In 1943, due to the waning ability of the Luftwaffe to combat enemy ground-attack aircraft, ground-based anti-aircraft weaponry was becoming increasingly important to the Wehrmacht. In early 1943, the idea of creating a gun platform on the chassis of the Panzer IV was first proposed. The prototype displayed to Hitler on December 7, 1943, used the 2 cm Flakvierling 38, which was deemed too weak for the latest aircraft, which were constantly being improved to fly higher and faster. Only a single prototype with this gun was produced before the design was rejected. A second design with an upgraded single 3.7 cm Flak 43 L/89 was approved as a temporary stopgap until better Flakpanzers could be created. 240 Möbelwagens were built, and the first production models were put into service on the Western Front in April 1944.
The Möbelwagen was built on Panzer IV chassis that had been damaged on the Eastern Front and returned to the factory for repair. These were fitted with an open-top superstructure that provided the gun mount. Around this, four hinged 20 mm armored plates were placed. These plates had two operating positions: they could be lowered for full 360 degree traverse, allowing flat or low-level firing, or they could be half-closed, being pinned together to hang slightly open. In this position, they had notches that allowed the gun full rotation, but only for firing at airborne targets. Still, both of these positions left the crew extremely vulnerable. The fully closed position was only used for transport, when the plates would give the crew some protection from small arms fire and shrapnel.
Though the Möbelwagen was intended to be a stopgap, it served the anti-aircraft platoons of the Panzer Divisions on the Western Front. Only 240 were produced, and it was eventually succeeded by the first true Flakpanzers: Wirbelwind and Ostwind, both of which provided the crew with improved armored protection and full rotation when firing at either ground or air targets.
^Jentz, Thomas L. (2011). Panzer Tracts 23. Panzer Tracts. p. 50.
External links
Information about the Möbelwagen at Panzerworld
Mobelwagen at Military History Encyclopedia
Surviving Panzer IV variants - A PDF file presenting the Panzer IV variants (Jagdpanzer IV, Hummel, Nashorn, Brummbär, StuG IV, Flakpanzer tanks and prototypes based on Pz IV) still existing in the world
möbelwagen, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2008, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, flak. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 3 7 cm Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV sf Sd Kfz 161 3 nicknamed Mobelwagen Moving Van because of its boxy shape was a self propelled anti aircraft gun built from the chassis of the Panzer IV tank It was used by the Wehrmacht in the European Theatre of World War II Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen Museum display with an incorrect 40mm gun TypeSelf propelled anti aircraft gunPlace of originNazi GermanyProduction historyManufacturerDeutsche EisenwerkeProducedMarch 1944 March 1945No built240 1 SpecificationsMass24 tonnesLength5 92 m 19 ft 5 in Width2 95 m 9 ft 8 in Height2 73 m 8 ft 11 in Crew6Armor10 80 mmMainarmament1 3 7 cm Flak 18 36 37 43 Flak 43 416 roundsSecondaryarmament1 7 92mm MG 34 600 roundsEngine12 cylinder Maybach HL120 TRM300 PS 296 hp 221 kW Power weight12 5 PS tonneSuspensionLeaf springOperationalrange200 km 120 mi Maximum speed38 km h 24 mph Mobelwagen in northern France June 21 1944 In 1943 due to the waning ability of the Luftwaffe to combat enemy ground attack aircraft ground based anti aircraft weaponry was becoming increasingly important to the Wehrmacht In early 1943 the idea of creating a gun platform on the chassis of the Panzer IV was first proposed The prototype displayed to Hitler on December 7 1943 used the 2 cm Flakvierling 38 which was deemed too weak for the latest aircraft which were constantly being improved to fly higher and faster Only a single prototype with this gun was produced before the design was rejected A second design with an upgraded single 3 7 cm Flak 43 L 89 was approved as a temporary stopgap until better Flakpanzers could be created 240 Mobelwagens were built and the first production models were put into service on the Western Front in April 1944 The Mobelwagen was built on Panzer IV chassis that had been damaged on the Eastern Front and returned to the factory for repair These were fitted with an open top superstructure that provided the gun mount Around this four hinged 20 mm armored plates were placed These plates had two operating positions they could be lowered for full 360 degree traverse allowing flat or low level firing or they could be half closed being pinned together to hang slightly open In this position they had notches that allowed the gun full rotation but only for firing at airborne targets Still both of these positions left the crew extremely vulnerable The fully closed position was only used for transport when the plates would give the crew some protection from small arms fire and shrapnel Though the Mobelwagen was intended to be a stopgap it served the anti aircraft platoons of the Panzer Divisions on the Western Front Only 240 were produced and it was eventually succeeded by the first true Flakpanzers Wirbelwind and Ostwind both of which provided the crew with improved armored protection and full rotation when firing at either ground or air targets Comparable vehicles Edit40M Nimrod Ostwind M19 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage Crusader Mk III Anti Aircraft Tank Mk I ZSU 37References Edit Jentz Thomas L 2011 Panzer Tracts 23 Panzer Tracts p 50 External links EditInformation about the Mobelwagen at Panzerworld Mobelwagen at Military History Encyclopedia Surviving Panzer IV variants A PDF file presenting the Panzer IV variants Jagdpanzer IV Hummel Nashorn Brummbar StuG IV Flakpanzer tanks and prototypes based on Pz IV still existing in the world Portals Military of Germany Tanks World War IIMobelwagen at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mobelwagen amp oldid 1066217167, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
