Interesting! I wonder how many of these actually existed, could it have been only one? / Robin

Right, it looks a lot like a field modification. But hell yeah I like the subject so don't mind for it to be added to my ever growing stash Edit: Giving it a second look the boxart does show a different crane beam than the photo, though...

Right, it looks a lot like a field modification. But hell yeah I like the subject so don't mind for it to be added to my ever growing stash Edit: Giving it a second look the boxart does show a different crane beam than the photo, though...[/quote] Now that you mention it ... So maybe there were at least two field mods? I wonder if the other crane beam shows up as a kit or maybe a conversion set

Judging from the decal instructions, Miniart found at least two different vehicles sporting a crane. They supported their announcement of the BM-4-24 with a series of wartime photos, hopefully they can do the same with this T-60 version ..

As stated above, this apparently is one-off field mod and the only known picture is the one posted by Robin on which is the "Berge" T-60 abandoned and re-captured by the Russians near Vyesyoliy vilage (East of Rostov) at 6 December 1943. And the crane is different, of course. So let Miniart publish at least one picture of their version.

I wonder what it was that they were planning on carrying with that light-duty crane assembly? The one on the Tiger 1 was supposedly for laying demolition charges (a terrible waste of a gun tank!) so who knows? Engine swapping?

I think that you are thinking too 'big' here. Over at Miniart's fb page, Andrea Ulgelmo posted a few photos of such a crane, lifting a Panzer IV engine hatch and 38(t) Panzerjäger parts (possibly the engine).

A lot of people mistakenly think bergepanzers were used for towing only, but really their primary jobs were recovery and maintenance. The simple jib crane is used mostly for hoisting vertically, and one this small was as you say, possibly used for engine swapping, etc. As an aside, the bergetiger I was not a "waste of a gun tank" but rather a sensible solution to an otherwise unserviceable Tiger whose turret and/or gun were rendered useless . Apart from it's presumed use as a charge laying and obstacle moving vehicle, we can see in photos there are towing and spreader bars on the glacis plate and hull so it was also used as a recovery vehicle...maybe not for other Tigers but could be used to recover staff cars, towed guns, light tanks, trucks and maybe borgwards.