| Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" | |
|---|---|
 Wirbelwind atCFB Borden | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1944 |
| Manufacturer | conversions by Ostbau Werke |
| Produced | 1944-1945 |
| No. built | 87-105 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 22 tonnes (48,501 lb) |
| 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 to 80 mm (0.39 to 3.15 in) |
Main armament | 1 ×quad 2 cm Flak 38 |
Secondary armament | 1 ×7.92 mmMG 34Panzerlauf |
| Engine | 12-cylinderMaybach HL120 TRM 300PS (296hp, 221kW) |
| Power/weight | 13.6 PS/tonne |
| Payload capacity | 3,200 rounds 2 cm 1,350 rounds 7.92 mm |
| Suspension | Leaf spring |
Operational range | 200 km (124 miles) |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
TheFlakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" (Whirlwind in English) was a Germanself-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on thePanzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlierMöbelwagen self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
In the first years ofWorld War II, theGerman 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-HauptsturmführerKarl Wilhelm Krause with the12th SS Panzer DivisionHitlerjugend came up with the concept of theFlakpanzer IVWirbelwind.[1] He presented the concept to SS-ObersturmbannführerMax Wünsche, commanding officer of the12th SS Panzer Regiment and it was approved byAdolf Hitler.
The Panzer IV's turret was removed and replaced with an open-top, nine-sided turret that housed a2 cmFlakvierling 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 nicknameKeksdose ("biscuit tin").[1] Production of the tank was carried out byOstbau Werke inSagan,Silesia.
While the turret's four barrels were capable of firing 2 cm shells at a 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 theFlakpanzer IVOstwind ("East Wind"), the successor was equipped with a single3.7 cm Flak 43.[1][2]
The combination of armor and rapid fire from the four guns of theWirbelwind also made it very effective against lightly armoured ground targets such as trucks and armored cars; infantry were particularly vulnerable.[3][failed verification]
Between 87 and 105Wirbelwinds were converted from repaired Panzer IV chassis, but due to discrepancies between the recorded production numbers at Ostbau Werke andWehrmacht service records, the actual number may never be known.[1][2]
The Wirbelwind at CFB Borden is currently undergoing a full running and firing restoration by the Borden military museum by military and volunteers.[citation needed]
| Tanks |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled artillery | ||
| Assault guns | ||
| Tank destroyers (Panzerjäger,Jagdpanzer) | ||
| Half-tracks | ||
| Armored cars | ||
| Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns | ||
| Demolition vehicles | ||
| Experimental/prototype vehicles | ||
| Proposed designs | ||
| Designations | ||