Wirbelwind

The ''Flakpanzer'' IV "''Wirbelwind''" (Whirlwind in English) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier ''Möbelwagen'' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.

In the first years of World War II, the German military forces 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''. He presented the concept to SS-''Obersturmbannführer'' Max Wünsche, commanding officer of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment and it was approved by Adolf Hitler.

The Panzer IV's turret was removed and replaced with an open-top, nine-sided turret that housed a 2 cm ''Flakvierling'' 38, a quadruple mount of 20 mm cannon. 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. The shape of the turret earned it the nickname ''Keksdose'' ("biscuit tin"). Production of the tank was carried out by ''Ostbau Werke'' in Sagan, Silesia.

While the turret's four barrels were capable of firing 2 cm shells at a devastatingly high rate, it lacked range and was sometimes ineffective unless several shells hit an aircraft at once. Thus a more powerful successor, with an armament that hit harder and at longer range, 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.

The combination of armor and rapid fire from the four guns of the ''Wirbelwind'' also made it very effective against lightly-armoured ground targets such as trucks and armored cars; infantry were particularly vulnerable.

Between 87 and 105 ''Wirbelwinds'' were converted from repaired Panzer IV chassis, but due to discrepancies between the recorded production numbers at Ostbau Werke and ''Wehrmacht'' service records, the actual number may never be known.

Surviving vehicles

* Militärhistorische Ausstellung Flugabwehr, Kiel (Germany) (Historical Military Anti-aircraft Exhibitio

* Base Borden Military Museum Flakpanzer Restoration Projec


The Wirbelwind at CFB Borden is currently undergoing a full running and firing restoration by the Borden military museum by military and volunteers.

References

External links

Panzerworld Wirbelwind specifications




Surviving Panzer IV variants
- A PDF file presenting surviving Panzer IV variants

Flakpanzer Restoration Project Interview

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World War II self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons of Germany
Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944