Bolt Action

Germany Assault Pioniers were skilled at building all manner of fortifications, communications lines, tank traps and minefields. In addition to building useful structures, they were adept at the destruction of similar enemy positions, blowing railway lines and making roads unsafe for the enemy to travel along. As the German quest for global superiority stalled and finally crashed down around them, the pioniers were tasked with the vital job of slowing the Allied advance, be it by booby trap, minefield, blown bridges, or taking the fight directly to the enemy. Often overlooked in favour of the dashing panzers or elite Waffen-SS troops, the pioniers were the unsung heroes of the German military machine and you can now field them on the battlefield with these superbly equipped miniatures! Within this boxed set you'll find flamethrowers, demolition charges, anti-tank rifle, mine detector, assault pistols, engineers packs and much more besides! German Pioniers contains:

• Enough plastic and metal components to make 31 German Pionier miniatures. Includes a host of options to allow for different weapon configurations and command models.
• Equipment included: Flammenwerfer 35 flamethrower, Wien 41 Mine Detector, Geballte Ladung anti-tank grenade, GrB-39 grenade launcher, Goliath tracked mine, wirecutters, stick grenade bandoliers, Demolition charges, Sturmpistole, Tellermines, engineers backpacks, PPSh SMG, Kar 98K rifle, MP38/MP40 sub-machine gun, Luger pistol, MG34 light machine gun, Kar 98K with attached bayonet, stick grenades, scoped Kar 98K rifle.
• Round plastic bases (25mm diameter).
• Construction leaflet.

The Sd.Kfz 250/1 was a reconnaissance and transport half-track mainly used by scout and HQ units. The vehicle was a shortened version of the ubiquitous Sd.Kfz 251 Hanomag series and much like its longer cousin there were many variants fulfilling different roles, such as cable carriers, ammunition carriers and radio carriers, amongst others. It carried six men including the driver and the co-driver and was armed with two pintle-mounted MG34 machine guns, one shielded forward facing and the other covering the rear and air. This model is based on the original 'Alt' (old) version which served through World War II with the forces of Germany in all theatres as well as with their Romanian allies. There are enough parts to build one of the following versions:

• Sd.Kfz 250/1 - the standard version of this armoured half-track
• Sd.Kfz 250/9 - fully enclosed reconnaissance variant with a turret mounting a 2cm automatic cannon
• Sd.kfz 250/11 - platoon commander's half-track with the forward machine gun replaced by a 2.8cm Panzerbüchse 41 squeezebore anti-tank rifle with co-axial machine gun.
• Includes crew figures with separate heads wearing regular or winter uniforms.

The world's first paratroopers to be used in large numbers, the German Fallschirmjager were at the tip of the spear when war broke out in 1939. They led daring assaults on strategic targets, such as the fortress at Eben Emael, enabling the following panzers to overrun Europe. Small units still operated by glider and parachute, famously rescuing Italian leader Mussolini, and raiding behind American lines in the Ardennes. Their finest hour would undoubtly be the bitter fighting as they occupied the monastery at Monte Cassino for months in the face of overwhelming odds, earning themselves the nickname 'Green Devils'. The German Paratroopers were arguably the toughest in a tough army. Contents:

• 30x Fallschirmjager Winter Miniatures

The Sturmgeschütz (StuG) III was a well-armed and armoured vehicle based on the tried and tested Pz.Kpfw III chassis. Manned by the artillery originally, as it was considered a mobile howitzer, it went through many variants during WWII, and indeed was one of the few German AFVs to serve throughout the war on all fronts. The StuG III had good frontal armour, its low profile making it ideal for performing ambushes, presenting a poor target for return fire. It is armed with an efficient and powerful 75mm gun and carries an MG42 for close defence. The StuGs were welcomed by their infantry comrades, supporting their attacks with HE shells or knocking out enemy tanks to the extent that by the end of hostilities, they had amassed more kills than any other German vehicle. This highly detailed plastic kit can be built as either the StuG III Ausf G assault gun or as the 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze infantry support gun. Contents:

• 1 plastic Stug - either 1 x Stug III ausf G or 1 x StuH-42
• 1 decal sheet

This vehicle can also be used in games of Achtung Panzer!, the game of close-quarters tank-on-tank combat, its rules can be found in the Achtung Panzer! rulebook.