Preview: An all-new PaK - MiniArt's 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun on the way next month...
German 7.5cm Anti-tank Gun PaK 40. Early Prod.
From MiniArt
Kit No #35394
1/35th scale
In 1939 the German army issued a specification for a 75mm Anti-tank gun (Panzerabwehrkanone) to Krupp and Rheinmetal, but development was given a low priority until after the invasion of the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941 when the German Panzers began to encounter the superior T.34 and KV.1 tanks of the Red Army.
German Panzerjäger use a Pak 40 against Yugoslav partisans in Bosnia on 12 January 1944.
Hurriedly raced into production the first PaK-40s began to reach the front in November 1941 and soon proved to be an accurate and efficient tank killer. By 1943 it had become the principle antitank gun in service with the German army and most of its allies.
Camouflaged German 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun position, North Africa, 1941
With an effective range of 1,000-1,500 yards, the PaK-40 could fire a 15-lb armour-piercing round at 2,598 feet per second, enabling it to penetrate up to 106 mm of steel at 500 yards. Later a 7-lb tungsten-cored round (AP40) was developed with a muzzle velocity of 3,060 feet metres which could punch through 115 mm of steel at 500 yards allowing it to take on virtually every Allied tank in production, with the exception of the Soviet IS-2 and American M.26 Pershing. With an experienced crew of eight, the gun could fire up to 10 rounds per minute. In addition, High Explosive and Hollow Charge (in small quantities) rounds were also available for the PaK-40.
German crew of a 7.5 cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun resting in front of the Italian State Radio at the corner of Via Asiago and Via Montello, Rome, Italy, 11 Sep 1943.
If the PaK-40 did have one drawback was that of the gun's weight. At 3,350-lbs, it was too heavy to be moved easily through mud, snow or rough terrain without the aid of an artillery tractor. Nevertheless, at the inspiration of Heinz Guderian, the gun (designated KwK-40) was successfully mounted on a number of Self-Propelled chassis such as the Panzerjager Marder III Tank Destroyer, SdKfz 234/4 Armoured Car and SdKfz 251 Halftrack, thus permitting more Anti-Tank guns to be made available counter the overwhelming numbers of Allied tanks making their appearance in the latter stages of the war.
German 7.5 cm PaK 40 gun and crew in Northern France, Oct 1943
After the war a number of other countries (including Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania) continued to utilise war surplus PaK-40s within their armed forces for some years, until the advent of the modern antitank missile made such weapons virtually obsolete.
A restored version of the PaK 40 in the present day. Many of these guns survived due to the mount made and the many theatres of war they served in.
This gun must have been in MiniArt's plans for a while now. They already have all the ammunition for the kit in 35th scale already. A simple choice really, a popular choice with modellers of a much-used gun throughout the Second world War. It is a good choice.
The new kit has only been seen in CAD form so far, and we have plenty of views of the kit in digital form. We know the features of the kit include:
- Photo-etched Parts Included
- Two Ammo-boxes with ammunition to suit
- Photo-etched Parts Included
- Two Ammo-boxes with ammunition to suit
- Decal Sheet For six options included
- Combat & two transport positions can be depicted in this kit.
- Combat & two transport positions can be depicted in this kit.
- The transport wheel is included in the kit.
- A mantlet cover is included, along with barrel cleaning tools.
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The decal sheet and Photo-etch in the box.
There are six colour choices included in this first boxing edition of the kit. Lots of choices from many areas of battle and times of the year.
This kit will most probably be released in March. We hope to get one to put together for you.
You can see more about this kit on the MiniArt Website...