Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind & Ostwind

The Flakpanzer IV is a unit in Flames of War. It includes both the Wirblewind 20mm SPAA and the Ostwind 37mm SPAA

Wirbelwind...

Ostwind, together they fight allied air supremacy crimes against the fatherland.

Late War

Die stats, please someone find a better image for this

Die Stats

IRL

The Wirbelwind and Ostwind both started as a Weer requirement for more SPAA vehicles after the allies wrestled control over Europe from the Luftwaffe. The 12 SS Panzer division, apparently taking a break from pillaging, raping, and razing long enough to think, came up with the idea to stick a Quad 20mm turret onto the top of a Panzer IV. Original plans were to have an enclosed turret, but the smoke produced from the barrels meant this was untenable.

The Wirblewind was not as effective as hoped, but like most early SPAA vehicles, it made an excellent assault gun, and the hull-mounted MG34 helped a lot.

The Ostwind replaced the Quad 20mm with a single 37mm cannon that improved its performance against both aircraft and ground targets. Due to production issues at the end of the war, both of these vehicles were made in very limited numbers.