JTFM Enterprises releases 1/56 German Luchs light tank.

[jtrnka]

Hi everyone.

It's been awhile since our last releases. Here's the latest addition to our webstore. The Luchs light tank.





Cheers,

Jeff

[Helen]

Thank you Jeff for advertising this model vehicle. Michael has designed for you a lovely model that I'm sure any collector/gamer will enjoy having in their collection.

Cheers,

Helen

[jtrnka]

Thanks Helen. This is Mike's best work to date IMHO  , but I still have 3 more of his masters being prepped for moulding 

Cheers,

Jeff

[majorsmith]

That's lovely!

[redzed]

nice, Poland and 'Sea Lion' spring to mind

[Helen]

nice, Poland and 'Sea Lion' spring to mind

This lovely gun buggy did not see service in the early war, but from mid war onwards. Taken from a source:

"The final development of Panzerkampfwagen II was Panzerspaehwagen II Ausf L Luchs (Lynx) - Sd.Kfz.123 (VK 1303). This light reconnaissance tank was produced by MAN and Henschel (small number) from September of 1943 to January of 1944. An order for 800 was made but only 104 (some sources state 133) were manufactured (chassis number 200101-200200). MAN developed the chassis and Daimler-Benz the superstructure and turret. Luchs was a development of VK 901 (Ausf G) and used its modified suspension and hull. It was powered by 180hp 6-cylinder Maybach HL66P engine with ZF Aphon SSG48 gearbox. Luchs weighted 13 tons and had road range of 290km. Four men crew consisting of commander, gunner, driver and radio-operator operated Luchs. Communication equipment consisted of FuG12 MW receiver and 80-watt transmitter. The communication between the crew was by the use of the intercom.
 

This light reconnaissance tank saw service until the end of the war on both the Eastern and Western Front with Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilungen (armored reconnaissance detachments) of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. Reported users include 116th Panzer Division on the Western Front and 3rd, 4th and 6th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front. It is reported that 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf and 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking fighting on the Eastern Front also used Luchs.

Vehicles sent to the Eastern Front were mounted with additional frontal armor plate for increase protection. Small number was fitted with additional radio equipment and antennas and served as reconnaissance communication vehicles. Luchs was to be eventually armed with (Luchs 5 cm) 50mm KwK 39 L/60 gun (VK 1602 Leopard) but only variant with 20mm KwK 38 L/55 cannon (with rate of fire 420-480 rounds per minute) was produced. The 20mm cannon was fitted with TZF6 optical sight. It is also reported but not confirmed that 31 Luchs were mounted with an open-top turret armed with 50mm KwK 39 L/60 gun and began arriving to the troops in late 1943. Also plans were made to produce recovery version - Bergepanzer Luchs, but they were never materialized. Along with Bergepanzer Luchs, scale model of Flakpanzer Luchs anti-aircraft tank based on lengthened chassis (VK 1305), armed with either 20mm Flakvierling or 37mm Flak 36 gun, was made but this project was never realized."

Cheers,

Helen

[redzed]

'Sea Lion' didn't actually happen until '1943'.

[Blue in vt]

Helen,

Thanks for that bit of background....this is a tank that I'm not familiar with and am exited to learn bout...this will be perfect for giving my forces a bit of armor but nothing that will totally dominate a small skirmish game...throw in a Stuart for the allies and you can have a lot of fun.

Cheers...great looking model.

Blue

[Helen]

'Sea Lion' didn't actually happen until '1943'.

Nope, 1940! Hitler only ordered the forces assigned to the operation away from 1942.