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Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind"
Wirbelwind CFB Borden 2
Wirbelwind at CFB Borden
Type Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Specifications
Mass 22 tonnes (48,501 lbs)
Length 5.89 m (19 ft 4 in)
Width 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height 2.76 m (9 ft 1 in)
Crew 5 (commander/gunner, two loaders, driver, radio operator)

Armor 10 - 80 mm (.39 - 3.14 in)
Main
armament
2 cm Flakvierling 38 quad AA
Secondary
armament
1x7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine 12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM
300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW)
Power/weight 13.6 PS/tonne
Payload capacity 3,200 rounds 2 cm
1,350 rounds 7,92mm
Suspension leaf spring
Operational
range
200 km (124 mi)
Maximum speed 40 km/h (25 mph)

The Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" (Whirlwind in English) was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft gun Möbelwagen. In the first years of the war, the Wehrmacht had less interest in developing self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, but as the Allies began to gain air superiority, the need for more mobile and better-armed self-propelled anti-aircraft guns increased. During the early summer of 1944, SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Wilhelm Krause with the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend came up with the concept of the Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind.[1] He presented the concept to SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche, commanding officer of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment and it was approved by Hitler.

The Panzer IV's turret was removed and replaced with an open-top, nine-sided turret which housed a quadruple 2 cm Flakvierling 38 L/112.5. A closed-top design would have been preferable, but this was not possible due to the heavy smoke generated by the four anti-aircraft guns. Production of the tank was carried out by Ostbau Werke in Sagan, Silesia. Thereafter, the 2 cm shells proved less effective against aircraft so a more powerful successor was produced which eventually replaced it. Known as the Flakpanzer IV Ostwind (East Wind), the successor was equipped with a single 3.7 cm FlaK 43.[2][3]

Wirbelwind CFB Borden 1

Wirbelwind at CFB Borden

The combination of armor and rapid fire from the four guns of the Wirbelwind did make it effective against ground targets.[4]

Between 87 and 105 Wirbelwinds were produced during the war, but due to discrepancies between the recorded production numbers at the Ostbau Works and Wehrmacht service records, the exact number will probably never be known.[5][6]

References[]

  1. http://www.achtungpanzer.com/flak4.htm
  2. http://www.achtungpanzer.com/flak4.htm
  3. Chamberlain, Peter (1999). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two. Cassell. pp. 110–111. ISBN 978-1854095183. 
  4. Bishop, Chris (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. pp. 166–167. ISBN 978-1-58663-762-0. http://books.google.com/books?id=MuGsf0psjvcC&lpg=PP1&dq=encyclopedia%20of%20weapons%20of%20world%20war%202&pg=PA166. 
  5. http://www.achtungpanzer.com/flak4.htm
  6. Chamberlain, Peter (1999). Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two. Cassell. pp. 110–111. ISBN 978-1854095183. 

External links[]


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Wirbelwind and the edit history here.
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