Junkers Ju 87G2 Stuka  Luftwaffe  Immelmann, 

Hans Rudel, Slovakia, 1944

Panzerkampf Aircraft   14647PB

Junkers Ju 87G Stuka

The Junkers Ju-87G2, famously flown by Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel, was one of the most effective tank-busting aircraft in World War II. The G2 variant, equipped with two 37mm BK 37 cannons mounted under its wings, was designed for destroying heavily armored targets. W.Nr. 494193, flown by Rudel, became synonymous with precision strikes against Soviet forces on the Eastern Front, where his unmatched skill and bravery made him the most decorated combat pilot of the war. His legendary missions solidified the Ju-87G2's place in history as a fearsome anti-tank platform.

Rudel and his aircraft operated as part of 10.(Pz)/SG 2 "Immelmann," a unit renowned for its ground attack capabilities. The G2 variant, while slower and more vulnerable than contemporary fighters, excelled in close air support, particularly against Soviet tank formations. Throughout battles in Kursk, Belarus, and eventually during the desperate defensive campaigns in Hungary and East Prussia, Rudel utilized W.Nr. 494193 to destroy hundreds of tanks, artillery pieces, and supply vehicles, often under intense enemy fire. His feats, including flying wounded and downing enemy aircraft in a tank-buster, were unprecedented.
By the war's end, Rudel had flown over 2,500 combat missions and claimed more than 500 tank kills, with W.Nr. 494193 being a vital part of his success. Despite the increasing dominance of Allied air power and the Stuka's obsolescence, Rudel and the Ju-87G2 left an indelible mark on aerial warfare. The aircraft's role in shaping close air support doctrine and Rudel's audacious tactics continue to be studied and remembered.

Panzerkampf Aircraft

The Panzerkampf range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of military aircraft.

Panzerkampf diecast airplanes feature:

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
• Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
• Selected moving parts such as canopies, control surfaces and swing-wings.