Dragon Armor 1:72 Tiger I Mid Production, Abt.501, Eastern Front 1944, No. 60062

Description: Dragon Armor Tiger I Mid Production - "Red 311" - Eastern Front 1944 No. 60062, Vintage year - 2006, Scale - 1:72 Unit - 3./s.Pz.Abt. 501 - this unit was the first active heavy panzer battalion created and was sent to North Africa after the Allied landings. The first tanks arrived in Tunisia in November 1942 and the second kompanie was used during the occupation of Vichy France and did not arrive in Africa until January. It surrendered in Tunisia in May 1943. It was reconstituted in September 1943 from the cadre that had not been sent to Africa and was sent to the Eastern Front in November. The battalion received 45 new Tiger tanks in October and November 1943. These tanks were issued with the new type cupola and featured only one single light in the middle of the front hull. Most of the tanks had zimmerit anti-magnetic paste. The last six Tiger I tanks were supplied in June 1944 and were of the late version with steel-rim roadwheels, increased turret roof armor and monocular gunner's sight. Campaign - Eastern Front 1944 - the Eastern Front activity began after November 1943 in Vitebsk and Gorodok. By 12 November it comprised of 45 Tiger I tanks (three companies of 14 tanks in addition to three tanks for battalion command). Between 5-12 December 1943, the battalion was transferred to the Vitebsk region (modern Belarus) and had some success near Losovka until Major Lowe, the battalion commander went missing. Major von Legat took command in January 1944 and the battalion fought in the Orscha region. The battalion had very good battle success but by 1 March, only 17 Tigers were available of 29 due to a lack of spare parts, an issue that plagued the Tiger throughout the war. In June it fought at Orscha against the Soviet Operation Bagration. It managed a fighting withdrawal after the Orscha Bridge collapsed and retreated towards the Berezina River. By early July 1944 it had lost all the remaining Tigers as it fell back towards the Minsk area (many broke down due to maintenance issues or lack of fuel) was refitted with Tiger II tanks and attached to Heeresgruppe Nordukraine. It fought at Radom, Sandomierz and Kleice before being disbanded and used to form Schwere Panzer Abteilung 424 in December 1944. Markings - Tan and dark green camouflage with No. 311 in red outlined letters on turret sides/rear and cross on lower hull. Zimmerit coating on both turret and hull. The Tigers all had turret numbers beginning with their Kompanie number (thus this tank was obviously in the 3.Kompanie with "311". After the reconstitution in 1943, the new tanks had the standard yellow-olive color and the cross in the middle of the hull side. The turret numbers were painted on the forward half of the turret side as rusty red outlines. It was characteristic of this battalion to draw the numeral "3" with a cornered top. Model - Tiger I Mid Production (w./zimmerit). Henschel Sd. Kfz. 181 Ausf. E - in mid-1943 some key changes for the mid production model included the following: smoke candle dischargers no longer installed, new turret with revised cupola, zimmerit anti-magnetic mine coating applied, pistol port plug and uncut escape, single headlight installed, Tiger P gun mantle and slits in turret vision ports widened. Condition - New with minor wear on box. Original price label on upper right front cardboard. Thank you for your interest

Price: 47.5 USD

Location: Alexandria, Virginia

End Time: 2024-10-13T17:00:41.000Z

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