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Wirbelwind was one of the successors of Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen
armed with the 37 mm Flak 43 L/89. In May 1944, the first prototype
of Wirbelwind (Tornado) using the chassis of Panzer IV was produced.
This conversion was to be carried out starting from Panzers IV damaged
and returned from the front (mainly Ausf.F/G). The concept of Wirbelwind
comes from Karl Wilhelm Krause, an officer of 12th SS-Panzer Division
"Hitler Jugend", which in summer 1944, proposed to assemble
the quadruple gun of 20 mm Flak 38 L/112.5 on the chassis of Pz.Kpfw
IV.
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| Flakpanzer
IV Wirbelwind mit 4x20 mm Flak 38 L/112.5. |
| src:
site "Panzer page von Reitsch" |
Wirbelwind was equipped with a turret of DCA (opened on the top) made
up of 9 side panels. Wirbelwind was armed with the quadruple 20 mm Flak
38 L/112.5 for anti-aircraft or terrestrial use (less effective than
the 37 mm Flak 43). Wirbelwind was produced by Ostbau Works in Sagan
in Silesia in a limited number because of the lack of hulls available
and the relocalizations of the factories due to the Soviet projection.
Only 85-105 Wirbelwinds were produced between May and November 1944.
Wirbelwinds will be used by Flugabwehrzugen (groups of DCA) of Panzerdivisions.
Although too much rare Wirbelwinds was very effective weapons against
the planes moving at low altitude.
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| Flakpanzer
IV Wirbelwinds |
| src:
site "Panzer page von Reitsch" |
Towards the end of 1944, it was projected of rearmed Wirbelwinds with
four guns of 30 mm MK 303 or MK103/38 firing 1600 rounds per minute.
In December 1944, Ostbau produced a prototype designed Zerstorer
45 (Destroyer 45) - 3 cm Flakvierling MK103/108 auf Sfl PzKpfw
IV. In 1945, it were envisaged to use obsolete Pz.Kpfw III as bases
for Flakpanzer III provided with the turret of Wirbelwind (Slf PzKpfw
of 2 cm Flakvierling 38 III).
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20 mm Flak 30 & 38 L/112.5 @
Penetration of a shielding plate (mm) under a plunging angle of
30° |
| Ammo |
Weight |
Velocity |
100m |
500m |
1000m |
1500m |
2000m |
| PzGr |
0.148 kg |
780 m/s |
20 |
14 |
9 |
- |
- |
| PzGr 40 |
0.1 kg |
1050 m/s |
49 |
20 |
- |
- |
- |
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