Product Spotlight: The Original “Black Panthers”

Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3(76)W Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – “Julia”, 761st Tank Battalion “Black Panthers”, Task Force Rhine, Germany, 1945 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]

More than one million African American men and women served in every branch of the US armed forces during World War II. In addition to battling the forces of Fascism abroad, these Americans also battled racism in the United States and in the US military. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps all segregated African Americans into separate units because of the belief that they were not as capable as white service members. Adding to this indignity, the Army frequently assigned White officers from the American South to command Black infantrymen.

In spite of these dispiriting obstacles, African Americans fought with distinction in every theater of the war. Some of the more famous Black units included the 332nd Fighter Group, which shot down 112 enemy planes during the course of 179 bomber escort missions over Europe, and the 761st Tank Battalion, which served in General George S. Patton’s Third Army. Major General Willard S. Paul, of the 26th Division, singled out the 761st for special praise after its first action in France by writing, “I consider the 761st Tank Battalion to have entered combat with such conspicuous courage and success as to warrant special commendation.” African Americans also served in equally vital positions throughout the Army as nurses, engineers, truck drivers, gunners, and paratroopers.

As it turned out, the 761st Tank Battalion was a separate tank battalion of the United States Army during World War II, which was primarily composed of African-American soldiers, who by War Department policy were not permitted to serve alongside white troops; the U.S. military did not officially desegregate until after World War II. The 761st were known as the “Black Panthers” after their unit’s distinctive insignia, and proud of their motto, “Come out fighting”. The battalion received a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions. In addition, a large number of individual members also received medals, including one Medal of Honor, 11 Silver Stars and about 300 Purple Hearts.

The battalion first saw combat on November 7th, 1944, fighting through towns such as Moyenvic, Vic-sur-Seille, often at the leading edge of the advance. The fighting that 761st engaged in at Morville-les-Vic was particularly brutal. The unit endured 183 days of continuous operational employment.

The 761st Tank Battalion suffered 156 casualties in November 1944; 24 men killed, 81 wounded, and 44 non-battle losses. The unit also lost 14 tanks evacuated and another 20 damaged in combat. In December, the battalion was rushed to the aid of the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. As part of the effort to drive the Germans from the vicinity of Bastogne, the battalion fought to capture the municipality of Tillet, less than 15 km west of the town, in early January 1945. Supporting the elements of the 87th Infantry Division with just 11 tanks, the battalion took control of the city from the 113th Panzer Brigade through two days of combat, losing nine tanks in the process.

After the Battle of the Bulge, the unit opened the way for the U.S. 4th Armored Division into Germany during an action that breached the Siegfried Line. The 761st smashed through dozens of German cities and towns in their rapid advance through the Reich. In the final days of the war in Europe, the 761st was one of the first American units to reach Steyr, Austria, at the Enns River, where they met with the 1st Ukrainian Front of the Soviet Red Army. On May 4th, 1945, the 761st, along with the 71st Infantry Division, liberated the Gunskirchen concentration camp; the German guards had fled not long before.

The 761st was deactivated on June 1st, 1946, in Germany. They have been called “one of the most effective tank battalions in World War II.” In all, the battalion earned about 300 Purple Hearts.

We’ve opened up the pre-order window for this, the latest Forces of Valor Sherman medium tank to roll off the Waltersons’ Forces of Valor assembly line. Currently, we are pegging this item for an autumn release, which could be moved forward or backwards based upon updated manufacturer information. As soon as we have more information we will indicate if this item should be considered as a potential gift-giving item for the 2023 holiday season. Stay tuned.

Update: On Sunday, August 20th, The History Channel will be airing a special documentary that focuses on the men of the 761st Tank Battalion. “Executive Produced and featuring Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, “761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers” will tell the true story of the 761st Tank Battalion, the first Black tank unit to serve in combat during WWII, and explore in-depth the major battles they faced both overseas while in combat and back home in the United States. It features an interview with one of the last surviving members of the 761st Battalion, as well as the current and first Black Secretary of Defense, Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, alongside new and archival interviews, period footage, still photographs and new commentary and stories from family and relatives of the Black Panther soldiers. The documentary will also feature insights and opinions of prominent historians on WWII and experts on race and inequality in America.”

