German Self Propelled Guns
The Germans conceived the idea of self propelled artillery very early in the war. Part of the reason was to allow Artillery pieces to keep up with the tanks and armoured personel carriers in the Blitzkrieg. Another was to utilise the tank chassis which were no longer useful as main battle tanks.
German made self propelled guns of all types, from anti-personel, anti-tank to anti-aircraft guns.
StuG 40 Ausf. G
When Revell released this kit, I immediately bought three of them. They makes the best Pz Kpfw III and IV models in 1:72 scale. The kit is very well and finely detailed. I do not know why Revell includes the Schutzen brackets but not the Schutzen themselves. I made the Schutzen out of plasticard.
Some officers from High Command have come to the front for an inspection. The Mercedes Benz G4 W31 model is from Hasegawa, and the figures are from AB Figures.
Over 7000 StuG 40 Ausf. G Assault Guns were made from 1942 till the end of the war. It is armed with the 75mm StuK 40 L/28, a gun similar to the one on later Pz Kpfw IV.
Sd Kfz 173 Jagdpanther
Work to mount the 88mm KwK43 L/71 on the Panther chassis started even before the Tiger II design started. The largest collection of Jagdpanthers built during the war were assembled in December 1944 to participate in the Ardennes offensive. Nearly 400 of the Jagdpanther was made.
This model was made by Dragon and had a die-cast hull. A pretty decent kit with fine details. The die-cast hull gives the model a decent weight.
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer
The Hetzer uses the very reliable Czechoslovakian Pz Kpfw 38(t) tank chassis. It is armed with a 75mm PaK39 L/48 and because of its small size and speed, was a deadly tank hunter. Earning a reputation matching that of its larger cousins.
Not nearly as detailed as the Pz Kpfw 38(t) kit, also from Fujimi. This 1:76 scale Hetzer is the only plastic kit available.
Sd Kfz 124 Wespe
With a 105mm leFH 18M L/28 howitzer mounted on a Pz Kpfw II chassis, the Wespe brought medium artillery fire to the front line. Its first major action was at Kursk, and served until the end of the war.
This is from a Matchbox kit. A basic kit lacking details, it needs a little embellishment with third party stowage.
Sd Kfz 7/1
Guns were not only mounted on obsolete tank chassis, but were also mounted on trucks and half-tracks. The 20mm FV38 gun was devasting to low flying aircraft and to infantry alike.
This model is made by Hasegawa.
Panzerjager I
The very first German conversion of tank chassis to self propelled guns. The Panzerjager I mounts a 47mm PaK(t) L/43.4 captured from Czechoslovakia. It was used in the invasion of France and was one of the few weapons that could dent the heavy Char B1 bis tank.
This is a Fujimi 1:76 scale kit. The detail is decent although the lack of crew figures is annoying. I would rather have bad figures than no figure at all. I have crewed them with Preiser passengers.
© 2004-2006 Michael Sng Woei Shyong. All Rights Reserved.