35367 Hummel (Late Production) sd.Kfz.165 Tamiya Scale 1/35

35367 Hummel (Late Production) Tamiya 1/35

Scale: 1/35

Box Dim. 440 x 70 x 260 mm

Plastic kit to assemble and paint.

3 figures included.

The Hummel (Sd.Kfz. 165) was a German self-propelled howitzer of World War II. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1942 and serial production continued in the period 1943–1945, ending with the production of about 700 vehicles. The Hummel was powered by a single engine, the Maybach HL 120 TRM with an output of 300 hp. It was armed with a 150 mm sFH 18 howitzer and a 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun.

It was created to cooperate with tanks and mechanized infantry in German armored divisions and armored grenadiers. Its chassis was based on elements borrowed from the PzKpfw III Ausf J and PzKpfw IV Ausf F tanks. The fighting compartment was located in the rear of the fuselage, the engine was placed in the middle, and the driver and radio operator in the front.

Only one version of the Hummel howitzer was created, but in later production series the hull was slightly lengthened, which gave more space for the crew in the front of the vehicle. The Hummel is considered one of the best German self-propelled howitzers of World War II.

The vehicle was first used in combat on the Eastern Front in 1943, and entered full-scale operation during the Battle of Kursk (July 1943), but quickly found its way to the Italian Front and, from 1944 - the Western Front.