Pz.bef.wg 35 (t) German command tank 1:35 academy 13313

Plastic model kit: Pz.bef.wg 35(t) German Command Tank 1:35 Academy 13313

The Pz.bef.wg 35(t) German Command Tank model kit in 1:35 scale from the renowned company Academy is an excellent proposition for model enthusiasts and World War II history buffs. This detailed set allows you to recreate one of the most famous light tanks used by Germany during this conflict.

Model characteristics:

• Scale: 1:35
• Manufacturer: Academy
• Catalog number: 13313
• Material: Plastic
• Purpose: Model kit

History and significance of Pz.Kpfw. 35(t):

The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), also known as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), is a Czechoslovak light tank that was adapted by Germany after the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939. The letter "(t)" in the name stands for "tschechisch," which means "Czech" in German. In Czechoslovak service, this tank was called Lehky tank vzor 35, but it was often referred to as LT vz. 35 or LT-35.

A total of 434 units of this tank were produced. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Germany, 244 of them were taken over by the Wehrmacht, and 52 went to the newly formed Slovak army. The remaining units were exported to Bulgaria and Romania. In German service, the Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) participated in the early years of World War II, including the invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, and the invasion of the Soviet Union, before being withdrawn from the front or sold in 1942. This tank was used by other countries until the end of the war, and in Bulgaria, it served as a training tank until the 1950s.

Participation in military campaigns:

• Invasion of Poland (1939): The Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) was used as a substitute for the German medium tank Panzerkampfwagen III. In the Polish campaign, 77 of these tanks were lost, mainly due to mechanical failures, of which only 7 were irreparable.

• Battle of France (1940): In the Battle of France, the 6th Panzer Division, equipped with 132 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), participated in the attack through the Ardennes. During this campaign, 62 tanks were destroyed or damaged beyond repair in field workshops.

• Invasion of the USSR (1941): During the invasion of the Soviet Union, the 6th Panzer Division had 160 Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) in its inventory. However, by the end of November 1941, all of these tanks were deemed inoperable due to a lack of spare parts and harsh winter conditions.

End of service:

Due to the cessation of production and lack of spare parts, it was decided that the summer campaign of 1941 would be the last in which the Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) would participate. These weaknesses, combined with thin armor and insufficient firepower, led to the replacement of these tanks with German models after their withdrawal from the USSR in April 1942. The remaining 26 tanks that were still operational in 1942 were sold to Romania. Some of them were converted into ammunition carriers or artillery tractors.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. To assemble, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g., Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.