Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz.164 Hornisse (Nashorn, Early Variant) # 6414

The Sd.Kfz.164 Hornisse, also called the Nashorn (meaning "Rhinoceros"), was a German tank destroyer used during World War II.

It was developed in response to the Soviet Union's heavy tanks, such as the T-34 and KV-1, which proved challenging for the existing German tank destroyers to penetrate.

The early variant of the Nashorn was built on a modified Panzer IV chassis and was armed with a powerful 8.8 cm Pak 43/1 anti-tank gun.

This gun was capable of penetrating the armor of even the heaviest Soviet tanks at long ranges.

The Nashorn had a low, streamlined profile, which made it difficult to spot and target on the battlefield.

It was also highly mobile, allowing it to be quickly deployed and repositioned as needed.

The Nashorn was first deployed on the Eastern Front in 1943 and was later used in the battles of Normandy and Italy.

It was highly effective in destroying enemy tanks and armored vehicles, and its long-range capabilities allowed it to engage targets before they could get within firing range.

Despite its success, the Nashorn had some drawbacks.

Its open-topped design made it vulnerable to aerial attacks and artillery fire, and its lack of a secondary armament left it vulnerable to infantry attacks at close range.

Later variants of the Nashorn were produced with an enclosed superstructure and additional armor, addressing some of these weaknesses.

However, the early variant of the Nashorn remains an important example of the German tank destroyer doctrine and its success in countering enemy tanks during World War II.