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Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3402 Achilles IIC, 21st Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery Guards Armoured Division Tank Destroyer Battalion Netherlands, 1944

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT

4th battery

Authentic Detailing Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled Die-Cast Model True to Scale (1:72) Weathering and insignias Turret turns Metal turret and main gun Realistic tracks

1st battery

In 1943 the US introduced the M10 as a SP anti-tank gun. It used the carriage of the M4 tank and combined it with the 3-inch M7 AA Gun mounted on an open top turret. Because British took their M10’s and exchanged the 3-inch gun for the larger 17-pdr that had much better stopping power against the Panther and Tigers. They added some armor to the turret and named it Achilles. The first modified tanks went into service in 1944 and by the end of WWII 1,100 of the 1,650 M10s the British received under the Lend Lease Program became Achilles'.

The Guards Armoured Division was formed June 17, 1941. After almost three years of training and waiting for action they were deployed to Normandy and arrived June 26, 1944. The first real test under fire came during Operation Goodwood. From July 18 - 20, 1944 they fought as part of the largest tank battle the British had ever fought. After finally breaking out the 21st became part of the Falaise Pocket and eventually the liberation of Brussels. As part of Operation Market Garden in September 1944 along with American paratroopers they fought to capture the Waal bridge at Nijmegen. This bridge was one of several the Allies would use to cross the Rhine and advance rapidly into Germany. The next bridge in the string of bridges to be captured was Remagen however the reinforcements for the troops trying to capture the were delayed and this bridge wasn’t taken. Because of the Allied failure to capture the Remagen bridge it meant that the northern section of the Netherlands would not be liberated before winter. This winter would go into the history books as the “Hongerwinter” (Hungerwinter") when ten of thousands would starve to death because of the lack of food and the Germans preventing supplies from reaching them. The division existed until June 12, 1945 when it was reorganized as an infantry division.

Specifications Achilles IIC Dimensions Length: 19 ft 7 in (5.97 m) Length with gun: 23 ft 8.25 in (7.27 m) Width: 10 ft (3.05 m) Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.9 m) Battle Weight: 66,000 lb (29.6 long tons) Ground clearance: 12.3 in (.31 m)

Armour: 0.4 in - 1.6 in (10 - 41 mm)

Powerplant Engine: 1 X air-cooled fuel injected 12 cylinder GM M6046 (2 X 6 cylinder GM 6-71 in line) 210 hp each at 2,100 rpm Fuel type: Diesel. Fuel capacity: 137 gal (624 liter) Transmission: 5 forward - 1 reverse Range: 140 mi (225 km)

Armament Primary: 77 mm 17-pounder Mk. V Ammunition: 50 rounds Secondary: 12.7 mm Browning .50 caliber MG (AA) Ammunition: 450 rounds

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