Product Details
Panzerbeobachtungswagen (PzBeobWg III Aust G) (armored observation vehicle)
Armored Observation Vehicles
The development of self-propelled artillery vehicles led to a requirement for a mobile protected observation vehicle for use in directing artillery fire. To meet this requirement, a number of obsolete PzKpfw Ills were converted for use as Panzerbeobachtungswagen (armored observation vehicles).
These vehicles were modified with additional 30MM armor plate on the hull front and rear of all early models converted (Ausf E through G). The hull MG 34 machine gun was removed and the mount filled in. The original turret mantlet and gun were removed and a thicker mantlet was installed. This mantlet carried a dummy gun tube installed in the position of the former co-axial MG 34 machine gun and a flexible MG 34 was mounted in the center of the mantlet in the position formerly occupied by the main gun.
A total of 262 PzBeobWg Ills were converted from a variety of PzKpfw III variants between early 1943 and the Spring of 1944. Chassis numbers were drawn from the normal range of PzKpfw III numbers (Ausf E to Ausf M). These vehicles were assigned to Hummel and Wespe SP artillery battalions beginning in early 1943 and served until the end of the war.
The model is molded from polyethylene. Color may be different from that presented in the photo.