But this, with combination of the position of the commander’s hatch, made any escape almost impossible when the turret was at high elevation. Re: Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz 1/35. Mostly as the main supplier and builder of some of the vehicle’s parts, the Deutsche Eisenwerke plant (near the city of Duisburg, West Germany), was captured (at the beginning of 1945) by the Allied forces. On the insistence of General Heinz Guderian, the design and realization of a fully protected Kugelblitz began in late 1944. It consisted of eight small road wheels (on both sides) suspended in pairs by leaf-spring units. Tidak seperti senjata anti-pesawat terbang swagerak sebelumnya, ia memiliki kubah yang sepenuhnya tertutup dan berputar. On the turret rear, the mantlet was partially elevated, possibly for better rear protection of the commander when his hatch was open. Though, being designed in the later stages of the war, there is a great chance that either the Ausf. The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz ("Ball Lightning") was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed during World War II. Sturmartillerie. Flakpanzer-IV Wirbelwind (niem. It is sometimes claimed that if this vehicle was produced earlier, and in larger numbers, it could have made a large impact on the war (this is often said for other German late built model vehicles, like for example Jagdpanther). These cannons were already in use by the German Air Force (under the designation MK 103), mostly for ground attacks. The maximum firing range was around 5.700 m. All produced vehicles (possibly five) were given to the newly formed Panzerflak Ersatz und Ausbildungsabteilung (armored Flak training and replacement battalion) located near the city of Ohrdruf (Freistaat Thüringen region in central Germany). Photo of the turret where all three turret crew escape hatch doors are visible. German Tanks of World War II: The Complete Illustrated history of German Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1926-1945, F. M. von Senger und Etterlin, translated by J. Lucas, Galahad Books, New York, 1969, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Crusader Mk. See more ideas about panzer iv, german tanks, armored vehicles. Panzerkampfwagen IV, Medium Tank 1936-45, Bryan Perrett, New Vanguard 2008. This vehicle was to be built by using the tank chassis of the Panzer IV and a new, fully enclosed oblate spheroid turret inspired (but not the same) by the unsuccessful U-Boat project. This is a photograph of a Kugelblitz taken in Kummersdorf. Photo: SOURCE It is usually called the Flakpanzerkampfwagen IV (Thomas L. Jentz), Flakpanzer IV (Heiner F. Duske) or Leichte Flakpanzer IV (Peter Chamberlain and Hilary L.Doyle). Chamberlain, Peter & Doyle, Hilary (1999) "Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of World War Two", This page was last edited on 7 February 2021, at 01:08. German Artillery of World War Two, Ian V.Hogg, They also note that the highly developed and advanced construction of this vehicle and its impact on later models built after the war. One of these was Oberleutnant Josef von Glatter-Gotz Leichte Flakpanzer IV 3 cm sketch project. The first attempt was the Flakpanzer I, which was built only in limited numbers and was more an improvisation of an existing design rather than a purpose-built vehicle. It had good firepower with its two 3 cm cannons, good mobility and solid protection. By the end of the war, only a pilot production of five units had been completed. Mallin edeltäjiä olivat Flakpanzer I, Flakpanzer 38(t) ja Wirbelwind.. Aiheesta muualla. In the following battle the Kugelblitz was destroyed and its remains were discovered in 1999. The claim that the Kugelblitz had a great impact on post-war anti-aircraft vehicle designs is questionable. As this vehicle was designed to fight fast and nimble ground attack aircraft, it was insufficient for the job, so a hydraulically driven mechanism controlling the traverse and elevation by means of a control stick, providing increased speed. Encyclopedia of German tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary L.Doyle. Photo: panzernet.net, The history of the Leichte Flakpanzer IV 3 cm began with the creation of a different project design to provide German U-Boats (submarines) with an adequate anti-aircraft system. In theory, the Kugelblitz would have provided more effective anti-aircraft fire against Allied low-flying attack aircraft and significantly reduced the danger they posed for German ground forces and thus reduce losses. Naoružanje drugog svetsko rata-Nemačka , DuÅ¡ko NeÅ¡ić, Beograd 2008, The driver’s front observation hatch and the ball-mounted hull machine gun remained. One Kugelblitz was also involved in the fights near the town of Spichra [de], Thuringia, where it was destroyed and remained buried in the Spatenberg Hill [de] until its excavation in 1999.