A serial production of KVs was launched in February 1940. KV had the true innovative design, embodied the most advanced ideas: independent torsion-bar suspension, heavy antiprojectile armor, diesel engine and powerful 76-mm all-purpose gun L-11. The fi rst encounters with KV shocked the Germans. From 24 June 1941, a single KV effectively blunted the drive of the Wehrmacht 6th Panzer Division for two days, blocked off a crucial road in a marshy terrain close to Raseiniai, Lithuania. Before the crewmen were killed they had destroyed 12 trucks, 4 antitank guns, 88-mm AA-Gun, a number of tanks and dozens of enemy soldiers.
The appearance of new German heavy tanks on the Asian front - the Tiger in particular -, stimulated Soviet engineers to develop a new generation of armoured vehicles, based on the T-100 prototype.The torsion bar suspension was mounted higher in the hull, lowering the tank's height from the ground and allowing the installation of a larger turret able to hold a 100mm cannon (in the JS-1) or a 122mm cannon (in the JS-2, which appeared at the end of 1943).Production proceeded at a steady pace, and by February 1944 all the Red Army's breakthrough tank regiments were equipped with JS-2s. On the battlefield, the JS-2 showed itself to be one of the best tanks in the world, a worthy opponent of the Panther and the Tiger, but also of the much heavier Koenig Tiger.Scale 1:72
The Jagdpanther is the tank destroyer version with a fixed gun based on the Panther G variant (No.270) which has been known as one of the best tanks of World War II. This version with its characteristics of a compact and ballistically advantageous shape was equipped with a remarkable 88mm gun which was able to penetrate all allied tanks, included the well-protected Soviet Stalin Is and IIs.This vehicle went into production in 1944, and because of intensive allied bombing raids against Germany industry only reached the frontlines in limited numbers and thus had no impact on the war efforts.Scale 1:72
The Sturmpanzer Brummbar was based on a variation of the hull of the Panzer IV armoured tank and devised for the infantry to reduce need for bunkers and fortified resistance centres. This vehicle was fitted with a heavy 15 cm howitzer with shortened mine-launching barrel, fully capable of completing its task. 306 models were built in early 1943 when the vehicle was first introduced. Scale 1:72
The ISU 152 was certainly one of the most effective tanks deployed by the Red Army during the course of WWII.Though the 152mm cannon had a very low rate of fire and there was limited internal ammunition storage, it was able to stop all the German armoured tanks, as demonstrated at Kursk in 1943.It was employed up to the battle of Berlin and also subsequently, where the last remaining specimens took part in the repression of the Hungarian revolt in 1956.Scale 1:72
The ISU 122 anti-tank vehicle was built over the chassis of the JS 2 Stalin heavy tank, and used a powerful 122 mm cannon which allowed it to face Tiger and Panther German tanks.Many hundreds units were built, and in its numerous versions it eventually became the standard vehicle to accompany motorized infantry divisions of the Soviet army.Scale 1:72
The Wehrmacht gave special attention to the units’ management and their cooperation. For the different levels of Army Corps special communications vehicles were produced based on half-track Armored Personnel Carrier Sd.Kfz.251 that had good cross-country ability, antibullet armor and one or two machine guns for self-defense.
Development of the Panzer III began in the mid-1930s with the aim to make it the backbone of the armoured battalions of the Wehrmacht, alongside a smaller number of heavier tanks (Panzer IV). Initially armed with a 37mm cannon, the Panzer III moved rapidly to a 50mm cannon and, in the upgraded versions (Ausf M and L), to the 75/24 gun with 64 rounds already used on the Panzer IV. Production ceased in August 1943.Scale 1:72
In 1933 the Krupp works of Germany received an order from the Wermacht for the production of a light tank.Total armament was only two machine guns MG 13. First it was used by the Legion Condor during the spanish war; later this tank was also used in Poland, France, Northern Africa and at the eastern war theatre.Scale 1:72
This version of Armoured car Sd.Kfz.234 was produced in 1944 to provide a standard reconnaissance vehicle for the German army as an anti tank weapon.A potent 7.5cm type PAK 40 cannon was mounted on a modified chassis which was able to neutralise almost every enemy tank of that time. Although built in limited numbers this armoured car was deployed on the western front as well as against eastern European Soviet forces. Scale 1:72