Share This:

Shipping Issues

UPS workers may go out on strike as early as late July, looking for better pay and improved working conditions. Should they go out on strike, there’s a good chance that most parcel deliveries will have to be dealt with by the US Postal Service. During its off-peak season, UPS handles more than 22,000,000 packages daily. USPS claims it can handle a further 30,000,000 packages daily, thereby surpassing UPS’s volume, but that claim hasn’t been substantiated. Therefore, its not clear if the USPS will be able to contend with the sudden increase in package volume nor is it certain when the strike will end. As a result, increased volume could impact the speed at which the USPS can deliver parcels, at least for the duration of the strike. As a result, we strongly recommend that you keep any tracking information we send you on hand so that you can monitor the progress of your delivery and avoid any disappointment.

Obviously, should the strike drag on into the holiday shopping season, then all bets are off, particularly if FedEx pilots walk off the job in sympathy with the UPS workers. Earlier today, FedEx pilots failed to ratify a tentative agreement they had reached with management back in May that would have met most of their demands.

In other news, Volusion, our web hosting solution, has not implemented the recently introduced Retail Ground Advantage shipping option within their shipping framework. As soon as they do, we will discontinue both First Class and Parcel Post shipping options in favor of this new class of delivery. This service is expected to be implemented by mid August, however, we will make a formal announcement once this service is made available.

News Update: On Tuesday, July 25th, CNBC reported that the Teamsters and UPS have reached a tentative agreement that would prevent a walkout from occurring on July 31st. Naturally, UPS workers will have to vote on the plan for it to take effect but it appears as if a strike has been averted.

Share This:

Product Spotlight: Wild Weasel

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Republic F-105G Thunderchief Fighter-Bomber – 63-8336, 17th Wild Weasel Squadron “Hooters”, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat RTAB, Thailand, 1973

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 bore the brunt of strike bombing over North Vietnam during the early years of the Vietnam War. Originally designed and deployed as a single seat aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for use in the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. It was commonly known as the Thud by its crews.

As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable F-100, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear bomb internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. As the largest single-engined fighter ever employed by the USAF, the single-seat F-105 would be adapted to deliver a greater iron bomb load than the four-engined, 10-man strategic bombers of World War II like the B-17, B-24 and B-29. The F-105 would be best remembered as the primary strike bomber over North Vietnam in the early stages of the Vietnam War. Over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost (nearly half of the 833 produced) including 62 operational casualties. Although it lacked the agility of the smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s demonstrated the effectiveness of guns, and were credited with downing 27.5 enemy aircraft.

During the war, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina / (SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles. Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the “first in, last out,” suppressing enemy air defenses and keeping them suppressed while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.

Although the F-105 weighed 50,000 pounds (22,680 kg), the aircraft could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and Mach 2 at high altitude. It could carry up to 14,000 pounds (6,700 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing F-111. However, the “Wild Weasel” variants remained in service until 1984, when they were replaced by a specialized F-4G “Wild Weasel V”. The USAF F-4G was subsequently replaced by the USAF F-16CJ Fighting Falcon aircraft, currently employed in the SEAD role.

Hobby Master’s second ever F-105G Thunderchief fighter-bomber, which was attached to the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron “Hooters”, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, and deployed to Korat RTAB, Thailand, during 1973, and painted in a scintillating southeast Asian camouflage scheme is now in stock and ready for immediate shipment.

Share This:

Product Spotlight: “The Meat Chopper”

Militaria Diecast’s 1:43 scale US Army M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

The M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage, also known as the M16 half-track, was an American self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon built during World War II. It was equipped with four .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in an M45 Quadmount. 2,700 were produced by White Motor Company from May 1943 to March 1944, with 568 M13 MGMCs and 109 T10 half-tracks being converted into M16s as well.

The chassis was derived from the T1E2 chassis, an earlier version of the M13. Based on an M3 half-track chassis, it replaced the M13 MGMC half-track after early 1944. As aircraft became more advanced, the usefulness of the M16 was reduced. In the Korean War, it was relegated primarily to the ground-support role, being put out of service in the U.S. Army in 1954.

