MiniArt brings the crew for your PaK in their latest release…
German Elite Gun crew
From MiniArt
Kit No #35467
1/35th scale
Four crew & extras included
The Subject: German 7.5cm Anti-tank Gun PAK 40 gun & her crews…
In 1939 the German army issued a specification for a 75mm Anti-tank gun (Panzerabwehrkanone) to Krupp and Rheinmetal, but development was given a low priority until after the invasion of the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941 when the German Panzers began to encounter the superior T.34 and KV.1 tanks of the Red Army.
German Panzerjager use a Pak 40 against Yugoslav partisans in Bosnia on 12 January 1944.
Hurriedly raced into production, the first PaK-40s began to reach the front in November 1941 and soon proved to be an accurate and efficient tank killer. By 1943 it had become the principle antitank gun in service with the German army and most of its allies.
Camouflaged German 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun position, North Africa, 1941
With an effective range of 1,000-1,500 yards, the PaK-40 could fire a 15-lb armour-piercing round at 2,598 feet per second, enabling it to penetrate up to 106 mm of steel at 500 yards. A 7-lb tungsten cored round was later developed, which had a muzzle speed of 3,060 foot metres and could penetrate 115 mm steel at 500 yard. This allowed it to be used against virtually all Allied tanks in production with the exceptions of the Soviet IS-2 tank and the American M.26 Pershing. The gun can fire 10 rounds per second with an eight-person crew. In addition, High Explosive and Hollow Charge (in small quantities) rounds were also available for the PaK-40.
German crew of a 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun resting in front of the Italian State Radio at the corner of Via Asiago and Via Montello, Rome, Italy, 11 Sep 1943.
If the PaK-40 did have one drawback was that of the gun’s weight. It was 3350 lbs too heavy for a tractor to move it through rough terrain, mud or snow. The kit is the German Elite Gun Crew from MiniArt. The uniforms are mid- latter war gear.
Speaking of gear, included are two sprues of weapons and equipment. The first with bread bags, helmets, entrenching tools, gas mask cannisters, flasks and bayonets are included.
Weapons on this sprue are the Kar.98, Mp40, pistols in holsters & a flare gun. There are also optical glasses, map pouches and ammunition for each of the weapons. It is a lovely illustration!