November saw a massive update to our range of British armour with the introduction of a dozen Churchill tank variants from the MkI to the MkV.
The Churchill was a British Infantry tank that played a significant role in World War II. The tank’s design began after the war started, based on the (mistaken) assumption that the war would resemble the Western Front of WWI.
1942 saw the first major deployment of the Churchill at the disastrous Dieppe raid. However, its rapid design and production showed, with a number of flaws being apparent in the field. These MkI tanks featured a 3″ hull mounted howitzer, but later marks replaced it with a machine gun.
The tank underwent many improvements and modifications until it reached the MkIV version in 1943. This version accounted for more than 1600 units out of the total Churchill production. Like all Churchills, it featured thick armour and an impressive climbing ability. It also served as the foundation for AVRE (Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers) tanks, which became famous during D-Day. Some MkIV variants had different guns, such as the British OQF 75mm tank gun or the NA(75), which used 75mm guns salvaged from destroyed Shermans.
The following variants are available –
Mk I – 2 pdr turret gun and 3″ hull mounted howitzer. MkII – 2 pdr turret gun and hull mounted MG. MkII OKE – 2 pdr turret gun, hull mounted MG and hull mounted flamethrower. MkIII – 2 pdr turret gun and hull mounted MG. Mk III AVRE – 230mm Petard mortar turret gun and hull mounted MG. MkIII – 75mm turret gun and hull mounted MG. MkIV – 6 pdr turret gun and hull mounted MG. Mk IV AVRE – 230mm Petard mortar turret gun and hull mounted MG. MkIV – 75mm turret gun and hull mounted MG. Mk V – 95mm howitzer turret gun and hull mounted MG.
Great Eastern – no turret or gun, ramps instead Gun Carriage – casemate mounted 3″ gun
This release sees the completion of our first Kickstarter – “Wheel of Steel” and now the Brits getting a few extra armoured car choices. These are all available as either physical prints or STL files to print at home.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
Lanchester 6×4
The Lanchester company developed the Lanchester 6×4 armoured car in the late 1920s and early 1930s for the British Army and Commonwealth forces. It was based on the chassis of the Lanchester Motor Company’s luxury tourer, but with a stronger and more rigid frame to support the weight of the armour and weapons. The car had a six-wheeled drive system, with four wheels powered by a 90 hp petrol engine. It had a crew of four, including a driver, a gunner, and two machine gunners. The main armament was a turret-mounted dual Vickers machine gun, with one .50 inch and one .303 inch caliber. The turret also had a rotating cupola for observation. Additionally there was a hull-mounted .303 inch Vickers machine gun on the left side of the driver. The car had a maximum speed of 72 km/h and an operational range of 320 km.
Originally designed for reconnaissance and patrol missions, the Lanchester 6×4 proved to be too large, slow, and top-heavy for this role. It was also vulnerable to anti-tank weapons and mines. Relegated from a front line role, it mainly saw use with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Territorial Army in various colonial conflicts, such as the Arab Revolt in Palestine and the Anglo-Iraqi War. The Lanchester 6×4 also saw action in the Battle of Malaya during World War II, where it fought against the Japanese invasion.
Ultimately, more modern and agile armoured cars, such as the Daimler Dingo and the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car replaced it in almost every role.
Daimler Dingo
The Daimler Dingo was a light armoured car that was used by the British Army and its allies during World War II. It was designed for reconnaissance, liaison and patrol missions, and could traverse rough terrain with ease. It had a crew of two, a driver and a commander who also operated the wireless set and the Bren gun.
Powered by a 55 hp Daimler 6-cylinder petrol engine, it had a top speed of 89 km/h. The Dingo was equipped with four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and a low-silhouette hull that offered good protection from small arms fire. It was produced in several variants, such as the Mk I, Mk II and Mk III, with minor differences in armament, equipment and performance.
