Panzer IV served 3 ways #3: the SdKfz. 161/6 Flakpanzer "Kugelblitz"

[Dizzyfugu]

The third and last one (for the moment) - a kitbashed "Kugelblitz":


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
The need for a specialized self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, capable of keeping up with the armoured divisions, had become increasingly urgent for the German Armed Forces, as from 1943 on the German Air Force was less and less able to protect itself against enemy fighter bombers.

Therefore, a multitude of improvised and specially designed self-propelled anti-aircraft guns were built, many based on the Panzer IV chassis. This development started with the Flakpanzer IV "Möbelwagen", which was only a turretless Kampfpanzer IV with the turret removed and a 20mm Flakvierling installed instead, together with foldable side walls that offered only poor protection for the gun crew. The lineage then progressed through the Wirbelwind and Ostwind models, which had their weapons and the crew protected in fully rotating turrets, but these were still open at the top. This flaw was to be eliminated in the Kugelblitz, the final development of the Flakpanzer IV.

The first proposal for the Kugelblitz envisioned mounting a modified anti-aircraft turret, which had originally been developed for U-boats, on the Panzer IV chassis. It was armed with dual 30 mm MK 303 Brunn guns. However, this was eventually abandoned, since development of this gun had not yet been completed, and, in any case, the entire production run of this weapon turret would have been reserved for Germany's Kriegsmarine. However, enough firepower that enabled the Flakpanzer to cope with armoured attack aircraft, namely the Soviet Ilyushin Il-2, which was a major threat to German tanks, was direly needed.


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


As the best readily available alternative, the Kugelblitz eventually used the 30 mm MK 103 cannon in a Zwillingsflak ("twin flak") 103/38 arrangement, and it combined the chassis and basic superstructure of the existing Panzer IV medium battle tank with a newly designed turret. This vehicle received the official designation SdKfz. 161/6 Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz".

The turret's construction was unique, because its spherical body, which was protected with 20 mm steel shells in front and back, was hanging in a ring mount from the Tiger I, suspended by two spigots – it was effectively an independent capsule that only slightly protruded from the tank's upper side and kept the vehicle's profile very low, unlike its predecessors. Elevation of the weapons (as well as of the crew sitting inside of the turret!) was from -5° to +80°, turning speed was 60°/sec.
The turret was fully enclosed, with full overhead protection, 360° traverse and (rather limited) space for the crew of three plus weapons and ammunition. Driver and radio operator were located in the front of the hull, as with all German tanks. The commander/gunner, who had a small observation cupola on top of the turret, was positioned in the middle, behind the main guns. The two gunner assistants were placed on the left and right side in front of him, in a slightly lower position. The assistant situated left of the guns was responsible for the turret's movements, the one on the right side was responsible for loading the guns. The spare ammunition was located on the right side. Each of these three crew members had separate hatch doors, which they could use to enter or exit the vehicle. The gunner assistants' hatch doors each had a small round shaped extra hatch, which were used for mounting sighting devices, and there were plans to outfit the turret with a stereoscopic range finder for the commander.

The MK 103 was gas-operated, fully automatic and belt-fed (an innovative feature at that time for AA guns). In the Kugelblitz turret the weapons could be fired singly or simultaneously and their theoretical rate of fire was 450 rounds a minute, even though 250 rpm in short bursts was more practical. The total ammunition load for both weapons was 1,200 rounds and the discharged cases fell into canvas bags placed under the guns. Due to the fact that the MK 103 cannons produced a lot of powder smoke when operated, fume extractors were added, which was another novelty.

The tank's MK 103 was a powerful weapon that had formerly been fitted in single mounts to such planes as the Henschel Hs 129 or Bf 1110 in a ventral gun pod against tanks, and it was also fitted to the twin-engine Dornier Do 335 heavy fighter and other interceptors against Allied bombers. When used by the army, it received the designation "3 cm Flak 38". It had a weight of only 141 kg (311 lb) and a length of 235 cm (93 in) with muzzle brake. Barrel length was 134 cm (53 in), resulting in Kaliber L/44.7 (44.7 caliber). The weapon's muzzle velocity was around 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s), allowing an armour penetration for APCR 42–52 mm (1.7–2.0 in)/60°/300 m (980 ft) or 75–95 mm (3.0–3.7 in)/ 90°/ 300 m (980 ft), with an effective maximum firing range of around 5.700 m (18.670 ft).


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


A production rate of 30 per month by December 1944 was planned, but never achieved, because tank production had become seriously hampered and production of the Panzer IV was about to be terminated in favor of the new E-series tank family, anyway. Therefore, almost all Flakpanzer IV with the Kugelblitz turret were conversions of existing hulls, mostly coming from repair shops. In parallel, work was under way to adapt the Kugelblitz turret to the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer hull, which was still in production in the former Czechoslovakian Skoda works, and to the new, light E-10 and E-25 tank chassis. Due to this transitional and slightly chaotic situation, production numbers of the Panzer IV-based Kugelblitz remained limited.

