Dragon Armor 1:72 King Tiger Henschel Ardennes Offensive, sPzAbt. 501, No. 60141

Description: Dragon Armor & Cyber-Hobby Exclusive - King Tiger - Ardennes Offensive Very Rare Limited Edition (only 999 made) # 457 in Cyber-Hobby Tin and Packaging No. 60141, Vintage year - 2004, Scale - 1:72 Unit - sPzAbt 501- may be a slight typo here as the schwere unit (501) was sent to North Africa after the Allied landings there with the first tanks arriving in Tunisia in November 1942. After surrendering in Tunisia in May 1943, the unit was reformed in September 1943 and was sent to the Eastern Front in November where it fought at Vitebsk and Gorodok. In mid-1944, the unit was refitted with King Tigers and attached to Heeresgruppe Nordukraine where it fought at Radom, Sandomierz and Kleice before being disbanded and used to form Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 424 in December 1944. Since this unit also was engaged on the Eastern Front (Branov bridgehead/Lisow), I was a bit curious in the "Ardennes Offensive" theme attributed this unit by Cyber-Hobby. Further research reveals that SS-Panzer Abteilung 501, however, did fight in the Western theater and in the Ardennes (although it appears that most of their King Tigers fought on the Eastern Front). This unit was formed in July 1943 around the SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and was attached to I SS Panzerkorps Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. It was sent to Italy in August 1943 and two companies were sent to the Eastern Front until April 1944. It was assigned to SS Panzer Division Hitler Jugend and suffered heavy losses following the Normandy landing. The unit was refitted with King Tiger tanks in September 1944 and redesignated Schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 501 which fought in the Ardennes offensive (with Sepp Dietrich's Sixth SS Panzer Army and Kampfgruppe Peiper of Leibstandarte Division formed the Ardennes spearhead) before being sent to the Eastern Front. Campaign - Ardennes 1944 - only three heavy tank units with King Tigers were thought to have been used in the Ardennes as their size, weight and fuel needs would certainly confine them strategically and operationally. Peiper noted that the King Tigers (and sSSPzAbt 501) should form the rear guard (of I SS Panzerkorps) due to their relative lack of swiftness, higher fuel needs and the obstacles created when breakdowns occurred or units got bogged down in mud and snow. Markings - Dark brown, dark green and tan (three tone - with dots - ambush pattern) camouflage (Western Front), with No. 112 in green on turret in addition to extra track armor. Comes with plastic card No. 457. Comes with attachable machine gun and tow hitches along with two instruction sheets. Model - King Tiger (Sd.Kfz.182) with Henschel Turret - Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf B Condition - new with minor wear on box. Thank you for your interest.

Price: 390.5 USD

Location: Alexandria, Virginia

End Time: 2025-01-03T16:58:37.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD