Miniart 1/35 Flugabwehr MG 151/20 Drilling # 35438

The Flugabwehr MG 151/20 Drilling was a German anti-aircraft gun used primarily during World War II.

The "Drilling" refers to its triple-gun mount, as "Drilling" in German means "triplet" or "triple."

This weapon system was developed by combining three MG 151/20 autocannons, each a 20mm caliber, into a single anti-aircraft platform. 

Design and Configuration:

- The MG 151/20 autocannon was a highly effective 20mm weapon, originally designed for aircraft use but adapted for ground and anti-aircraft roles.
- The Drilling configuration brought three of these autocannons together, synchronized to provide a high rate of fire that could effectively saturate a target area with rounds.
- Each MG 151/20 was belt-fed, providing sustained fire capability. It fired 20mm high-explosive incendiary and armor-piercing rounds, giving it flexibility against both aircraft and light ground targets.

Mount and Mobility:

- The Drilling was typically mounted on a wheeled platform or a specialized anti-aircraft mount, allowing a wide range of elevation and traverse to track fast-moving aircraft.
- The mount was sometimes positioned on trucks or half-tracks, which provided mobility, making it adaptable for rapid deployment and repositioning on the battlefield.
- Some versions were also mounted on naval vessels and static ground emplacements for defending key strategic locations.

Rate of Fire and Ammunition:

- Each MG 151/20 had a rate of fire around 700 rounds per minute, so the triple-mount Drilling could potentially deliver over 2,100 rounds per minute in total.
- The high rate of fire was particularly effective against low-flying aircraft, where it could create a dense barrage of shells to damage or destroy enemy fighters and bombers.
- The ammunition types included high-explosive incendiary (HEI) and armor-piercing incendiary (API) rounds, which were versatile against both air and light armored ground targets.

Combat Role and Usage:

- The MG 151/20 Drilling was deployed in various theaters to defend against Allied air attacks, particularly as Allied air superiority grew in the later stages of WWII.
- It was used on the Western Front, Eastern Front, and in defense of strategic installations across Europe, where it defended against strafing runs and bombing attacks by Allied aircraft.
- The high rate of fire and power of the 20mm rounds made it especially effective in the low- to mid-altitude engagements typical of WWII anti-aircraft operations.

Legacy and Significance:

- The MG 151/20 Drilling is remembered for its adaptability and effectiveness in anti-aircraft defense. Its design was a testament to German engineering, creating a formidable weapon from repurposed aircraft cannons.
- As a ground-based anti-aircraft weapon, it played a key defensive role, although by the war's end, heavier AA guns were necessary to counter the more advanced Allied aircraft.

Summary

The Flugabwehr MG 151/20 Drilling was an innovative adaptation of aircraft cannons into an effective anti-aircraft platform.

Its triple-mount configuration and high rate of fire made it a formidable defense against low- and mid-altitude aircraft and light ground targets, highlighting Germany's resourcefulness in adapting existing weapons to meet the evolving challenges of the battlefield.