Wirbelwind
|
WWII Vehicle | |
| Wirbelwind | |
| |
| Variant of | Flakpanzer IV |
|---|---|
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Ostbau Werke |
| Crew | 5 |
| Dimensions | Width 9'5¼" Length 19'3¾" Height 9' |
| Primary Armament | 4x20mm FlaK 38 cannons |
| Aces High II Armor Thickness | |
| Superstructure Front | 80mm |
| Superstructure Side | 30mm |
| Superstructure Back | 20mm |
| Superstructure Top | 11mm |
| Hull Front | 80mm |
| Hull Sides | 30mm |
| Hull Rear | 20mm |
| Hull Bottom | 10mm |
| Turret | 16mm |
| how to edit | |
Contents
The Wirbelwind in World War II[edit]
Development[edit]
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.
The armor and rapid fire from the four guns of the Wirbelwind was also very effective against infantry.
Unit Deployment[edit]
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.
External Links[edit]
- Panzerworld Wirbelwind specifications
- Achtung Panzer article on Flakpanzer IV
- Surviving Panzer IV variants - A PDF file presenting surviving Panzer IV variants
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Aces High II Vehicle | |
| Wirbelwind | |
| Variant of | Flakpanzer IV |
|---|---|
| Type | Self propelled anti-aircraft |
| Aces High II Ordnance Options | |
| Options | 4x 20mm Flak 38 800 rpg |
| 1x 7.92 MG 1350 rounds | |
| Aces High II Main Arenas | |
| Earliest MA | Mid War |
| Typical perk cost | 0 (Late War) |
| ENY value | 25 (Late War) |
| Available on carrier | no |
| how to edit | |
The Wirbelwind in Aces High II[edit]
The best ground to air killer in the game with 4 20mm flack cannons.