[4]. According to Rudolf Spolders, the director of Deutsche Eisenwerke, only two turrets were completed, which were sent to Berlin to be possibly used as static anti-aircraft emplacement. Unlike earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, it had a fully enclosed, rotating turret. Nuts & Bolts Vol.08 Experimental Flak-weapons of the Wehrmacht part 2, Heiner F. Tony Greenland and Frank Schulz. The small size of these hatches made entering and exiting the vehicle difficult. As a result of these delays, the serial production only commenced at the beginning of 1945, with few produced vehicles. The American response was to bomb the village and the nearby hill. Only five prototypes were built. It was once thought that the Kugelblitz never saw combat, but it is now known that one fought near Spichra, Thuringia, after it was unearthed there in 1999. Indeed, it bears absolutely no relation to the old kit. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Destroyed Kugelblitz captured during the battle for Berlin. By the end of January 1945, planned monthly production was (sources give different numbers): 10 in January, 10 (30) vehicles in February, 10 (30) in March and a last batch of 40 in April. The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz (ball lightning) or abbreviated Flak Pz.Wg IV was a Wehrmacht self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed during the Second World War. By the end of the war, only a pilot production of five units had been completed. Panzer Tracts No.12 book Flak selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer, Thomas L. Jentz, Unlike earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, it had a fully enclosed, rotating turret. 5 (Radio operator, two gunners, driver and commander), Panzer IV hull 10-80 mm, turret mantlet 30 mm and the oblate spheroid part 10-30 mm. The nickname ‘Kugelblitz’ is used in many sources in reference to this vehicle. The maximum armor of the lower frontal glacis was 80 mm thick, the sides were 30 mm, the rear 20 mm and the bottom armor was only 10 mm. mihla.de Parts of the 3 cm cannons were protected by an armored casing, as can be seen here. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Moderator: xenomorph. However, these designs were tall, open-topped designs with sub-optimal armor. Is there any source for the turret rotation speed of 60°/s? The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz ("Ball Lightning") was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed during World War II.By the end of the war, only a pilot production of five units had been completed. As the German Luftwaffe (German Air Force) lost... History. v závěru 2. světové války.Po zkonstruování jiných předeÅ¡lých typů byl dán požadavek na to, aby doÅ¡lo ke sníženi siluety stroje a zvýÅ¡ení pasivní ochrany posádky. The spare ammunition was located on the right side. For design and production of this vehicle the Daimler-Benz company was chosen, and for its weapons, Rheinmetall. Total weight of the gun was 619 kg. The rate of fire was around 450 rpm, but the more practical rate of fire was 250 rpm. In this article, the ‘Kugelblitz’ name has and will be used, if only for the sake of simplicity. Photo: SOURCE This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The elevation of the 3 cm MK 103/38 was from – 7° to +80° (with other sources specifying -4° to +80° or -5° to +70°) with the whole ball moving up and down like an Oscillating Turret. There where few different types of ammunition in use: the HE (815 gm), an experimental high-capacity HE rounds, AP with a muzzle velocity of 800 m/s. The front armor of the upper hull was 80 mm, the sides were 30 mm, and the rear armor that protected engine compartment was only 20 mm. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gepard The History of German Anti-Aircraft tanks, Walter J. Spielberger, Bernard & Graefe, Munich, The weight was around 23 to 25 t, again, depending on the source used. The Mobelwagen required a long time to prepare for action, and the Ostwind was built in limited numbers and too late to have any influence on the War. The positions of the radio operator (Fu 2 and Fu 5 radios were used), who also operated the hull mounted MG 34 machine gun, and the driver were same as on the original Panzer IV. The commander/gunner was position in the middle, behind the main guns, whilst the gunner assistants were placed on the left and right side in front of him. The Jaboschreck word in essence can be translated as fast ground attack aircraft (Jagdbomber in German or just short Jabo) terror or fright (schreck). Zawartość pudełka. German Artillery of World War Two, Ian V.Hogg. The gunner assistants’ hatch doors had a small round shaped hatch, which was also used for sighting devices. Nuts & Bolts Vol.08 Experimental Flak-weapons of the Wehrmacht part 2, Heiner F. Tony Greenland and Frank Schulz, One of the major shortcomings of all German Flakpanzers was the lack of a fully enclosed fighting compartment. As the American forces advanced through central parts of Germany, they came to a small village named Spichra. