Dragon Armor Hornisse - "Hornet" Self-Propelled Howitzer/Tank Destroyer
No. 60159, Vintage year - 2005, Scale - 1:72
Unit - unidentified/sHPzJgAbt 525 (according to the Motorpool) - these were issued to the heavy anti-tank battalions (schwere Panzerjager-Abteilungen). Six battalions would eventually be equipped including sHPzJgAbt 525, 560, 655, 93, 519 and 88. Each battalion was equipped with 45 Hornisse/Nashorns.
Campaign - Eastern Front 1944
History - the German Army lacked a suitable tank destroyer in September 1939. They made the Panzerjager I and the StuG III assault gun and then the Marder series of tank destroyers. Both StuG IIIs and Marders were armed with 75 mm guns but designers wanted to use the 88 mm gun with its penetrating power and longer range. In the winter of 1941, the designers resjected the Panzer III or IV's chassis for use in an anti-tank carrier. Instead Alkett created a new special gun carriage chassis - III/IV - that combined components of both the Panzerkampfwagen III (engine, fuel pump, driving and steering mechanism from the Ausf J) and the IV (suspension from Ausf F). In February 1942, Alkett designed new Panzerjager "Hornisse" (Hornet) armed with an 88 mm Pak 43/1 L/71 gun based on Geschutzwagen III/IV. The gun had an effective range of 4,000 meters. In late 1942, Nashorn's (called earlier) chassis and hull was used in the development of the Hummel (Sd.Kfz.165). But due to the weight of the gun and limited chassis capacity, only light armor was provided for the crew in an open top compartment. The disadvantages of light armor and a high profile were less of an issue in Russia with its flat and open landscape better suited to the Hornisse's ability to engage the enemy at long distances.  These tank destroyers debuted in Operation Citadel at the Battle of Kursk in 1943 where it had success given its ability to engage enemy tanks at such a distance. This allowed the unit to penetrate the front plating of any Allied armored vehicle at the time while staying out of range themselves.
Markings - Dark green and tan camouflage with No. 131 in white on sides and German cross.
Model - Sd. Kfz. 164 Hornisse - this special weapons carrier vehicle utilized a PzKpfw IV chassis and was adopted to take an 88 mm Pak 43 gun. The gun was one of the most effective anti-tank guns deployed during the war and closely related to guns used later for the Ferdinand/Elefant, Tiger II and Jagdpanther. According to sources, its tungsten carbide-cored round, Pzgr. 40/43, could penetrate 190 mm of rolled steel armor at a 30 degree angle of impact at a distance of 1000 meters.
Thank you for your interest.