The Dingo was widely used by the British Army in Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as by other Commonwealth and Allied forces. It proved to be a reliable, agile and versatile vehicle that earned the respect of its users and adversaries alike. Overall, the Dingo is a classic example of a successful military design that combined simplicity, functionality and durability.
Daimler MkII
The Daimler MkII was an armoured car used by the British Army during WWII. Designed to provide reconnaissance and fire support, it was a versatile and reliable vehicle that was capable of handling any terrain and combat situation.
The Daimler MkII had a four-wheel drive system that allowed it to maneuver in mud, sand, snow, and rocky terrain. It also had a powerful 95 hp engine that gave it a top speed of up to 80 km/h on roads. The primary was a QF 2-pounder gun with a coaxial 7.92 mm Besa machine gun, mounted in a fully rotating turret. It had 3 man crew, comprising driver, gunner, and commander. The driver sat in the front of the hull, while the gunner and commander were in the turret.
The Daimler MkII had reasonable armour for its size that could withstand small arms fire and shrapnel. It was also equipped with a smoke generator that could quickly create a smoke screen to conceal its movement or escape from enemy fire.
Rolls Royce 1924 MkI
The Rolls-Royce 1924 MkI armoured car was a British vehicle that saw service from the First World War to WWII. It was based on the chassis of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Renowned for its reliability and performance, it provided an excellent base for an armoured car.. The armoured car had a steel body with a thickness of 12 mm, which protected the crew of three from small arms fire and shrapnel.
A turret mounted Vickers machine gun provided limited light firepower, but there it had no anti armour capabilities. A six-cylinder petrol engine produced 80 hp and gave a top speed of 45 mph. The car had a range of 150 miles and could traverse rough terrain with its leaf spring suspension and double rear wheels.
The Royal Naval Air Service, the Tank Corps, and the Royal Air Force all used the 1924 MkI in various theatres of war, such as France, Africa, Gallipoli, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Iraq. The car proved to be effective in reconnaissance, patrol, and raiding missions, as well as providing fire support and escorting convoys. The Irish Free State also used it during the Irish Civil War.
In 1940 a new open-topped turret that mounted an anti-tank rifle and Bren light machine gun replaced the older enclosed turret. However, by then the car was obsolete and outmatched by newer armoured vehicles and finally retired from service in 1944.
Humber MkIV
During the Second World War, British forces used the Humber MkIV as one of their main armoured cars. This vehicle had a wide production and distribution across different theatres of war. Developed from the previous Humber models, it offered better protection and firepower.
It differed from the previous models by replacing the 15 mm Besa heavy machine gun with a US-made M5 or M6 37 mm gun. The Humber MkIV also had a three-man turret, which allowed for a wireless operator to assist the commander and the gunner.
The Humber MkIV was used for reconnaissance, support and protection missions by various British and Commonwealth units in Europe, Africa and Asia. It fulfilled many roles including HQ vehicle, reconnaissance and light fire support. It had a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a range of 200 mi (320 km). Armour protection was light, with a maximum of 15mm of sloped armour. However, it was still proof against shrapnel and small arms fire. Generally, crews liked this reliable and versatile vehicle.
Humber LRC MkII
Based on the Humber Super Snipe chassis and engine, the Rootes Group produced the Humber LRC (light reconnaissance car) from 1940 to 1943. This British armoured car had a distinctive design and a reliable performance. It had a three-man crew, consisting of a driver, a commander and a gunner.
The primary armament consisted of a Boys anti-tank rifle mounted in the front of the hull and a Bren light machine gun in a turret on the roof. Additionally, it also had a smoke discharger and a No. 19 radio set. The Humber LRC had a maximum speed of 75 mph on road and an operational range of 110 miles.
British and the Czechoslovak forces employed it in various theatres of the Second World War, such as Tunisia, Italy and Western Europe. The Humber LRC performed liaison and escort duties in addition to fulfilling a recon role. RAF Regiments also used the Humber LRC for airfield defence.
