The Wirbelwind (German for whirlwind) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun from the Second World War. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1944, and serial production continued in the period 1944-1945, ending with the production of about 80-100 cars. The Wirbelwind was powered by a single Maybach HL 120 TRM 300hp engine. It was armed with 4 20mm Flak 38 anti-aircraft guns and 1 7.92mm MG34 machine gun._x000D_
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The Wirbelwind was created as a very far-reaching development of the previous Wehrmacht self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, the Mobelwagen vehicle. The chassis of the Pz.Kpfw IV tanks, which were withdrawn from service, were still used for production, maintaining their propulsion and, in fact, the entire internal structure of the vehicle. However, the armament has changed dramatically, from 1 cannon 37mm to 4 cannons 20mm, placed in a rotating turret providing the crew with good protection against small-caliber weapons. Serial production took place at the Ostbau Werke plant in Żagań. Wirbelwind vehicles served in German armored and mechanized units on the Eastern and Western Front in the period 1944-1945._x000D_
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Mobelwagen (Sd.Kfz 161/3) was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun from the Second World War. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1943, and serial production continued in the period 1944-1945, ending with the production of about 240 cars. Mobelwagen was powered by a single Maybach HL 120 TRM engine with 300 hp. It was armed with one 37mm Flak 43/1 anti-aircraft gun and one 7.92mm MG42 machine gun._x000D_
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With the growing air superiority of the Soviet and Allied aviation in 1943, the concept of creating for the use of of the German armed forces self-propelled anti-aircraft gun dedicated to mechanized units. The embodiment of this idea was the Mobelwagen, which was based on the decommissioned chassis of the Pz.Kpfw IV tank, but instead of the turret, they received a special platform for placing the Flak 43 cannon. Serial production was carried out at BMM and Deutsche-Eisenwerke. Mobelwagen made its combat debut in the summer of 1944 in Normandy.
