Dragon Armor Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F1 (F) - Rare
No. 60084, Vintage year - 2009, Scale - 1:72
Unit - Pz.Rgt. 31, 5.Pz.Div. ("Devil's Head") - The 5th Panzer was formed in November 1938 at Oppeln. It
fought in Poland and France before supplying Pz.Rgt. 15 to the newly-created
11th Panzer Division. It took part in the Balkans campaign before transferring
to the Eastern Front where if fought in the central sector. It participated in
the drive against Moscow and later fought at Kursk before getting pushed back
into Latvia, Kurland and finally East Prussia (where it surrendered to the
Soviet Army in April 1945 near Danzig). Throughout the fighting on the Eastern
Front, the 5th Division was seen as one of the best German units by their
Soviet counterparts. Up until July 1944 when Operation Bagration destroyed
Germany Army Group Center, the Soviet High Command advised against directly
engaging the division if possible.
Campaign - Russia 1942- Panzer IVs were used in Operation Barbarossa in
June 1941. They were all of the "short" type. Throughout 1942, the
production of the F and G versions increased as the Germans needed a tank to
pit against the T-34s and KV-1s after the Battle of Moscow. Until May 1943 when
the first Panthers and Tigers were introduced, the Panzer IV constituted the
backbone of the German Panzer Divisions.
Markings - Tan and dark green stripe camouflage with brown
spots with No. 424 on turret in red and the Demon's Head insignia on turret and
front of the 31st Regiment. Also has German cross on front hull and insignia
(yellow X) of the 5th Panzer Division as well as the number "82235"
on the side.
Model - The Krupp-designed Ausf. F began in April 1941 and
was the third production variant to the Panzer IV. The first production unit
was an Ausf. D as the A, B and C versions were used for development and
training only. The early Ausf. F featured 50 mm single-plate armor (vs. the
applique armor added to the Ausf. E) and further increase in side armor to 30
mm. The Ausf. F featured armor additions, a new turret, a new drive sprocket
(front) and was the last variant with the short-barreled 75 mm gun. Wider
tracks also facilitated the fitting of track shoe "ice sprags" (mittelestollen).
The designation Ausf. F changed to Ausf. F1 after the distinct new model, the
Ausf. F2, appeared. Almost 500 Ausf. F tanks were produced from April F2 to
March 1942. The early Panzer IVs used the short 75 mm gun but later
versions used the 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 and then the Kwk 40 L/48 in early
1943. After dealing with the Soviet T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy tanks
during Barbarossa, the designers realized the need to up-gun the Panzer IV in
successive upgrades.
Condition - New with minor wear on box.
Thank you for your interest.