The Flakpanzer 38(t) (Sd.Kfz.140), officially signed into existence on October 15 1943, served as an interim anti-aircraft platform before the Flakpanzer IV was fielded. Based on the Czech-designed 38(t) Ausf.M chassis with mid-mounted engine, the fighting compartment was mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The Flakpanzer was armed with a single 2cm FlaK38 cannon of L/112.5 caliber, and was supplied with 1040 ammunition rounds onboard. As an interim Flakpanzer design, it had obvious inadequacies such as limited armour protection for the crew and a lack of firepower from the small main armament. Thus, BMM only produced 141 such vehicles between November 1943 and February 1944. Many of them saw combat on the Western Front in units like the 12th SS Panzer Division “Hitlerjugend.” The top armoured sections could fold down to allow 360 degree traverse of the cannon at low elevations. This also meant the weapon could be used against ground targets.