverse:	56º
Shell type & weight:	HE (High Explosive); 14.81Kg (32.65lb)
Muzzle velocity:	470m/sec (1542ft/sec
Maximum range:	10675m (11.675yds)

"It had a heavy, simple breech mechanism with a hydro-pneumatic recoil system. The 10.5 cm leFH 18 had wood-spoked or pressed steel wheels. The former were only suitable for horse traction. Initially, it was not fitted with a muzzle brake. In 1941 a muzzle brake was fitted to allow longer range charges to be fired. This increased the range by about 1,800 yards and was known as the leFH 18M. In March 1942 a requirement was issued for a lighter howitzer. This led to a second modification, known as the leFH 18/40. This modification consisted of mounting the barrel of an leFH 18M on the carriage for a 7.5 cm PaK 40 antitank gun. The new carriage increased the rate of fire as well as making the howitzer lighter. Additionally, a more efficient muzzle brake was added, decreasing the recoil. Ballistically, the 10.5 cm leFH 18M and the leFH 18/40 are identical."

SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA

DAK GUNS - BMW R75

DAK BMW R75 from the 15th Panzer Division at the El Alamein Military Museum. Thanks to J. Porter

The original was a BMW R75, first produced in Germany in 1941 specifically for military use, primarily used with a SideCar. These military motorcycles were so reliable and successful (as also past/future models) in all climates from freezing snow to blistering desert that replica spin-offs were produced by disassembly and replication of captured BMWs in many other countries such as Russia, Korea, Japan, & China (many of these survived the war and are in museums).

DAK HAND GUNS - WALTHER P38

When Hitler became the full power in the Germany in 1933, he'd began the preparations for the war. The development of the new pistole, to replace aging Lugers was one of such preparations. Carl Walther company began development of the new military pistole in mid-1930's, and in 1938 the Werhmacht (German Army) adopted Walther MP model experimental pistole as "Pistole 38".

DAK HAND GUNS - MASCHINENPISTOLEN "SCHMEISSER" MP40

Picture provided by the 1ss reenactors of the CHG

The MP40 machine pistol was based on the pre-war MP38, modifying the earlier design to make it more suitable for mass production; more than a million were produced during the war. Its folding metal stock made it compact and easy to carry, even in cramped circumstances; its startling staccato bursts of fire shattered the silence in many Norman hedgerow. The MP40 won the admiration of Allied soldiers, who often referred to the MP40 as the "Schmeisser," despite the fact that firearms engineer Hugo Schmeisser, designer of the Bergmann MP18 submachine gun in 1918, was not involved in the design of either the MP38 or the MP40.

DAK GUNS - Panzer III

Panzer III - Medium Tank

 

A brandnew Panzer III of Panzerregiment 8, 15. Panzerdivision

German re-armament plans in the 1930's called for the new panzer battalions to be constitued of three light-medium tank companies and one heavy-medium company. The lighter tank, wich was to form the bulk of the panzer force for much of the war and remain in production to its end, was the Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfw or Panzer III). One reason for this sucess was that a turret ring diameter was specified that allow upgunning to higher-calibre weapons that 37mm (1.41in) gun originaly fitted.