VEH011/012 PZ IV Ausf F1/F2 and TC006-008 German Tank Crews! (1 Viewer)

[FirstLegion]

Now that we have our vehicle production back up and running and better than ever, we're pleased to present the latest releases for our WWII: The Battle of Stalingrad range, a couple of Panzer IV's, the Ausf F1 Short Barrel 75mm and Ausf F2 Long Barrel 75mm. We decided to do these two different variants of the Panzer IV for Stalingrad because of the number of requests that we received for long sold out VEH003 Panzer III to be produced in different turret numbers. Rather than just make that simple change, we thought we felt it was better to actually produce two different models to allow for more variety in larger displays. Both models are from the 16th Panzer Division and will go very nicely in displays with our various 16th Panzer Division Reconnaissance Vehicles. My own collecting dream of a long gray column of German armor is growing ever closer to completion, just need the 251's now!

VEH011 PzKpw IV Ausf F1 with Short Barrel 75mm - 16th Panzer Division $299.95
VEH012 PzKpw IV Ausf F2 with Long Barrel 75mm - 16th Panzer Division $299.95
TC006 German Tank Crew with Headset $59.95
TC007 German Tank Crew with Cigarette $59.95
TC008 Seated German Tank Crew $54.95
Shipping Early May

These are truly spectacular models and have a wide variety of features:

- Opening & Closing Commander's Turret
- Opening & Closing Left Side Turret Hatches (Though not shown in any images, the left turret hatch opens and closes - dark fiber for a future figure!)
- Opening Closing Rear Turret Storage Hatch
- Fully Rotating Turret
- Gun Raises/Lowers
- Antenna Raises/Lowers
- Non-Attached Stowage Accessories Included (VEH011 Only)
- Extremely realistic weathering and superb sculpting and painting
- Perfectly Fits Tank Crew TC006/TC007/TC008 (any of these with either vehicle)

VEH011

VEH011

VEH011

VEH011

VEH011

VEH012

VEH012

VEH012

VEH012

VEH012


Continued...

 

[FirstLegion]

VEH012

TC006

TC007

TC008

These vehicles are a very much needed and long awaited addition to our Battle of Stalingrad figure range. We sincerely hope you enjoy them!

Best,

Matt
First Legion

 

[Gebhard]

These look nice, I think I will have to add that short barrel and crew figures down the road :salute:::salute::

 

[graycap]

Definatley worth starting to save up for! But which version to go for - long or short barrel? I must admit I wish FL had chosen the 24 Pz Division markings but it looks a great model and provides a good basis for models of other versions of the PZ IV - say for Normandy. Perhaps versions of the F1/F2 might also appear in due course for the Afrika Korps?

 

[bradleyl30]

"My own collecting dream of a long gray column of German armor is growing ever closer to completion, just need the 251's now! "

Be still my beating heart!

 

[bradleyl30]

Definatley worth starting to save up for! But which version to go for - long or short barrel? I must admit I wish FL had chosen the 24 Pz Division markings but it looks a great model and provides a good basis for models of other versions of the PZ IV - say for Normandy. Perhaps versions of the F1/F2 might also appear in due course for the Afrika Korps?

Yeah, I am not sure why they did not keep them as 24th, either. Still look great, though.

 

[FirstLegion]

Yeah, I am not sure why they did not keep them as 24th, either. Still look great, though.

You know, we talked back and forth about having them be the 24th Pz Division with me favoring the 24th (poke poke Constantine when you read this!). But the issue was that the 24th had very few Pz IV's so he felt it was more appropriate to have them be the 16th and I caved in because neither of us wanted to go on the forums and have it pointed out to us as a mistake!!! So really it's the forum's diligence in fact checking us that presents you with the much safer "Panzer IV"s of the 16th Panzer Division." :smile2:

All in good fun! (though these conversations really did happen so it's amusing to me that instead it's going the other way!)

