[reg45]

"Wherever the 88 scores a direct hit there's no Ivan left looking out of the strongpoint," said Pepo Specht, who was just then looking through the telescope. "Yes, the flak is quite indispensable against this kind of fortification," Manstein replied. As if to underline his words, the metallic crump of the 88-cm. guns rang out clearly through the hurricane of noise. These anti-aircraft guns were indeed indispensable. It was in the siege of Sevastopol that the 18th Flak Regiment gained its fame. The flat-trajectory 'eight-eight' was the best weapon against fortifications projecting above ground-level. Employed in the foremost line, just like the mortars, the 88 guns, these fantastic miracle weapons of the Second World War, cracked pillboxes and gun emplacements at point-blank range. The 88-cm. batteries of the 18th Flak Regiment alone fired 18,787 rounds in the course of the battle for Sevastopol.

Essentially, an 88mm anti-aircraft artillery piece used as a sniper rifle.

Note: There seems to be some confusion in the original text. The 88-cm designation is probably 8.8-cm or the more familiar 88mm.

[Larry381]

Note: There seems to be some confusion in the original text. The 88-cm designation is probably 8.8-cm or the more familiar 88mm.

You're absolutely correct and my mistake. The book the excerpt is copied from is translated from the German edition (Hitler Moves East) I usually go back and edit the math but in this case I messed up entirely-apologies to all.