Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz

General info

Kugelblitz in the Garage.

The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz is a Rank V German self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle with a battle rating of 7.0. It was introduced in Update 1.43.

The main purpose, usage and tactics recommendations

General play style

The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz is a anti-aircraft vehicle on a Panzer IV chassis. Sporting twin 30 mm MK103/38 cannons, this machine is very capable of obliterating any aircraft it faces. For proper usage, it is recommended to avoid direct confrontation with enemy armour as any vehicle at this rank can easily take you out in 1 shot. Stay close to friendly armour for protection and use less-traveled roads to remain hidden. Despite being armed with twin 30's, by using the right type of ammunition you can pen tanks if shot in the right places.

Vehicle characteristics

Tactics

Specific enemies worth noting

Counter-tactics

Pros and cons

Pros:

Large amount of ammo, reload is not necessary.
Twin 30's devastate enemy air.
Decent speed for quick relocation.
Enclosed turret provides better protection against strafing planes and artillery vs other SPAA's.
Kugel turret acts like spaced armour against APHE shells.

Cons:

Terrible turret traverse compared to any SPAA at its rank.
Based on a Panzer IV chassis, its armour cannot compete with vehicles in its rank.
If loader gets killed you would have to reload, which is a agonizing 65 seconds.
Weapons lose accuracy after 11 seconds of continuous firing.
Guns overheat quickly.

Specifications

Armaments

2 x 30 mm MK103/38 cannon

Ammunition Capacity: 1,200 Shells
Rate of Fire: 450 Shots per Minute
Gun Depression: -7°
Gun Elevation: 80°
Turret Rotation Speed: 14.9°/s (Stock), __._°/s (Upgraded), __._°/s (Prior + Full Crew), __._°/s (Prior + Expert Qualif.), __._°/s (Prior + Ace Qualif.)
Reloading Rate: 65.0s (Stock), __._s (Full Crew), __._s (Prior + Expert Qualif.), __._s (Prior + Ace Qualif.)

Ammunition

Belt	Penetration in mm @ 90°						Belt layout
Belt	10m	100m	500m	1000m	1500m	2000m	Belt layout
Default	60	53	40	33	28	19	AP-I/HEI-T
M.Gr.	60	53	40	33	28	19	HEI-T/HEI-T/ HEI-T/AP-I
Pz.Gr.	60	53	40	33	28	19	AP-I/AP-I/ AP-I/HEI-T
Pz.Gr. H	95	93	85	60	45	30	HVAP-T/HEI-T/HEI-T

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Kugelblitz.

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	Recommendations	Visual discrepancy
2	2 (+0)	2 (+0)	Keep full	no

Crew

Commander
Gunner
Loader
Driver
Machine gunner

Total: 5 Crew members

Armour

Armour type:

Rolled homogeneous armour

Armour	Front	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	80 mm (9°) Front plate 20 mm (70°) Front glacis 80 mm (12°) Lower glacis	30 mm	20 mm (3-14°)	10 mm
Turret	30 mm (25°) Turret shield 20 mm (1-71°) Turret	30 mm (25°)	30 mm (15°)	20 mm

Notes:

Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
Some track links and wheels are placed around the hull, adding 15 mm armour at the areas.
Belly armour is 10 mm thick.

Engine & mobility

Weight: 25.0 ton

Max Speed: 42 km/h
Stock

Engine Power: 426 hp @ 3000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 17.04 hp/ton
Maximum Inclination: 40°

Upgraded

Engine Power: 524 hp @ 3000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 20.96 hp/ton
Maximum Inclination: 43°

Modules and improvements

The usual road for tanks. Parts and Fire Prevention Equipment to repair and stop fires, and the ammo for better damage output.

History of creation and combat usage

Development

Continuing off the trend of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, Germany continued to develop a successor of the Wirbelwind and the Ostwind. The decision was to retain the Panzer IV hull and that this model will be the final and most successful version of the Flakpanzer IV.

The idea came from mounting a anti-aircraft turret developed for the U-boat onto the Panzer IV hull. This vehicle, designated the Kugelblitz, would be armed with a dual-mounted 30 mm MK 103 cannon, the same mounted on the Henschel Hs 129 attack aircraft and other German aircraft. Though this gave the vehicle a low firing rate of about 450 rounds a minute per gun, this was mitigated by being dual-mounted and offering a large 30 mm shell to use against aircraft. An advantage of the Kugelblitz over its predecessors was its fully enclosed turret, protecting the crew from overhead threats. The first prototype was made in November 1944 at Marienfelde, production was then slated for March 1945 after evaluations. However, by the war's end, only 2-6 prototypes were delivered for use.

Combat usage

Due to still being developed in the final months of World War II, it is not known if the Kugelblitz ever saw action in World War II. However, some sources say there were two events where the Kugelblitz did see enemy action. One was at the town of Spichra, Thuringia where it was destroyed, another was during the Battle of Berlin, but not much else is known of its service.

Survivors

Today, only a Kugelblitz turret is left preserved at a German collection for the Anti-aircraft school called Lehrsammlung der Heeresflugabwehrschule.

Ingame description

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Screenshots and fan art

Skins and camouflages for the _____ from live.warthunder.com.

Additional information (links)

[Devblog] Flakpanzerkampfwagen IV "Kugelblitz"

References

Sidebar

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Kugelblitz

Nation	Germany
Type	SPAA
Rank	3
Battle Rating	7.0 7.0 7.0

Metric✓ Imperial

Characteristics
Weight	25,000 kg 55,116 lb
Number of Crew	5
Hull armour thickness	80/30/30/10 mm 3.15/1.18/1.18/0.39 inches

Statistics
Engine power (stock)	426 hp 265 hp 265 hp
Engine power (upgraded)	525 hp 300 hp 300 hp
HP/ton ratio (stock)	17.04 17.31 10.60 10.77 10.60 10.77
HP/ton ratio (Upgraded)	21.00 21.33 12.00 12.19 12.00 12.19
Max speed	42 km/h 26.1 mph 39 km/h 24.0 mph 39 km/h 24.0 mph

Main Weapon
2 x 30 mm MK103/38	Autocannon
Ammo stowage	1,200 rounds
Vertical guidance	-7°/80°

Economy
Required RP	120,000 RP
Vehicle cost	300,000 SL
Crew training cost	85,000 SL
Max repair cost*	21,000 SL 640 SL 3,680 SL
Free repair time (Stock)	11d 6d 18h 9d
Free repair time (Upgraded)	3d 19h 2d 06h 3d 03h

Warning: this sidebar is a WIP and can be incorrect. Last updated 1.75.0.185.