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Germany's 3.7 cm Flak 43 auf Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind"
3.7 cm Flak 43 auf Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind": |
3.7 cm Flak 43 auf Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind": |
Design
The Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind" (east wind) had a 6 sided turret. 100 were ordered on August 18, 1944. Turret was similar to Möbelwagen.
Main Armament
The Ostwind had a 3.7 cm FlaK 43/1 L/60 mounted. The main armament could fire 160 rpm2/250 rpm3. The round weighed 1.4 lbs and had a muzle velocity of 2,750'/sec.3 The maximum ceiling was around 5,000'.3
Prototype
One prototype was completed in July 1944.1
Production
- 3.7 cm Flak 43 auf Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind":
36 converted1, 7 produced1
- Production: March 1944 - ?2, December 1944 - March 19451
- Manufacturer: Deutsche Eisenwerke, Ostbau1
Variants
- 3.7 cm Flak 43 auf Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind":
- Ostwind II: Had a 37 mm FlaK 44.1 Guns were mounted side by side.1 Ostbau was to build them, but the factory was attacked and production was disrupted.1
Usage
Issued to Flugabwehrzüge (AA platoons) of Panzer regiments.
| Ostwind "Eastwind", Flakpanzer IV/3.7 cm Flak | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 61, 73 |
| Radio | FuG51, FuG21 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 55,115 lb 25 tons1, 25.4 tons2, 26.9 tons3 |
| Length w/gun | 19' 5", 19.5"3 5.92 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 9.5'3, 9' 10" 3 m1 |
| Width | 9.5'3, 9' 8" 2.95 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 3.75", 15.8"3 |
| Ground contact length | 138.5"3 |
| Ground pressure | 12.3 psi3 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 3.7cm FlaK 43/1 L/70 37 mm FlaK43/1 L/601 3.7 cm Flak 432,3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG34, hull, internal 2: 7.92 mm MG341 |
| OR | 7.92 mm MG341 and 7.92 mm MG421 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1,0001, 1,6003, 4,2162 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 1,350 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Turret: 252 Front: 2"3 Side: 1.2"3 Superstructure: 1"3 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 80@10°1 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 80@12°1 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 30@0°1 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 30@0°1 |
| Hull Rear | 20@11°1 & 20@9°1 |
| Hull Top | 12@85°-90°1 |
| Hull Bottom | 10@90°1 |
| Turret Front | 25@37°1 Shield: 25 round1 |
| Turret Sides | 25@30°1 |
| Turret Rear | 25@30°1 |
| Turret Top | Open1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120TRM1121, Maybach HL 120 TRM3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water3 |
| Cylinders | V-123 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 300@3,000 rpm |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:13 |
| Transmission (Type) | Synchromesh, type SSG 773 6 forward, 1 reverse1,3 |
| Steering | Clutch brake3 |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electric and inertia3 |
| Electrical system | 24-volt3 |
| Ignition | Magneto3 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline3 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 125 gallon3 |
| Road consumption | 1 mpg3 |
| Cross country consumption | 0.6 mpg3 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, hand.1 |
| Max speed | 24 mph, 25 mph3 38 kph1 |
| Cross country speed | 10 mph3 |
| Road radius | 124 miles3 200 km1 |
| Cross country radius | 78 miles3 |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | -6° to +90°1 |
| Fording depth | 2' 7", 47"3 |
| Trench crossing | 7' 6", 7.7'3 |
| Vertical obstacle | 23.6"3 |
| Climbing ability | 30° (57%) slope3 |
| Suspension (Type) | Sprung in pairs on 1/4 elliptic springs3 |
| Wheels each side | 83, 8x2 |
| Return rollers each side | 43, 4x2 |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin3 |
| Length | |
| Width | 1' 3", 15.75"3 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | 993 |
| Pitch | 4.75"3 |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 8.1'3 |
Sources:
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- German Tanks of World War II, Dr. S. Hart & Dr. R. Hart, 1998
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
