1:35 Mtl. SPW Half Track Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.D
Item #35195

DESCRIPTION
About the Mtl. SPW Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.D

Of the many variables that take place during any conflict, supply
and mobility are the most pressing. Germany realized this fact
very early in World War 2 and demonstrated use of support
vehicles during their early "Blitzkriegs". They had developed a
great number of vehicles for differing purposes, and a very
successful on was the Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track. This semi-tracked
vehicle became the centerpiece of their mechanized corps
throughout the conflict. Production began in 1939, and the series
is broken down into four types, from Ausf.A to D. according to
the differences in design and its production period. Early models
used a very complicated hull construction, made up of obliquely
placed armor plating. This was somewhat simplified in the C and D
types, to make mass production easier. The final "D" version
appeared in 1943, and it became the most widely used model of the
four versions. Of the many types produced, the basic personnel
carrier was the Dd.Kfz. 251/1. Powered by the Maybach HL42 six
cylinder engine, it had a top speed of 53km/h and a range of
300km. It was armed with two MG42 machine guns plus automatic
rifles for the crew, and could carry twelve fully equipped
soldiers. This versatile half track was also the basis for a wide
variety of self-propelled weapon systems, which were mounted to
its chassis. More than 10,000 of the D type half-track and its
variants were produced.