Dragon Armor 1:72 Panzer Kpfw. IV, Ausf F1(F) 20 Pz.Div., Kursk 1943, No. 60085

Description: Dragon Armor Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F1 (F) - RareNo. 60085, Vintage year - 2009, Scale - 1:72Unit - 3./Pz.Abt. 21, 20.Pz.Div. - the 20th Panzer Division was an armored division in the German Wehrmacht that was assembled from parts of the 19th Infantry Division (which had been converted to a tank division - the 19th Panzer Division) on 5 October 1940. The division fought entirely on the Eastern Front and participated in the battles of Moscow and Kursk. The 20th was attached to Army Group Center and was part of the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa and remained on the front echelon of attack during the advances on Minsk, Smolensk and Operation Typhoon (the failed attack on Moscow). It remained on the central front during the winter of 1941-42 and engaged in defensive operations and retreat. In March 1942, it was withdrawn to Bryansk for refitting and rest after absorbing heavy casualties during the winter. The 20th took part in the capture of Voronezh in mid-1942 and in July 1943 was part of the northern spearhead during the Battle of Kursk. The rest of 1943 was spent in a long retreat between Orel, Gomel, Orsha and Vitebsk. It appears that the 1st and 22nd Kompanies of the 21st were disbanded in 1942 but the 3rd Kompanie, 21st was then renamed the 21st Panzer Battalion (from the 3rd Regiment). Campaign - Kursk 1943 - the 20th Panzer Division fought in Army Group Center in 1943 and took part in Kursk in July as part of Operation Zitadelle. It was part of the northern spearhead commanded by Walter Model and was part of the first wave of attack on July 5th. The Division was in bad shape by September 1944 but still managed to continue the fight until its surrender to the Soviet Army in May 1945. Markings - Tan and dark green and brown camouflage with No. 334 on turret in white and the Mammoth insignia on the rear turret (interestingly for the 502nd Division rather than for the yellow arrow pointing upward for the 20th Pz.Div.). Model - The Krupp-designed Ausf. F began in April 1941 and was the third production variant to the Panzer IV. The first production unit was an Ausf. D as the A, B and C versions were used for development and training only. The early Ausf. F featured 50 mm single-plate armor (vs. the applique armor added to the Ausf. E) and further increase in side armor to 30 mm. The Ausf. F featured armor additions, a new turret, a new drive sprocket (front) and was the last variant with the short-barreled 75 mm gun. Wider tracks also facilitated the fitting of track shoe "ice sprags" (mittelestollen). The designation Ausf. F changed to Ausf. F1 after the distinct new model, the Ausf. F2, appeared. Almost 500 Ausf. F tanks were produced from April F2 to March 1942. The early Panzer IVs used the short 75 mm gun but later versions used the 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 and then the Kwk 40 L/48 in early 1943. After dealing with the Soviet T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy tanks during Barbarossa, the designers realized the need to up-gun the Panzer IV in successive upgrades. Condition - New with minor wear on box. Thank you for your interest.

Price: 139.5 USD

Location: Alexandria, Virginia

End Time: 2023-12-08T15:27:50.000Z

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