T-55A + KMT-5 mine clearing device (East Germany)

The T-54/55 tanks are the most produced tank in history with an estimated productions numbers between 86,000 and 100,000. Having debuted in 1958, many T-55s are still in service today. During its very long service life, the T-55 has of course been upgraded may times (see the T-55AM2 here). Mechanically simple and robust, having a good mobility and easy to operate, the T-55 was also very cramped underarmed and under amored  facing its counterparts in the 80's. Nevertheless the T-55A were still the main battle tank of the East German Army in 1989.

First introduced in the 1960s the KMT-5 is a Soviet tank mounted mechanical mine clearing device designed to disable anti-tank mines by plowing up or mechanically breaking them from the lines in front of the tank tracks. It can be mounted to T-54/55, T-62 and T-64.

The models are the HobbyMaster, just needing some repainting and small additions to go to the tabletop. The KMT-5 come from the Trumpeter kit and to give more flexibility in its wargaming use it based separately. (made 2016)

WIP Scenery

Something different... I decided to get some new houses done to add to my German village scenery.

 

Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 1 (West Germany)

In service in the Bundeswher and based on the same chassis that the Kanonenjagdpanzer (JPK in Belgian service see here), the Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 1 was the result of the modernisation, between 1978 and 1982, of the earlier Raketenjagdpanzer 2 equipped with the old French-made anti-tank missile SS 11. The new Jaguar 1 was equipped with the French HOT second generation anti-tank guided missile system. The new vehicle was at the same time fitted with add-on armour with a significantly improved level of protection. 316 Tank Destroyer were converted that way. The new HOT missile maximum range is 75 metres to 3,800+ meters and operates on the principle of semi-automatic guidance.

The kits are from Artitec but these are unfortunately no longer available, the brand having apparently given up on 1:72 and focusing on other scales. Easy to assemble and just in need of some painting, opening of hatches and addition of crew. It's a shame because, although rather expensive, their resin models, which were available to assemble or already assembled and painted, were of very high quality. (made 2018)

Tourism in Germany (3)

Next stop on my personal getaways from our family holidays in Berlin and on the German Baltic coast: the NVA museum in Rügen. It was an unplanned stop, but, although small, the museum in question, located near the famous site of Prora and coupled with a larger museum of vintage cars and fascinating railway equipment, had some interesting pieces.

More pictures here

BTR-60PB (East Germany)

First vehicle in the great family of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers, the BTR-60 entered service in the early 60 and the PB version in 1966. Developed as a cheaper vehicle for use in motor rifle division alongside the more expensive tracked BMP-1 for use in the tank divisions, the BTR-60 was a revolutionary fully amphibious design for its time, around 25,000 of them being produced, the BTR-60PB remaining in production until 1976. The NVA (East German Army) took delivery of more than 1,500 BTR-60 between 1965 and 1970.

The kit is the S-model one. A very nice and easy kit that can be use as a base for a lot of conversion works as the BTR-60 versions are numerous and very attractive (to me at least 😎). Here one of the passengers of this NVA BTR-60PB is aiming a Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail) surface-to-air missile (MANPADS) from one of the roof hatches (figure from RH Models). (made 2016)

Marder 1A2 (West Germany)

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.

© Christian Bray

© Christian Bray

© Christian Bray

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)