German Command Vehicle Hanomag 251/6 Ausf.A 1:72 First To Fight PL043

Plastic model kit: German command vehicle Hanomag 251/6 Ausf.A 1:72 First To Fight PL043

We present a plastic model kit of the German command vehicle Hanomag 251/6 Ausf.A in 1:72 scale, produced by First To Fight. This detailed model allows for the recreation of one of the most recognizable military vehicles of World War II, which played a key role in the combat operations of the Wehrmacht.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:72
• Manufacturer: First To Fight
• Catalog number: PL043

History and use of the vehicle:

Sd.Kfz. 251, also known as Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251, was a German half-track armored personnel carrier used during World War II. Designed by the Hanomag company, this vehicle was used to transport German mechanized infantry, known as Panzergrenadiers, to the battlefield. The Sd.Kfz. 251 was based on an earlier, unarmored vehicle, the Sd.Kfz. 11, and became the most produced German half-track military transport, with at least 15,252 units and variants produced by seven different manufacturers.

This vehicle was known for its versatility and was used on all war fronts. Its design allowed for the transport of a squad of 10 soldiers, providing protection against small arms fire and partial protection against artillery. Standard armament included the MG 34 or MG 42 machine gun, allowing for suppressive fire.

Combat service:

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was used from June 1939, with the first units reaching the 1st Panzer Division, participating in the invasion of Poland. These vehicles were also used in the French campaign, in North Africa, in the Balkans, and in Greece. Several thousand of these vehicles participated in Operation Barbarossa. Despite the difficult weather conditions that affected their performance, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was valued for its mobility and versatility. After the war, the vehicle was produced in Czechoslovakia as the OT-810 and remained in service until the 1980s.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, 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.