Roden 727 Selbstfahrlafette auf Fahrgestell VOMAG 1:72

In 1940 the German automobile builder Vomag, which made trucks and staff buses for the needs of the Wehrmacht, received an order from the military for a special heavy mobile anti-aircraft vehicle, able to transport the 88mm Flak 36 gun on its own chassis.

This order came stamped with high-level importance because the future vehicle had a very particular task - the escort of the Fuhrer as part of a special division ("Führerbegleit - Flakabteilung") to the front, where they were to ensure the constant safety of the head of state, manned by personnel dedicated to all measures of anti-aircraft defense.

For this requirement a triple axle chassis was chosen, which was capable of transporting 9 tonne loads. To perform technical tasks, the best suited was a bus chassis, because it had a frame design enabling the installation of a gun at a relatively low height above the ground, and keeping vertical alignment within acceptable limits. The vehicle had 10mm tolerances in its vital units. In order to protect the crew in bad weather conditions, a tarpaulin awning was mounted in the rear part of the body. Behind were located two coils of wire cable for radio communication between units. The ammunition for the gun was stored in two compartments at the very back of the car body.