Ostwind II

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germ_flakpanzer_iv_ostwind_2.png
Ostwind II
AB RB SB
5.7 5.3 5.3
Class:
Research:46 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:155 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
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Description

GarageImage Ostwind II.jpg


The Flakpanzer IV Ostwind II is a rank IV German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB) and 5.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", replacing the Flakpanzer 341 in the German tech tree.

The Ostwind II is an average SPAAG which definitely has nothing to look for on the front line, however, there is a great advantage with its double cannon which becomes extremely dangerous for enemy aircraft which fly within range.

The Ostwind II has sufficient penetrating power to destroy M18s or other light armoured vehicles, however, one should rather concentrate on enemy aircraft. The reasoning behind this is because the turret is open from above and weakly armoured on the sides and is vulnerable to enemy aircraft fire and the .50 calibre machine guns on vehicles such as the M2HB vehicle.

General info

Survivability and armour

Ostwind II armour

The frontal hull armour (80 mm) is quite well protected against small-calibre weapons and .50 caliber BMGs, the sides (30 mm) and rear (20 mm) are not as well protected.

The turret is open at the top and has a rectangular recess in the right, frontal turret armour, because of the optics.

In addition, the steel of the turret (25 mm) is very weakly armoured, as well as the hull roof (10-12 mm).

Since the vehicle has a crew of five, it usually survives the first attack from enemy aircraft (because of the driver and the machine gunner(/radio operator) in the hull), as well as a shot into the turret.

Mobility

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 43 8 25 426 572 17.04 22.88
Realistic 39 8 265 300 10.6 12

The Ostwind II does not have that great average speed, which means that the 39 km/h will be rare on the battlefield. Forget about trying to turn on the spot as this vehicle does not have neutral steering. Even worse is attempting to use the reverse gear (-7km/h) is extremely insufficient presenting an easy target if having to back out of a tight situation.

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: FlaK 44 (37 mm)
37 mm FlaK 44
Capacity Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
Stabilizer
1,000 -10°/+87° ±180° N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior +
Full crew
Prior +
Expert qualif.
Prior +
Ace qualif.
Arcade 30.82 42.53 51.63 56.01 60.76
Realistic 20.83 28.74 34.90 37.85 41.05
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior +
Full crew
Prior +
Expert qualif.
Prior +
Ace qualif.
0.31 0.28 0.26 0.24

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 90° (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M.Gr.18 FI-T 4 4 4 4 4 4
PzGr APHE 46 43 31 21 14 9
Sprgr. 18 FI-T 3 3 3 3 3 3
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
Mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Normalisation at 30°
from horizontal
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M.Gr.18 FI-T 914 0.55 0.3 0.1 108  ?.?°  ??°  ??°  ??°
PzGr APHE 770 0.69 1.2 9.0 22.1 -1.0° 47° 60° 65°
Sprgr. 18 FI-T 820 0.62 0.3 0.1 49.3  ?.?°  ??°  ??°  ??°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
1,000 75 (+50) 55 (+70) 25 (+100) 5 (+120) 0 (+125)  ??


Machine guns

Main article: MG 34 (7.92 mm)
7.92 mm MG 34
mount
Capacity
(Belt capacity)
Fire rate
(shots/minute)
Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
1,800 (150) 900 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Realistic Battles

The Ostwind II should be held in reserve towards the end of the game when there tends to be a significant amount of enemy aircraft flying. It is best to avoid the front lines or beating feet toward the enemy tanks as the Ostwind II tends to be an easy target for a majority of the other tanks in the game.

If your own team is about to lose or it gets very exciting towards the end and there are no many enemies left alive, you can place your Ostwind II inside an allied capture-point to defend it from enemy light tanks. Due to the location, it is more central to the battlefield and presents a difficult challenge for enemy aircraft to attempt to fly over.

It should also be kept in mind that if impenetrable heavily armoured enemies are encountered and you are left with no other option but to engage them, firing in a sustained manner at their cannon barrel is a semi-viable idea. This is because it is entirely possible that it will result in a damaged cannon barrel for the enemy and a chance to escape for you. Furthermore, you can target the tank tracks as well to leave the enemy both harmless and immobile which may possibly net you a kill assist if a teammate with enough firepower is nearby.

Modules

Tier Mobility Protection Firepower
I Tracks Parts Sprgr. 18 Horizontal Drive
II Suspension Brake System FPE PzGr Adjustment of Fire
III Filters Crew Replenishment M.Gr.18 Elevation Mechanism
IV Transmission Engine Artillery Support

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 2 x 3.7 cm FlaK 44 cannons
  • Does not need to reload until it is completely out of ammunition
  • Enough penetration to destroy enemy light armoured vehicles

Cons:

  • Built on Panzer IV chassis and is a contemporary of it
  • Quite slow average speed
  • Inadequate penetration against many enemy vehicles (best against aircraft)

History

The Ostwind II was a development of the Ostwind. First conceived as early as October 1943, the Ostwind II saw the single 3.7 cm FLaK 43 replaced by a twinned 3.7 cm FLaK Zwilling 44 built by the Gustloff-Werke in Suhl. One single prototype was delivered to the Panzerflak-Ersatz und Ausbildungsabteilung Ohrsdurf/Thühringen in January of 1945 for evaluation purposes, but due to the rapid events of the war it was never taken into production.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

  • Ostwind - Predecessor with a single 37 mm FlaK 43 autocannon.
  • Flakpanzer 341 - Gift vehicle that the Ostwind II substituted in the main tech tree.

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