The “Special Ironside Saloons” were basically a VIP version of some vehicles, with a door on the passenger side and a luxurious interior. They modified these vehicles to suit the needs of the VIPs. The Humber light reconnaissance car had four variants: the Mk I, which had an open-topped hull and 4×2 drive; the Mk II, which had an enclosed roof and 4×2 drive; the Mk III, which had 4×4 drive; and the Mk IIIA, which had additional vision ports at the front angles of the hull.
Humber Scout car
The Humber scout car was a British armoured vehicle that was used in the Second World War. It was designed to perform reconnaissance and liaison duties, as well as to support infantry and tanks. The Humber had a four-wheel drive system and a low profile, which made it agile and stealthy.
It was armed with a 15 mm Besa machine gun and a 7.92 mm Bren gun, and could carry up to three crew members. The Humber scout car was produced from 1942 to 1945, and saw service in various theatres of war, such as North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. It was also exported to several Allied countries, such as Canada, India, and Poland.
The Humber scout car was praised for its reliability and performance, but also criticized for its limited armour protection and firepower. It was eventually replaced by more advanced armoured cars, such as the Daimler Dingo and the Staghound.
Morris LRC MkII
Morris Motors Limited, a British company, produced the Morris LRC (light reconnaissance car) MKII from 1940 to 1944. This armoured vehicle served as a scout and patrol car during the Second World War. Overall production reached over 2,200 vehicles.
The MKII version had a four-wheel drive chassis that improved its off-road performance. It had a crew of three, with the driver sitting in the middle and the gunners on each side. A small turret held a Bren gun, with a hatch mounted forward facing Boys anti-tank rifle providing light anti-armour capabilities. It also had a radio set and a smoke grenade launcher. The vehicle had a sloped steel hull with an armour thickness of 8 to 14 mm. Powered by a Morris 4-cylinder petrol engine it had a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 240 miles.
The Morris LRC saw action in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. As with other light armoured cars, some fulfilled an airfield defence role for the RAF Regiments. The vehicle was less famous than its Daimler counterpart, partly due to reliability issues and limited capabilities. Various experimental adaptations such as the Firefly with a 6-pounder gun, the Salamander with a two-seat configuration and the Glanville Fighter Car with two fixed machine guns also used the Morris LRC as a base. However, none of these reached production.
AEC MkII
During the Second World War, the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) built a heavy armoured car for the British Army – the AEC MkII. Designed to have fire power and protection comparable to those of contemporary British cruiser tanks, it featured a turret mounted 6 pdr gun as its main armament.
It also had a 7.62 mm BESA machine gun, a 2-inch bomb thrower and a No. 19 radio set. The vehicle had a four-man crew and a diesel engine that gave it a maximum speed of 41 mph (66 km/h) on roads. The AEC MkII had a wheelbase of 17 ft (5.2 m) and a weight of 12.7 long tons (12.9 t). The armour thickness ranged from 16 mm to 65 mm, depending on the location.
The AEC MkII was used by the British Army and other Commonwealth forces in various theatres of war, such as North Africa, Italy and Burma. It proved to be a reliable and versatile vehicle that could perform reconnaissance, escort and fire support missions.
This release sees the the Italians getting a few extra vehicle choices, as well as a large addition to our terrain range.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
Fiat 665NM APC
The Fiat 665NM scudato (“shielded”) was a dedicated wheeled APC developed by Italy during WWII and in use with the Italian and German armies from 1942-1945.
While only lightly armoured, it was proof against small arms fire and as it was based on the Fiat 666 heavy lorry, it could carry 20 passengers. In addition to firing ports for the passengers, it was also equipped with a Breda light machine gun.
110 were produced in total.
Viberti AS43
The Viberti AS43 was an armoured car used by the Italian RSI during WWII. A simple design, based on a TL 37 truck, it was basically an armoured body fitted to truck chassis and then with a L6 tank turret mounted on top.
