Magirus Deutz 232D (M55 Firling) - Danish anti air

Til_Dovre_Faller · January 20, 2025, 6:58pm

MAGIRUS DEUTZ 232D (M55 Firling)

TYPE: Self Propelled Anti Air

ARMAMENT

Spoiler

1x4 12.7x99mm M55 Machine Gun
-Ammunition capacity: Uncertain, but the mg’s mags have 200 rounds a piece
-Placement: Fixed on the flatbed
Mass: 1,087 kg
Barrel length: 1.6 m L/50
Shell: 12.7×99mm
Shell weight: 0.6 kg
Caliber: 12.7 mm
Action: Short recoil-operated
Elevation: -5° to +90°
Traverse: 360 degrees
Rate of fire: 575 x 4 = 2,300 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 890 m/s
Effective firing range: 1.5 km (effective AA), 4.5 km (maximum AA)
Maximum firing range: 1.8 km (horizontal), 2.5 km (maximum)
Feed system: Belt-fed

TECHNICAL DATA
Definition: Magirus Deutz 232 D, 16 AK, 4x4
Engine: Deutz F8L413 V8 11.3 liters 11,232 ccm.
HP 232 hp
Type. Diesel
Weight T: 15,500
Length: 7.10 m
Width: 2.45 m
Height: 2.80 m

HISTORY
From the mid 1970’s to the mid 1980’s the Danish army bought a bunch of Magirus Deutz 232 D 16 AK wich were put in use by the army and the air defence of the country. In relation to this a smaller amount of the vehicles were assigned to the Close range air support unit to replace the aging Bedford MJP2 wich had carried the M55 station for many years now. How many years this was in use as a platform for this station is uncertian, but likely from the mid 1970’s to the mid 1990’s, the images below where we can see the vehicle shooting was taken in 1987, when they were using up some very old ammunition they had kept in storage for many years. I know they were used for educating for quite a while as they were used in an exersise in 1991, where some of those were placed in an field and some planes form the airfore participated to simulate real life combat/air defence. The Deutz Magirus or Magirus Deutz is an German vehicle designed and produced by Magirus GmbH with its headquarters in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. They have been producing a large amount of variants for a lot of purposes, from transport vehicles for civilians and military vehicles, firefighting and ambulances, in all sizes.

The image above show’s the vehicle firing the cannon!

IN GAME
This could be a solid anti air vehicle somehwere at rank 3-4, i think this can be placed this high, considering the vehicle’s size and that its survivability and mobility combined with the other older variants is quite higher. It could serve well in an Danish subtree or as a part of a Danish/Norwegian techtree!

Here is a Marirus Deutz from the same time, same model just used for a different purpose