The PZ-27 was built in Germany in May and June 1941 and was part of the 2nd Panzer Group "South" during the invasion of the USSR.
It served with Army Group "Center" until January 1942, where it was defeated in battles south of Sukhinichi and lost almost all of its equipment.
However, thanks to captured enemy armored cars, it was quickly rebuilt.
Two Red Army PL-37 armored platforms were incorporated into the Bepo almost unchanged.
The chassis of a 50-ton wagon on Diamond trolleys served as the basis for the PL-37 armored train.
The 20 mm hull armor provided protection against 7.62 mm armor-piercing projectiles at all ranges and against 37 mm armor-piercing shells from 1,200 m. Two gun turrets had sloped sides. They were armed with 76 mm Model 1902/30 guns. Each armored train was also armed with six machine guns mounted on ball bearings (one in the turret to the right of the gun and two on opposite sides of the train). The armored train was equipped with steam heating, battery lighting, and internal communications systems. It weighed approximately 70 tons, and the crew consisted of 24 soldiers. At the end of May 1942, the armored train was blown up by a mine (one PL-37 armored train was completely out of service) and taken to the rear for repairs. During the repairs, the Bepo also received a captured Red Army armored car, "Wojensklad No. 60," in place of the blown-up armored section of the PL-37. This was a closed armored car with two armored, round, riveted turrets on the roof, which housed a rotating turret for the gun commander. A hexagonal commander's turret with viewing slits and periscopes was mounted in the center of the roof.
The platform's armament included two 76.2 mm Model 1902 guns mounted on pedestals (one in each turret) and six Maxim machine guns, one in the turrets (to the right of the gun) and four on the side of the Verlusha emplacements. The armored platform was equipped with battery lighting and internal communications systems. It weighed approximately 60 tons, and the crew consisted of 20 men. (According to unconfirmed information, the armored train was simultaneously equipped with a captured Red Army PR-35 armored locomotive (it was made by re-armoring an Ov-type steam locomotive (with a four-axle tender); the armor plate thickness was 8–10 mm). Its armament consisted of a twin Maxim machine gun (caliber 7.62 mm) mounted in the anti-aircraft turret (on the tender). The armored locomotive was equipped with a 71TK-1 radio station with a handrail antenna, had a total weight of approximately 130 tons, and a crew of 17 men.)
Subsequently, it operated continuously within Army Group Center and was repeatedly damaged (particularly near Kovel), but was restored and returned to service, participating in hostilities until Germany's complete surrender.
Plastic model kit
Scale 1:72
unbuilt / unpainted
Paint and glue not included
It served with Army Group "Center" until January 1942, where it was defeated in battles south of Sukhinichi and lost almost all of its equipment.
However, thanks to captured enemy armored cars, it was quickly rebuilt.
Two Red Army PL-37 armored platforms were incorporated into the Bepo almost unchanged.
The chassis of a 50-ton wagon on Diamond trolleys served as the basis for the PL-37 armored train.
The 20 mm hull armor provided protection against 7.62 mm armor-piercing projectiles at all ranges and against 37 mm armor-piercing shells from 1,200 m. Two gun turrets had sloped sides. They were armed with 76 mm Model 1902/30 guns. Each armored train was also armed with six machine guns mounted on ball bearings (one in the turret to the right of the gun and two on opposite sides of the train). The armored train was equipped with steam heating, battery lighting, and internal communications systems. It weighed approximately 70 tons, and the crew consisted of 24 soldiers. At the end of May 1942, the armored train was blown up by a mine (one PL-37 armored train was completely out of service) and taken to the rear for repairs. During the repairs, the Bepo also received a captured Red Army armored car, "Wojensklad No. 60," in place of the blown-up armored section of the PL-37. This was a closed armored car with two armored, round, riveted turrets on the roof, which housed a rotating turret for the gun commander. A hexagonal commander's turret with viewing slits and periscopes was mounted in the center of the roof.
The platform's armament included two 76.2 mm Model 1902 guns mounted on pedestals (one in each turret) and six Maxim machine guns, one in the turrets (to the right of the gun) and four on the side of the Verlusha emplacements. The armored platform was equipped with battery lighting and internal communications systems. It weighed approximately 60 tons, and the crew consisted of 20 men. (According to unconfirmed information, the armored train was simultaneously equipped with a captured Red Army PR-35 armored locomotive (it was made by re-armoring an Ov-type steam locomotive (with a four-axle tender); the armor plate thickness was 8–10 mm). Its armament consisted of a twin Maxim machine gun (caliber 7.62 mm) mounted in the anti-aircraft turret (on the tender). The armored locomotive was equipped with a 71TK-1 radio station with a handrail antenna, had a total weight of approximately 130 tons, and a crew of 17 men.)
Subsequently, it operated continuously within Army Group Center and was repeatedly damaged (particularly near Kovel), but was restored and returned to service, participating in hostilities until Germany's complete surrender.
Plastic model kit
Scale 1:72
unbuilt / unpainted
Paint and glue not included
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