303516 Modeler 1/35 German self-propelled gun elephant

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German self-propelled gun "elephant", Germany, 1943 < br />
tank Destroyers "elephant" are the same "Ferdinand" 653rd and 654th divisions of heavy tank fighters 656th regiment of heavy assault artillery, who fought in the Kursk bulge in 1943 and underwent a complete modernization in early 1944. In addition to the official designation 8.8 cm Pak 43/2 Sfl L/71 Panzerjäger "Tiger" (P) Sd.Kfz 184 they were first nicknamed "Ferdinands" in honor of their Creator Ferdinand Porsche. A total of 90 self-propelled guns were produced, 89 of which were sent to the Eastern front. Fighting on the Kursk bulge showed both their advantages and disadvantages that require urgent elimination.
Modernization of all 57 surviving machines took place from the end of January to March 20, 1944 at the factories of Nibelungenwerke in St. Valentine. They were equipped with a 7.92 mm mg 34 course machine gun, a commander's turret and more reliable tracks. In front of the hull, the bottom was reinforced with a 30 mm armor plate, which protected the crew when a mine exploded. "Elefants" (so now these machines were called), having undergone a number of changes, again went into battle. Name "elephant" ( him. "elephant" ) clumsy, almost 70-ton, the giants also received for their "trunk" — a long-barreled 88-mm anti-tank gun. 
the 1st company was sent to Italy. The remaining two companies of the 653-th division was on the Eastern front, where they again suffered heavy losses in the battle of Ternopil, Heater-Stremilovskoe, Dębica and Sandomierz. In the autumn of 1944 of the 12 remaining on the go "Elefant" was formed 614 company heavy tank destroyers, fought in late April 1945 in the district of Zossen near Berlin.