Airfix Airfix Tiger I Early Version Operation Citadel 1:35 WWII Military Tank Plastic Model Kit A1354

Following their disastrous defeat at Stalingrad during the winter of 1942-43, the German armed forces launched a major offensive in the East known as Operation Citadel on July 4th, 1943. The climax of Operation Citadel, the Battle of Kursk, involved as many as 6, 000 tanks, 4, 000 aircraft and 2 million fighting men and is remembered as the greatest tank battle in history. The peak of the battle was the massive armor engagement at Prochorovka, which began on July 12th. Prochorovka is one of the best-known of the many battles on the Eastern Front during World War II. Tiger heavy tanks with deadly 88mm cannons, lumbered forward while hundreds of nimble Soviet T-34 medium tanks raced into the midst of the SS armor and threw the Germans into confusion. The Soviets closed with the Panzers, negating the Tigers’ 88mm guns, outmaneuvered the German armor and knocked out hundreds of German tanks. The Soviet tank force’s audacious tactics resulted in a disastrous defeat for the Germans, and the disorganized SS divisions withdrew, leaving 400 destroyed tanks behind, including between 70 and 100 Tigers and many Panthers. Those losses smashed the SS divisions’ fighting power, and as a result Hoth’s Fourth Panzer Army had no chance to achieve even a partial victory in the south of the Soviet Union. After receiving the news of the Allied invasion of Sicily, as well as reports of impending Soviet attacks on the Mius River and at Izyum, Hitler decided to cancel Operation Citadel. From then on the German forces were on the back-foot and the war had now turned against them. About this item Classic 1: 35 Armor model scaled tank. Includes interior details, and includes individual Link tracks. Skill level: 3. Dimensions of completed kit: length 241mm x width 102mm. A great plastic model kit for the beginner or intermediate modeler. Primary Scheme: Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I (Early) Commanded by Alred Rubbel, 1. /schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503, Unternehmen Zitadelle (Operation Citadel), Russia July 1943. Scheme 2: Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I (Early) 11th Kompanie, III Alteilung, Grobdeutschland Division, Kharkov Area, Summer 1943. Painting and assembly required. Paints and glue need to be purchased separately. Humbrol paints needed to complete the plane liveries are listed on the outside of the box. See more product details