These mounted guns use specialised ammunition to target airships. Useless against most ship hulls, but deadly against airborne foes.
Flak Emplacement is a Harbour Building and the only defence turret which can attack enemy airships located within its range. It is useless against naval ships. It is available in 
Empire of the Skies DLC and can be built in every region, it requires free harbour area, does not need any road connection. After construction or relocation, one minute needs to pass to train fusiliers, only after this time the flak emplacement can start attacking enemies.
Properties and usage[]
The flak emplacement has high damage and very high attack speed, but medium hitpoints and short attack range. Since it is the only defence turret capable of attacking airships it is a crucial part of island defences, unless the enemies have no airships and no ability to construct them. They cannot attack other ships so they are vulnerable to attacks from the sea; therefore it is important to also have other defence turrets to protect flak emplacements from other types of attacks.
Items[]
Some items when equipped in Harbourmaster's Offices can have an impact on flak emplacements.
Specific items[]
 GunnerCommon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Worth a shot. | ||
 Equipped in Harbourmaster's OfficeAffects Defense Turrets  Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Hitpoints: +200 |
Expedition Bonus Force: +5 Naval Power: +15 |
 ArtillerywomanUncommon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gives the enemy a whiff of grapeshot. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Self-Repair: +300% |
Expedition Bonus Force: +10 Naval Power: +25 |
 MegaphoneUncommon | ||
|---|---|---|
| You still end up shouting through it. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets when activated Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
When activated Morale +25% Duration:03:00Cooldown:20:00 Maintenance Cost: +15% |
Expedition Bonus Force: +10 |
 AuxetophoneRare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sure to get your troops' pulses racing. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets when activated Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
When activated Morale +30% Duration:03:00Cooldown:20:00 |
Expedition Bonus Force: +15 |
 CannoneerRare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Not so much a breech-loader, as a breech-stuffer! | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Damage per shot: +15% Hitpoints: +600 |
Expedition Bonus Force: +15 Naval Power: +35 |
 TrepanN8rRare DLC Required
Sunken Treasures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Makes holes in people so their souls may escape. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Attack Speed: +20% Damage per shot: +10% |
Expedition Bonus Naval Power: +20 Crafting Cost  10 Scrap 10 Weapons 10 Saltpetre |
| Source: crafting at Old Nate's workshop in Cape Trelawney | ||
 Vasco's LieutnantRare | ||
|---|---|---|
| She is in charge of defending this desolate place, and she will charge you extra for wasting her time. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Hitpoints: +600 Damage per shot: +15% |
Expedition Bonus Force: +15 Naval Power: +35 |
 AssassiN8rEpic DLC Required
Sunken Treasures | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Don't blame me, I just make 'em! I'm not the one pulling the trigger..." | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Attack Speed: +30% Damage per shot: +15% |
Expedition Bonus Naval Power: +30 Crafting Cost  10 Nice Scrap 10 Weapons 10 Saltpetre |
| Source: crafting at Old Nate's workshop in Cape Trelawney | ||
 Colonel BarzagliEpic | ||
|---|---|---|
| The colonel appears every inch his rank, his breast thick with proud decorations. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Maintenance Cost: -75% Attack Speed: +20% |
Expedition Bonus Force: +20 Naval Power: +45 |
 Dynamic LoudspeakerEpic | ||
|---|---|---|
| You only have to clear your throat, and they obey. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets when activated Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
When activated Attack Speed +20% Duration:03:00Morale +50% Cooldown:20:00 |
Expedition Bonus Force: +20 |
 Evil ExsanguiN8rLegendary DLC Required
Sunken Treasures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Even Old Nate seems to regret having begat a monster so mean and metallic. That's why he'll only give it to people he trusts. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Attack Speed: +50% Damage per shot: +25% |
Expedition Bonus Naval Power: +40 Crafting Cost  10 Special Scrap 10 Advanced Weapons 10 Saltpetre |
| Source: crafting at Old Nate's workshop in Cape Trelawney | ||
 Field Marshall Matravers, Conductor of ArmiesLegendary | ||
|---|---|---|
| "If every one of us is but a minor character in the endless theatre of war, then for God's sake, steal the show!" | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Spirited Your military buildings deal increased damage when their hitpoints are running low Self-Repair: +100% Active Healing Your buildings constantly repair themselves, even during combat. |
Expedition Bonus Diplomacy: +25 Force: +25 Naval Power: +55 |
 General Ewing Thomson, Planter of FlagsLegendary | ||
|---|---|---|
| An intimidating fellow, certainly - but if you knew him, you'd see he's as game for a lark as any of his soldiers. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
Effects Attack Range: +10% Unwavering Your military buildings deal increased damage when their hitpoints are running low Damage from Ships: -25% |
Expedition Bonus Diplomacy: +25 Force: +25 Naval Power: +55 |
 Thundering Loudspeaker NetworkLegendary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Extremely clear communication means a lightning-quick response! | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Defense Turrets when activated Anti-Armour Gun Big Betty Cannon Tower Flak Emplacement Flame Tower Mounted Guns |
When activated Attack Speed +30% Duration:03:00Will of Steel Residences no longer lose happiness as a result of morale loss during island wars. Morale +100% Cooldown:20:00 |
Expedition Bonus Force: +25 |
Items for all harbour buildings[]
 Carpenter's ToolsCommon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Good for repairing buildings. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings when activated |
When activated Self-Repair +200% Duration:00:45Active Healing Your buildings constantly repair themselves, even during combat. Destroyed after use |
Expedition Bonus Crafting: +6 |
 Builder's ToolsUncommon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Excellent for repairing buildings. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings when activated |
When activated Self-Repair +300% Duration:01:00Active Healing Your ship constantly repairs itself, even during combat. Destroyed after use |
Expedition Bonus Crafting: +8 |
 Dockyard ToolboxUncommon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Helps your harbour recover fast! | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings |
Effects Maintenance Cost: +15% Self-Repair: +50% |
Expedition Bonus Crafting: +20 |
 Dockyard ToolchestRare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Helps your harbour recover even faster! | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings |
Effects Self-Repair: +75% |
Expedition Bonus Crafting: +30 |
| Dockyard Tool System Epic | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wow, there's actually a system for keeping the dockyard running smooth now. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings |
Effects Self-Repair: +100% Active Healing Your buildings constantly repair themselves, even during combat. |
Expedition Bonus Crafting: +40 |
| Deke's Indispensible Dockyard Crate Legendary | ||
|---|---|---|
| A chest any salty sailor would be proud of, filled with things to keep your dockyard running whatever the weather. | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings |
Effects Maintenance Cost: -25% Self-Repair: +150% Active Healing Your buildings constantly repair themselves, even during combat. |
Expedition Bonus Crafting: +50 |
 Hogarth the Harbourmaster, Veteran Of TrelawneyLegendary DLC Required
Sunken Treasures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Joined after you helped the Queen at Trelawney. Was in charge of logistics during the war, so expect military efficiency at the docks! | ||
| Equipped in Harbourmaster's Office Affects Harbour Buildings |
Effects Harbour Activity: +30% Every time passive trade happens at the trading post, there is a chance of gaining 5t of  Coffee,  Gold,  Cotton Fabric,  Rum,  Chocolate.Loading Speed: +100% |
Expedition Bonus Diplomacy: +50 |
| Available from The Queen quest: Tribute to a Legend Unique: you can have only one such item in the game | ||
History and Trivia[]
As soon as militaries started putting things in the air, their enemies started to try shooting them down. However, as powered flight was not invented until the 1900s, "military aircraft" in the 1800s consisted effectively exclusively of unpowered balloons, and ways to combat them more sophisticated than trying to shoot them down with rifles were equally limited. As such, the Flak Emplacement's existence can be seen as somewhat anachronistic (in line with the ahistorically advanced airship tech elsewhere in Anno 1800 and particularly in Empire of the Skies).
Having said that, the first weapon specifically designed to try and shoot down aircraft does originate from the 1800s, when the Prussian Army mounted a 1-pounder gun on a specialized carriage to try and shoot down French communication balloons during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Extensive development of anti-aircraft weapons would only truly begin after the development of powered flight, in the run up to and during the First World War, as the increased role of balloons, zeppelins, and the new aeroplane became evident to military thinkers.
The Flak Emplacement closely visually resembles one of these first dedicated anti-aircraft weapons: the British Vickers QF 1-pound (37mm) autocannon, more commonly known as the first of the "pom-pom" guns in British service. The Pom-Pom's military debut barely scrapes into the 19th century, being deployed by the Boers during the Second Boer War, but it wouldn't be deployed as an anti-aircraft gun until the First World War.
The main thing that makes any gun an anti-aircraft gun is its mounting rather than its barrel; AA mounts have to be specialized to aim at very high angles to hit aircraft. If aimed down, most AA guns will hurt things on the ground just fine, as seen with multiple AA guns in World War II being used as anti-tank weapons in a pinch, or being the original templates that heavy tank guns were developed from.