 

[sammy719]

Both tanks look beautifully done!!!!!! and congrats to First Legion for bringing in more vehicles for Stalingrad, not sure if I will be getting both but the long barrel for me is a good bet for sure, now let's see those half tracks!!...Sammy

 

[spartan71]

Wow!!, this tank looks great!!, I do not collect the Stalingrad range. But, this tank changes everything. The detail with the side turret opening, sold me. Sign me up for the long barrel, I just wish it had the rear storage too. And as everyone, I wish for the Halftrack too.

 

[fmethorst]

I'm really excited by these fantastic looking releases and I'll have more to say this evening.

Frank

 

[daruss]

Good, more tankers! Finally got something I wanted!!! Hopefully these will be ready for the Vally Forge show next month..now we need some warren SS tankers and some different facial sculpts!!

 

[braddinpa]

Really like the sitting tank commander.

 

[braddinpa]

Will the Tank Crew fit the PZ 3?

 

[FirstLegion]

Will the Tank Crew fit the PZ 3?

It may, but I can't guarantee it.

 

[marco55]

Really nice tanks and figures.
Mark

 

[Bombon]

Now that we have our vehicle production back up and running and better than ever, we're pleased to present the latest releases for our WWII: The Battle of Stalingrad range, a couple of Panzer IV's, the Ausf F1 Short Barrel 75mm and Ausf F2 Long Barrel 75mm. We decided to do these two different variants of the Panzer IV for Stalingrad because of the number of requests that we received for long sold out VEH003 Panzer III to be produced in different turret numbers. Rather than just make that simple change, we thought we felt it was better to actually produce two different models to allow for more variety in larger displays. Both models are from the 16th Panzer Division and will go very nicely in displays with our various 16th Panzer Division Reconnaissance Vehicles. My own collecting dream of a long gray column of German armor is growing ever closer to completion, just need the 251's now!

VEH011 PzKpw IV Ausf F1 with Short Barrel 75mm - 16th Panzer Division $299.95
VEH012 PzKpw IV Ausf F2 with Long Barrel 75mm - 16th Panzer Division $299.95
TC006 German Tank Crew with Headset $59.95
TC007 German Tank Crew with Cigarette $59.95
TC008 Seated German Tank Crew $54.95
Shipping Early May

These are truly spectacular models and have a wide variety of features:

- Opening & Closing Commander's Turret
- Opening & Closing Left Side Turret Hatches (Though not shown in any images, the left turret hatch opens and closes - dark fiber for a future figure!)
- Opening Closing Rear Turret Storage Hatch
- Fully Rotating Turret
- Gun Raises/Lowers
- Antenna Raises/Lowers
- Non-Attached Stowage Accessories Included (VEH011 Only)
- Extremely realistic weathering and superb sculpting and painting
- Perfectly Fits Tank Crew TC006/TC007/TC008 (any of these with either vehicle)

VEH011

VEH011

VEH011

VEH011

VEH011

VEH012

VEH012

VEH012

VEH012

VEH012


Continued...

Really nice tanks!

 

[fmethorst]

At the beginning of Fall Blau (June 28, 1942) the Panzer Regiment of both 16.Panzer-Division and 24.Panzer-Division were organized into the older 3 Abteilung of 3 Companies (9 Companies total) format. One company in each Abteilung was designated as medium and was comprised of Pz.IV. Due to a scarcity of Pz.IVs the medium companies were only authorized 2 platoons of 5 Pz.IVs each. None of the panzer regiments had their full allotment of tanks.

This meant the Panzer Regiment of the 16.Panzer-Division and 24.Panzer-Division were authorized for a total of 30 Panzer IVs each. Comparatively the light companies were authorized for 74 Pz.II and 106 Pz.III. In addition 11 command tanks were authorized.

Technically only the 4th, 8th and 11th companies were designated medium so the turret numbers should reflect this. Personally this is a minor quibble for me but it is a relevant detail.



The 16.Panzer-Division attacked Stalingrad from the north while the 24 Panzer-Division attacked from the south. 16.Panzer-Division was the first German unit to reach the Volga.

August 24 1942



I like that FL mixes up the units. If I really want to use vehicles from different units together I'll position one so the unit marking isn't visible.

I think both of these Pz.IVs look fantastic and I'm likely going to end up with both. I'll start with the short barrelled variant.

 

[Andanna]

Thank you, Frank, for all the research. Can you also enlighten us as to Matt's statement that the 24th had very few Panzer IVs? From the above, it sounds that at least initially both divisions started out with the same number of Panzer IV. What is the background for the reduced number in the 24th?

 

[FirstLegion]

There are a few sources for this:

According to Jorge Rosado & Chris Bishop in The Essential Tank Identification Guide: WEHRMACHT PANZER DIVISIONS 1939-1945

16th Panzer Div. during June 42 to February 43 had in the 2nd and 35th Pz. Rgt.
Pz II - 13
Pz III - 57
Pz IV - 125
StuG - 42

24th Panzer Division during June 42 to February 43 had in 24th Pz. Rgt.
Pz II - 32
Pz III - 90
Pz IV - 32 (20 F1 and 12 F2)

According to Jason Mark, Death of the Leaping Horseman, as of September 12th, 24th Panzer Division had:

7 x Pz II
5 x Pz III Short
6 x Pz III Long
1 x Pz IV Short
3 x Pz IV Long

A few days later, these numbers go up a little bit including 1 additional PZ IV Long as a vehicle must have been returned to service. Around the same time, the 16th Panzer Division fielded 72 tanks, far more than the 24th had. Further, the entire German 6th Army only had about 180 Tanks in service by mid-September plus another 30 assault guns. So we aren't talking massive numbers here and clearly the drive to reach Stalingrad caused serious losses to German Panzer strength. I could provide more definitive numbers if I could only find my copy of Book 1 of David Glantz's Stalingrad Trilogy which covers the summer months, but I seem to have lost it in a move.

Finally, and of more direct relevance, the 16th and 24th Pz Divisions were combined in November to form a Kampfgruppe, so tanks with both markings can certainly be used together in dioramas.

Matt

 

[Phantom Warrior]

There are a few sources for this:

According to Jorge Rosado & Chris Bishop in The Essential Tank Identification Guide: WEHRMACHT PANZER DIVISIONS 1939-1945

16th Panzer Div. during June 42 to February 43 had in the 2nd and 35th Pz. Rgt.
Pz II - 13
Pz III - 57
Pz IV - 125
StuG - 42

24th Panzer Division during June 42 to February 43 had in 24th Pz. Rgt.
Pz II - 32
Pz III - 90
Pz IV - 32 (20 F1 and 12 F2)

According to Jason Mark, Death of the Leaping Horseman, as of September 12th, 24th Panzer Division had:

7 x Pz II
5 x Pz III Short
6 x Pz III Long
1 x Pz IV Short
3 x Pz IV Long

A few days later, these numbers go up a little bit including 1 additional PZ IV Long as a vehicle must have been returned to service. Around the same time, the 16th Panzer Division fielded 72 tanks, far more than the 24th had. Further, the entire German 6th Army only had about 180 Tanks in service by mid-September plus another 30 assault guns. So we aren't talking massive numbers here and clearly the drive to reach Stalingrad caused serious losses to German Panzer strength. I could provide more definitive numbers if I could only find my copy of Book 1 of David Glantz's Stalingrad Trilogy which covers the summer months, but I seem to have lost it in a move.

Finally, and of more direct relevance, the 16th and 24th Pz Divisions were combined in November to form a Kampfgruppe, so tanks with both markings can certainly be used together in dioramas.

Matt

The Essential Tank Identification Guide: WEHRMACHT PANZER DIVISIONS 1939-1945 is what I use for Panzer Divisions. I think it is a good general guide and sufficient for most purposes, but it does contain errors and does not claim to have complete and detailed info. It's a bit weak on listing tank inventories. No doubt Frank will post some specific, detailed info from an original source as supporting info.

Terry