Ostwind

*Flakpanzer IV/3.7cm FlaK "Ostwind"*
Flakpanzer IV/3.7cm FlaK "Ostwind"
	Scale model of an Ostwind
Type	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Production history
Produced	1944-1945
No. built	44 (22 converted from Panzer IV + 22 new production vehicles)
Specifications
Mass	25 tonnes
Length	5.92 m (19 ft 5 in)
Width	2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Height	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew	5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, Radio Operator)
Armor	10–80 mm (0.39–3.15 in)
Main; armament	1x 3.7 cm Flak 43; 1,000 rounds
Secondary; armament	1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun; 1,350 rounds
Engine	12-cylinder Maybach HL120 TRM; 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW gasoline)
Power/weight	12 PS/tonne
Suspension	leaf spring
Operational; range	200 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed	38 km/h (24 mph)

The Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind" (East Wind in English) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier Flakpanzer IV/2 cm Vierling Wirbelwind.

The Panzer IV's turret was removed and replaced with an open-top, hexagonal turret that housed a 3.7 cm Flak 43. In addition to its intended role as an anti-aircraft weapon, the fast-firing gun was highly effective against light vehicles and minor fortifications. A closed-top design would have been preferable, but this was not possible due to the heavy smoke generated by the gun.

The Ostwind's main improvement over the Wirbelwind was the FlaK 43's increased range and stopping power over the 2 cm Flakvierling 38 and slightly better armor on its turret, albeit it had a lower fire rate. To solve this problem a project was undertaken to arm the Ostwind with two 37 mm cannons, known as the Ostwind II. A single prototype was built but the war ended before anything truly became of it.

Although an order for 100 vehicles was placed in August 1944, only 44 vehicles were completed (22 converted from existing Panzer IVs and 22 new production vehicles) from December 1944 to March 1945.^[1]

Comparable vehicles

Möbelwagen
40M Nimród
M19 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
Crusader Mk. III Anti-Aircraft Tank Mk. I
ZSU-37
40 mm cannon armed AMX-13

Citations

^ Doyle & Jentz, p. 12-1-48

Bibliography

Doyle, Hilary Louis & Jentz, Thomas L. (2023). Flakpanzer IV and Other Flakpanzer Projects. Panzer Tracts. Vol. 12–1 (revised ed.). Old Heathfield, UK: Panzerwrecks. ISBN 978-1-915969-18-7.