Tag Archives: german

Vehicles and equipment from Germany

German s.IG.33 auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw.III (Sfl) (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6713 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German s.IG.33 auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw.III’.

German s.IG.33 auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw.III

History

The s.IG.33 auf Fgst. Pz.Kpfw.III (Sfl) was a heavy infantry gun mounted on a StuG.III chassis. The Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B featured a 15cm s.IG.33/1 gun in its boxy superstructure. Just 24 of these 21-tonne weapons were produced by Alkett from December 1941 onwards. They utilized a StuG.III Ausf.E or F/8 chassis.

Five crewmen operated this self-propelled gun that was used exclusively on the Eastern Front. Half fought in the bloody Battle of Stalingrad from October 1942 onwards, where their heavy guns could effectively demolish buildings in the bitter urban combat.

The remaining vehicles didn’t reach Stalingrad because the German 6th Army was encircled by that time, so instead they deployed with the 23rd Panzer Division.

Source: Dragon Models website

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German Heavy Tank Destroyer Elefant (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35 325-4800 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Heavy Tank Destroyer Elefant’.

German Heavy Tank Destroyer Elefant

History

Elefant Defense – The German heavy tank destroyer Elefant was armed with a powerful 8.8cm L/71 gun which could knock out T-34 tanks at a distance of 2,000m, protected by armor up to 200mm thick, and equipped with advanced features such as a hybrid drivetrain.

It had its roots in the Porsche-designed Ferdinand, which was first deployed into combat during the Battle of Kursk in 1943. The lessons learned from that battle resulted in modifications including the addition of a commander’s cupola, a machine gun for infantry defense, and better tracks and the enhanced vehicle received the new designation Elefant in February 1944.

Elefants were deployed to Italy and the Eastern Front, where they continued to defend against Allied forces until the final skirmishes of the war.

Source: Tamiya Website

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German Self-Propelled Heavy Anti-Tank Gun Nashorn (Tamiya)

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This is the Tamiya 35335 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Self-Propelled Heavy Anti-Tank Gun Nashorn’.

German Self-Propelled Heavy Anti-Tank Gun Nashorn

History

8.8cm of Destructive Power – The self-propelled heavy anti-tank gun Nashorn packed a formidable punch courtesy of a mammoth 71-caliber 8.8cm PaK 43/1 gun which was one of the largest on the battlefield in WWII.The vehicle was developed in all possible haste after the German Army had the unexpected surprise of meeting such overpowering opponents as the T34 and KV-1 upon its invasion of the Soviet Union. The recently-developed III/IV vehicle was used as a base for the PaK 43/1 gun, which was capable of destroying enemy tanks from great distance. Top road speed was 42km/h thanks to its relatively light weight of 24 tons.

While deployment started in July 1943 under the moniker of Hornisse, it was given the new Nashorn designation from January of the next year, reportedly at the command of Hitler. 439 units were produced up to March 1945, and they served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, providing heavy firepower for German forces.

Source: Tamiya website

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German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. B (MiniArt)

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This is the MiniArt 35162 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. B’.

German Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. B

History

The Ausf. В was the second attempt at a design solution for a tank in the 15-ton class. Only a small number of these design series vehicles were produced to provide a gun-armed Pz.Kpfw for training.

The design of the suspension of the Ausf. В was completely different from that of the Ausf. A. In place of the five road wheels with coil springs, the Ausf. В had eight road wheels per side, divided into pairs, with long leaf springs supporting a pair of road wheels at each end. Further improvements were made by increasing the number of return rollers to three, redesigning the cupola, and altering the rear deck and engine air louvres.

The Ausf. В were issued to Panzer units in 1937. After action in Poland, they were all removed from combatant units in February 1940 because of their unsatisfactory suspension and 15mm armour. In October 1940, the five Ausf. В Fahrgestell, which had been used for the experimental (0-Serie) series of the Sturmgeschütz, were returned to the Armoured troops and used as training vehicles.

Source: MiniArt Website

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German Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm PaK 43 Waffenträger (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6728 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm PaK 43 Waffenträger’.

German Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm Pak 43 Waffenträger

History

This is a German design that reached only prototype status, but which is a fascinating subject nonetheless. The vehicle is the Ardelt-Rheinmetall 8.8cm PaK 43 Waffenträger.The conceptual idea behind this weapon system was a self-propelled mount for the powerful but heavy 8.8cm antitank gun, as towed versions of this gun were too unwieldy for crews to move readily. Ardelt and Rheinmetall combined to build the first prototype and tests were conducted on this Ardelt I.