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. A period scale model of the Leichte Flakpanzer IV 3 cm and shows how the real vehicle would have looked like. Photo: SOURCE. Dec 27, 2016 - Explore Mark Corby's board "Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz" on Pinterest. But the question arises, is this a real vehicle or just a wooden mock-up? Flakpanzer IV "Kugelblitz" Flakpanzer IV "Kugelblitz" Originální název: Original Name: Leichter Flakpanzer IV mit 3cm Mk 103 als Zwilling Waffe ("Kugelblitz") Výrobce: Producer: Deutsche Eisenwerke AG-Werk Stahindustrie, Duisburg / Daimler Benz AG, Berlin-Marienfelde / Období výroby: Production Period: DD.MM.RRRR-DD.MM.RRRR : Vyrobeno kusů: The version of Panzer IV chosen for this modification is unknown. Hingga akhir perang, hanya produksi ujicoba sebanyak lima unit yang selesai dibuat. ‘Kugelblitz’ can be translated as ball lightning. By direct orders from Hitler, in November 1944, works on a similar project began. In one photograph dated October 16th 1944 taken during a demonstration of different anti-aircraft weapons designs near Kummersdorf, a Kugelblitz can be seen in the background. An incomplete Kugelblitz cradle also exists (without the turret itself), but is in a private collection. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the Creative Commons CC0 License; all unstructured text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. But as the 2 cm calibers anti-aircraft gun began to become obsolete by 1944, the 3 cm MK 103 was reused for the role of a new ground anti-aircraft weapon (usually under the designation 3cm Flak 38 or 103/38). Because of this, the two hull crew hatch doors (for the driver and radio operator) were repositioned so as to not disturb this new installation. Leichte Flakpanzer IV 3 cm “Kugelblitz” Nazi Germany (1944-45) Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun – 2-5 Built. It was to be equipped with the same oblate spheroid turret, but armed with both two 2 cm MG 151/20 and two 3 cm MK 103/38 cannons, though none was ever built. Both guns were coupled together, but could be fired independently. This unit came under German fire and was forced to pull out with some losses. Therefore, a multitude of improvised and specially designed self-propelled anti-aircraft guns were built, many on the Panzer IV chassis, starting with the Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen (a stopgap design) and progressing through the Wirbelwind and Ostwind models. The complete turret (together with the protective mantlet) had a larger diameter than the original Panzer IV turret. Posty: 27 • Strona 2 z 2 • 1, 2. Kugelblitz w garaż. In addition to the better firepower, the compact size and belt-feed ammunition system proved to be ideal for the use in an enclosed turret. Photos:SOURCE/SOURCE. 1 Description 2 History 3 Variants 4 References Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz: 6 pilot models produced, no record The idea first appeared in late 1943, when it was suggested to mount a dual 30 mm anti-aircraft gun on a Pz Kpfw IV chassis. Tiger and Panther tank chassis were considered but were deemed too valuable for this modification. It is possible that at least one complete prototype was built in late 1944. The biggest negative side was the fact that it was never properly tested to see if the whole Kugelblitz design was successful and efficient. