Hallo everyone,
i start to make simple diorama with one Pak40 AT gun, gun crew and some figures (non combat scene - just resting;)). I prepare everything and now i working of the base and need some info. I read that the place of the gun have to be enought large to allow gun to be rotate in every direction, and that there have to be some additional trenches one for the ammnitions, and second about the gun crew. But till now i cant find the right pictures or the right book that can see the spacing between all. My questions are:

1.What have to be the right height and wide of the embankment around the gun and what shape it have to be in profile section.

2.What have to be the space inside (the space wich embankment close)

3.Where are the positions of the ammo and crew shield dittches.

4.Do is correct to put a MG position on 10 to 15 meters from the Pak40 position (its about 12 meters when i calculate it from 1/72). I ask cause the enemy artilery and morthars aim in this places (MG nests and Gun positions) and do the 15 meters are too little, i mean with one shoot enemy can destroy both... what is the correct spacing between both positions (in meters ill calculate it in 1/72)

I hope that i not boring you with this but i try some variats - cant like no one cause it looks unreal..

Thank you in advance!!

Nickolay Georgiev

Hello Nickolay,
I have just finished reading a book, "Panzerjager "by William Folkestad and feel I may be able to help answer a few of your questions.

In this book the author makes several statements that may assist you with the dio.:
1) When they had time they would dig in with a "U" shaped trench deep enough that the barrel would tremain clear and free for traversing. ( u was faced to enemy)
2) The trench was wide enough (when they had time) that they could reverse their towinfg vehicle in and hitch the gun to it. This was to add in speedy retreats / moves.
3) They had MG's assigned to them that would be set up for defence against infantry attacks. From the book it sounded like this MG postion was close.
4) they would also place out a number of teller mines in the direction they most expected a mechanized attack from the russians.

Hope this helps,
AndyD.

Thank you Andy!
I read just now that Germans have and practice to leave sometimes the AT gun front of the ditch, i mean front of the infantry trench not in or behind it. But cant understand why and when (its deppend from the terrain or the way of battle i dont know)!? Thank you about the MG position (now ill not move it;))

Wish you great 2007 and happy modelling!

Nickolay Georgiev

I don't know if you can obtain one, but there was a softback Bellona book called "German Field Works of WW2". It contained plans for all manner of dugouts & gun pits, including ones for PAKs. It may well be OOP, but I think there is a new-ish Osprey title along the same lines. Generally speaking, the ammo pits were dug into the sides of the gunpit, at an angle to give top cover. The slit trenches for the crew were just outside the pit, usually L shaped (against blast) & dug deeper at one end, so that in the event of an armoured attack or counter battery fire, they could quickly take shelter. Sometimes the gun pit was just deep enough for the gun, up to the barrel, but with holes dug deeper around the breech end for the gunner & breech operator, so that they could serve the gun from cover. Or it could just be a shallow "scrape" with the spoil piled up towards the enemy. Sometimes, if time allowed, a deeper roofed dugout was dug for the gun alongside the gunpit, with a slope down to it, to allow complete shelter.

Lets put on the table my "ex" start base, cause i see lot of mistakes there (and this is cause i wanted to put a lot of things on one place...as everytime;))


1. Its in the start process - but anyway its too ugly.

2.With green are the the directions of fire "A" is MG nest and "D" is trench - and finaly the Pak dont have any hand arms support (on the way that i do it;))

3.Its impossible for the gun to get aim on 90 degrees in right from its current position.

4.If i remove the MG nest and both trenches are cover for the crew - they cant see nothing from the center of the front, will look left and right flange - but nothing in the center - im dumb!!!;))

5.No towinng venchile (exept "Kettenrad", and again hard;) can enter in to hitch the cannon...

6.I saw enought mistakes;))) i see that cant change this base in right way and im pleased that you react so fast, cause i was on the begining and will be easy to start new base.

Thank you!

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To all of you and thank you about the all support!
Actualy i think that this topic will not stop here.....i found one russian book from 1943 (its not a book but some plans (real ones) on one russian fortification engineer, he make plans of the firld fortifications on the german forces maden on russian land durring ww2)......from some days i work on new thing (old one (the picture upper) R.I.P in the trash field..))
In short resume:
Whish to all of you Happy New year, lot of happy moments, health and time about modelling!
If somebody needs more - to call on Santa or in some government institution...))))
Regards,
Nickolay