There is no specific data regarding numbers produced – figures range from over 100 to 3, though given the short life of the RSI, it is likely fewer were made.
M15/42 AA Tank
The M15/42 AA or “Semovente da 20/70 quadruplo” was a prototype vehicle created by the Italian Army in 1943. It consisted of a modified M15/42 chassis mounting a re-designed lightweight turret. The turret held four 20mm autocannon and would have functioned in a similar manner to the German Wirbelwind.
It is unknown exactly how many were produced, and whether or not any saw action. However, at least one was captured by the Germans and supposedly was used in combat against teh Red Army.
Semovente 105/25
The Semovente 105/25 (“Bassotto”) was a self propelled gun developed in 1943 by the Italian Army. After the introduction of the Semovente 75/18 it was found that while it was suitable for general infantry support, the 75/18 cannon lacked any real punch against the more modern Allied armour. This led to the marrying of a heavy 105/25 cannon with the M42 chassis.
The resulting Bassotto was an effective SPG that could easily destroy any Allied tank it faced. It was also regarded as an excellent vehicle by the Germans, who continued production after the Italian surrender.
In any warzone or bombed area during World War II, certain features always stand out. Whether fighting in the ruins of Stalingrad or pushing into Berlin, massive ruined factories often dominate the landscape.
This model is a massive 670mm long and offers plenty of cover for advancing (or retreating) forces.
It comprises 6 sections (2 ends and 4 mid pieces).
This release sees the French army entering into the fray, with the introduction of our first new nation since February. The initial platoon includes an officer team, medic team, two different rifle armed infantry squads, a sniper team and an mmg team. As well as the foot sloggers, heavier support is provided by the 75mm M1897 howitzer and teh Panhard 178 armoured car.
In addition, we also offer a French infantry platoon bundle of all of the above models. This is available at a very reasonable discounted price and free UK shipping. This is the ninth of our platoon bundles, in addition to the Japanese, Italian, British, 8th Army, German, Winter War Soviet, Finnish and Soviet platoons already released.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
The French high command of 1940 may have been ponderous at times and still fighting the static war of 20 years earlier, but at the sharp end, French officers were just as good as those of any army. When given the opportunity many stepped up and at least gave the invaders a good run if not a sound beating.
As with all armies, the French made good use of medics to ensure the survival of their men. As well as trained surgeons behind the lines, front line medics and stretcher bearers saved the livs of many French soldiers.
Armed with a variety of bolt action rifles, some dating to the 19th century, but also supported by the Chatellerault M24/29 light machine gun and often a dedicated rifle grenadier, a French infantry squad was a flexible unit in assault and defence. However, the sheer size of the French army, combined with its rapid expansion meant that the level of skill and experience between units could vary considerably, with some running almost at the first shot and others holding out to the last bullet.
As with the British and the Vickers machine gun, the French Army was still using its WWI era Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun at the outbreak of WWII. In addition to the unusual 24 round strip magazine, it was also capable of using a belt feed and could reach 450 rounds a minute.
The “Canon de 75 modèle 1897” (variously also called the “French 75”, “Soixante-Quinze” or simply 275”) was a French field gun originally designed in the late 19th century. At the time of introduction, it was one of the most advanced pieces of artillery in the world, and is widely thought to be the first modern artillery piece. This is due to a hydro-pneumatic recoil system, which allowed for sustained and accurate fire of between 12-15 rounds a minute at a time when other artillery had to be realigned after each shot and could fire 1-2 rounds a minute accurately.
Conceived as an anti-personnel weapon, it saw action in WWI as one of the primary guns for use with gas shells, as well as being the main armament of the Saint-Chamond. The US also purchased and used it during WWI.
It was already venerable by WWII, yet was still in use and was deployed against advancing Panzers during the Battle of France. A number had been sold to Poland and it was the most numerous artillery piece in the Polish Army. After the fall of France a number were also used by Germany, and the British purchased some from the US after Dunkirk and the loss of so much equipment.
