This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ostwind" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(January 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
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
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 VierlingWirbelwind.
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]
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...
was produced which eventually replaced it. Known as the Flakpanzer IV Ostwind ("East Wind"), the successor was equipped with a single 3.7 cm Flak 43...
self-propelled anti-aircraft guns based on the Panzerkampfwagen IV chassis. They are, in order of development: Möbelwagen Wirbelwind Ostwind Kugelblitz v t e...
to Rorschach Hafen via Rorschach, and to Heiden. "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
hourly service to Rorschach Hafen via Rorschach. "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
via St. Gallen and to Trogen (peak-hour only). "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
hourly service to Rheineck and to Walzenhausen. "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
Panzerkampfwagen IV medium tank chassis, including the: Möbelwagen Wirbelwind Ostwind Kugelblitz, in prototype stage at the end of World War II Flakpanzer Coelian...
service to Teufen AR via St. Gallen (peak-hour only). "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
Gallen S-Bahn: S26: hourly service to Rheineck. "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
to Rorschach Hafen via Rorschach, and to Heiden. "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
L/112.5 guns on Panzer IV chassis, with armoured turret (Flakpanzer IV) Ostwind = Self-propelled anti-aircraft. 37 mm Flak 43 L/89 on Panzer IV chassis...
airplanes. A more powerful successor was produced, known as the Flakpanzer IV Ostwind (East Wind). It was armed with a single 37 mm Flak 43 L/89 gun. In May...
destruction. Often, this is destruction of the wicked by God. Flakpanzer IV "Ostwind" ("East Wind"), a German anti-aircraft vehicle from the Second World War...
gun, the Jagdpanzer IV self-propelled anti-tank gun, the Wirbelwind and Ostwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun....
to Rorschach Hafen via Rorschach, and to Heiden. "OSTWIND-Zonenplan" (in German). Tarifverbund Ostwind [de]. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021...
IV mit 3.7 cm FlaK (short title for the Ostwind I) Flakpanzer IV mit 3.7 cm FlaK Zwilling (title for the Ostwind II) Flakpanzer 38(t) auf Selbstfahrlafette...
Global Information
