| 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 |
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
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
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 of the weight of the gun
a counter-weight had to be installed on the rear of the turret. The 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
combined it with the 3-inch M7 AA Gun mounted on an open top turret. Because of the weight of the gun
a counter-weight had to be installed on the rear of the turret. The 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
4th battery
1st battery
