2cm FlaK Solothurn anti-aircraft ammunition as cross sections.

German 2cm FlaK Solothurn anti-aircraft ammunition as cross sections.

All of the following German 2cm ammunition was used in wo2 in the German 2cm FlaK anti-aircraft gun.  The 20×138B cartridges were developed by the factory Solothurn.  For all models shown below the brass or steel shellcasings have stamped powderbags. Descriptions of the shown cartridges below.

All shown items are from the Airwar 1939-1945 collection.

1- 20x138B HE-T-SD. High explosive projectile with tracer and self-destructor.
The projectile has a screwed-in tracer element with a lose steel cylinder inside which, after burning up, ignites a brass self-destructor with subsequent main charge.

2- 20x138B HEI-MECH.SD. High explosive/incendiary projectile with a mechanical self-destruct fuze with a flyweight inside -Kpf.Z.Zerl.Fg- the cartridge has no tracer element and has a closed body.

3- 20x138B HEI-T-SD. High explosive/incendiary projectile with tracer and self-destructor.
The grenade body has a tracer element that ignites the self-destruct element and the main charge after burning up.

4- 20x138B HE-T-SD. High explosive projectile with tracer and self-destructor.
The grenade body has a tracer element that, after burning up, ignites the self-destruct element and the main charge.

5- 20x138B HE-T-SD. High explosive projectile with tracer and self-destructor.
The grenade body has a tracer element that, after burning up, ignites the self-destruct element and the main charge. This projectile a shown has no fuze but a bakelite transport plug, these plugs have been found sporadically by the German explosives disposal units.

6- 20x138B APHE-T-SD. Armourpiercing projectile with a pressed-in tracer element made of zinc with self-destruct element. After the light-tracking element burns up , this ignites the self-destruct element followed by the main charge.

7- 20x138B APHE-T-SD. Armourpiercing projectile with a screwed-in red tracer element (with an aluminium washer) and self-destructor. After the tracer element burns up , this ignites the self-destruct element followed by the main charge.

8- 20x138B API-T. Armourpiercing incendiary projectile with a screwed-in tracer element. Inside the projectile is an aluminium capsule containing several grams of white phosphorus.
After the tracer element burns up, this ignites the aluminium phosphorus capsule.