Sd.Kfz.234/3 Schw. Panzerspähwagen Stummel Late

Plastic model kit for a late, heavy German armored car Sd.Kfz. 234/3 Stummel

• Scale 1:35
• Highly detailed kit
• Metal surfaces and weld seams accurately reproduced
• All flaps and hatches can be displayed open or closed
• Including photo-etched parts
• Including transparent parts
• Plastic wheels
• Decals for 4 marking variants
• not built/not painted
• Paint and glue not included

The Sd.Kfz. 234/3 "Stummel" armored reconnaissance vehicle was a variant of the heavy German eight-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 234 family and was deployed from mid-1944 as a fire-support vehicle for reconnaissance units. Unlike other versions, its primary role was not pure reconnaissance or anti-tank combat, but rather supporting reconnaissance patrols during engagements. To this end, it was equipped with a short-barreled 7.5 cm K 51 L/24 gun - the so-called "Stummel" (stump) gun - mounted in an open-topped fighting compartment. This weapon was particularly effective against infantry, field fortifications, and lightly armored vehicles, though it had limited effectiveness against heavily armored opponents.

The reconnaissance vehicle, weighing approximately eleven tons, was powered by an air-cooled Tatra V12 diesel engine producing 220 hp. Thanks to its capable eight-wheel drive, the vehicle could reach speeds of up to 90 km/h on roads and boasted an exceptionally long operational range of up to 1,000 kilometers. This made the Sd.Kfz. 234/3 ideally suited for rapid reconnaissance and advance operations. However, its armor - with a maximum thickness of 30 millimeters - offered protection only against small-arms fire and shrapnel.

Only 88 of these vehicles were produced between June and December 1944, seeing service primarily on the Western and Eastern Fronts. There, they supported heavy armored reconnaissance companies by delivering effective fire against enemy positions, enabling reconnaissance patrols to advance more quickly and safely. While the open-topped fighting compartment facilitated weapon operation and improved situational awareness, it also left the crew vulnerable to artillery shrapnel, fire from elevated positions, and air attacks.

The Sd.Kfz. 234/3 "Stummel" is one of the most interesting variants in the Sd.Kfz. 234 series. Its open interior, distinctive short-barreled gun, and characteristic eight-wheeled chassis make it a popular subject for scale modelers and diorama builders alike.