VFW

VFW

VFW

Germany

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.7	5.7	5.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Tank destroyer

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Description

The Versuchsflakwagen is a rank III German tank destroyer with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.87 "Locked On" as a reward in the "Battlefield Engineer" event.

Also known as the Grille 10, the Flak 37 auf Sonderfahrgestell (German: special purpose-built vehicle), or the abbreviated technical name Sfl.IVc, was originally developed as a mobile gun platform using 8.8 cm flak guns.

Designed by the Krupp corporation originally as an anti-tank vehicle in 1941, it was realized that by using 8.8 cm flak cannons, it could achieve not only an anti-tank role but also an anti-aircraft one as well. Because of this, this vehicle was given the 8.8 cm Flak 41 as its main and only armament.

General info

Survivability and armour

The VFW has decently high survivability in battle, utilizing its thin armour to great effect. After all,"no armour is the best armour". The vehicle is effective both with side skirts up and down and out of the way.

When the side skirts are in the up position, they will cover the sides of the exposed crew and gun, offering 5 mm of armour which can protect from oncoming machine gun fire. However, they will most likely not hold up to a round fired from the main gun of a tank.

With the skirts down, the tank destroyer can easily be disabled due to the exposure of the four crew members to the elements, or the gun being taken out of commission. On the other hand, if the tank, gun, or both are still in action, the front panels of the Flak 41 can be used to block machine gun fire, effectively protecting any crew still remaining to operate the gun.

Mobility

Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forward and backwards.

Armaments

Main armament

The VFW is armed with the Flak 41 cannon allowing it to disable or destroy a majority of its intended targets within its battle rating range. The reload speed of the gun is around 5 seconds which allows for quick and consistent firing upon targets.

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• A very fast reload on a very powerful gun
• Surprising durability, very difficult to one-shot
• Large crew allows for fast reloading
• Reasonable transverse allows for quick escape when in a tight spot
• Side-skirts can be raised for added protection from machine guns
• Side-skirts can be lowered for a greater range of turret movement

Cons:

• Virtually nonexistent gun depression
• Very thin armour, exposed crew and wide vehicle profile (large target)
• Extremely vulnerable to virtually any form of enemy aircraft or artillery fire
• Raised side-skirts to restrict turret movement, an immobilized VFW can only fire at vehicles directly in front of it
• Side-skirts can only be raised or lowered before the start of the game

History

The VFW was the first of several projects of the Krupp company to mount a heavy anti-air gun on a mobile armored chassis. This initially developed version, which mounts the 8.8cm FlaK 41 cannon onto a heavily modified Panzer IV chassis, was created in 1944.

Initial tests of the vehicle were performed throughout 1944. However, apart from tests producing mixed results, it was lacking interest that eventually led to the project’s ultimate cancellation later that year. As a result, the VFW never left prototype stage and only a single experimental vehicle was ever produced.

- From Devblog

• Due to its box-like shape, the player base gave this vehicle the nickname "Flaktoaster" or just "Toaster"

Media

• 

  Image of the VFW with its side-skirts open.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the vehicles;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] VFW: German Ballista
• [Wikipedia] Grille 10, AKA VFW