Meng German Tank Destroyer Sd.Kfz.173 Jagdpanther 1/35 Scale TS-047

Description

The Sd.Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther was a highly-successful tank destroyer built by Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank.

It entered service in 1944 during the later stages of the war on the Eastern and Western Fronts.

The Jagdpanther combined the 8.8 cm Pak 43 cannon, similar to the main gun of the Tiger II, and the armour and suspension of the Panther chassis.

A total of 415 Jagdpanthers were produced from January 1944 by three manufacturers: MIAG in Braunschweig produced two-hundred seventy from January 1944 until the end of the war, Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover (MNH) produced one-hundred twelve from November 1944, Maschinenbau und Bahnbedarf (MBA) in Potsdam produced thirty-seven vehicles from December 1944. Planned production was between a hundred and two-hundred a month, but the disruption to German manufacturing made this goal unachievable.

Jagdpanther equipped heavy antitank battalions and served mainly on the Eastern Front. In the West, they were encountered in very small numbers late in the Battle of Normandy; the German 654 schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung deployed about twelve Jagdpanthers against the British armed forces. Later, significant numbers were concentrated in the West for the Ardennes Offensive.

During the last stages of the war, limited German production resulted in small production numbers, shortage of spare parts, and shortened crew training periods of younger operators.

The last ‘production’ Jagdpanthers were produced at the factory by German staff just after the end of World War II under the supervision of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Nine Panthers and a dozen Jagdpanthers were produced then shipped to England for evaluation. A complete Panther and a complete Jagdpanther produced this way are displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset, with brass plates on them explaining their history.

Meng has really been very active of late, and here we have another new kit to have a look at, being the G2 Jagdpanther.

Assembly and painting required. Kit does not include model cement glue, paint, and tools. Adult supervision where required.

Contents subject to change.