German Railway Gondola (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01517 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Railway Gondola’.

German Railway Gondola

History

The Heavy Cargo Cars (Schwereer Feldbahnwagen) were often seen with troops in transport. The cargo transported can be what ever you mighe imagine they might have carried. MG-clamp mounts were usually fastened to the sides and the sides gave some protection for the troops in transport.
Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Railway Gondola – Lower sides (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01518 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Railway Gondola – Lower sides’.

German Railway Gondola - Lower sides

History

The Deutche Reichsbahn was pushed into service when the German Army began to move mass amounts of troops and machinery. The Light Cargo (Leichter Feldbahnwagen) was used to carry anything and everything including light armor.

Half tracks, soft skin vehicles and light armor like the Marter III were seen on these cars. They were used throughout the span of the war. These cars were often sand bagged and used with AA units for Air cover.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German 280mm, Railroad Gun, Leopold (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00207 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 280mm, Railroad Gun, Leopold’.

German 280mm, Railroad Gun, Leopold

History

Although from the mid-19th century people started considering imparting mobility to large caliber artillery pieces by placing them on special railway mountings, it was WWI that gave the impetus to making the railway gun an important part of many European armories. The advantages of railway guns were to quickly concentrated and dispersed as necessary, and by rapid changes of position they could deliver long range harassing fire and remain undetected.

By 1918 the railway gun was in use by nearly all the major combatants and among them Germany was the major country with this powerful armament. But after 1918 the Treaty commissions scrapped all the German railway artillery. After the NSDAP came to power in 1933 the German military began a major rearmament program and on the list of weapons needed were modern railway guns. Before 1933 a great deal of theoretical work had been carried out on future railway guns but it was not until 1934 that the first practical work began on two new designs. In time these were to emerge as the K5 (E) and K12 (E).

The Leopold had an unconfirmed range of 11 miles and fired a pre-engraved projectile weighing approximately 550 pounds. It is fired from a turntable affording a 360degree traverse. The gun has a 70-foot 8-inch barrel held in a sleeve-type cradle. The barrel recoil mechanism, fitted between two arms projecting downward from the cradle, consists of two hydro pneumatic cylinders and a single hydraulic buffer cylinder. A central jack helps support the tremendous weight of the gun and carriage, which amounts to around 230 tons and also serves as a central pivot for the turntable.

The German Leopold Gun was the largest weapon, which lobbed shells at American troops at “Anzio Beach”. The Leopold supported by 24 railcar wheels, was mounted on railroad tracks, which led in and out of mountain tunnels. When not firing, the gun was rolled back into the tunnels out of the sight of Allied reconnaissance. Although both guns had been extensively damaged, Allied forces were able to salvage the Leopold and after reconstruction of the railway, moved the gun to Naples for shipment to the United States. “Anzio Annie” as the gun was known to the Allied troops at Anzio, is the only German railroad gun known to have survived World War II. The Leopold is currently on display at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51 (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01516 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51’.

German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51

History

It was suggested in mid-1943 to make the Triebwagen 51, but by the time design and construction was completed in 1944-45, it was too late to be of any significant use in WWII. It was equipped with an armored railcar 7.5cm KwK L/48 guns (in Panzer IV/H), which provided strong enough firepower to be used for anti-tank purposes.

There were only three of this railcar made (No. 51-53) and all were found at the factory by Allied forces, but it is questionable whether any ever went into service.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Kanonen und Flakwagen (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01511 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Kanonen und Flakwagen’.

German Kanonen und Flakwagen

History

For the armored train units of Type BP42, the artillery was increased, following Russian and Polish examples, to four guns, which were not, though, mounted two to a car as in the latter types, but one per separately built ten-sided rotating turret, in order to avoid too-great losses from a direct hit.

The two halves of the train, before and behind the locomotive were identical and consisted of one artillery car with one 10cm le.F.H 14/19(p) gun, one command and infantry car and one artillery and anti-aircraft car with one 7.62cm F.K.295/l(r) and one 2cm anti-aircraft quadruple unit.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Panzerlok BR57 Armoured Locomotive (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00219 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerlok BR57 Armoured Locomotive’.

German Panzerlok BR57 Armoured Locomotive

History

Germany had used armored trains in WWI, but prior to the start of WWII the armored train was seen as something of a relic by the German defense force, the Reichswehr, and its government renamed successor in 1935, the Wehrmact.

The Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG), or German National Railway between 1920 and 1945, saw armored trains as a way to preserve and advance a military presence. By keeping a strong military face on this state owned railroad.

The BR57 armored trains locomotive was actually based on the Prussian series G10 locomotive first built in 1910 and featuring an 0-10-0 wheel arrangement.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Kommandowagen (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01510 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Kommandowagen’.

German Kommandowagen

History

For the armored train units of Type BP42, the artillery was increased, following Russian and Polish examples, to four guns, which were not, though, mounted two to a car as in the latter types, but one per separately built ten-sided rotating turret, in order to avoid too-great losses from a direct hit.

The two halves of the train, before and behind the locomotive were identical and consisted of one artillery car with one 10cm le.F.H 14/19(p) gun, one command and infantry car and one artillery and anti-aircraft car with one 7.62cm F.K.295/l(r) and one 2cm anti-aircraft quadruple unit.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Mörser Karl-Gerät on railway transport carrier (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00209 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier’.

