The newest Dragon project is a 15cm s.IG.33 auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw.III, used by the Deutsches Afrika Korps, specifically the 90 leichte Infanterie-Division, in North Africa.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

At least it existed in real steel and not just a sketch on a piece of paper




Maybe a cool diorama

Some more images here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1449286345/Looking+for+info+about+a+rare+DAK+self-propelled+gun
at least one of them is on PhotoBucket, so you may feel like this:
unless you have installed the browser workaround which makes at least me feel like this
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a599/panzerstike/image_zps34cc48c8.jpg

A quote of a quote from the thread linked to above:
"According to Rommel's Funnies by Jentz & Doyle, Pz.Kpfw. II were used as the platform for an SP 15 cm sIG 33 which was designated 15 cm sIG 33 Selbstfahrlafette. While the gun was generally deemed to be very good, the motor was too weak and rapid overheating was very frequent.

A photo of the Pz.Kpfw. III version actually graces the cover of this book and the caption (on the inside of the cover) says: "A Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. H was converted by the troops in North Africa into a 15 cm s.I.G.33 B Sfl. Components including the 15 cm s.I.G. 33 B (with shortened trail), gun shield, superstructure sides with tool storage, and ammunition racks were stripped from a verstaerktem (verstärktem) Pz.Kpfw. II Fahrgestell (strengthened Pz. II chassis)." "


Not to be confused with this one, different chassis:

Also issued by DML some years ago

/ Robin

So there was only one prototype or field conversion built?

Yes, was this a one-off or was there more than one?

from what I've read there were 12 shipped to Africa.
gary

Thanks, Gary, in that case, I'm in.

The 12 were the ones built on lengthened Pz II chassis. The Pz III variant was a one-off field conversion done on an Ausf H. I can see this one finding its way to the stash.

IIRC,, Dragon released a kit of the PzII version a couple years ago or so.

Kit #6440 released in 2011 as a Smart Kit. I have one for the Crusader To Gazala campaign.

my error!! I looked at the wrong photo. There were 12 built off the PzKw II hull. Never saw the PzKw III version before.
glt

In the first pic above you can see the discarded Pz lll recuperator cover from the conversion lying on the sand in front of the tank.

When I asdked Google about images of this Pz III conversion I got a few of the Pz III and a LOT of the Bison variant on the Pz II chassis (same number of roadwheels and the same general appearance). I included an image of the Bison just for the fun of it
/ Robin

Hmmm...another one-off for the shop? Perhaps.