Hobby. Tunisia sometime in 1942

[Rogerson785]

While I was in Lakewood Colorado for my 44th birthday I went into this local hobby shop and walked out with two German Tiger tanks for under $3.00 a tank. I bought a pine base from Home Depot and stained it and then worked on the configuration. The black represents a road near the Tunisia coast during the initial battle sometime in 1942.

[Chas]

Very good, indeed. I have always liked a diorama - brings a model to life!

Regards

Chas

[Woodsheal]

Nice work! Did the Afrika Korps have Tigers in '42?

[Rogerson785]

Nice work! Did the Afrika Korps have Tigers in '42?

Yes.

The Tiger I was in use from late 1942 until the German surrender in 1945. It was given its nickname by Ferdinand Porsche. The design served as the basis for other armoured vehicles, including the Tiger II, or 'King Tiger' tank, and the Sturmtiger self-propelled gun.

The first Tiger unit into combat in North Africa was sPzAbt 501. The first three Tigers arrived in Bizerte, Tunisia on 23 November 1942 and the final two Tigers arrived not until 24 January 1943. A total of 20 Tigers of sPzAbt 501 were sent to Tunisia. Their first combat in Tunisia occurred on 1 December 1942 in action against British forces near Djedeida. The first Tiger lost in Tunisia was on 18 January 1943 when land mines destroyed parts of the running gear and there were no replacement parts. The Tiger was recovered and used for spare parts. The second Tiger lost in Tunisia was on 24 January when it was struck by an artillery round causing the vehicle to catch fire and burn out.

[Riverkilt]

My daddy was there on the other side since Jan '43 He flew a P-39 down from England - 7 hours 10 minutes. Then spent a lot of time shooting at those Tigers.

[artificer]

Very nice! It appears to be a model from the "Flames of War" game range, am I correct?

My maternal grandfather was "lucky" enough to be one of the first Americans to hit N. Africa with the 3rd Inf Div at Morocco, and served all through the N. African campaign (inc Kasserine Pass) to Sicily, Messina, Salerno and Cassino. He fought all the way up to Anzio, where he was (again) wounded and got himself stateside.

I actually have his helmet from the war, with a rather pronounced dent and crack in the left side (as worn) rear quarter, it's about 3/4" deep and 2.5" dia.
It was obviously no longer of use to the Army, so he got to keep it.

[T-Bone]

My maternal grandfather was a radioman in N Africa and Sicily for the AAC.

[Rogerson785]

Very nice! It appears to be a model from the "Flames of War" game range, am I correct?

No, it was just some model I bought at a local hobby shop, don't think it is from any war games.

[cessna152towser]

Excellent diorama.

[Riverkilt]

I have the compass card and maps from my father's P-39. He took them after being shot down at Kassarine Pass. The 1st Armored happened by in full retreat and was nice enough to scoop him up and help him blow up the plane.