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Ostwind

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 and produced at the Ostbau Works plant.

Key facts

Weapon.is_vehicle: yes
Weapon.name: Flakpanzer IV/3.7cm FlaK "Ostwind"
Weapon.image: Munster Flakpanzer Ostwind Modell (dark1).jpg
Weapon.image_size: 300
Weapon.caption: Scale model of an Ostwind
Weapon.origin: Nazi Germany
Weapon.type: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Weapon.crew: 5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, Radio Operator)
Weapon.number: 44 (22 converted from Panzer IV + 22 new production vehicles)
Weapon.production_date: 1944-1945
Weapon.weight: 25 tonnes
Weapon.primary_armament: 1x 3.7 cm Flak 43 1,000 rounds
Weapon.secondary_armament: 1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine gun 1,350 rounds
Weapon.engine: 12-cylinder Maybach HL120 TRM
Weapon.engine_power: 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW gasoline)
Weapon.suspension: leaf spring
Weapon.pw_ratio: 12 PS/tonne

via Wikipedia infobox

Article

3 sections

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Comparable vehicles
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Bibliography

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. While a closed-top design was preferred, this was precluded by the amount of smoke generated by the gun.