Near the end of the war, it was planned to decommission Panzer III chassis, and convert them to anti-aircraft tanks. This idea created two concepts.
The first project was to be a Paner III chassis with a modified Wirbelwind turret. In the second project should be the same but with a Ostwind turret.
Modifying the turrets consisted in adapting the turret ring because the turret ring of the Panzer III had a smaller diameter (1520 mm) than the Panzer IV (1680 mm). The vehicle with a Wirbelwind turret was to be adjusted at company Ostbau Sagan, and vehicle with Ostwind turret at Burg Sturmgeschützschule.
On March 17, 1945, a pre-production series of 18 out of 72 vehicles was ordered for construction.
It is unknown weather these vehicles were completed before the end of the war. Some people claim that some prototypes were built; others argue that because of the end of the war, the construction was probably not started. Most likely the convertions were started but not completed.
Statistics[]
Number Built:
Hull Armor:
- Front:
- Sides:
- Rear:
- Top:
- Bottom:
Turret Armor:
- Front:
- Mantlet:
- Sides:
- Rear:
- Top:
Weight:
Suspension Type:
Engine:
Top speed:
Primary Weapon:
Secondary Weapon:
Radio:
Crew:
Technical Data[]
Length (Including Gun):
Hull Length:
Total Width:
Total Height:
Ground Clearance:
Track Width:
Ground Pressure:
Transmission:
Speed, Road:
Speed, Cross-Country:
Range, Road:
Range, Cross-Country:
Gradeability:
Side-Slope Performance:
Trench Crossing Ability:
Wall Climbing Ability:
Fording Depth: