Panzer Aces GB January 2007 to May 31, 2008

Hermesminiatures wrote:

Bobaily- I think someone was already doing  Werner Wolff's  251/10, but I suppose it would be fine for both of you to do it, unless you'd rather build a vehicle no one else is building, you could do Gerd Bremer's 251/9 Stummel with 75mm L/24. But the 251/10 is fine also. As far as decals. most of the Dragon halftracks come with generic license plate and iron cross markings, and some of the kits have sheets of hull numbers. However Wolff's 251/10, and the rest of blowtorch battalion's halftracks, didn't seem to have any markings other than the iron cross and battalion emblem. If you choose to build Bremer's 251/9 I'll give you some info on his vehicle.

Hermesminiatures-I've been pondering my build and I am considering to switching to doing Bremer's 251/9, since my LHS has the Dragon kit (although the Tamiya kit may be an easier build) and my wife will need to get me something for my pending birthday (a month away, but I like to plan ahead   Can you please give me some information on his specific 251/9?

Thanks

Bremer commanded the 1st company of SS Aufklärungsabteillung 1, a reconnaissance unit of Leibstandarte. He was originally part of the motorcycle company during the early actions (Poland, France) and was then promoted 1 September 1940 to command of I Company of LAH's recon unit. He was awarded the Knight's cross on 30 October 1941, although I don't know what for. He first used the 251/9 during the 3rd Battle of Kharkov where SS Aufklärungsabteilung 1 saw its heaviest fighting ever, and continued in this vehicle during the Kursk offensive (crossing GB's anyone?)

Bremer's vehicle specific markings are undocumented, so his Kursk halftrack is probably the easiest to model. All vehicles, especially recon vehicles, were camouflaged in green over dark yellow, where available, with brown and gray being acceptable substitutes in the abscence of green. We know most of LAH's vehicles were camouflaged in green, so I'd go for that pattern for his 251. The number should have been 105 due to his position as commander of I/1 SS Recon Reg., and of course there would have been an iron cross. I don't know whether the key or inverted T is the correct LAH insignia for a Kursk vehicle - I know the Tigers wore the inverted T but some lighter vehicles retained the key - so I guess it's your choice.

Thanks Hermesminiatures-big help.  However, the Dragon kit I am looking at is a Ausf. D.  Not sure if there is a timing conflict-should/would Bremer's 251/9 been an Ausf. C?  However, I'm going to check out the AFV kit review for decal options & possibly the Tamiya kit.  And go thru ALL of the Dragon 251's to see if there are any 'C's that can be build as a 251/9.  Unless you or someone else already knows...

[edit]-after a quick search, all of the available 251/9's are the Ausf. D so that makes my decision a bit easier.  Unless I can determine that the Tamiya kit has the correct decals, I'll be going with the Dragon kit.  Thanks again Hermesminiatures.

No worries Mike.  This GB goes until Spring of next year so if you decide to hop back on board later we'll be more than happy to have you back.

I myself am a bit bogged down with other GBs at the moment.  I know a lot of us in this GB are also participating in the Kursk GB, great GB by the way so come join us over there, there is a lot of participation and it's been a lot of fun... and it hasn't even started yet!    Tigerman is hosting it.  I won't be working on this GB until after the Kursk GB, so no worries for any of you that won't get around to this one for a while. 

  I've managed to over committ so I probably won't get started here until late fall/early winter, at best.  And I'm still researching build options.  I've read a couple of posts regarding the Dragon StuG III G 'smart kit' and they were none too flattering.  Read thru the instructions on the Dragon 251/9 and I'm not sure that I'm 'man enough' to tackle it, especially knowing that I'll probably committ to more GB's by then.  Currently researching options for the Tamiya Tiger (early), King Tiger (late, used in the defense of Berlin-trying to stay away from zimmert, if at all possible) and the StuG B.  Having trouble matching kit decal options with specific commanders (other than the Tiger Early, which shows Wittman's S04, accurate or not).

btw-the research/reference links/info that you (Scott) and Hermesminiatures setup on the first page are great-thanks again. 

SS Hauptscharfuehrer Emil Seibold, 3rd SS Panzer Battalion-does anyone have info on his turret number and/or any pics of his tank at Kursk?  He was in a captured T-34 at the time...

Thanks

Whew!  I thought I was the only one who felt bad about my slacking on this GB!  My King Tiger is still sitting on the shelf in the almost same condition as 3 months ago.  The only thing I did was add Fruil tracks.  As soon as my M47 for the Italeri GB is done, I've going to jump full on into the Kursk GB with my Panther D and possibly a Soviet tank as well.

Good thing this one lasts an entire year!  Thanks for the patience Scott!

