T-26 and Stug. III – the American armored off-road car and German self-propelled artillery unit

"Jeep" Willys was designed according to the order and specifications of the US Army, published in 1940. Willys has won the announced competition for a completely innovative passenger off-road car, capable of carrying up to 250 kg of cargo, driven by all 4 wheels and easily adaptable to mass production. It is worth noting, that initially the main winner was the American Bantam Car company with the Bantam BRC car. But the US Department of Defense, in an effort to get the best car project and ensure problem-free serial production, handed over Bantam BRC to Willys and Ford. Based on those drawings, Willys designed a "Jeep", that featured a much better engine, than the Bantam BRC, and was even more mechanically sound and reliable. Ultimately, this Willys "Jeep" was announced as the winner of the US Army competition. The car was produced in huge quantities and used in the armies of all English-speaking countries, that fought in World War II. It was also supplied to the Soviet Army of the USSR under the Lend-and-Lease contract. They were fought in North Africa, Italy, Southwest Europe, and the Pacific Ocean.

"StuG III" was constructed at the initiative of Erich von Mandstein, who noted in a letter to General Beck in 1935, that in the future war, self-propelled shock artillery will play an important role, supporting the infantry attack and the need to equip the Wehrmacht units with such weapons. Daimler-Benz was commissioned to design such a machine, which used the Pz.Kpfw III Ausf. B tank chassis for SAP production. A dozen modifications of the StuG III device appeared during production. Chronologically, the first was version A, armed with a 75 mm Stuk 37 L/24 cannon and mounted on the Pz.Kpfw tank. III" Ausf. F and G chassis and produced since 1940. It was soon followed by version I, the first mass-produced version, which differed little from version A. In 1941 version D appeared, which was better armored and had better sights. Version E also appeared shortly after, which was the first to receive an additional weapon - the MG34 machine gun. At the beginning of 1942 "StuG III" was modernized. During modernization, the device practically turned into a tank destroyer, as a powerful long-barreled 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 cannon was installed. SPAU designation changed to StuG 40. "StuG III" was used in the battles of 1940-1945 on almost all fronts, where the German army fought. It was a very nice weapon, cheap and - most importantly - very effective. It is estimated, that the "StuG III" accounts for over 20,000 units of destroyed Soviet tanks and other armored vehicles in the years 1941-1945. And where are the allied vehicles...

Two models of armored vehicles from the Second World War, of medium complexity, well designed and detailed, for intermediate and advanced modelers. However, under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, both the advanced beginner and the modeler with little experience will be able to glue them together perfectly.