German Panzer Kampfgruppe

Includes five plastic Panther tanks, three plastic Panzer IV tanks, two plastic Puma armoured cars, two plastic Tiger tanks, two Flak36 guns, one Flames Of War Mini rulebook, one printed Start Here guide, two Decal sheets, one plastic Commander sprue, sixteen Gun Crew and eight Unit cards.

The Germans fielded a wide variety of armoured fighting vehicles and had new designs constantly under development. These varied between heavy well-protected monsters like the Tiger, through well-balanced medium tanks like the Panzer IV and Panther and self-propelled guns like the Jagdpanther to light and agile armoured cars such as the Puma.

The Panther

The Panther has thick sloped hull front armour and a well armoured turret. However, to keep its weight down its side armour is not as thick. German tactical doctrine for the use of the Panther thus emphasised the importance of flank protection.

The Panther is armed with the 7.5cm Rheinmetall KwK42 (L/70) gun. This gun was longer and more powerful than the gun found in the Panzer IV medium tank, allowing it to deal with even the heaviest Allied tank

The Panzer IV

The Panzer IV Tank has seen excellent service across all fronts. By 1944 it had developed into the Panzer IV H armed with the excellent 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 gun. Its armour provided it with enough protection to keep most Allied medium tank guns

The Panzer IV is an old design now, but still a match for any American tank with its good armour and excellent 7.5cm KwK40 gun. German Panzertruppen (armoured or tank troops) know their panzers are at their best when attacking, no matter the situation. Even when forced to defend, they argue that their panzers should be used for counterattack and not rendered immobile by tying them to static positions. ‘Fire and Manoeuvre’ is their creed.

The Puma

The 8-wheeled Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma is one of a series of four new armoured cars put into service by the Germans in 1944. These vehicles are fast and wellarmed, allowing them to probe the enemy, discover his positions, and then escape to tell their tale.

Panzer Lehr and 2. Panzerdivision both received a full company of eight-wheeled Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma armoured cars armed with 5cm guns in time for Normandy. By the time of the Ardennes offensive the Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma armoured car was still in use by both divisions

The Tiger

The 8-wheeled Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma is one of a series of four new armoured cars put into service by the Germans in 1944. These vehicles are fast and wellarmed, allowing them to probe the enemy, discover his positions, and then escape to tell their tale.

Panzer Lehr and 2. Panzerdivision both received a full company of eight-wheeled Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma armoured cars armed with 5cm guns in time for Normandy. By the time of the Ardennes offensive the Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma armoured car was still in use by both divisions

The Flak36

The FlaK 36 was the backbone of German anti-aircraft defence, and accounted for a large bulk of Allied aircraft shot down by anti-aircraft guns.

The Allies have learned to respect the 8.8cm FlaK36 anti-aircraft gun and will often go out of their way to avoid it. When well positioned these weapons can halt an attack as it starts.