| Möbelwagen | 3,7cm Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV |
| Wirbelwind | 2cm Flakvierling auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV |
| Ostwind | 3.7cm Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV |
| Sd.Kfz. 140 | 2cm Flakpanzer auf Fahrgestell Panzer 38(t) |
| Sd.Kfz. 7 | Halbketten-Zugmaschine as Flak-carrier |
| Sd.Kfz. 222 and Sd.Kfz. 234 | Panzerspähwagen as Flak-carrier |
| Sd.Kfz. 250 and Sd.Kfz. 251 | Schützenpanzerwagen as Flak-carrier |
| The success of the German Panzertruppe was partially due to the German Luftwaffe, but the situation changed in 1942 in north Africa, where Allied aircraft dominated the sky. Supply ships and vehicles, but also tanks were insufficient protected against aerial-attacks. After the invasion in France, counter-attacks by German tank divisions (like the Panzer Lehr division) suffered heavily from bombs, rockets and aircraft guns, not from enemy tanks. |
| When generaloberst Guderian
became Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen in 1943, two main problems
were the Russian T34 tanks and the Allied aircraft in north Africa. The
Heereswaffenamt
had already decided that like artillery the Flak-guns should be placed
on existing Panzer IV chassis, and if necessary on Panther chassis.
Due to the requirements of Flak guns it was difficult to combine the two into a Flak-panzer, and the first Flak-panzer was nicknamed Möbelwagen (Furniture Van) by the soldiers due to its proportions. Guderian ordered a weapon system that could protect the panzer during transport, was able to follow them in the field, and was able to fire quickly. |
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| 2cm Flakpanzer auf Fahrgestell Panzer 38(t), SdKfz 140 |
| The first Flakpanzer was a 2cm Flak 38 on a PzKpfw I (Ausf. A) chassis, which went into service in 1941. Although useful in battle, the chassis (developed in 1935) showed technical problems during the Russian campaign, and the last vehicle was lost near Stalingrad, 1943. |
| Since the Flakpanzer development using a PzKpfw VI chassis took too much time, another flak-panzer was developed in late 1943 as an interim solution using the chassis of the panzer 38(t). The 2cm Flak 38, which was the standard light antiaircraft gun and was also used against ground targets, was placed on the end of the chassis. The single 2cm gun was lacking in firepower, but the vehicle was needed until more heavily armed AA tanks could be produced In total 152 vehicles were made, and were in service till the end of the war. |  |
| 3,7cm Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV, Möbelwagen | ||
| Since the fire power of the Flakpanzer 38 was insufficient,
the new Flakpanzer build on a PzKpfw
IV chassis should have a 2cm Flakvierling 38 or a 3.7cm Flak 43. The
FlakPz IV "Möbelwagen" (Furniture Van) was an anti-aircraft tank based
on the PzKpfw IV chassis. From the 2cm Flakvierling 38 only prototypes
were built; and in January 1944 it was decided to place a 3,7cm Flak 43
on the PzKpfw IV chassis.
When the sides were lowered to enable firing, the gun crew perched on top of an open deck and had no protection. Intended as a temporary solution, it ended up serving till the end of the war. Production lasted for one year with around 205 being produced.
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Above: When all sides were lowered the gun could be aimed at all directions |
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Left: The three main Flakpanzers: an Ostwind with 3.7cm Flak 43, a Möbelwagen with 3.7cm Flak 43 (with closed sides), and a Wirbelwind with 2cm Flakvierling 38 | |
| 2cm Flakvierling auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV, Wirbelwind | ||
| Although a closed turret was preferred for the new Flakpanzer, it was not possible due to the creation of smoke when firing. The FlaKPz IV "Wirbelwind" (Whirlwind) was an anti-aircraft tank mounted four 2cm cannons in an octagonal, open-top turret, which provided an impressive amount of firepower. The turret could be rotated at 60o/s. however, by late in the war 2cm shells weren't powerful enough to bring down Allied aircraft. On the other hand, it was a devastating weapon against ground troops. With production starting in mid 1944, in total 105 were produced till the end of the war. | 
Above: A "Wirbelwind" in Holland, September 1944
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| 3.7cm Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzer IV, Ostwind | ||
| In August 1944 Generaloberst Guderian ordered 100 Flakpanzern
consisting of a PzKpfw IV chassis (mainly Ausf. J) with a 3.7cm Flak 43
gun. The FlakPanzer IV "Ostwind" (East Wind) was similar to the Wirbelwind,
which it was intended to replace, but carried the more powerful 3.7cm AA
gun in a different turret. Only 43 were constructed.
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Above: Flakpanzer Ostwind with 3.7cm Flak 43
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| To the second FLAK page |