Developed during the mid 1930s, the Panhard 178 was a 4×4 armoured car used by the French during WWII. The 178 was comparable to its contemporaries, with around 20mm of armour and a 25mm light anti-tank gun in a turret. It had a good road speed of 45mph, but relatively poor cross country capability with a top speed of 26mph and limited obstacle crossing ability.
After the Fall of France, many Panhards were captured by Germany and used throughout the war, particularly on the Eastern Front.
Around 1150 were built in total and were still in use during the Vietnam War.
We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your French armies!
Painted 28mm resin 3D printed model of World War II Soviet medic team.
This release sees the introduction the Winter War Soviets to our range, adding infantry and crew in Winter uniforms to many Soviet options including regular squads, HQ units, support and the Artillery.
Additionally, we have also introduced two totally new vehicles to our range – the NKL-16 Aerosan and the multi-turret monster that is the T-28.
As usual with a new army, we have added a platoon bundle for you and also updated the Soviet Army Builder to include the new Winter War troops and vehicles.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
The T-28 was an infantry support tank developed by the Soviet’s during the 1930s. A long tank, featuring multiple turrets, it appears to be strongly influenced by the British A1E1 Independent (and indeed may have been based on stolen plans……). Primary armament was a 76mm gun in a fully traversing main turret, and four machine guns split between the main turret and a pair of secondary turrets.
Initially deployed in 1939 during the Winter War, the T-28 was shown to be slow, heavy and inadequately armoured. However, improvements were rapidly made and a new, up-armoured version led the way through the Finnish Mannerheim Line.
Over 500 were built and captured examples used by Finland were used against their former owners.
The NKL-16 was an aerosan used by the Soviet army during WWII. Built of plywood, it was very lightweight and could reach speeds of 30mph across snow. The NKL-16 was later developed into the armoured NKl-26 which was armed with a machine gun in a ring mount.
Further updates are also available via our Facebook page.
We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your Soviet armies!
This release sees the introduction of new defensive structures for the British. As with our other models, these are all based on original examples in the UK. Expanding a little from just the usual pillboxes, these also include a minefield control tower and coastal gun emplacement.
These will also be available soon as files for printing at home via our STL page.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new models…..
Many pillboxes had a dedicated light AA mount into the design (such as the Type 23 and Type 27) and others were adapted during or after construction with LAA mounts. This example is a modified Type 22 design with a protected entrance and a LAA on the roof.
Along the East coast of England, there were a number of emplacements that were sited for defending against a seaborne invasion. These could be armed with a range of weaponry, usually older, large calibre guns (often ex-naval), but in some desperate attempts to increase the appearance of firepower, telegraph poles were used if sufficient guns were not available! This example from the North East coast was equipped with a 4” naval gun.
The Mowlem Drum pillbox was an unusual design produced by J Mowlem Builders and found on GHQ Line B in Surrey. Essentially a thick walled Type 24, the “Surrey Drum” was simply formed due to using a curved shuttering rather than building a brick wall and pouring concrete within it. This created a larger, round pillbox.
The coast of mainland Britain is penetrated by dozens of rivers and many more smaller inlets. As it was thought that German invasion barges could make their way up these and land troops behind the “coastal crust” additional defences were added around the mouths of the later estuaries including minefields, defensive booms and buoys. At a couple of locations, the defences were extensive enough that they required their own minefield control tower. This example is based on the control tower at Burnham-on-Crouch
Further updates are also available via our Facebook page.
We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your British Home Front!
After a good few months prep and research, our first Kickstarter is now live. “Wheels of Steel” is a project featuring a collection of British and Commonwealth WWII armoured cars. The initial core set is 8 vehicles (plus a free Dingo) with up to an additional 20 vehicles already listed as stretch goals.
In order to support as many of our followers as possible, the project rewards are available as both digital files and physical printed models.
