Modell 20 Fd. 1.4 Gun

The **Modell 20 Fd. 1.4 Gun** is a light anti-aircraft and anti-vehicle weapon developed and produced for the Imperial Army and the Imperial Navy. However, due to the lackluster rate of fire and ballistic performance, the Imperial Arsenals are currently in the process of developing a successor with a larger caliber, the Modell 31 Fd. 2 Gun.

Due to being able to be elevated to +85° and depressed to -10°, the Modell 20 Fd. 1.4 Gun can be used against small craft and vehicles as well as against aircraft.

## Design

Although the Imperial Navy in and of itself does not believe, that aircraft will play a pivotal role in naval combat in the near future, the Imperial Navy does recognize, that aircraft can still endanger ships or troops, especially at close distances and low altitudes. To that end, starting in 1918, the Imperial Arsenals started with the development of a light anti-aircraft weapon in order to adequately fill the gap between heavy machine guns and destroyer-artillery (it would take until 1926 until a dual-purpose version for the Fd. 5.5 guns used on destroyers was rolled out, the Modell 26 Fd. 5.5 Gun).

The Imperial Arsenals also developed a new round, the heavy Fd. 1.4x10 round, with a caliber of 2.55x18.2cm and a weight of roundabout one kilogram per shell with an effective firing range of up to three kilometers (both depending on the type of shell). It is seen as one reasons as to why the rate of fire is so low, together with the fact, that every shot has to be loaded individually and manually. A good crew can sustain a rate of fire of 40 shells per minute over a longer time, with bursts of 45 rounds per minute.

Via an etched glass optical ring sight, the gunner can aim his weapon, turning his weapon electrically while his crew of up to six men (depending on the number of barrels) attend to the whims and needs of their weapon, which is actually quite reliable. The sight only provides for a maximum target speed of 700 km/h.

The gun is, with the Army, usually used with a gun shield and in single mounts, but in naval applications, it usually lacks the shield and is set up in double mounts.

## Service History

**Ships**

Battleships: Kayfer-class Fast Battleship, Eyckenbaum-class Battleship, Imperatrix Gundel class Battleship, Bucks-class Fast Battleship
Battlecruisers/"The heavy cavalry of the Fleet": Feuerreiter-class Battlecruiser, Tauläufer-class Battlecruiser, Furtenland-class Battlecruiser (decommissioned)
Aircraft Carriers: Feuerbergadler-class Aircraft Carrier (to be commissioned 1941-1944), Tiefbucht-class Light Aircraft Carrier (to be commissioned 1942-1945), Waldschatten-class Aircraft Carrier, Early Aircraft Carriers of the Imperial Navy

**Boats**

Cruisers/"The light cavalry of the Fleet": Prinz-class Cruiser, Prinzessin-class Cruiser, Stadt-class Scout Cruiser
Destroyers: Zerstörer 1935 (Z-211 to Z-240, 30 units), Zerstörer 1925 (Z-151 to Z-210, 60 units), Einheitszerstörer a.k.a. Zerstörer 1918 (Z-121 to Z-150, 30 units) and Zerstörer 1915 (Z-113 to Z-130, 18 units), Zerstörer 1910 (42 units, decommissioned, awaiting scrapping)
Frigates/Flottenbegleiter: Flottenbegleiter 1928
Torpedo Boats: Torpedoboot 1922
**Supply and Support Vessels**

Other: SIM Kloster Garremach (training ship), Unterstützungsboot 1917 (support boat)

**Other Equipment**

**Battleship Artillery:** Modell 24 Fd. 25 Gun (45.5 cm gun), Modell 22 Fd. 22 Gun (40 cm gun)
Fd. 19.5 Guns (35.5 cm guns): Modell 18 Fd. 19.5 Gun, Modell 28 Fd. 19.5 Gun
**Cruiser Artillery:** Modell 25 Fd. 8.25 Gun (15 cm gun)
Fd. 11 Guns (20 cm guns): Modell 10 Fd. 11 Gun, Modell 15 Fd. 11 Gun, Modell 21 Fd. 11 Gun, Modell 28 Fd. 11 Gun
**Destroyer Artillery:**
Fd. 5.5 Guns (10 cm guns): Modell 11 Fd. 5.5 Gun, Modell 18 Fd. 5.5 Gun, Modell 26 Fd. 5.5 Gun (dual purpose mount)
For destroyers with delusions of grandeur: Modell 25 Fd. 8.25 Gun
Anti-Aircraft Artillery: Modell 31 Fd. 2 Gun (36 mm AA-gun), **Modell 20 Fd. 1.4 Gun** (2.55 cm AA-gun), Modell 26 Fd. 5.5 Gun (10 cm gun, dual purpose mount)
Torpedoes: Fd. 24.7 Aerial Torpedo (450 mm torpedo), Fd. 33.5 Torpedo (610 mm torpedo)
Rockets: Rockets of the Imperial Navy
Mines: Naval mines of the Imperial Navy
Aircraft: List of Aircraft in service with the Imperial Armed Forces
Radar: *Present and accounted for*
Sonar: *Present and accounted for*

Also see: Women in the Imperial Armed Forces, Doctrine of the Imperial Navy, Structure of the Imperial Navy in 1930, Structure of the Imperial Navy in 1940, Marine-Schützen-Korps, Imperatorwerften Wahlerhaven.
Competitors: Shipclasses and equipment of the Sultan's Navy, Structure of the SDF-Navy in 1942, Structure of the Lutetiian Navy in 1942
Project 1940: Structure of the SDF-Navy in 1942, Structure of the Sultan's Navy in 1940, Structure of the Armed Forces of the Principality in 1940, Structure of the Lutetiian Navy in 1942, Structure of the Armed Forces of the Empire of Kupandukira in 1940