Flakpanzer III

Brigades of self-propelled assault parts did not receive adequate anti-aircraft protection. Flakpanzer IV was primarily allocated to major and stronger units and their number was insufficient. Some other solution had to be found.
Such a solution has been found. At the end of 11/1944, there were 30 StuG III platforms and 90 extensions for Pz.Kpfw. III released for conversions to anti-aircraft tanks. 90 special anti-aircraft towers were also ordered.
The main producer of anti-aircraft tanks was the company Ostbau Sagan. In 12/1944, the director of this company stated that the reconstruction of platforms Pz.Kpfw. III for anti-aircraft tanks is not possible. However, Baurat Becker, who had extensive and many years of experience in converting various loot vehicles, was not satisfied with this conclusion.
At the beginning of 1945, a design and assembly group was formed at the Sturmgeschütz-Schule Burg near Magdeburg, drawing on experience with the development of similar structures at Ostbau Sagan.
Plans for mass production included the supply of 30 platforms StuG III per month directly from the production line plus other platforms were to come from repaired tanks Pz. Kpfw.III.
The modification of the towers consisted in adjusting the storage, because the impeller on Pz.Kpfw.III had a different diameter (1520 mm) than Pz.Kpfw.IV (1680 mm).
In the Sturmgeschütz-Schule Burg, complete designs were drawn up for the assembly of a virtually unmodified tower from Ostwind (the tower bore the nickname "Keksdose" - a cookie can). Two concepts were created, differing in the armament used. It was calculated using a quadruple cannon set 2 cm Flakvierling 38 or 3.7 cm Flak 43.
In a report dated March 5, 1945, Waffeamt stated that 18 towers were set aside for this project from the Ostwind program, another 72 pieces of towers were to produce available M8 or L80 sheets 16 mm thick. The supply of weapons was also fulfilled.
On March 12, 1945, the Sturmgeschütz-Schule Burg reported that the supply of towers would be postponed due to the situation on the Western Front.
March 18, 1945 Panzer-Kommision canceled the supply of towers, including the original 18 towers from the production of Ostwind. Subsequently, the General der Artillerie requested the completion of this 18-piece series.


Information on the number of built machines (approx. 11 pieces) can be found in the overview of tank production in the Panzer Tracts series [* 1 *].
According to the latest information in Panzer Tracts No.12-1, reports on the allocation of tanks for the Western Front contain information on the delivery of these flakpanzer. Five of these anti-aircraft tanks were assigned to Sturmgesutz-Brigade 341 on March 19, 1945, were sent on March 30, 1945 and arrived at the unit on April 5, 1945.
In the report of 15.3.1945 figured two of these anti-aircraft tanks in StuG-Brigade 244 (one operational) and three tanks in StuG-Brigade 341 (two operational). As of April 5, 1945, the StuG-Brigade 667 had four flakpanzers, two of which were operational.


Thomas L.Jentz, Hilary Loius Doyle - Panzer Tracts no.12 - Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer - Sd.Kfz.10/4 to 8,8cm Flak auf VFW, year of publication 1998, no ISBN
Thomas L.Jentz, Hilary Loius Doyle - Panzer Tracts no.12-1, Flakpanzerkampfwagen IV and other Flakpanzer projects development and production from 1942 to 1945, year of publication 2010, ISBN-10: 0981538274
ISBN-13: 978-0981538273
Peter Müller, Wolfgang Zimmermann - Assault Gun III Backbone of German Infantry Volume II, Visual Appearance: Variants, Modifications, Technical drawings, History Facts, year of publication 2009, ISBN: 978-3-9522968-5-1
[~ 1 ~] Thomas L. Jentz, Hillary Louis Doyle - Panzer Tracts No.23 - Panzer Production from 1933 to 1945, date of issue 2011, no ISBN

Flakpanzer III -


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