Hi Scott! Just like to know if I can join this GB with a complete kit? Coz I have done up a Dragon 1/35 King Tiger (My fav tiger!!!!) as I can't recall which turret version, and it was done up some years back as this was my early works.

Thanks in advance! 

katootsv2 wrote:

Hi Scott! Just like to know if I can join this GB with a complete kit? Coz I have done up a Dragon 1/35 King Tiger (My fav tiger!!!!) as I can't recall which turret version, and it was done up some years back as this was my early works. Thanks in advance!

This GB is focusing on specific Panzer Aces, so you would need to build a tank with the markings from a specific Panzer Ace.  And because yours is already built it kinda defeats the purpose of the GB. 

However, we'd be more than happy to add you to the GB if you'd like to build another kit for a specific panzer ace.    Take a look at the first two posts of the GB where Hermisminiatures and I laid out the guildlines for this build.

Thanks for your interest in this GB. 

espins1 wrote:

katootsv2 wrote: Hi Scott! Just like to know if I can join this GB with a complete kit? Coz I have done up a Dragon 1/35 King Tiger (My fav tiger!!!!) as I can't recall which turret version, and it was done up some years back as this was my early works. Thanks in advance!  This GB is focusing on specific Panzer Aces, so you would need to build a tank with the markings from a specific Panzer Ace.  And because yours is already built it kinda defeats the purpose of the GB.  However, we'd be more than happy to add you to the GB if you'd like to build another kit for a specific panzer ace.    Take a look at the first two posts of the GB where Hermisminiatures and I laid out the guildlines for this build. Thanks for your interest in this GB.

Thanks Scott for pointing out! Alway trys to support any GB inany way possible.

Hi any chance of joining in?

I've already selected my ace, Will Fey and his Tiger 1 mount

I'm aiming to build Dragons 1/72 late tiger one as this tank. 

saddler wrote:

Hi any chance of joining in? I've already selected my ace, Will Fey and his Tiger 1 mount     I'm aiming to build Dragons 1/72 late tiger one as this tank.

You bet!  Welcome aboard!  I'll add you to the roster. 

Funny, I just got done reading a chapter about Fey in Tiger 134 in "Armor Battles of the Waffen SS, 1943-45" written by Will Fey just a few minutes ago.  Fey and his crew kicked some serious butt!    They knocked out a lot of allied tanks and vehicles, even after their Tiger was immobilized.  The Tiger had taken many hits but they were able to tow it from the battlefield and get it patched up. 

Wow so I have been absent from here for so loooong! I didnt quit I swear! I have been working 7 days a week since Dec 15 and to date I have had about 4 - 5 days off since then... It really puts a damper on ANYthing thats not work or sleep or Housekeeping...

 Soo anyways, I got a small start with the kit, I got all the wheels cleaned up and am about to spray them, just trying to figure out how to set all the wheels.. like position wise, so looking for soem good pics. I am doing Barkmann's Panther D which I THOUGHT was from Kursk. I popped open the Echelon decals I got (which has some good photos for a camo ref.) and it offers 2 numbers for Barkmann.

1. Barkmann at the crossroads of Lorey, st. Lo' Countances ( Otherwise known as Barkmann's Corner ) Normandy France #424

2. Barkmann's mount at after the battle of Kharkov #401

It also mensions that both tanks were covered in the Zimmerit stuff from the factory... So it looks liek I have my hands full. By any chance does anyone have pics of either of these two tanks? The pics supplied with the decals wasnot as great as expected...

sorry to have been gone for so long guys.. but now I have tues and weds evenings off so I shall be working as much as I can on them.

glad to be back,

James

Glad to see you're back James.  I'll dig through my books and see if I can find any pics for you, although off the top of my head I don't recall having any. 

Looking forward to watching your build.   

espins1 wrote:

Glad to see you're back James.  I'll dig through my books and see if I can find any pics for you, although off the top of my head I don't recall having any.  Looking forward to watching your build.

This is the best I can find..

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/german/pantherdpw_1.html

Only its not the correct # but the same battle? I read on the web that kharkov = KursK?

Is this correct?

psychoblue23 wrote:

Only its not the correct # but the same battle? I read on the web that kharkov = KursK? Is this correct?

Like Hermisminiatures already pointed out, the battles of Kharkov (there were several in all) led to the Kursk bulge, but truly were separate campaigns.  Those battles were huge though, and are a pretty interesting study. 

Although, without the events at Kharkov, Kursk would not have happened, at least how we know it.  Just like the breakout from Normandy couldn't have happened without D-day, if you know what I mean. 

espins1 wrote:

psychoblue23 wrote: Only its not the correct # but the same battle? I read on the web that kharkov = KursK? Is this correct? Like Hermisminiatures already pointed out, the battles of Kharkov (there were several in all) led to the Kursk bulge, but truly were separate campaigns.  Those battles were huge though, and are a pretty interesting study.  Although, without the events at Kharkov, Kursk would not have happened, at least how we know it.  Just like the breakout from Normandy couldn't have happened without D-day, if you know what I mean.

