Nuts & Bolts #25 : Review

Nuts&Bolts 25

Nuts & Bolts #25 : Review

Nuts and Bolts 25: the ‘handbook‘ of Flakpanzer IV – Wirbelwind (Sd.Kdz. 161/4), Ostwind & Kugelblitz.

168 A4 pages counting approx. 284 photos, of these 66 historical shots of the three types of Flakpanzer IV with all known variants in b/w plus a number of them previously unpublished make up volume 25 of Nuts and Bolts series.

Let’s see in detail what this compendium has to offer:

The volume introduces reader with a generic but exhaustive historical chapter regarding historical Anti-Aircraft warfare. Ranging from 1870 when Germany ruled with their so-called “Ballonabwehr-nanone“  a balloon-defence-weapon till 1942 when the situation changed abruptly when the German forces in Northern

Africa were confronted by superior Air Allies forces. Especially regarding low-level aircraft attacks.

Last event brings to open the next chapter: who describes development and production of Ww2 German AA guns and more in detail of the Flakpanzer Wirbelwind.  On the Technical details chapter we can read that all Wirbelwinds built were build using damaged chassis returned from front for repair and there is an interesting list with all modifications and changes necessary to convert the Pz.IV to obtain a full Wirberlwind. In this chapter you can also see an original drawing from Count Graf-Seherr-Thoss. There is also a Technical data sheet.

After an historical introduction about Ostwind we manage to read the Tactical principles and duty activities with tables regarding deployment and Unit organization schemes. Relatively to the active service authors gain focus on the 10.(fla)/SS Panzer Regiment I during the battle of the Bulge. When at that time the company had its first victory, when two Allied fighters bombers attacked the Flakpanzers.

Camouflage and markings chapter will surely catch interest of modellers. Here you will be able to read all about official RAL colors and zimmerit.

Last chapter talks about the last two existing Wirbelwinds. One in Worthington Park Museum and the other in Feldwebel Schmid Kaserne ( German AA School ). From now we find 16 pages counting about 47 black and white Wirbelwinds photos. Photos are of good quality and depict this AFV in action, captured and resting outside museums.  To complete the topic there are 2d and 3d drawings of all versions of the flakpanzer done by John L. Rue.

A section of the book is dedicated to the Ostwind with development and technical notes,Operational History and Camouflage , Markings, 2d and 3d Drawings. It’s important to notice that the Ostwind is unfortunately one of the least documented tanks of the period ,as there are no surviving examples and little documentation  the reader should however note that a lot of comments and writings are based on conjectures due to lack of exact information. Authors have also collected details and information again from Count von Seherr-Thoss.

Another important AA vehicle was the “Kugelblitz“. Again was used the chassis of the Panzer IV modified with the Tiger I ring while Rheinmetall was awarded the contract for the main weapon.

At the end a big portion of the book gives more graphical drawings including ammunitions with relative colors, field conversions, prototypes ,camouflages and a variegate quantity of photos. Interesting a walkthrough of the Wiberlwind displayed at various places. Also kugelblitz has a good photo workaround coverage, even if only the turret.

Modelling section of the book takes 13 pages and it does not offer a real step-by-step building or painting guide but something like a compendium on what the market has to offer when talking about Wiberlwind, Ostwind and kugelblitz.

You can buy Nuts & Bolts in good assorted book- and modelshops or directly at hfd.duske@t-online.de

I would like to thank  Heiner F. Duske of the Nut’s and Bolts team for the chance to review this book.!