BBG132
King & Country
Not yet Released - expected in mid-September.
This particular vehicle is fighting somewhere deep in Russia in the middle of the dreaded Russian winter… As can be easily seen this mighty snow-camouflaged Half Track and its suitably attired trio of gunners are in their own ‘snow’ suits.
Another uniform detail… The three gunners (and additional figures) are wearing red identification bands worn on their upper left arms.
Because both Axis and Soviet forces sometimes wore similar winter camouflage uniforms, coloured armbands immediately helped identify friendly units.
This K&C ‘Flakvierling’ is operating in the anti-aircraft role with the four cannon raised to approximately 30 degrees as they scan the sky for the low-flying enemy aircraft.
The 20mm ‘Flakvierling’ 38 was a highly effective German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used by both the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe during World War II.
The weapon combined four identical 20mm Flak 38 cannons on a single base which was then mounted onto the rear platform of the sturdy and well-proven Krauss-Maffei 8-ton, Sd. Kfz. 7/1 Half Track.
Introduced into service in late 1940, it was designed to counter the threat of low-flying enemy fighter/ bomber aircraft. Although originally designed to protect mobile armour and motorized infantry units its massive volume of fire also made it a much-feared opponent in the ground support role, especially against enemy personnel and other lightly armoured vehicles.'