Y'know, I've never understood the concept behind this vehicle. Why put two 12.8 cm (or even 8.8 cm) AA guns in an armoured vehicle? That size flak gun is meant to protect from high flying strategic bombers, which almost never attacked tactical forces (the 2-3 times they did in Normandy simply do not justify this sort of effort). They should have been (and were in real life) permanently emplaced near strategic targets and supplied with the endless amounts of ammo needed to protect the target from a 45 minute long bomber stream.

If you need a mobile mounting to allow a very limited number of weapons to be shifted from target to target, then why put them in an armoured vehicle and with such a highly armoured turret? Operating in that turret & slinging 12.8 cm rounds would be brutally tiring and the ammo supply would be good for only a few minutes firing. The back of the turret isn't open to allow for mid-engagement resupply (think M-109 with the rear door open to allow rounds to be passed in for firing).

A mobile, moderately armoured flak vehicle needs nothing heavier than the 50-60mm class of weapon to keep WW II JaBos & light bombers away from the mobile formations. Actual unit mobility will protect it from any enemy bomber heavier than a light bomber/attack aircraft except as a target of opportunity and then the mounting of a heavier weapon wouldn't be able to track the faster crossing speeds of a lower altitude attacker.

Overall, it's a completely nonsensical concept. If it was actually contemplated, it was the product of a febrile imagination.

Paul

Overall, it's a completely nonsensical concept. If it was actually contemplated, it was the product of a febrile imagination

Hi J

just check this link :

http://www.german-master-kit.com/Shop/main_bigware_29.php?bigPfad=23&bigwareCsid=f8e31f604aa483f18f9287b53eb1f33f

or wait till Nuremberg Toy fair 2011, probably Trumpeter will announce this kit as future in 2011, or if not I will build this turret from scratch using laser cut parts & long barrels for E-75 8,8 gun from RB model, and I will have to prepare plans in 1:35, then I will prepare this as a set

Cheers

Wojtek