Trumpeter 00350 German 12.8cm L/61 STURER EMIL

The Panzerselbstfahrlafette V Sturer Emil was a German WWII prototype tank destroyer. The only two prototypes of the vehicle were built in 1941-1942. The machine never entered mass production. The Sturer Emil was powered by a single engine Maybach HL 116 with a power of 300 hp. The vehicle was armed with a single cannon K 40 L / 61 cal. 128 mm and 1 MG34 machine gun cal. 7.92 mm.

The Sturer Emil was built on the chassis of the German VK3001 (H) prototype medium tank. The conversion of this tank consisted in installing a partially open superstructure with a crew compartment on its enlarged chassis. A powerful 128 mm anti-tank gun was mounted on the chassis that was changed in this way, capable of destroying virtually any Soviet or Allied armored vehicle of the time. Both produced prototypes were directed to operations on the Eastern Front: the first served in the 2nd Panzer Division, and the second in the 521 Panzerjager Abteilung. They were very successful there, turning out to be a very dangerous weapon. However, despite this, they were not put into mass production. Most likely, it was the intention to focus on the Pz.Kpfw tanks. VI Tiger.