Ya thx guys I am clear on the Kharkov/Kursk issue.. now I jsut need to find out which Tank to build. he Kit I have is a Panther Ausf D, and in the decals from echelon it shows that the two diff number tanks are not identical, looks like some diff in turret design. I would prefer to do the #424 tank, the number looks better than #401 haha. Just need to find out if I have the correct kit to do so...

Hey guys, for those of you interested in the StuGs and StuG Aces here's some info I found at the Achtung Panzer Website.

Sturmgeschütz Aces

Probably the most successful engagement involving Sturmgeschutz III Ausf F took place in Stalingrad in early September of 1942. Stug III Ausf F from Stug.Abt.244, commanded by Oberwachtmeister Kurt Pfreundtner destroyed 9 Soviet tanks in 20 minutes. On September 18th of 1942, Oberwachtmeister Kurt Pfreundtner received the Knights Cross for this achievement.

Another Sturmgeschutz ace was the Knights Cross holder Wachtmeister Kurt Kirchner from Stug.Abt.667, who destroyed 30 Soviet tanks during few days in February of 1942 during fighting in Northern Russia.

Hauptmann Peter Franz also the Knights Cross holder and the commander of Stug.Abt. "Grossdeutschland" destroyed some 43 Soviet T-34/76 tanks during the Battle for Borissovka on March 14th of 1943.

In the middle of July of 1941, Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Jaenicke (Stug number 25), commander of Stug platoon destroyed 12 Soviet BT-2 tanks along with tractors and other equipment loaded on rail platforms.

Between 1st and 4th of January of 1943, Unteroffizier Horst Naumann from Stug.Abt.184 destroyed 12 Soviet tanks during heavy fighting in the Demyansk area. On January 4th, Naumann was awarded with Knight's Cross for destruction of total of 27 enemy tanks.

The most notable of all Stug aces were von Malachowski, Franz and especially Knight's Cross holder Oberwachtmeister Hugo Primozic of Stug.Abt.667.

The most notable Waffen SS Stug ace was SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Walter Kniep, who commanded the 2nd Sturmgeschuetz Abteilung of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich". From July 5th of 1943 to January 17th of 1944, his unit claimed destruction of some 129 Soviet tanks, while losing two Stugs. Kniep was then awarded the Knight's Cross.

Here is some great stuff on the Pz.Kpfw IV in Action!

Panzerkampfwagen IV in Action !

On February 7th of 1944, few remaining Panzer IV tanks from the 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking" spearheaded the attempt to breakout from the Cherkassy Pocket against largely superior Soviet force. During the breakout, SS-Untersturmfuehrer Kurt Schumacher commanded two Panzer IVs, which counterattacked a Soviet tank company destroying in the process some 8 T-34 tanks. On the next day, Schumacher alone engaged another Soviet tank company and during both actions destroyed some 21 Soviet AFVs. For his achievement, he was awarded the Knight's Cross.

On the afternoon of June 11th of 1944, the 8th Company of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment (12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend") counterattacked the attempt by Canadian 6th Armored Regiment (along with support units) to capture the area of Le Mesnil-Patry. The 12th SS Panzer Regiment commanded by SS-Obersturmfuehrer Hans Siegel destroyed some 37 Shermans, while losing 2 Panzer IVs and forcing Canadians to retreat.

SS-Unterscharfuehrer Willy Kretzschmar, who commanded Panzer IV of the 5th Company of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment (12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend") destroyed some 15 Allied tanks during the Normandy battles, including the heavy fighting at Caen area.

And for you JagdPanzer IV fans......

Jagdpanzer IV in Action !

The most notable Jagdpanzer IV ace was Knight's Cross holder SS-Oberscharfuehrer Roy from the 12th SS Panzerjaeger Abteilung of 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". He accounted for 36 tank kills with his Jagdpanzer IV, since the D-Day only to be killed by an American sniper, while looking out the cupola on December 17th of 1944, during the Ardennes Offensive.

And for you Nashorn fans, I think we all know about Albert Ernst now 

Nashorn in Action !

The most notable Nashorn ace was platoon commander of 1st company of sPzJagAbt 519, Junior Lieutenant Albert Ernst. He later commanded the 1st company of sPzJagAbt 512 (equipped with Jagdtigers). On December 23rd of 1943, he destroyed some 14 Soviet tanks in a single day using only 21 round of ammunition. The engagement took place near Vitebsk and Albert Ernst received a nickname "Tiger of Vitebsk". In December of 1943, Ernst destroyed total of 19 enemy tanks and on January 22nd of 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross.

