Sd.Kfz 251/10 ausf D (3.7mm Pak) Half Track

By the time of the invasion of Russia in 1941 the panzergrenadiers had equipped their troop leaders' half-tracks with the standard anti-tank gun of the day - the 37mm PaK 36. By replacing the front machine gun with this useful light gun the panzergrenadier units could rely on a modicum of fire support as they charged swiftly across the battlefield, supported by their platoons personnel carriers. Although not the most potent of anti-tank weapons (its crews nicknamed it the 'doorknocker'), the PaK 36 was best served in a fire support role rather than anti-tank. More than 300 half-tracks were converted into Sd.Kfz 251/10 variants which saw battle in Russia and North Africa as well as in North West Europe. The D variant replaced the C's more complicated multi angled rear armour with a single sloped face, the command variant keeping the old but still useful 'door knocker'. Models supplied unassembled and unpainted