Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind
In service 1944 - 1945
A quadruple 2 cm anti-aircraft mount in an open-topped turret on a Panzer IV hull, built to keep fighter-bombers off tank columns.
Built byOstbau Sagan
Photograph pending. No clearly licensed photograph of this vehicle was found.
Development history
By 1944 Allied air power made movement in daylight lethal for German armour, and rebuilt Panzer IV hulls received the Flakvierling 38 in a nine-sided open turret nicknamed the Wirbelwind, or whirlwind. The open top was needed to clear gun smoke but left the crew exposed to air-burst and small-arms fire. Around a hundred were converted and they proved just as useful against infantry and light vehicles as against aircraft. Sources give between 100 and 105 conversions.
Variants
One canonical record, 2 recorded variants.
Wirbelwind
1944Quadruple 2 cm Flakvierling 38 in a nine-sided open turret.
Ostwind
1944Single 3.7 cm Flak 43 in a similar open turret, longer reach against aircraft.
Notable actions
- Normandy
- Ardennes Offensive
- Eastern Front 1945