Wirbelwind,
Flakpanzer IV (2cm) auf Fgst Pz IV/3 Wirbelwind:
In December 1943 the first model appeared.2 It was on an unaltered PzKpfw IV chassis with a 16 mm all around turret. Ostbau of Sagan in Silesia produced the vehicles.2
Turret traverse was slow, and thus restricted the vehicle when combating ground-attack aircraft.2 Rate of fire was 800 rpm2/450 rpm3.
The HE round weighed 0.3 lbs and was fired at a muzzle velocity of 2,953'/sec.3
Issued to Flugabwehrzüge (AA platoons) of Panzer regiments. In 1944, 3 or 4 were assigned to the HQ companies of panzer battalions.2
| Wirbelwind "Whirlwind" | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 51,2,3 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 48,502 lb 22 tons1, 22.4 tons2, 25 tons3 |
| Length w/gun | 18.8'3, 19' 5" 5.92 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8.8'3, 9' 10" 2.76 m1 |
| Width | 9.4'3, 9' 8" 2.9 m1 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 3.75", 15.8"3 |
| Ground contact length | 138.5"3 |
| Ground pressure | 11.5 psi3 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 4: 2cm FlaK 38 20 mm Flakvierling 381,3 4: 2 cm AA gun2 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 7.92 mm MG34, hull 7.92 mm MG341 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 3,2001,2 16 clips of 20 rounds each in turret, 15 boxes in tank3 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 1,3501 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Turret: 162 Front: 3.4"3 Side: 1.2"3 Superstructure: 0.6"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 | 16@25°1 Gun shield: 10 round1 |
| Turret Sides | 16@36°1 |
| Turret Rear | 16@12°-22°1 |
| Turret Top | Open1 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Maybach HL 120TRM112, Maybach HL 120 TRM1,3 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water3 |
| Cylinders | V-123 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 300@3,000 rpm3 |
| 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 | Starting: 24-volt3 Running: 12-volt3 |
| Ignition | Magneto3 |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline3 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 125 gallons3 |
| Road consumption | 1 mpg3 |
| Cross country consumption | 0.6 mpg3 |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°1,3 Hand1 |
| 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 | -10° 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 |
| Production | Ostbau in Silesia2 Chassis nos. 82001-90000 86: 7/44-11/44 1402 |
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?
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