Dragon Armor - King Tiger - Henschel Turret
No. 60552, Vintage year - 2012, Scale - 1:72
Unit - Pz.Abt. 503 - Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 was actually the Schwere SS Pz. Abt. 503 (as there was a regular Army Schwere 503rd as well). Originally named the 103rd, it was formed in November 1943 and fought as infantry in Yugoslavia until January 1944 when it was sent to Holland. It was refitted with Tiger II (King Tigers) in September 1944 and redesignated Schwere SS - Panzer Abteilung 503. It was attached to Heeresgruppe Weichsel and sent to the Eastern Front (Army Group Vistula) in January 1945. The unit received 4 King Tigers on 19 October and 35 between 27 December and 25 January 1945. By late March it was in the Danzig/Gotenhafen area and then pushed into Berlin by late April.
Campaign - Berlin 1945 - The 503rd dug in amid Walther Mohnke's SS Leibstandarte infantry. The unit joined in the breakout over the Havel River with the Muncheberg, 18th Panzergrenadier Division. The Havel River bridges became crucial life lines for both any help that could arrive from outside or escape of High Command from the city. Hitler Youth were also heavily involved in the fighting for Pichelsdorf Bridge as defense was largely a motley assortment at this stage. Heavy fighting broke out near the Westkreuz and Halensee train stations and on the Kurfurstendamm. By May 1 the division had been pushed back to the Tiergarten and was fighting to defend the Zoo Flak Tower. The Muncheberg's last operating panzer, a Tiger I, was abandoned on the Unter den Linden Strasse 100 meters from the Brandenburg Gate.
Markings - Tan, dark brown and green (with white) camouflage pattern with No. 100 in black outline on the turret. Many of these final King Tigers were new versions fresh from the factory.
Condition - new
Thank you for your interest.