Automitrailleuse Allemande Sd.Kfz. 234/2 »Puma«

Revue de la Maquette Matchbox au 1/76

The Puma was based on the successful Sd.Kfz. 231 series d’automitrailleuses lourdes 8x8, maintaining many of its features. Better armour, a stronger 12 cylinder air-cooled diesel engine et the turreted weapon made the Puma a formidable reconnaissance véhicule. A total of 101 Pumas were built et they were formed into four armoured reconnaissance companies designated as Panzerspähwagen Kompanie Typ A, one each assigned to four Panzer Divisions serving on the eastern et western fronts.

Contenu

Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma
3 figurines
diorama base

Type: Automitrailleuse Lourde, 8x8
Empattement: 2.75 m (1.35 m bogie)
Longueur: 6.02 m
Largeur: 2.36 m
Hauteur: 2.29 m
Poids: 11 t
Armement: 50 mm L/60, MG 42
Équipage: chef de char, conducteur, tireur, conducteur arrière (8-wheel steering)

"Conducteur arrière: Pull out, full speed!"

The first three production variants of the Sd.Kfz. 234 series featured 8-wheel stearing as well as a forward et a separate rear driving position which allowed the crew to drive the véhicule at full speed in either direction. Reverse driving at top speed is a very important feature for lightly armoured reconnaissance véhicules, enabling them to pull out of dangerous situations immediately, instead of carefully backing out of a tight spot ou turning around under fire. Automitrailleuses modernes de la Bundeswehr allemande have maintained 8-wheel steering et the conducteur arrière, but they are amphibious now, practically inaudible even at very close range et equipped avec puncture resistant tires.

Évaluation

Scale model avec much raised detail et external stowage.
Bon choix de sujet, a very attractive et versatile model.
Few parts, easy to assemble.
Choice of open ou closed turret hatches.
High quality kit. Parts fit very well et there is minimal flash.
Compatible avec Airfix, Fujimi, Nitto, et VAC-U-CAST.

Decals des plaques d’immatriculation provided for the Panzerdivision Hohenstaufen are politically correct, as required under law allemand.
Approximately 5% smaller than the 1/72 scale figurine standard. Not a problem in this case, the Matchbox Puma is the only one on the market et it is compatible with Sd.Kfz. 222 et 234/4 produced by Airfix.

Déploiement Historique

Panzerspähwagen Kompanie Typ A (Armoured Recon Company), Oct. 1943-1945
25 véhicules per company, serving in four different Panzer Divisions. Decals et camouflage schemes for the following divisions are included:
- IX. SS Panzer Division (Hohenstaufen), Normandy 1944
- XI. Frw. Pz.Grenadier Division, Allemagne Est 1945

Possibilités de Conversions

Sd.Kfz. 234/1 schwerer Panzerspähwagen avec 20 mm L/55, open turret, 06/44
Sd.Kfz. 234/3 schwerer Panzerspähwagen avec 75 mm L/24, 06/44
Sd.Kfz. 234/4 s.Pz.Spähwg. (Pakwagen) avec 75 mm PaK 40, open-topped, 01/45

Matchbox’s Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma is an attractive model which fits well into the range of existing armoured reconnaissance véhicules produced by Airfix. The distinctive 8-wheeled chassis was introduced avec the Sd.Kfz. 231 series d’automitrailleuses, it combined excellent cross-country mobility et speed. The Matchbox Puma may be used to raise compagnies d’automitrailleuses lourdes for simulation gaming after Octobre 1943. A multi-purpose kit featuring all three turret variants of the 234/1 to 234/3 series would have allowed the formation of entire reconnaissance bataillons, at relatively little additional cost per unit. Perhaps, a conversion specialist like VAC-U-CAST may be able to supply the required turrets some day.

Questions Fréquents

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter les éditeurs de la revue Military Miniatures Magazine au Miniatures Forum.

Figurines et Maquettes Allemandes de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale