35233 Tamiya 1/35 German Flakpanzer Iv Wirbelwind anti-Aircraft installation on the basis of the Panzer Iv tank, with a four-barrel 20mm cannon and two figures.

Additional Information

In the last years of world war II, Germany's loss of air superiority forced the development of mobile air defense systems to combat allied fighter-bombers. First, production was focused on the "Mobelwagen" is a chassis Panzer IV with one 37mm gun, gun calculation was protected on all sides by thin armor. In the spring of 1944, new standards were introduced for the unification of air defense guns. The plan included the following: 1). Rotating tower can accommodate 3 or 4 people, 2). Guns with an effective range of 2000 meters, 3). Installation of at least two guns, 4). Enough space for carrying ammunition, 5). Installation height less than 3 meters, 6). Various wireless devices. This decision led to the creation of the Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind with a rotating tower consisting of eighteen 16mm armored. The open turret provided ample space for the gunner and two loaders to operate efficiently. The Wirbelwind could carry 3,200 shells for its four 20mm cannons which could fire at 90 degree ascent and 10 degree descent with a rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute. Wirvelwind was mortally dangerous to any aircraft flying low enough.