Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind"

Towards the end of WWII, the Allies had gained air superiority over the battlefield. For the Germans this meant that any movement of vehicles was always at risk from the air. The counter this threat they created the Wirbelwind ("Whirlwind") as a temporary stop gap. It was created by fitting a quad 2cm Flak38 into an open topped turret on Pz Kpfw IV chassis on vehicles returned for overhaul. Given the limitations of the 2cm Flak38, it was intended to replace Wirbelwind with Ostwinds by late '44.

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