ORIGINAL: 1sgt
ORIGINAL: fsciorelli
My plan is two model two tanks for a historical encounter in the Leningrad region, Aug '41. One will be a KV-1e no. 864 commanded by Zinoviy Kolobanov, whose tank destroyed 23 panzers in this engagement outside Krasnogvardeisk. The panzers were from the Army Group North, 8 panzer division. The info I've studied said the unit Kolobanov engaged was primarily Pz II's and III's. It's not clear any Ausf H's were involved, but realistically that would have been the only model with the chance of taking out a KV-1
The tauchpanzer III's were used (exclusively?) by the 18th panzer division, Army Group Center, that were available in the initial Barbarossa invasion. They were used in submersible mode to cross the Bug River in Poland. The 8th Pz Division advanced thru Bryansk and ultimately south of Moscow to Tula.
So it doesn't appear any Tauchpanzers could have possibly been involved in Kolobanov's engagement. For now anyway, that's my logic for converting the HL Tauchpanzer III to a standard Pz III H.
Frank
Frank,
Just out of curiosity, why didn't you buy the regular PZIII? I would like to see some pics of your tanks though. Both the PZIII and the KV-1. At first I used to think the KV was an ugly tank, but it has grown on me quit a bit. I'm even thinking of getting one ( with my meager $ that says alot)
Jim
Jim
The Tauchpanzer is an Ausf H model. The "regular" PZ III is an ausf L model. For the engagement I would like to reproduce the L model was not yet in service. There are quite a few differences between the two models and the Ausf H is more accurate for August '41
I'm working on income tax return today. When I've got a minute I can snap a picure (although the KV-1 is partially in pieces). I have the KV-1e, a Pz III H Tauchpanzer, and the PZ III L.
I actually have plans for two PZ III's based on the Ausf L. One of the planned options is an Ausf L with winterketten from winter 42'-43'. The other planned option is a Pz III ausf N with the short 75 mm, and turret schurzen in Italian service
Frank