Wirbelwind

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WWII Vehicle

Wirbelwind
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
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The Wirbelwind in World War II

Development

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

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.


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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
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The Wirbelwind in Aces High II

The best ground to air killer in the game with 4 20mm flack cannons.