It is reported that in early March of 1945, Lieutenant Beckmann from sPzJagAbt 88 destroyed Soviet IS-2 at the range of 4600 meters near Marzdorf.

Some Nashorn crews reported that they were able to knock out Soviet T-34 tanks at distance as great as 4000 meters. Nashorn crews also reported numerous kills of KV and IS-2 tanks as well as SU-152, ISU-122 and ISU-152 assault guns.

Nashorn from 2nd Company of schwere Heeres Panzer Jaeger Abteilung 93 was also responsible for the destruction of the only M26 Pershing, destroyed in Europe. Pershing from the 3rd Armored Division was knocked out at the distance of 250 meters with a single shot. This engagement took place in the town of Niehl, north of Cologne on March 6th of 1945.

And for you Panther fans 

Panther in Action !

On September 13th of 1943, seven Panthers from 1st Battalion of 2nd SS Panzer Regiment of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich", commanded by SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Holzer (turret number 101) fought with a group of some 70 Soviet T-34 tanks near Kolomak. During the 20 minutes long engagement Panthers destroyed some 28 T-34 tanks without any losses.

During the battle around Siedlce on 28/29th July of 1944, 2nd Battalion of 5th SS Panzer Regiment of 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", destroyed some 107 Soviet tanks (including T-34s, Shermans and Valentines), while losing 6 tanks (one PzKpfw IV and five Panthers).

The most notable Panther ace was SS-Oberscharfuehrer Ernst Barkmann from 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich". His actions in Western Europe, especially in Normandy and Ardennes earned him the Knight's Cross.

 

Tiger in Action !

On July 7th of 1943, single Tiger tank commanded by SS-Oberscharfuehrer Franz Staudegger from 2nd Platoon of 13th Panzer Company of 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division "LSSAH" engaged Soviet group of some 50 T-34 tanks around Psyolknee (southern sector of the Kursk salient). Staudegger used up his entire ammunition after destroying some 22 Soviet tanks, while the rest retreated. For his achievement, Franz Staudegger was awarded the Knight's Cross.

On August 8th of 1944, single Tiger commanded by SS-Unterscharfuehrer Willi Fey from the 1st Company of sSSPzAbt 102, engaged a British tank column destroying some 14 out of 15 Shermans, followed by one more later in the day using his last two rounds of ammunition. sSSPzAbt 102 lost all of its Tigers during fighting in Normandy but reported 227 Allied tanks destroyed during the period of 6 weeks.

And, if anyone is looking for info on captured T-34s used by Panzer Aces 

Waffen-SS units also did not hesitate to use captured T-34/76 tanks and 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" and 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" pressed significant number into service. T-34/76 tanks used by "Das Reich" are of particular interest. When in March of 1943, SS Panzer Corps recaptured Kharkov, some 50 various models of T-34/76 tank were captured. All of those were being repaired in a local tractor (tank) factory that was overrun and designated as SS Panzerwerk (SS Tank Workshop). Shortly after they were repaired along with being modified to German standards, repainted and marked with German markings. Modifications included installation of commander's cupola (from damaged Panzerkampfwagen III and IV tanks), Schuerzen (armor skirts) and other equipment such as Notek light, storage boxes, tools, radio equipment and antenna. 25 of them entered service with newly created 3rd SS Panzer Battalion of 2nd SS Panzer Regiment of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich".

SS Hauptscharfuehrer Emil Seibold from 3rd SS Panzer Battalion scored some 69 kills during his career including those on his Panzerkampfwagen T-34 747(r) in July and August of 1943, during the Battle of Kursk Salient. Seibold received Knights Cross during the last decoration ceremony on May 6th of 1945. On July 4th of 1943, 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" had 18 operational T-34 tanks and 9 in repair. 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" also pressed number into service but had none at Kursk. Overall, there were some 22 T-34/76 tanks in active service with Waffen SS Panzer Divisions during the Battle of Kursk Salient.

Scott-thanks for all the info.  I'm still having trouble deciding on an Ace/build.  Finding info on various Aces but I'm wanting to stay away from zimmerit (for now) and having trouble finding turret numbers, etc for some of the Aces I'm searching.  Also, I'm hesitant to get into a Dragon Premium Panther-too much detail for the moment.  Kinda would like to find someone a subject that used a King Tiger (late-no zimmerit) or a Panther G.  Still looking at the 251/9 & an early Tiger though-those I have info on.   Hopefully I'll have a decision soon, depending on how a couple of items go on eBay....

Here is a link that I stumbled on that has some good info on captured Soviet equipment used by the Germans

http://beute.narod.ru/Beutepanzer/su/su.htm