Dragon Armor 1:72 Tiger I Early Production, 1/sPzAbt 503, Russia 1943, No. 60097

Description

Dragon Armor - Tiger I Early Production - No. 123
Number - 60097, Vintage Year - 2004, Scale - 1:72
Unit - 1/sPzAbt 503 - the 503rd was meant originally for North Africa but went to the Eastern Front (Southern Russia) where it fought in the Don campaign and withdrawal from Stalingrad. It fought at Kursk and was attached to Schwere Panzer Regiment Bake in August 1943. Later it fought near Cherkassy and was ultimately sent west in April 1944 for refitting and re-equipping at Ohrdruf (1st Kompanie) with Tiger IIs and 2 Tiger Is. The 1st Kp. was refitted with 12 Tiger II (together with 2 Tiger Is) in Ohrdruf while 2. and 3. Kp. received Tiger Is. 3. Kp. was re-equipped with Tiger IIs in the Maly le Camp in the end of July 1944. After refitting in Sennelager it was sent to Hungary in October 1944 where it took part in Operation Panzerfaust to arrest the Hungarian government. It was redesignated Schwere Panzer-Abteilung Feldherrnhalle in December 1944.
Campaign - Russia 1943 - In November 1943, Bake was appointed regimental commander. In December 1943, he was ordered to form an ad hoc reinforced tank regiment named Heavy Panzer Regiment Bake. The regiment consisted of 46 Panther and 34 Tiger I tanks, supported by self-propelled artillery and a mechanized engineer battalion. In January 1944, Bake commanded his regiment during the battles for the Balabonovka pocket. The regiment was part of a relief effort in support of Group Stemmermann, encircled in the Cherkassy Pocket. III Panzer Corps played a large role in the break-out but the Germans were unable to provide Bake's regiment with adequate fuel supplies making Bake stop his advance on the critical Hill 239 as a group of tanks had run out of fuel. The Soviet possession of this hill compounded damages to the retreating German forces. In March, the regiment was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket along with the entire 1st Panzer Army, where Bake's regiment linked up with II SS Panzer Corps.
Color and Markings - authentic camouflage and markings - #123 on Turret sides and rear - wheels/track links treated for weathering effectRotating turret with gunThe Tiger I was first introduced in Aug. 1942 and approximately 1,350 were built between Aug. 1942 and August 1944. The model was also known as Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf E (Mar. 1943) or Sd.Kfz 181.
Condition - New with minor wear on box
Thank you for your interest.