German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier

History

The self-propelled version of the 60cm siege mortar was ordered in June 1937. General Karl Becker of the Artillery was involved in the development; hence the name Karl was used to describe the gun. The driving trials were held at Unterlüss in May 1940. Delivery of the six production vehicles took place from November 1940 to August 1941. In February 1941, discussions commenced. Concerning increasing the range of the weapon, and in May 1942, 54cm barrels (Gerät 041) were ordered for the six vehicles.

At a conference with Hitler in March 1943, it was stated that the first 54cm Gerät 041 would be delivered by June 1943, and the third, by mid-August. The 60cm and 54cm barrels appear to have been interchanged as required. In 1945, US forces captured vehicle II with a 60cm, and vehicle V with a 54cm. The prototype chassis, built in 1939, had eight road wheels with external swing arms. production Karl had eleven road wheels.

Ammunition was transported in a tracked Munitionsschlepper converted from the Pz.Kpfw.IV, four rounds in each Schlepper. For the 60cm Gerät 040, the s Be Granate weighed 2.117 tons and the Ie Be Granate, 1.70 tons; in this case of the 54cm Gerät 041, 1.58 tons and 1.25 tons respectively. Maximum rate of the fire was 6 rph (rounds per hour ). Guns I-IV went to the Russian Front in July 1941 with the 628th schwere Artillerie Abteilung.

They saw action at various sites, including Lemburg in that year. The best known action was against Sevastopol in 1942. Later, four guns were issued to the 833rd schwere Artillerie Abteilung (mot). These guns had the names Adam, Eve (1st Batt.) and Thor, Odin (2nd Batt.) The names for guns V and VI were Loki and Ziu.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Geschützwagen (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01509 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Geschützwagen’.

German Geschützwagen

History

For the armored train units of Type BP42, the artillery was increased, following Russian and Polish examples, to four guns, which were not, though, mounted two to a car as in the latter types, but one per separately built ten-sided rotating turret, in order to avoid too-great losses from a direct hit.

The two halves of the train, before and behind the locomotive were identical and consisted of one artillery car with one 10cm le.F.H 14/19(p) gun, one command and infantry car and one artillery and anti-aircraft car with one 7.62cm F.K.295/l(r) and one 2cm anti-aircraft quadruple unit.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Mörser Karl-Gerät on railway transport carrier (Initial version) (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00208 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier – Initial version’.

German Mörser Karl-Gerat 040/041 on railway transport carrier - Initial version

History

The self-propelled version of the 60cm siege mortar was ordered in June 1937. General Karl Becker of the Artillery was involved in the development; hence the name Karl was used to describe the gun. The driving trials were held at Unterlüss in May 1940. Delivery of the six production vehicles took place from November 1940 to August 1941. In February 1941, discussions commenced. Concerning increasing the range of the weapon, and in May 1942, 54cm barrels (Gerät 041) were ordered for the six vehicles.

At a conference with Hitler in March 1943, it was stated that the first 54cm Gerät 041 would be delivered by June 1943, and the third, by mid-August. The 60cm and 54cm barrels appear to have been interchanged as required. In 1945, US forces captured vehicle II with a 60cm, and vehicle V with a 54cm. The prototype chassis, built in 1939, had eight road wheels with external swing arms. Production Karl had eleven road wheels.

Ammunition was transported in a tracked Munitionsschlepper converted from the PzKpfw IV, four rounds in each Schlepper. For the 60cm Gerät 040, the s Be Granate weighed 2.117 tons and the Ie Be Granate, 1.70 tons; in this case of the 54cm Gerät 041, 1.58 tons and 1.25 tons respectively. Maximum rate of the fire was 6 rph (rounds per hour). Guns I-IV went to the Russian Front in July 1941 with the 628th schwere Artillerie Abteilung. They saw action at various sites, including Lemburg in that year.

The best known action was against Sevastopol in 1942. Later, four guns were issued to the 833rd schwere Artillerie Abteilung (mot). These guns had the names Adam, Eve (1st Batt.) and Thor, Odin (2nd Batt.) The names for guns V and VI were Loki and Ziu.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Panzerjägerwagen, volume 2 (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00369 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerjägerwagen, volume 2’.

German Panzerjägerwagen, volume 2

History

The Panzerjagerwagen with Panzer IV turret and long 7.5-cm KwK cannon, were an important innovation of the BP 44 armor train type.

It was the armored pursuit car replace by the earlier pusher car. That now gave the train an effective means of against Russian tanks. In this instance, a program of new construction had been planned in 1944 by German Army: 8 BP 44 armored trains.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Panzerjägerwagen, volume 1 (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00386 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerjägerwagen, volume 1’.

German Panzerjägerwagen, volume 1

History

The Panzerjagerwagen with Panzer IV turret and long 7.5-cm KwK cannon, were an important innovation of the BP 44 armor train type.

It was the armored pursuit car replace by the earlier pusher car. That now gave the train an effective means of against Russian tanks. In this instance, a program of new construction had been planned in 1944 by German Army: 8 BP 44 armored trains.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

Where I got it