Dragon 14011 PANTHER+NASHORN

The Pz.Kpfw V (SD.Kfz 171) Panther is a German medium tank, considered to be one of the best tanks of the Second World War. This vehicle was a response to the Soviet T-34. The first production versions appeared as early as 1942, but the Panthers appeared for the first time on the front lines in the summer of 1943, in the Battle of Kursk. Due to the very high failure rate and numerous "childhood" problems of the vehicle, 150 out of 204 used vehicles were lost. Interestingly, however, only a few of these 150 cars were lost as a result of the Soviet shelling. After eliminating these shortcomings, the Panther became famous as an extremely effective tank. It owed it to the well-shaped frontal armor and the excellent anti-tank gun. KwK 42 / L70 cal 75mm. The basic version of the T34 / 76 did not stand a chance with the Panther. Only the advent of the T34 / 85 and IS-2 tanks changed this state of affairs. On the other hand, the Allied Sherman tanks could compete with the Panther only after being armed with a 17-pound gun (Sherman Firefly). Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that the Achilles' heel of this successful design was the weak side armor and the high technical complexity of the entire structure, and thus the high production time. Throughout the war, around 6,000 Panther vehicles of all versions (Ausf. D, A, G) were produced. The first mass-produced version was the "D" version, with 80mm thick frontal armor and a Maybach 230 P30 engine with 700HP. From the second half of 1943, tanks of this version had armored aprons. The Panther Ausf entered production in September 1943. A. It had a spherical mount for the MG-34 rifle in the fuselage. It was produced until March 1944. The "G" version was the most produced version. Over 3,700 tanks of this model were built. It was produced from March 1944 to January 1945. It mainly increased the angle of the frontal armor and made it thicker. The gun mantlet has also been modified. The Jagdpanther tank destroyer (Sd.Kfz 179) was also built on the Panther's chassis. When assessing the Pz.Kpfw V, you should remember not only about the great frontal armor or the gun, but also pay attention to the disadvantages of the weapon - large overall dimensions, delicate suspension, armor of increasingly poor quality caused by a lack of molybdenum or weak side armor. Technical data: length (with a barrel): 8.66m, width: 3.42m, height: 2.99m, engine power: 700KM, range (on the road): 200km, maximum speed (on the road): 46km / h, weapons : 1 cannon. 75mm KwK 42 / L70, 2 7.92mm MG-34 machine guns.Sd.Kfz 164 Nashorn (German rhino) was established in 1942 as a tank destroyer and a remedy for the threat posed by the German Soviet Panzerwaffe T-34. It was treated as a temporary solution, especially considering the fatal armor and the very tall silhouette of the vehicle. However, it served until the end of the war both in the East and in Italy, and on the Western Front. These disadvantages were made up mainly by the very effective 88mm PAK43 / L71 anti-tank gun. It was able to eliminate any Allied or Soviet tanks (maybe except the IS-2) at a distance of 2000-2500m, and the unofficial record is the destruction of an enemy tank from a distance of 4600m! The global number of Hornisse vehicles produced was limited to 494 units and was mainly concentrated in the ALKETT plants. Throughout the war, the vehicles were equipped with the Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 560, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. Technical data: length (with a barrel): 8.44 m, width: 2.95 m, height: 2.65 m, weight 24t, engine power: 296KM, speed (on the road): 42 km / h, armament: 1 PAK43 / L71 gun caliber 88mm and 1 MG34 machine gun cal.7.92mm.