CORE FILES
Daimler Dingo MkIA (this will be available during the project as a free sample file) AEC Armoured car MkII Daimler Armoured Car MkII Humber Armoured Car MkIV Humber Light Reconnaissance Car MkII/III Humber Scout Car Lanchester 6×4 Armoured Car Morris Light Reconnaissance Car Rolls Royce Armoured Car 1924 MkI
STRETCH GOALS
Fox Armoured Car Morris CS9 Otter Light Reconnaissance Car Indian Pattern Armoured Car Humber Light Reconnaissance Car – two additional variants Staghound Armoured Car – two variants AEC Armoured Car – two additional variants Daimler Armoured Car – three additional variants Humber Armoured Car – four additional variants Marmon Herrington – four variants
This release sees the introduction of new tanks for the Germans. We round out their range to include fully armoured SPGs, assault guns, heavy and medium tanks and tank destroyers. July 1943 saw the start of the largest tank battle ever seen (probably) – Kursk. These tanks represent a selection of those fielded by the Germans during the battle.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
The “Stummel” was a variation of the Sd.Kfz 251 halftrack introduced by the German Army in 1942. There was a need for mobile light artillery support that could maintain pace with other vehicles. Unlike some other SPGs, the Stummel carried its own ammunition and was a self contained artillery piece. Mounting the same 75mm L/24 low velocity gun as some StuG III variants, it was a useful close support vehicle.
The Sturmgeschütz III (or StuG III) was a German assault gun of WWII. It was the most widely produced German fully tracked AFV of the war, and the second most numerous German AFV in total behind the SdKfz 251. Originally designed as an infantry support weapon, it was built on a modified PzIII chassis. It mounted a limited traverse gun in an armoured superstructure.
Variants of the StuG III were equipped with different guns. Initially, as they fulfilled the infantry support role, these were low velocity howitzers. However, later variants also mounted more powerful anti-tank guns. Later models were also equipped with an MG34 mounted near a hatch, sometimes fitted with a shield.
The StuG III was a popular tank with the German High Command. Primarily as it was around cheaper to build than a PzIII due to the lack of turret and simplified design. They were also popular with their crews. This was primarily due to their low silhouette making them difficult to spot and they were generally reliable.
Over 11,300 variants were produced in total and many were exported to other nations such as Hungary, Italy and Finland. They continued to see service for some years after the war as well.
The Panzer IV was a German medium tank of WWII and their most produced tank during the war. Designed in the 1930s and introduced in 1939, it saw service throughout all German theatres of operation. The PZIV was the only German tank in production continuously during the war.
Early marks of the PzIV were armed with the 75mm L/24 low velocity howitzer as found on early StuG III variants and the Stummel. Later marks received the more powerful 75mm L/43 and finally 75mm L/48 anti-tank guns which allowed them to effectively engage Allied tanks.
Two of the most notable and visible features on later PzIV tanks is the addition of Zimmerit paste to stop the use of magnetic explosives, and the “Schurzen” side skirts mounted on the turret and hull to protect against shaped charge weapons such as the PIAT.
The PzIV chassis also formed the basis of many other vehicles including various Flak panzers such as the Wirbelwind, Mobelwagon and Ostwind, tank destroyers like the Jagdpanzer IV and assault vehicles such as the StuG IV and Sturmpanzer IV.
Over 8500 were built in total and saw service with various countries after the war as training vehicles, static defence or even as “main battle tanks”!
The “Hummel” (Bumblebee) was a German SPG produced in 1943 and used for the remainder of World War II. Operation Barbarossa had shown that existing SPGs were not always adequate and so a new type was designed. Mounting a 15cm sFH howitzer on a heavily modified PzIV chassis, with an open superstructure, it was an effective support vehicle, though lack of stowage meant it required a separate ammunition carrier. The same modified PzIV chassis was used for the Nashorn tank destroyer.
