German half-track vehicle Sd.Kfz. 8 & anti-aircraft gun 8.8 cm Flak 18 COBI 3139 - Limited Edition WW II 1:35

 
Did you know:

• The Sd.Kfz. 8 Sonderkraftfahrzeug 8 / 12t was introduced into service as a special-purpose vehicle. It primarily served as a tractor for heavy artillery pieces, or, when fitted with a gun superstructure, as a tank destroyer.
• Development of the vehicle began as early as 1934 based on a German Army requirement for a wheeled-tracked, highly maneuverable vehicle capable of towing trailers weighing up to 12,000 kg and transporting infantry.
• Production was assigned to several companies, the most notable of which was Daimler-Benz, which drew on experience gained during the development of the ZD 5 vehicle.
• The start of production was not without difficulties, and as storm clouds gathered over Europe, Germany intensified its efforts. On August 16, 1938, Hitler sent Ferdinand Porsche to Daimler to help resolve technical issues. Daimler’s management viewed this unwelcome visit with great displeasure. 
• Pre-series production therefore began at the end of 1938.
• Interestingly, before the outbreak of World War II, several dozen vehicles were delivered to the Soviet Union.
• Seats for transporting personnel were arranged in rows one behind another, which is why soldiers simply nicknamed the vehicle “Theatre”.
• The vehicle proved itself especially during the African campaign, but German industry was unable to produce enough units to meet Wehrmacht demand. Production was expanded to additional plants, including Krupp and Škoda Plzeň in occupied Czechoslovakia.
• During planning for the Western Front campaign, Wehrmacht command recognized the need for fast vehicles capable of destroying bunkers and enemy strongpoints. Designers therefore devised a solution in the form of a towed 88mm Flak anti-aircraft gun with a limited elevation angle.
• A total of ten such sets were produced, but their deployment was unsuccessful. The tall silhouette of the Flak was easily recognizable from hundreds of meters away, making the vehicles a sought-after target for Allied forces.
• The last set was destroyed in combat in March 1943.
• In the basic Version 8, behind the driver’s wooden bench there was a storage compartment for small-arms ammunition, and at the very rear a space for the crew’s personal belongings.
• Great Britain also attempted to develop a half-track vehicle. The design was handled by Bedford Motors, whose task was to build a vehicle capable of operating in all terrains. When the design was nearly complete and the British company was preparing to build a prototype, they were given the opportunity to examine a captured German-made Sd.Kfz. 8. After tests at the proving ground, the British had to acknowledge the high quality of the German machine. Their own development was halted and the plans destroyed—it was enough simply to copy what was already perfect. 
• After the war, wheeled-tracked Sd.Kfz. 8 vehicles were also used by the Czechoslovak Army.

 
Technical specifications of the Sd.Kfz. 8:

• dimensions: length 7.35 m, width 2.5 m, height 2.77 m 
• weight 14,700 kg
• power unit: Maybach HL85 TUKRM gasoline engine with an output of 136 kW
• number of gears: 7 forward + 1 reverse
• maximum speed 51 km/h
• fuel consumption 100 l / 100 km
  
• fuel tank capacity 210 + 40 l
• crew: driver, commander + 11 personnel 

Technical specifications of the 8.8 cm Flak 18:

• length in firing position 7.62 m, width 2.3 m, height 2.41 m
• weight 7,400 kg including protective shield
• caliber 88 mm
• maximum range 14,860 m
• muzzle velocity 1,000 m/s
• rate of fire 20 rounds per minute
• barrel life 1,500 rounds
• accuracy at 1,000 m – deviation max. 40 cm; at 2,000 m – deviation max. 100 cm

Excerpt from a secret Ordnance Technical Intelligence report, 1941:

,,From the description of the captured German Sd.Kfz. 8 vehicle examined by the EEIS unit, it is clear that the vehicle exhibits a very high level of technical quality. The vehicle was tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground and subsequently dismantled by engineers of the G-2 group. Among the most interesting findings is the use of needle bearings, which are virtually unknown to United States industry and impractical for domestic application. A weakness of the vehicle is its high fuel consumption, which under load and in off-road conditions reaches nearly 200 liters per 100 km."

About the building set :

• the COBI building set 3139 Sd.Kfz. 8 & 8.8cm Flak 18 is made of 1,023 high-quality ABS pieces
• scale 1:35
• collection World War II Limited Edition
• number of figures: 3
• pad printed – no stickers
• faithful detailing
• made in the EU