It should be perked, but I think that won't happen until the new GV armor/armament system/models/etc. are out.
Based on rarity, the only SPAA vehicle that shouldn't be perked would be the M16...because by 1944 every U.S. division had SPAA as part of its AA component.
German SPAA - even the lowly SdKfz with a single 2cm FlaK 38 - was only found in Pz. and some 'elite' Pz. Gr. divisions. The vast majority of everyone's (except the U.S.) AA was towed for the duration of the war.
When a newer GV system/modeling/etc. is in place you'll see the effectiveness of the Ostwind (and all open topped vehicles) be reduced with regards to them being used as 'multi-purpose' vehicles.
I have after action reports of German Pz. and Pz. Gr. units, some of them dealing with the use of SPAA in the direct fire role vs. ground targets. The crews were very reluctant to operate anywhere within 1000 meters of the enemy. Makes sense - they'd train the 20mm or 37mm automatic cannon on some fortifications and let lose with the shells. Very good at supressing defenders no doubt. You don't need to get within 300 meters to conduct 'area fire' with a big bore automatic weapon.
When a more detailed system is in place, 90% or more of the Ostwind's ammunition is going to be fuzed HE that detonates after a certain period of time in flight. Small caliber automatic FlaK weapons of all Nationalities usually didn't care more than 15% of their ammunition loadout in the form of AP. Those few AP rounds were for emergency self defense.
Also, when a more detailed armor system is in place, you're going to see small caliber weapons of all kinds lose a great deal of their effectiveness vs. GVs, especially moderately armored closed-top AFVs. Outside of 600 meters or so, the 3.7cm FlaK 43 of the Ostwind had zero chance of outright 'killing' (fire, explosion, catastrophic penetration, multiple crew casualties, etc.) a Pz IVH. Between 200-600 meters there's a *slight* chance of a penetration, but the odds of a single 3.7cm AP penetration blowing up a Pz IVH are fairly slim. Under 100 meters the Pz IVH would be worrying. Much increased penetration at that range and close range and high ROF = alot of hits.
But I'm pretty sure the applicable HTC staff know all this. But what's the point in commiting resources to a 'band-aid fix' when they are probably working on a new armor/penetration system already?
Being open-topped (M16 MGMC, Ostwind, FlakPz IV/20) or 'soft' (SdKfz, Soviet and German truck based SPAA, etc.) is also going to be *alot* more dangerous when there is *any* form of infantry and/or indirect fire present. 4 human controlled 'infantrymen', each with a rifle and 2-4 hand grenades would pose a very significant threat to any SPAA platform at 300 meters range or less. Given 40 chances, someone is going to land a head shot or two at 300 meters, even in combat.
Also, hopefully we'll have historically accurate gunsights for the GVs sooner or later. SPAA gunsights were generally 'narrow band, high magnification, high clarity' gunsights - they were made to accurately direct fire at over 1000 meters in general. They weren't made to track 2 infantry guys rushing the SPAA platform at 200 meters.
I don't think you'll see them perked for awhile, but I think you'll see them perked eventually and you'll also see their survivability go down when they are used 'unrealistically'.
Mike/wulfie