Nicknamed the “Meat Chopper”, the M16 was famous for its effectiveness against low-flying aircraft and infantry, making it extremely popular with soldiers. It was used by the United States Army, the British Commonwealth, and South Korea. A similar version of the M16, the M17, was based on the M5 half-track and exported via Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union.

The M16 MGMC entered service in early 1944, with the M13 taken out of action soon after. The M16 was nicknamed “The Meat Chopper” for its deadly firepower, and was extremely popular with troops. In addition to its anti-aircraft role, the M16 was used in an infantry support role, frequently accompanied by the M15 half-track. The M17 MGMC primarily served with the Soviet Union as part of Operation Bagration and a few other battles.

The M16 saw service with U.S. forces in the Italian Campaign, and Operation Overlord, the Battle of Arracourt, and the Ardennes Offensive in northern Europe. Small numbers were supplied to the United Kingdom and France under Lend-Lease. The vehicle was also used widely in the Korean War by the South Korean army, the United States Marine Corps, and the US Army.

As aircraft became more advanced over the M16’s lifetime, its role as a mobile anti-aircraft weapon became limited, and the newer M19 MGMC was more heavily-armed with more powerful and longer-range guns. During the Korean War, it served mainly in the ground-support role, at which it was highly effective. In late 1951, it was declared as “limited standard” and largely taken out of service from the U.S. Army in Korea, although a few examples served until the end of the war. It was declared obsolete by the U.S. Army in 1958.

Share This:

Wings of the Great War Takes Wing Again

We’ll be the first to admit that its been awhile since we received a shipment of models from Wings of the Great War. But as they say, patience is a virtue and we’re happy to report the impending arrival of three previously released 1:72 scale World War I era military aircraft. The list includes a U.S. Air Service Spad XIII Biplane Fighter piloted by famed ace 1st Lt. Eddie Rickenbacker ((WW15001), a German Fokker Dr.I Triplane Fighter commanded by the “Red Baron” himself, Manfred von Richthofen and a 1:700 German Imperial Navy LZ 41 Zeppelin (WW19901), .

While its certainly wonderful to receive some re-stocks, the Company that oversees the production of these models claims that newer aircraft are currently in the works. We’re not certain when some new items will be announced but typically this occurs after a known batch of products, such as the one soon-to-arrive, is finally made available.

Luft-X’s 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, National Air and Space Museum

Since the Luft-X line is made in the same factory as Wings of the Great War, we are also eagerly awaiting a shipment of their latest warbirds, which includes two versions of the Horten Ho 229 fighter-bomber — a super-sleek fighter-bomber that currently hangs in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, at the National Air and Space Museum.

Look for all of these warbirds to soar over the diecast battlefield next week.

Share This:

Dragon Revs up the Abrams

Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank – NATO Woodlands Camouflage

Now that we are fully stocked with all of Panzkerkampf’s Abrams tanks, it makes sense that Dragon would select it as their next Neo Dragon Armor subject. [sic] Be that as it may, Dragon announced a pair of M1A2 SEP Abrams are in development, both of which are likely due out before the end of this year.

In 1998, a program was launched by the US Army to increase upgrade protection of its M1A2 Abrams tanks. The System Enhancement Package (SEP) added improved armor protection, improved system components, improved computer components, and some other improvements. The first M1A2 SEP tank was delivered to the US Army in 1999. A total of 240 M1A2 SEP tanks were newly built. Another 300 M1A2 tanks were upgraded to M1A2 SEP standard from previous versions. Notably 400 oldest M1A1 tanks were upgraded to M1A2 SEP standard. Also unknown number of the basic refurbished M1 tanks were upgraded to this standard. So the US military operated at least 900 M1A2 SEP main battle tanks. These formed the backbone of the US military armored forces. This tank has not been exported in its original form.

Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank – Desert Camouflage

Like the rest of the Neo Dragon Armor line, the Abrams will be made of plastic instead of metal, which typically affords finer detailing since its far easier to work with plastic over metal, especially at this scale. Both are up on our web site and ready for pre-order.

