FORCES OF VALOR 1:32 SD.KFZ.181 STURMMORSERWAGEN STURMTIGER GERMAN ARMY 802001A

Description

Brand New in Box
1:32 Scale
German Sturmmorserwagen 606/4 Mit 38cm RW 61 L/3.5 "Sturmtiger" -
Prototype presentation to Führer, Arys proving ground, East Prussia, Oct 20th, 1943
Inside Out series
Preassembled Diecast Metal Model By Forces of Valor
Forces of Valor Item # 802001A
Forces of Valor Inside Out Series
The Forces of Valor "Inside Out Series" range presents highly detailed, preassembled diecast models of military vehicles in 1:32 scale featuring rich interior detail. This series is unique as it has been developed to showcase both the exterior as well as the interior detail of an armored fighting vehicle, allowing collectors to view inside of the vehicle to see and appreciate all of its working parts.
History of the real machine
Sturmtiger (Assault Tiger) was a World War II German assault gun built on the Tiger I chassis and armed with a 380mm rocket-propelled mortar. The official German designation was Sturmmorserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61. Its primary task was to provide heavy fire support for infantry units fighting in urban areas. The few vehicles produced fought in the Warsaw Uprising, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of the Reichswald. The fighting vehicle is also known by various informal names, among which the Sturmtiger became the most popular.
The idea for a heavy infantry support vehicle capable of demolishing heavily defended buildings or fortified areas with a single shot came out of the experiences of the heavy urban fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. At the time, the Wehrmacht had only the Sturm-Infanteriegeschutz 33B available for destroying buildings, a Sturmgeschutz III variant armed with a 15 cm sIG 33 heavy infantry gun. Twelve of them were lost in the fighting at Stalingrad. Its successor, the Sturmpanzer IV, also known by Allies as Brummbar, was in production from early 1943. This was essentially an improved version of the earlier design, mounting the same gun on the Panzer IV chassis with greatly improved armor protection.
While greatly improved compared to the earlier models, by this time infantry anti-tank weapons were improving dramatically, and the Wehrmacht still saw a need for a similar, but more heavily armored and armed vehicle. Therefore, a decision was made to create a new vehicle based on the Tiger tank and arm it with a 210 mm howitzer. However, this weapon turned out not to be available at the time and was therefore replaced by a 380 mm rocket launcher, which was adapted from a Kriegsmarine depth charge launcher.
In September 1943 plans were made for Krupp to fabricate new Tiger I armored hulls for the Sturmtiger. The Tiger I hulls were to be sent to Henschel for chassis assembly and then to Alkett where the superstructures would be mounted. The first prototype was ready and presented to Adolf Hitler in October 1943. Delivery of the first hulls would occur in December 1943, with the first three Sturmtiger completed by Alkett by 20 February 1944.
Due to delays, Hitler did not request production of the weapon until 19 April 1944; twelve superstructures and weapons would be prepared and mounted on rebuilt Tiger I chassis. The first three production series Sturmtiger were completed by Alkett in August 1944. Plans to complete an additional seven from 15 to 21 September 1944 were presented to Hitler in a conference on 18-20 August 1944. Ten Sturmtiger were produced in September, along with an additional five in December 1944.
The German word "Blitzkreig" means lightning war, it was the core tactic Nazi Germany relied on during the early days of World War II and the result was astonishing; much of Europe was overrun within two years. It wasn't till the Battle of Kursk that the Germans confronted their first defeat against the Soviet Union. The heavy fortification developed by the Russians changed the course of their tactical direction. In a briefing by Albert Speer to the Fuhrer, he considered producing a howitzer using the Panzerkempwagen VI Tiger Chassis that used a 38-centimeter rocket for the Navy. The original intent for this weapon was to engage off-the-coast enemy submarines. It was capable to fire at a range of 3,000 meters until the army showed interest and made further modification on their own. This mighty 38-centimeter rocket improved its shooting range to a maximum of 5,000 meters.
On August 5, 1943, the Fuhrer ordered construction of this experimental assault howitzer, in less than 4 months Speers armament team finished constructing the prototype and presented it to the Fuhrer on October 20, 19743. Its army designation was Panermorse 38 auf Tiger, also known as the Sturmmorser. The first prototype visit was took place at the Arys Training Area in East Prussia. The prototype of the Sturmmoser was constructed based on the Tiger Chassis produced prior to August 1943, therefore its chassis was still equipped with road wheels & rubber rims and additional armor was bolted to the front hull armor. A noticeable difference of the prototype was the 20 gas openings in the edge of the early gun barrel sheath. A few letter stencils were pained at the front of the sloped fighting compartment to indicate some of the key specifications, 150m/4. The full stencils, however, in much historical footage was blocked by the headlight. That said, the Forces of Valor research team took an educated guess responding to this mystery; after studying numerous footages and literature we believe that 150m refers to the thickness of the frontal armor and 43 degrees indicates the front armor angle from vertical.
Features
• Diecast metal
construction with some plastic components
• Highly detailed exterior and interior
• Rotating turret, elevating cannon and accurately detailed hull
• Moving tracks on detailed rotating wheels
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details
• Pad printed markings and placards that are durable so they will not fade or peel like decals
• Removable body reveals the highly detailed interior
• Constructed from over 180 parts
•
Detachable road wheel fenders
• Detachable and moveable ammunition hatches
• Maybach HL210 engine
• Includes highly detailed 1:32 scale Fuhrer and Albert Speer figures
• Realistic torsion bar suspension system
• Includes realistic dirt and gravel display platform
Dimensions (Inches)
Length: 7.5" x Width: 4.5"
Inside Out Packaging
This item is packed in the Forces of Valor Inside Out Series packaging which is a presentation window box, that uses a sliding sleeve to protect the window during transit and doubles as an informational placard about the Sturmtiger which slides into the top of the box for display. The box displays information about the many features of the model in regards to which parts can be removed and which parts can be adjusted to preference.
Please note
This item is a diecast scale model suitable for 14+ years. This item is not a toy that is suitable for children.
Payment
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Returns
Returns are accepted for new items returned in original packaging within 30 days of receipt.
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