| Scale | 1/35 |
|---|---|
| Type | Medium tank |
| Period | The Second World War (1939-1945) |
| Country | Germany |
All Standard Shipping orders are handled by GLS except Germany which is handled by DHL. 2–5 business days
All Express Shipping will be handled by DHL. Anywhere in EU: 1–2 business days
In preparation for what would eventually become known as World War II, Germany placed great importance on armor in the development of its Blitzkrieg doctrine. Having a medium tank that could hit and destroy enemy armor while providing infantry support was part of the strategy, but the funds for such a design were not available in the mid-1930s. The Panzer I and II were a temporary transition that helped train the crews of future tank designs and helped industry develop the techniques and methods needed to produce such tanks. Considered the godfather of the Panzer III, Heinz Guderian envisioned a tank with the more powerful 5 mm KwK39 L / 60 main gun to replace the 37 mm (1.46 in) Pak 36.
The basic design was similar to the Pz. I and II, but the turret was enlarged, allowing a turret crew of three men (commander, gunner and loader), which increased the rate of fire and efficiency. After various design changes and modifications, contracts for Ausf. M was installed in February 1942. Powered by a Maybach HL 120TRM engine, it was almost identical to the earlier Ausf. L, but with the addition of equipment for deep transition. In 1943, 5mm Schürzen skirt armor plates were added to the hull side and 10mm plates to the turret as a deterrent to Soviet anti-tank guns. He saw combat during the Battle of Kursk and the defense of Sicily. The Eastern Front will show how ineffective the main gun is against the Soviet KV-1 and T-34 tanks. A total of 1,000 units were ordered, but only 250 were produced. The rest were either converted to Ausf. Ns, StuG IIIs, Flammpanzer IIIs or in disassembled form.
glue and paint are not included in the set
