Entered in production in 1971, the Soviet T-72 main battle tank was destined to replace the T-54/55 series as the main workhorse of Soviet (alongside the more sophisticated T-64 and T-80) and Warsaw Pact tank forces. The T-72M1 is an export version with additional armour thickness similar to the T-72A our. 1979g also fitted with smoke grenade dischargers. On a total of 549 T-72 received by the East-German Army (NVA) between 1978 and 1989, 136 were of the M1 model.
The SA-6 Gainful (2K12 Kub for the Soviet) tracked surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground force from air attack. A SA-6 battery usually consist of three triple-missile transporter erector launchers (TELs), one tracked radar vehicle and four resupplying trucks. Entered in service in 1967, the SA-6 went trough several modernisations and versions. The missile have an effective range of 4-24 km and an effective altitude of 50-14,000 m. The NVA (East-German Army) received a total of 107 TELs starting from 1970.
Before the advent of the Trumpeter kit (and I still need to buy mine), the only available 1/72 scale SA-6 was the diecast ones (Altaya?). With a little work and a new painting they were perfect on the wargaming table. (made 2020)
The Marder is the backbone IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) of the Panzergrenadiere units of the West German Army. Around 2100 were taken into service in the Bundeswehr from the early 1970s. At the time a modern but conventional machine, the Marder has proven to be a successful and solid design. Armed with a 20 mm autocannon mounted in a small two-man turret, the Marder can also be equipped with an external MILAN anti-tank guided missile launcher. From version 1A2 on, the Marder also received a thermal sight installation. With a crew of 3, it had a nominal capacity for 7 infantrymen.
The models are the Altaya diecast with some modifications and improvements as they are the only 1:72 scale model of the 1A2 version. (made 2015)
