German searchlights of World War II

After the end of the First World War, German development of searchlights was effectively stopped by the Treaty of Versailles, it resumed in 1927.

The lamp output was rated at 135 million candelas, and it had a detection range of about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) for targets travelling at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).

[2] The 8 kilowatt, direct current generator that powered the searchlight was driven by a six-cylinder, BMW engine, of a type used in pre-war cars.

Developed in the late 1930s, the Flakscheinwerfer (Flak Searchlight) 34 and 37 used 150-centimetre (59 in) diameter parabolic glass reflectors with an output of 990 million candelas.

Sound locators deployed with the searchlights helped them find targets, later these were replaced with radar systems.

Sixty-one special fixed quadruple 150-centimetre mounts were produced in an effort to extend the range of the 150 centimetre searchlights, however these proved unsuccessful.

In order to reach bombers now flying at increasingly higher altitudes, more powerful searchlights were needed.