Flakpanzer 341

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RANK 6 BRITAIN
Rooikat 105 PACK
Flakpanzer 341
germ_flakpanzer_v_coelian.png
GarageImage Flakpanzer 341.jpg
ArtImage Flakpanzer 341.png
Flakpanzer 341
AB RB SB
6.7 6.3 6.3
Class:
Show in game

Description

The 3,7 cm Flakzwilling auf Panther Fahrgestell, Flakpanzer 341, also known as Flakpanzer V Coelian, is a gift rank IV German SPAA with a battle rating of 6.7 (AB) and 6.3 (RB/SB). This vehicle was originally introduced as a main tree vehicle in Update 1.43 but was shifted to a gift vehicle in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", making it only available to players who previously owned it.

The Coelian was designed to be made on the chassis of the Panther. It was supposed to be made with a fully enclosed turret with two 37 mm autocannons. In the end though, the only "model" of the vehicle ever made was a wooden mock-up turret on a Panther chassis.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull50 / 41 / 15
Turret60 / 40 / 40
Crew5 people
Visibility107 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, turret)
  • Structural steel (Side skirts, mudguards, storage boxes)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 80 mm (55°) Front glacis
50 mm (55°) Lower glacis
50 mm (30°) Top
41.5 mm Bottom
5 mm (4°) Side skirts
40 mm (25°) 17 mm
40 mm Area connecting to front glacis
Turret 60 mm (40°) Turret front
30 mm (40°) Gun mantlet
40 mm
30 mm Gun mantlet
40 mm (cylindrical) 16 mm (71°) Front part
16 mm Rear part
Flakpanzer 341's crew positions. As clearly seen here, the Driver, Gunner and Commander are all lined up if it shows its front, which means that the best place to shoot is the right side of the upper glacis

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels, tracks and torsion bars are 20 mm thick.
  • Add-on 20 mm tracks cover the sides of the engine compartment.
  • Mudguards and storage boxes on the hull are 4 mm thick.

The Flakpanzer 341 is in practice an anti-aircraft turret put on top of a Panther G chassis. The frontal glacis can deflect some hasty shots, but most enemies will aim at the turret, which is poorly armoured. As with the other Panthers, side armour is practically nonexistent, while the rear armour is weak. The rest of the turret, sides and rear, is only lightly armoured.

The tank won't suffer much of ammo rack detonation, even when filled to the brim with ammunition. Your vehicle will rather be disabled when most of the crew is knocked out. The tank has the same 5-men crew as a standard Panther: driver, gunner, commander, loader and radio operator. The turret houses the gunner, commander and loader while the driver and radio operator both sit in the front hull section.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB50 / 4 km/h
RB and SB46 / 4 km/h
Number of gears7 forward
1 back
Weight44.8 t
Engine power
AB1 145 hp
RB and SB600 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB25.6 hp/t
RB and SB13.4 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 50 4 44.8 852 1,145 19.02 25.56
Realistic 46 4 531 600 11.85 13.39

As the tank is built on a Panther G chassis, it retains most of the mobility. As with the Panther G, the engine is a downgrade from the Panther A and Panther D, with 600hp rather than 700hp. This means that it has somewhat sluggish acceleration, but better top speed than other anti-aircraft vehicles due to its torsion bar suspension. A negative point is the extremely poor reverse speed: only -3 km/h (AB & RB).

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 265 → 4 417 Sl icon.png
RB3 410 → 4 613 Sl icon.png
SB5 174 → 7 000 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications61 700 Rp icon.png
103 300 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training61 000 Sl icon.png
Experts210 000 Sl icon.png
Aces890 Ge icon.png
Research Aces570 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 160 / 230 % Sl icon.png
178 / 178 / 178 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
6 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
6 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ger.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_ger_flak36_HE_ammo_pack
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_ger_flak36_AP_ammo_pack
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods aa cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
2 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 700 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_ger_mgr_HE_ammo_pack
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
170 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
6 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

2 x 37 mm FlaK44 cannon
Ammunition1 504 rounds
Belt capacity8 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
0.3 → 0.2 s
Fire rate250 shots/min
Vertical guidance-5° / 90°
Main article: FlaK44 (37 mm)
37 mm FlaK44 (x2) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 1,504 (8) 250 -5°/+90° ±180° N/A 52.8 73.1 88.8 98.2 104.5 0.31 0.28 0.25 0.24
Realistic 35.7 42.0 51.0 56.4 60.0

The Flakpanzer 341 is armed with 2 37mm FlaK 44 cannons side by side in the turret. These guns have enough damage potential to down a single-engine aircraft with a single shot, with 2 or 3 needed to down larger aircraft. The guns have a fire rate of 250 shots per minute each, which gives a shot per second value of about 4 per gun. This should be enough to shoot down the planes that usually populate the air in battles in 6.7 like A2Ds, Su-6s and the like. Furthermore, the turret traverse speed is incredible fast for its BR, and the fastest of the non-radar SPAA.

Ammunition

  • Default: APHE · FI-T
  • Sprgr. 18: FI-T
  • PzGr: APHE
  • M.Gr.18: HEI-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
FI-T 7 7 5 4 3 3
APHE 49 46 33 22 14 10
HEI-T 7 7 6 4 4 4
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
FI-T 820 0.62 0.1 0.1 49.3 79° 80° 81°
APHE 770 0.69 1.2 9 22.1 47° 60° 65°
HEI-T 914 0.55 0.1 0.1 108 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
7th
rack empty
8th
rack empty
9th
rack empty
10th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
188 170 (+18) 152 (+36) 132 (+56) 114 (+74) 94 (+94) 76 (+112) 58 (+130) 38 (+150) 20 (+168) (+186) No
Ammo racks of the Flakpanzer 341

Notes:

  • Racks disappear only after you've fired all clips in the rack.
  • As your ammo is subdivided in 188 clips of 4 shells, you can pack a mix of FI-T and APHE shells to deal with both aircraft and lightly armoured ground vehicles.

