'39-'45 Serie
The German victory over France in 1940 using armored divisions profoundly impressed the United States Army. Realizing that defense against tanks was essential, an urgent requirement was issued for the development of tank destroyers for the U.S. Army. In June 1941, an M3 Halftrack was mated with an 75 mm gun M1897A4 , which was an American version of the famous "French 75" of World War I fame. This experimental vehicle was known as the T12, and proved to work remarkably well given the speed with which it was developed. Standardized in October 1941 as the 75 mm GMC M3, over 2,200 75 mm GMC M3's were produced until April 1943. However, a large number of them were converted back to standard halftracks before issue to troop units, resulting in only 842 seeing field service. The GMC M3A1 was a variant that used a different gun mount. The 75 mm GMC M3 was reclassified first as limited standard and then as obsolete in 1944.
The gun had an indirect fire range of 9,200 yards (8,400 meters), and fired the AP M72 (Armor Piercing) shell that could penetrate 3.2 inches of armour at 500 yards, the APC M61 (Armor Piercing Capped) shell that could penetrate 2.8 inches of armour at 500 yards, and the HE M48 (High Explosive) shell for use against infantry and other non-armored targets. 59 rounds of 75-mm ammunition were carried aboard. The crew were equipped with a rifle and four carbines for self defense.
Zeven uitvoeringen mogelijk;
- 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, U.S.Army, Tunisia 1943.
- U.S.Army, Sicily 1943.
- U.S.Army, Stateside 1943.
- 'L'Co., 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, USMC, Saipan 1944.
- 1st King's Dragoon Guards, British Army, Italy 1944.
- 1st King's Dragoon Guard, British Army, Germany 1945.
- 'A' Squadron, 27th Lancers, British Army, Italy 1945.
Aantal onderdelen; 250.
Features:
- Brand new M1897A4 75mm gun with complete breech
- Gun traverse system authentically reproduced
- Shield support connecting gun is also included
- Gun shield for M3 75mm GMC is slide-molded
- Gun trails with hand wheels finely reproduced
- Rear plate specifically designed for M3
- Rear cab door is newly tooled
- Ammunition rack with ammo installed under main gun
- Fighting compartment arrangement specific to M3
- Two types of rear storage bins for M3 GMC
- Newly tooled fighting compartment side armor with detail
- Fine screw-head and rivet detail present
- Top half of cab doors can be assembled in swung-down position
- Delicate steering wheel and controls
- Detailed dashboard instrument panel
- Interior fuel tank with cap
- Photo-etched visors for armored window covers
- Armored front grill with bolt detail can be modeled in two modes;
bonus individual photo-etched slats available for open mode - Front hood mounts reproduced by photo-etched parts
- Detailed rear bucket for GMC M3
- Sharply molded OVM
- Full drive train assembly with engine transmission,
differential housing and suspension units - Rubber track modeled with center guide band
- Finely detailed one-piece chassis
- Dual drive train with disc-brake assembly
- Fully detailed steering mechanism
- Suspension springs finely rendered
- Sprockets and idler wheels are multi-directional slide-molded
- One piece exhaust and muffler
- Bogie assembly with internal spring detail
- Complete engine with radiator and oil sump
- Differential housing has bolt and rib detail
- Tires intentionally shaped to mimic bulging caused by heavy load
- Bonus driver
- Cartograf decal
