MG 151/20 and the 2 cm Erdkampflafette 151/20

2 cm Erdkampflafette 151/20

The 2 cm Erdkampflafette 151/20 was a tripod, intended for mounting the Maschinengewehr 151/20 so that it could be used against ground targets. Little information is available about it, but it appears to have been designed late in the war, since the two batallions (Versuchs-Erdkampflafette-Bataillone) equipped with the weapon on an experimental basis had still not given any experience reports, as per a letter of 1945-01-30, where the 2 cm Erdkampflafette 151/20 is referred to as Erdkampflafette 44 (though it is unknown if this signifies an official name change had taken place).

The tripod's aiming device had aiming marks from 0 to 12, each indicating the range to the target in hundreds of meters. The aiming device had three times magnification, and an 8° viewfield.

Thetripodcould be set at different heights, depending on how far the legs were spread out.

Technical details

Data about the 2 cm Erdkampflafette 151/20
Length
  • 1,925 mm. (with MG 151/20, but without barrel)
  • 1,112 mm. (barrel length)
Weight
  • 74 kg. (with MG 151/20)
  • 37 kg. (without MG 151/20)
  • 15 kg. (weight of filled ammunition box)
Elevation
  • 6° (at lowest height setting)
  • 20° (at highest height setting)
Traverse 20° (to each side)

Weapon data

Data about the MG 151/20
Caliber 20 mm.
Rate of fire 700 rounds/m.
Ammunition
  • 2 cm Brandsprenggranatpatrone 151 mit L- oder Glimmspur mit Zerleger
  • 2 cm Panzergranatpatrone 151 mit L-spuhr ohne Zerleger
  • 2 cm Panzersprenggranatpatrone 151 mit und ohne Zerleger
  • 2 cm Brandgranatpatrone 151 mit L- oder Glimmspur mit Zerleger
  • 2 cm Panzergranatpatrone 151 (Ph) ohne Zerleger
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Sources

  1. D 1888/2 - Maschinengewehr 151/20 und Erdkampflafette - Gebrauchanleitung (draft). Berlin : Oberkommando des Heeres, 1944.
  2. Jn 2 Az.72 & 14 IId Nr. 518/45 vom 25.1.45 - 2 cm Erdkampfafette 44. Oberkommando des Heeres, 1945.

All contents written by Christian Ankerstjerne unless stated otherwise