Usage in battles

The Flakpanzer 341 should be used as a vehicle of its class. It has the armament and fire rate to take out aircraft but lacks the penetration rates to effectively combat heavier tanks. Remember that the lead on the Flakpanzer 341 is less than on the Bofors due to its higher velocity (914m/s vs 874m/s) while having better damage. The Flakpanzer 341 can also go hunt light tanks, which rarely have the armour to stand up against the 49 mm penetration, but make sure that the Flakpanzer 341's firepower destroy them before they get a chance to shoot the Flakpanzer 341. Here is a list of some of the vehicles the Flakpanzer 341 can take on:

  • AMX-13 series: Shoot at the side armour. If that is not present, shoot their tracks to bits and then their barrel. For the SS.11 version, just fire the 37 mm autocannons directly at the front missile rack.
  • M56 and M50 Ontos: Anywhere, preferably with AP to maximise damage as the Flakpanzer 341's 37 mm has explosive filler.
  • T92: Shoot it until it stops, then shoot the mini turrets.
  • M42 Duster: Anywhere. Preferably the tracks so that it stops, then the turret crew.
  • BMP-1: Turret or side armour, as the autocannon won't get through the front.
  • SU-100P: Due to the thin armour, shooting anywhere should cause sufficient damage.
  • Fv4005: Just fire at its turrets with as many armour-piercing shells as possible, and the problem should sort itself out.
  • R3 T106 FA, Fiat 6614 and R3 T20 FA-HS: Shooting these vehicles anywhere will be sufficient, as long as they are hit before they get a shot off (except the T20 FA-HS, as its 20 mm armament)

But remember, aircraft will still be the Flakpanzer 341's primary targets as an SPAA.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good hull armour for an anti-aircraft vehicle
  • Is fully enclosed, saving the turret crew from small-caliber aircraft bullets
  • Incredible turret traverse speed to track down fast-flying aircraft
  • 3.7 cm guns are devastating to enemy aircraft
  • Has smoke grenades (6 in total)

Cons:

  • Slow reverse speed
  • Low penetration power on AP shell
  • Smoke grenades are fired one at a time and take a while to hit the ground
  • The Panther's hull is big and tall, easy to get spotted and shot at

History

The 3,7 cm Flakzwilling auf Panther Fahrgestell, Flakpanzer 341, also known as the Flakpanzer V Coelian, was a concept for a Flakpanzer first proposed in early 1944. Reacting to the increased threat posed by fighter-bombers and low altitude attackers, a proposal was made for a Flakpanzer based on the hull of a Panzer V Panther. This would have a fully enclosed turret to protect the crews from enemy fire, unlike the turrets of vehicles that were already in use such as the Flakpanzer 38 or the Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen. In response to this tender, Rheinmetall developed the "Coelian", originally envisaging a number of the turret and armament variants such as the 2cm Flak-Vierling 151 armed with four 20 mm MG 151/20 guns. However, the German Army High Command's requirements kept on changing, demanding for ever-heavier armaments and armour, and eventually, two different designs were settled upon in May of 1944, one armed with a twinned 3.7 cm Flakzwilling 44, and one with a newly designed 5.5 cm Flak gun.

However, by the time the design had been finalised, external factors had already more or less decided its fate. The impact of the Allied strategic bombing campaign on the German arms manufacturing industry, the lack of raw materials, and the need for ever-increasing quantities of Panther tanks meant that no Panther hulls could be released for the Coelian project. Work on the design was given a lower priority, and by February of 1945, only a single wooden mock-up model of the 3.7 cm twin-gun tower on the hull of a Panther D had been completed. The war ended before an actual prototype could be constructed.


Archive of the in-game description

A planned self-propelled anti-air installation based on a Panther tank from which the turret was removed and replaced with a special, newly-designed turret with paired 37mm FlaK 44 guns. The project never existed as a fully-constructed model. The project was cancelled due to Germany's defeat. It had reached the phase of having a tank chassis with a wooden model of the planned turret installed on it.

In December, 1943 a wooden mock-up of the turret was built and installed on the chassis of a remodeled Pz.Kpfw.V Ausf.D Panther. Since the Pz.Kpfw.V Ausf.G Panther modification was already being produced, the AA vehicle was supposed to be built on the chassis of this modification with the option to install full-metal rollers with internal amortization. The number of serially produced vehicles has not been determined. Whether or not it was ever used in combat conditions is also unknown.


Media

Skins

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


Germany anti-aircraft vehicles
Wheeled  Sd.Kfz.222
Half-track  Sd.Kfz.251/21 · Sd.Kfz. 6/2
Flakpanzer IV  Wirbelwind · Ostwind · Ostwind II · Kugelblitz · Zerstörer 45
Other Flakpanzers  Flakpanzer I · Flakpanzer 38 · Flakpanzer 341
Wiesel AWC  Wiesel 1A4 · Ozelot
Radar SPAAG  Gepard · Gepard 1A2
Missile SPAA  FlaRakPz 1 · FlaRakRad