Sd. Kfz. 251-9 „Stummel“ – the German fire support armored vehicle

Sd. Kfz. 251/9 (7.5 cm Stu.K.37 L/24 auf m.SPW "Stummel") - armored version, armed with a short-barreled 75 mm caliber cannon 7.5 cm Stu.K.37. In later version mounted a 7.5 cm K 51 L/24 cannon. In the German army the need for fire support armored vehicles, developed on the chassis of a medium armored transporter, was growing. Just at that time, tanks Pz. Kpfw. IV were re-armed with long-barreled cannons. In March 1942 the company "Bussig-NAG" submitted a project, in which the 7.5 cm StuK 37 L/24 cannons, dismantled from the tanks Pz. Kpfw. IV, were installed in the base of such an armored car. The cannon on these transporters is mounted on a rack, previously designed for Sturmgeschutz tank hunters, but this required a significant modification of the hull. It was necessary to remove a significant part of the frontal armor from the place, where the machine gun was originally mounted and to the right. Those changes were necessary, because the cannon was partially hidden in the hull. This was done in order not to increase the height of the armored car. The rear left seat was removed and mounted a rack for holding 52 75 mm shells. Due to the cannon, the radio station was moved to the left side of the fighting compartment. The cannon increased the mass of the transporter to 8.53 tons, the height to 2.07 m. The first Sd. Kfz. 251/9 rolled off the production line in June 1942, immediately after the successful trials of two pre-production prototypes on the Eastern Front. In 1944 the structure of the cannon mount was changed and it was no longer necessary to remove the armor part, but this armored car was taller. They are already equipped with new 7.5 cm K 51 L/24 cannons. Due to the short cannon Sd. Kfz. 251/9 was nicknamed "Stummel" - "snout".

A model of medium complexity, well detailed, requiring care and attention, for intermediate and advanced modelers. Model with combat and engine compartment detailing, perfectly restored chassis, exterior details. The model represents a well-used machine, the publication has one small flaw - there is no color reserve.