Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind"
"Wirbelwind" at CFB Borden
Type	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Specifications
Weight	22 tonnes (48,501 lbs)
Length	5.89 m (19.32 ft)
Width	2.88 m (9.44 ft)
Height	2.76 m (9 ft)
Crew	5
Armor	10 - 80 mm (.39 - 3.14 in)
Primary armament	4x2 cm FlaK 38 cannons in Flakvierling 38 L/112.5 mount with 3,200 rounds
Secondary armament	1x7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 1,350 rounds
Engine	12-cylinder Maybach HL 120 TRM 272 hp (202.83 kW)
Power/weight	12.36 hp/tonne
Suspension	leaf spring
Operational range	200 km (124 mi)
Speed	40 km/h (25 mph)

The Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" (Whirlwind in German) 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 developed air superiority, the need for more mobile and better-armed self-propelled anti-aircraft guns increased.

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.

As the 2 cm shells used proved less effective against aircraft than the 3.7 cm shells the Wirbelwind was eventually replaced by the Ostwind which was equipped with a single 3.7 cm FlaK 43. [1]

The armor and rapid fire from the four guns of the Wirbelwind was also very effective against infantry. One Wirbelwind could take out large numbers of enemy infantry.

It is believed that either 87 or 105 Wirbelwinds were produced during the war, but due to discrepancies between the recorded production numbers at Ostbau Werke and Wehrmacht service records, the exact number will probably never be known.

Wirbelwind at CFB Borden

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Flakpanzer IV

• Panzerworld Wirbelwind specifications
• Achtung Panzer article on Flakpanzer IV
• Surviving Panzer IV variants - A PDF file presenting surviving Panzer IV variants