BECKER'S IMPROVISED ARTILLERY IN NORMANDY

One of the most characteristic symbols of the initial fighting phase in Normandy was a variety of bizarre armored vehicles, based on French vehicles captured at the Battle of France in 1940.

These vehicles were a conception of the very creative mind of Alfred Becker, an artillery officer who served in the German artillery in France in 1940.

Because of industrial contacts from his family, Becker managed to gather many captured vehicles and shipped them for transport to Germany, where at the Alkett factory in Berlin-Spandau many of them were rebuilt as self-propelled artillery. Becker's innovations improved the mobility of artillery used primarily in the 21st Panzer Division.

TRUMPETER GERMAN H38 IN NORMANDY

The 21st Panzer Division in Normandy had numerous and varied observation vehicles in its artillery regiments, most of them conversions based on French armored vehicles captured in 1940. This is an Artillerie Panzerbeobachtung 38 (H), modified from the Hotchkiss tank. This kit is from Trumpeter on the 1/35 scale.

TRUMPETER GESCHUTZWAGEN 39(H)

Fire support for the 21st Panzer Division in Normandy was provided by the Geschutzwagen 39 (H). This was a 105mm howitzer over the small chassis of the Hotchkiss tank. This is a good Trumpeter kit, but I think Bronco's is so much better. Scale 1/35. I used Tamiya acrylic paints in the camouflage scheme.

TRUMPETER PANZERJAGER 39(H)

In this version of Selbfahlafette fur 7.5cm PAK 40, was based on the French tank Hotchkiss. Although the chassis used was that of a stale tank, the modification of this powerful German cannon gave more mobility to the weapon, rather than being towed, the common way of transporting this anti-car cannon. The kit is from Trumpeter on the 1/35 scale.