By early 1945, only around 50 operational vehicles had been built and production of the SdKfz. 161/6 already ceased in May. The first five produced vehicles were given to the newly formed "Panzerflak Ersatz- und Ausbildungsabteilung" (armored Flak training and replacement battalion) located near the city of Ohrdruf (Freistaat Thüringen region in central Germany). One company was divided into three platoons equipped with a mix of different Flakpanzers vehicles. The first platoon was equipped with the Wirbelwind, the second with Ostwind, and the third platoon was equipped with experimental vehicles, such as the Kugelblitz or the "Zerstörer 45", which was basically a Wirbelwind with a 3-cm-Flak-Vierling 103/38 (armed with four MK 103s).
During the unit's initial trials and deployments, the 3 cm Flak 38 turned out to be a troublesome design, largely because of the strong vibration when firing. This made the target aiming difficult and could even cause damage on the mounting itself – but due to the dire war situation, production was kept up. However, during the running production of the Kugelblitz turret, reinforcements to the mount structure were gradually added, as well as improved sighting systems. None of the SdKfz. 161/6s received these upgrades, though, since it was only regarded as a transitional model that filled the most urgent defense gaps. Later production Panzer IV Kugelblitz vehicles were almost exclusively sent to units that defended Berlin, where they fought against the Soviet assault on the German capital.


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Specifications:
    Crew: Five (commander/gunner, 2 assistants, driver, radio operator)
    Weight: 23 tons
    Length: 5.92 m (19 ft 5 in)
    Width: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 ¼ in)
    Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 6 ½ in)
    Suspension: Leaf spring
    Fuel capacity: 470 l (120 US gal)

Armour:
    10 – 50 mm (0.39 – 1.96 in)

Performance:
    Maximum road speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
    Sustained road speed: 34 km/h (21.1 mph)
    Off-road speed: 24 km/h (15 mph)
    Operational range: 210 km (125 mi); 130 km (80 mi) off-road
    Power/weight: 13 PS/t

Engine:
    Maybach HL 120 TRM V12 petrol engine with 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW)

Transmission:
    ZF Synchromesh SSG 77 gear with 6 forward and 1 reverse ratios

Armament:
    2× 30 mm 3 cm Flak 38 (MK 103/3) with a total of 1.200 rounds
    1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 1,250 rounds in bow mount



The kit and its assembly:
This is a model of a tank that actually existed, but only in marginal numbers – not more than five Panzer IV with the revolutionary Kugelblitz turret are known to have existed or even seen service. However, it fits well into the ranks of fictional/projected Heer '46 tanks, and I have been wanting to build or create one for along time.

There are some 1:72 kits available, e. g. from Mako, but they are rare and/or expensive. So I rather went for an improvisation approach, and it turned out to be very successful. The complete turret comes from one of the Modelcollect "Vierfüssler" mecha kits – these carry such an installation under the belly(!), what makes absolutely NO sense to me. I especially wonder how the crew is supposed to enter and operate the turret in its upside down position? Not to mention a totally confined field of fire...

However, the Modelcollect Kugelblitz tower comes complete with its bearing and the armored collar. It was simply mated with the hull from a late Hasegawa Panzer IV – in my case even a Wirbelwind, which also came with some suitable additional details like stowing boxes for gun barrels. The attachment ring for the turret had just to be widened far enough to accept the Kugelblitz installation – and it worked well! Very simple, but highly effective.


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
Well, this did not work 100% as intended. I wanted to emphasize the fact that the tanks would have been built from revamped hulls, so I gave all parts an initial overall coat with RAL 3009, Oxydrot. These were then overpainted with a three-tone Hinterhalt scheme in Dunkelgelb (RAL 7028), Olivgrün (RAL 6003) and Rotbraun (RAL 8012). The pattern was adapted from a Wirbelwind, which I had found in literature, consisting of narrow stripes across the hull with additional spots of Dunkelgelb on top of the darker tones. In order to emphasize the idea of a converted tank with the turret coming from another source, I gave the latter a uniform Dunkelgelb livery.


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The colors used were Humbrol enamels, this time a different selection of tones, namely 167 (RAF Hemp), 159 (Khaki Drab) and a mix of 160 and 10 (German Rotbraun and Chocolate Brown, for a darker hue). However, I wanted the Oxydrot to shine through the camouflage, but despite efforts with thinned paint and sparse use of the enamels the effect is not as visible as expected. I left it that way, though, here and there the red primer is visible, but a lot of the livery became obscured through the following wash with dark red brown, highly thinned acrylic paint and a final coat of pigment dust on the model's lower areas.

The original black vinyl track was treated with a cloudy mix of grey, red brown and iron acrylic paint, and finally dusted with pigments, too.


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The decals were gathered from several sources – the tactical code was puzzled together with Roman and Arabic numbers in red (seen on some vehicles from assault gun units), the emblem on the turret shows Berlin's mascot, the bear, taken from a Modelcollect Heer '46 kit's sheet.

Some dry-brushing with light grey was done to simulate dust and worn edges, but not too much since the vehicle was to be presented in a more or less new state. And then the model was sealed with acrylic matt varnish.




1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 SdKfz. 161/6, Leichter Flakpanzer IV 3 cm ,,Kugelblitz"; vehicle ,,II-02" of the 2. FlakpanzerZug,  SturmPz.Kpfw.Abteilung 217; Berlin region, summer 1945 (Heer '46/modified Hasegawa kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


A relatively simple build, since only the turret was exchanged/transplanted. The result looks better than expected, though, and the Kugelblitz turret fit into the Panzer IV hull like the hand into a tight glove. Very convincing. And I might add another Kugelblitz variant, this time either on a Hetzer hull (which was a real alternative to the Panzer IV) or on an E-25, it seems as if an 1:72 kit becomes soon available from Modelcollect.

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

That's really convincing 

[Old Wombat]

Three hits in three builds, great work, Dizzy!

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you! 

[chrisonord]

Very nice Dizzy 
Chris