The “Nashorn” (Rhinoceros) was a lightly armoured and heavily armed German tank destroyer of WWII. Based on the same modified PzIV chassis as the Hummel, it also had an open crew compartment but mounted a 8.8cm PaK 43 anti-tank gun rather than a howitzer. It first saw combat during the Battle of Kursk where its high profile and powerful gun allowed it to dominate the open steppe at range, and negated much of the disadvantage of the thin armour and open crew deck.
The Nashorn was later replaced by fully enclosed and more heavily armoured tank destroyers such as the Jagdpanzer IV but it remained in service until the end of the war.
The Sturmpanzer IV (or “Brummbär” as known by Allied intelligence) was a heavy assault gun used by Germany during WWII. Based on the chassis of a PzIV tank, it replaced the upper hull and turret with a thickly armoured (100mm at the front) superstructure and mounted a newly designed 15cm Sturmhaubitze.
The Sturmpanzer IV was introduced in April 1943 and its first major test in combat was the Battle of Kursk. It performed acceptably, but the overall weight was too much for the chassis and it suffered frequent breakdowns. A series of revisions were made to the overall design of the assault howitzer and the weight brought down by around 800kgs. As the first versions did not have adequate ventilation in the crew compartment, leading to a build of propellant fumes, A “quality of life” improvement was also made – an extractor fan was fitted!
The Panther was a German medium tank of WWII initially developed in response to the T-34 and its effective sloped armour. Originally designed to replace the aging PzIII and PzIV tanks, it fought alongside them until the end of the war.
Armed with the excellent 75mm KwK 42 L/70 and featuring heavily sloped and thick frontal armour, the Panther is often called “the best tank of WWII”. However, it had plenty of disadvantages – the increased frontal armour was at the expense of thinner side armour to keep the weight down; it was a complex machine and often ran into mechanical issues causing many to be lost to breakdown rather than enemy action and it was still heavy which caused logistical issues.
It was first deployed en-masse during the Battle of Kursk, though it was riddled with mechanical problems and this led to high losses. Lessons from summer 1943 led to a series of changes in the design and by 1944 many issues had been ironed out.
The Tiger I was a German heavy tank of WWII and possibly one of the most famous (and most mythologised) tanks ever built. Developed at the start of WWII, it was first deployed in 1942 in Africa and on the Eastern Front. The Tiger I was the first German tank to mount an 88mm anti-tank gun and it soon earned a fearsome reputation as very few Allied armoured vehicles could withstand a hit from a Tiger I.
While it had exceptionally thick (100mm+) frontal armour, it was simply vertical plates with little to no slope unlike that of the T-34 or Panther tanks. It was also overly complicated and its overlapping road wheel configuration caused issues in mud and snow. The weight and width of the Tiger also made it difficult to transport to a combat zone.
However, it was a successful tank and as redesigns dealt with various issues, its reliability increased until it equalled or exceeded that of other German AFVs.
Around 1350 were built in total.
Further updates are also available via our Facebook page.
We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your German armies!
This release sees the introduction of new tanks for the Soviets, as well as a couple of new updates to existing vehicles. July 1943 saw the start of the largest tank battle ever seen (probably) – Kursk. These tanks represent a selection of those fielded by the Soviets during the battle.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
The T-70 was a Soviet light tank introduced in 1942 and used throughout the rest of WWII. Designed as an improvement of the previous T-60, it had a more powerful 45mm main gun, better cross country capabilities and slightly thicker armour. The T-70 still suffered from the drawbacks of relatively thin armour and a weak gun when placed next to even contemporary medium tanks, but it could be produced in large numbers by factories unable to manufacture larger tanks.
Its finest moment was when a lone T70, commanded by Sergeant Alexander Pegov, ambushed a column of 18 Germans tanks and knocked out two Panthers, immobilizing the column.