Share This:

Legion Continues its Advance

Legion Models 1:72 scale Soviet Ilyushin IL-2M Shturmovik Ground Attack Aircraft – Nelson Stepanyan, 57 ShAP, 1944

Several new models are rolling in later this month from Legion Models, the budget-branded arm of Panzerkampf. Expected are several 1:72 scale Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik ground attack aircraft as are a column of KamAZ 4310 cargo trucks. While their packaging is a bit spartan relative to other makes, the products themselves are being well-received, priced with affordability in mind given the continual rise in cost of similar lines.

Legion Models 1:72 scale Captured Russian KamAZ 4310 Cargo Truck

Also due are several key re-stocks, among them both 1:1000 scale aircraft carriers and a handful of the F4U Corsairs that have rapidly been snapped up by collectors world over.

Share This:

Dragon Claims, “Wittmann Rides Again”`

Whether you’re a modeler, collector or avid historian, the name Wittmann resonates like none other in the annals of armored warfare. Praised by the German Propaganda machine and held in high regard by both his comrades as well as his adversaries, Michael Wittmann became a highly decorated tank ace on both the eastern and western fronts, a feat few tankers from World War II could ever hope to match.

That said, Dragon today announced plans to replicate one of his most famous mounts: “007”, which represented his last Tiger tank he would ever ride into battle. Also shown for the first time is “112” — an equally famous tank that was commanded by SS-Oberscharfuhrer Heinrich Ernst, who saw extensive action in the fields of Normandy during that fateful summer of 1944. Both vehicles feature Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste slathered along the hull and turret as well as historically accurate camouflage schemes painted along their exteriors.

The pair are now up for pre-order and we hope to have them in hand for the holiday season.

Share This:

Anatomy of War: Germany’s Secret Army

The Schnez-Truppe or Schnez Organization was an illegal clandestine paramilitary organization formed in West Germany in 1949 by veterans of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS under the leadership of Albert Schnez, that intended to fight against the Soviet Union in the event of an invasion. It has been reported as having been founded with a membership of some 2,000 former officers; later obtaining a total strength of up to 40,000 members.

The organization was active in the US occupation zone in southern Germany, and aimed to field up to four armored divisions in case of war. It was to become active in case of an attack by East Germany in a domestic German conflict similar to the Korean War, but without outside interference.

Share This:

USPS Ground Advantage

USPS will launch USPS Ground Advantage™ service, an affordable and reliable way for you to ship packages in 2–5 business days.

USPS Ground Advantage will combine USPS Retail Ground®, First-Class Package®, and Parcel Select Ground® services (as well as returns options such as First-Class Package Return® service and Ground Returns) into a single, streamlined ground shipping service.

USPS Ground Advantage is a perfect option for shippers of all sizes who want affordable domestic ground shipping to all 50 states, U.S. military bases, territories, possessions, and Freely Associated States.

Features & Benefits

  • Packages delivered in 2–5 business days.
  • Best-priced service for items up to 15.999 oz, based on weight (rounded up to 4 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, and 15.999 oz) and zone (distance).
  • Packages greater than 15.999 oz are charged by the pound (rounded up).
  • Free Package Pickup service at your home or office.
  • Pay for postage using stamps, a self-service kiosk, Click-N-Ship® service, or at a Post Office™ location.
  • Tracking is included.
  • Business customers can use USPS Ground Advantage return service as a convenient option for customers who need to send items back.
  • $100 insurance is included (for both outbound and return shipments), and you can purchase up to $5,000 in additional coverage against loss or damage for merchandise.

Currently, our web hosting solution has yet to implement the USPS Ground Advantage rates into our shipping settings. However, once they do it would appear as if this new rate will supplant our First Class and Parcel Post rate options, thereby making them non-viable options within the CONUS. We will update this post once the rates have been enabled. Pre-orders that have yet to be filled will then be shipped out under the Ground Advantage program. Moreover, according to our Marketplace sites (eBay, Amazon, et al.) Ground Advantage will go live on July 9th and again replace both First Class and Parcel Post shipping options. Priority Mail will be a separate option.

We have also updated our online calendar to reflect the revised cut off dates for USPS Ground Advantage during the holiday season. When you have a moment, we invite you to review all of our cut off dates for each type of domestic and international service.

Share This: