10.5cm K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IVa


Model by Ontrack Models, Hong Kong.


The 10.5cm K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette Iva was another weapon designed to assault fixed fortifications. The large caliber gun was designed to assault fortified bunkers. Two prototypes were built by Krupp in March of 1941. Discussions with Hitler that May led to the suggestion that the vehicle should be developed as a heavy Panzerjäger alongside a proposed 12.8cm armed vehicle. Production of the vehicle was to begin in spring of 1942, but changing requirements ended the program.

The two prototypes were assigned to the 521st Panzerjäger Detachment for a planned assault on Gibraltar. As this attack never materialized, the vehicles were instead farmed out to the 3rd Panzer Division for operations in Russia. As the 10.5cm K18 gun was capable of penetrating 111mm of 30o armor or 132mm of vertical armor at a range of 2km, the vehicle met with considerable success against Soviet armor. The shape definitely foreshadows later self-propelled anti-tank vehicles. Clearly given the superior firepower of the 10.5cm gun, these vehicles in quantity would have certainly been a welcome addition to the Wehrmacht's arsenal during the pivotal battles of late 1941 and early 1942.

10.5cm K18 auf Panzer Selbstfahrlafette IVa
Crew: 5 Armament: One 10.5cm K18 L/52 + one 7.92mm MG34
Weight: 25 tons Traverse: 8o left and 8o right
Length: 7.52 meters Elevation: -15o to +10o
Width: 2.84 meters Engine: Maybach HL 120TRM
Height: 3.25 meters Gearbox: 6 forward, 1 reverse
Radio: FuG5 Speed: 40 km/hr


Model by Ontrack Models, Hong Kong.


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