The 2 cm Flak 38 was a standard anti-aircraft gun of the Wehrmacht and was used by Army, Waffen-SS, and Luftwaffe AA units. Improvements were made to it in 1940, although the earlier model was still in service throughout the war. These improvements included the addition of a shield, lighter weight, and better portability. The normal detachment for each gun was six men. It could be broken into six loads for man-handling or carrying by horse over difficult terrain. For action, the gun was emplaced on the ground, but in an emergency could be fired from its two-wheel trailer carriage. Barrel recoil and residual gas pressure operated the automatic breech and firing action. The gun had a multirole; AA, anti-tank, and anti-personnel. It was in wide use by the Luftwaffe Flak companies defending airfields and other installations.