The vehicle’s engine was fitted at the front of the hull, which permitted the main armament – an 8.8cm L/71 cannon – to be fitted on the rear. It utilized a 38(t) chassis with four road wheels per side. An improved prototype (Ardelt II) was later produced by Ardelt and Krupp, but the end of the war intervened before production got off the ground.

Source: Dragon Website

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German Krupp Steyr Waffenträger (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 01598 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Krupp Steyr Waffenträger’.

German Krupp Steyr Waffenträger

History

On 19 April 1944 Krupp representatives visited Ardeltwerke in Eberwalde to discuss the design of the 8.8cm PaK 43 Kp auf Waffenträger. Ardelt was sent a second PaK 43 from series production. The Waffenträger with this gun presented a significant improvement and was completely satisfactory in firing and driving trials, completed by 15 January 1945.During the meeting on development and production on 9 January 1945, the status of the Waffenträger 8.8cm PaK 43 was reported as: “In spite of using couriers to deliver suspension parts, only 2 are expected to be completed by 31 December 1944.

All means will be used in an attempt to obtain all of the suspension parts by the end of December. If this is achieved, a further 19 should be completed by 15 January 1945”.

Source: Trumpeter website

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German Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm FlaK 41 (Bronco)

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This is the Bronco 35062 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm FlaK 41’.

German Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm FlaK 41

History

As the war progressed it was German policy to adapt old tank hulls to carry artillery pieces. One of the most utilized chassis was that of the Panzerkampfwagen IV, adapted to mount a whole series of anti-tank and assault guns.

The Grille 10 was a heavily modified Pz.Kpfw.IV, with track work from the Sd.Kfz.9 artillery tractor. It was originally designed to carry an 8.8cm anti-tank gun. However the design was changed in 1942 and three prototype vehicles were built mounting the 8.8cm FlaK 37 anti-aircraft gun. These were designated Versuchsflakwagen (Vfw) für 8.8cm FlaK 37, and were ready for testing in late 1943.

The idea was to provide a highly mobile anti-aircraft gun to the Panzer Divisions, protecting the tanks from air attack. In 1944 these vehicles were fitted with the 8.8cm FlaK 41, though a single vehicle was refitted with a FlaK 37 and sent for battle testing in Italy. The two remaining Vfw fur 8.8cm FlaK 41 vehicles were successful in their trials, but the war ended before mass production could begin in 1945.

Source: Bronco Website

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German 12.8 cm PaK 44 Waffenträger, Krupp 1 (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 05523 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German 12.8 cm PaK 44 Waffenträger, Krupp 1’.

German 12.8 cm PAK 44 Waffenträger, Krupp 1

History

Towards the laset months of WWII the Ardelt/Krupp design team concepted the Einheitswaffenträger 12,8cm IFH, which based on chassis components already used in the Hetzer and 38 D vehicle series, as only a minimum of protection was intended with the aircooled V12 Tatra Diesel engine.Till end of the war only few prototypes were built.

Source: Trumpeter website

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German Panzerkampfwagen VI (P) (Dragon)

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This is the Dragon 6352 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen VI (P)’.

German Panzerkampfwagen VI (P)

History

The VK4501 (P), also known as the Tiger (P), was an unsuccessful heavy tank prototype produced by Porsche in Germany in 1942.

On the 21st May 1942, Henschel and Porsche at a meeting in Germany were asked to submit designs for a 45 ton heavy tank capable of mounting the high velocity 88mm KwK L/56 gun which was derived from the German 88mm FlaK gun. Both the Henschel and Porsche tanks were to be fitted with the same turret supplied by Krupp.

The Porsche company worked on updating the VK3001P medium tank, Porsche’s medium tank prototype, and adapted parts used on it for the new tank.

Source: Wikipedia

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German Schwere Plattformwagen Type SSMYS 80 ton (Trumpeter)

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This is the Trumpeter 00221 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Schwere Plattformwagen Type SSMYS 80 ton’.

German Schwere Plattformwagen Type SSMYS 80 ton

History

During WWII, the SSMYS 80ton vast railroads in Europe and Russia were used to carry military items closer to the front.

In the case of tanks, this got them closer to the battlefield faster than if they had been driven there under their own power. It also left the tank crews fresher for battle.

This particular SSYMS 80 ton, was used for carrying the Germany Panther and Tiger heavy tank.

Source: Trumpeter website

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