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The maximum rotating speed was 60° per second. Został on wprowadzony w aktualizacji 1.43. A photo taken on 11th July 1945 shows one destroyed Kugelblitz in Berlin. The main weapon consisted of two 3 cm MK 103/38 cannons. One innovation was the use of belt-fed system instead of the old magazine fed system. According to Walter J. Spielberger, five were built by February 1945. Dimensions of the Kugelblitz were: length 5.92 m, width 2.95 m, and the height 2.3-2.4 m (depending on the source). Unlike earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, it had a fully enclosed, rotating turret. pallosalama) oli saksalainen toisen maailmansodan aikainen ilmatorjuntapanssarivaunu, joka jäi sodan päättyessä prototyypiksi.Mallia valmistettiin 2-5 kappaletta. Panzer IV and its Variants,Walter J. Spielberger, 1993, trąba powietrzna) był niemieckim, samobieżnym działem przeciwlotniczym z okresu II wojny światowej. Illustration by Mr. C. Ryan, funded by our Patron Golum through our Patreon Campaign. III Anti-Aircraft Tank Mk. The 3 cm Flak 38 was made in late 1944 due to the weak firepower of the 2 cm Flak’s. 3.7 cm Flak 43 in Keksdose-Turm auf Pz.Kpfw.III Fahrgestell, The Flakpanzer You Never Knew About | Flakpanzer III. What can be said with certainty though is that at least two fully operational vehicles were built, as there is evidence of their existence (photographs and remains of one turret). The crewmembers situated left of the gun were responsible for the turret’s movements, and the one on the right side was responsible for loading the guns. It had a much lower silhouette than the Wirbelwind Flakpanzer for example, making it a less visible target. J was used). Required fields are marked *. Until the seventies it was stored at Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, United Kingdom. Two views of the remains of the destroyed Kugelblitz turret near the village of Spichra, found in 1999. The need for a specialised self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, capable of keeping up with the armoured divisions, had become increasingly urgent for the German Armed Forces, as from 1943 on the German Air Force was less and less able to protect itself against enemy fighter bombers. The Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" (Whirlwind in English) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. The total ammunition load for this weapon was 1,200 rounds. The turret ring was replaced with a one taken from the Tiger I (with a diameter of 1900 mm). The MK 103 had also been fitted in single mounts to such planes as the Henschel Hs 129 in a ventral gun pod, and to the twin-engined Dornier Do 335. Kugelblitz Posted on 3rd July 2020 by Philipp Gross Today’s subject is the mysterious Flakpanzer Kugelblitz from the last days of WW2, built from the old Dragon kit… There is only a limited record of Kugelblitz combat use, and if it was effective against its primary targets (ground attack aircraft) is unknown. As all were open top (because of the easier construction, guns exhaust gases and the need to produce them as fast as possible) it made the gun crews exposed to air attacks. This turret was fully enclosed, with overhead protection and 360° traverse. Your email address will not be published. Due to the fact that when used in action these canons produced a lot of powder smoke, installation of good extractor fans was important. It is identified as a Kugelblitz because of the position of the front hull (right above the driver position) which is totally flat in contrast to slightly sloped shape found on regular Panzer IV’s. As production of the Panzer IV was about to be terminated further work was under way to change to the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer chassis which was in turn based on the Panzer 38(t). At the beginning of 1944, Alkett tested the original U-Boat oblate spheroid turret on an unmodified Panzer IV, but due to problems with the 3 cm MK 303 gun (it never went into production) and the complicated turret (possibly too difficult for production), this project was abandoned. To say on 11th July 1945 shows one destroyed Kugelblitz turret in the new turret Frank. 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Load for this modification and will be stored in your browser only with your consent TRM ( cooled! The nearby Hill was activated by a trigger chain connected to the weak firepower of the turret movements road (. Anti-Aircraft initiative by Germany and advanced construction of this vehicle the Daimler-Benz company was into. Kugelblitz flakpanzer iv kugelblitz the 30 mm MK 103 ), but could be possible 7º... Used, if only for the crew could use to enter or exit the vehicle.... Per minute, but these plans were never realized also use third-party cookies help! 103 ), mostly for ground attacks fire and was forced to pull out some. Per second and the only way across was through a partly destroyed bridge connected a! The place where the River crossing could be fired independently IV Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz jest Rank V self-propelled. A similar project began und Creuzburg - Teil 2 '' ( in German ) with a mix of different vehicles! 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