The T-34 was a medium tank used by the Soviets during WWII. Initially introduced in 1940, it was designed to replace the current range of light and medium tanks in the Soviet army, many of which were obsolete. Armed with a 76mm gun and featuring sloping armour, the T-34 on paper was easily a match for any other medium of the time, and a good deal better than many of them. Combined with a low cost and rapid production time, the T-34 became the second most produced tank of all time (behind its successor, the T54/55 series). However, in reality, the combination of poor visibility and lack of good leadership and training, meant that in the field the T-34 was often outclassed by numerically inferior Axis forces.
The KV-1 was the first of a range of Soviet tanks of WWII named after the Soviet Defence Commissar (Kliment Voroshilov). Introduced in 1939, the KV series really gained notoriety with the German Army during Operation Barbarossa when it was found that their heavy armour rendered them practically immune to the invading PzIII and PzIV tanks armed with 37mm and short barrelled 75mm guns. In fact, at the time, a KV tank was virtually invulnerable to anything short of a FlaK 88 or point blank artillery fire.
However, they also had shortcomings of their own – the heavy armour made them slow and sluggish; the main gun was no better than that mounted on a T-34/76; at 45 tons they really were too heavy for the Soviet transport infrastructure once they were disembarked from trains.
Over 5000 KV-1 tanks were produced and ultimately they served through until the end of the war.
The KV-2 was a development of the KV-1 heavy tank introduced in 1940 and in service until 1945. Essentially a KV-1 with a new turret, the KV-2 had a very large boxy turret mounting a devastating 152mm howitzer. Developed as a breakthrough tank, the new turret added an additional 7 tons to an already incredibly heavy tank and massively increased its height and silhouette.
The increased weight also added further drawbacks – the top speed and ability to cross rough ground was drastically reduced, and the weight of the huge turret meant it could only transverse when level.
Overall, its lacklustre performance and the development of better breakthrough assault vehicles led to only 200 KV2 tanks being produced.
The SU-122 was an anti tank platform designed around the T-34 chassis and featuring the A-19 122mm gun used by the IS-2. Designed as a breakthrough gun, the AT capabilities of the A-19 were also excellent, and easily capable of destroying a Tiger I at 1000m. Produced between winter 1942 and summer 1943, the SU-122 saw service for the rest of the war.
The SU-152 was an anti tank platform designed around the KV-1 chassis and featuring a 152mm gun howitzer. Unlike the SU-122, the SU-152 was more effective as a howitzer than an AT gun. However, the sheer power of the shell could still blow the turret from a King Tiger, earning the 152 the nickname of “Beastkiller”. Unlike the KV-1, the SU-122 had a much larger fighting compartment due to the casement fitted gun, but suffered from a lack of traverse.
Further updates are also available via our Facebook page.
We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your Soviet armies – Ura!
As well as the core files pretty much done and in the process of being test printed and refined currently, we also have a basic stretch goal list put together and it can be seen further down this post.
The details will be finalised ready for the full launch of the project (beginning of September), but the general idea is that it will be available as two options – either stl files or physical. This is so that we can accomodate as many of our followers as possible.
There will also be addons of various other models we have designed as well. The core files and basic stretch goal list is currently as follows:
CORE FILES
Daimler Dingo MkIA (this will be available during the project as a free sample file) AEC Armoured car MkII Daimler Armoured Car MkII Humber Armoured Car MkIV Humber Light Reconnaissance Car MkII/III Humber Scout Car Lanchester 6×4 Armoured Car Morris Light Reconnaissance Car Rolls Royce Armoured Car 1924 MkI
STRETCH GOALS
Fox Armoured Car Morris CS9 Otter Light Reconnaissance Car Indian Pattern Armoured Car Humber Light Reconnaissance Car – two additional variants Staghound Armoured Car – two variants AEC Armoured Car – two additional variants Daimler Armoured Car – three additional variants Humber Armoured Car – four additional variants Marmon Herrington – four variants
Further updates before the full release will be available via the Facebook page
