Small Scale Military Headquarters

I enjoy collecting replicas of the tanks used by famous tankers. Dragons' Wittmann and Carius Tigers come to mind. Question...who else would you like to see done by Dragon? Joachim Peiper? What are the names of some of the other famous Tank Aces? What kind of tank did they command? What about Allied Tank aces, there's an area that hasn't been explored much. Anyway, post your wish list here.

the molded on zimmerit includes markings for both Willie Fey - another Panzer Ace, plus parts and markings to do BefelsTiger 007 - Whittman's
last ride. IIRC, DML does a diecast version of both.

Hello All,
We did some research awhile back to develop our Combat Commander Series. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Dragon was using this info to develop their own Aces series. Be that as it may, there are several good books on the market that chronicle the history of many leading tank aces. Here's our recommended readings:

Tank Aces: From Blitzkrieg to the Gulf War, George Forty
Tank Aces: Stories of America's Combat Tankers, Ralph Zumbro
Panzer Aces of the Third Reich, Gordon Williamson

Hope that helps!

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.bigstep.com

This Ebay Reseller says the exquisite Otto Carius exclusive was limited to 500 units. Can anyone verify if that was the number made? I have two, both in the mid-100's (card #).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

Mr. Football wrote:This Ebay Reseller says the exquisite Otto Carius exclusive was limited to 500 units. Can anyone verify if that was the number made? I have two, both in the mid-100's (card #).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

I didn't buy one, but I seem to remember that the Otto Carius Tiger was limited to 500

How about Staff Sergeant Lafayette G. Pool who commanded a Sherman. He was credited with 258 vehicle kills, not a bad record. He is someone that history is forgetting and deserves as much recognition as Wittmann or Carius. I believe the top German aces, Knispel and Carius only had 168 and 150 + kills respectively, but for some reason people have singled out a handfull and Pool isn't one of them. I think it is about time he started to get the recognition he deserves. I can't figure out how American collectors, especially, haven't pursued this and pushed for Pool's place in history. A start would be getting companies to produce his diecast and for them to make collectors aware of his biography and accomplishments. If you do any research on Pool you will see that he was a very colorful personality and very deserving of recognition.
I know I would rather buy something with personal history over just another tank.
Please remember, this is just my personal opinion. You may or may not agree with me, I'm sure there will be those that don't but that is ok with me. Like I have always said, " everybody has two things, a belly button and an opinion. "
Happy collecting!!!

I haven't heard of him before, but you are absolutely right. He was quite the guy:

http://www.3ad.org/wwii_heroes/pool_laf ... l_home.htm

The Combat Mission site has some more info here:

http://www.combatmission.com/scenarios/2/2.asp

Now to find a picture of his tank............

Thanks for the heads up on a bonified hero!

-Ski

Great info fovcollector and Teamski. Here is a site with more information and a picture of the tank and crew.

http://3ad.com/history/wwll/article.pag ... ayette.htm

Mike

Ok, now this board is cookin'!

I think we should lobby either Matchbox (who makes superb diecast shermies) or Dragon (who's coming out with Shermies next year) to make a Lafayette G. Pool Ace tank.

Are you in?

It would be the perfect tank for Dragon to start with with their Wittman tank already on the shelves...........

-Ski

Interesting fact is that Pool always rode with the turret hatch open and the upper half of his body exposed. Would make for a great and realistic model.

Mike

I think Mr. Football has the right idea, email the hell out of Dragon demanding a Pool Sherman. The only email address I could find is for the U.S. distributor which I hope would pass them on to the appropriate people in Hong Kong. You can email Cyber Hobby and hope they will pass it on to Dragon.
sales@dragonmodelsusa.com
services@universal-models.com this is Cyber Hobby email address.
If you like you can fax Dragon in Hong Kong (852) 2411-0587. They don't supply an email address so you can't go that route. HHMMMM I wonder what this tells us about their interest in hearing suggestions from the people that buy their stuff.
We need more competition so these guys get off their duffs and give us what we want. Come on Aeroart, give Dragon a run for their money. Think about supporting Aeroart so they will continue to make quality planes, we will be the winners in the long run.
Happy collecting!!!

I just found another Tiger Ace from Otto Carius own 502 "Mamut" (Mammoth) Division. His name was Oberleutnant "Johannes Bölter", and his kill records and awards were nearly identical to Carius. He won the Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross) on April 16, 1944 and was the 581st German soldier to win the Eichenlaub (Oak Leaves) on September 10, 1944.

In comparison to Otto Carius:

Top Scorer's in PzAbt 502

Otto Carius - 150 tanks
Johannes Bölter - 144 tanks

Does anyone know anything more about Bölter?

Well, I managed to find a nice list of all of the German Panzer Aces ranked numerically by their kills:

1.Kurt Knispel –168 Kills (sPzAbt. 503)-KIA in the last days of the war- -commanding his own Kingtiger - never awarded the KC he so richly deserved
2.Otto Carius – 150+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)- Alive and healthy.Finished the war in S.Pz.Jag.Abt.512(?)
3.Hans Bölter-- 139 Kills (sPzAbt. 502)-survived the war - deceased
4.Michael Wittman – 138 Kills (sS.S.PzAbt. 101 Liebstandarte)
5.Hans Sandrock – 123 Kills (assorted AFV last unit HJ ) - survived the war - deceased
6.Paul Egger – 113 Kills (Das Reich)- alive and well
7.Arno Giesen – 111 Kills (Das Reich)
8.Oberfahnrich Rondorf—106 kills (sPzAbt. 503)- KIA last month of the war
9.Feldwebel Gärtner – 103 Kills (sPzAbt. 503)- KIA last month of the war
10.Karl Körner – 100+ Kills (sS.S.PzAbt. 503)- survived / deceased
11.Albert Kerscher – 100+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)- alive and well
12.Obersturmfuhrer Helmut Wendorff—84 Kills (sS.S.Pz Abt.101, Liebstandarte)
13.Oberscharfuhrer Ernst Barkmann—82+ Kills (Das Reich)- alive and well
14. Will Fey - 80 + kills (s.SS-Pz.Abt.102/502) - survived /had a stroke recently
15.Eric Litztke—76 Kills (sPzAbt. 509)- survived the war / deceased
16.Hermann Bix – 75+ Kills (4th Panzer Division)- survived / deceased
17.ZugFuhrer Hans Strippel – 70 Kills (4. / II/ PzAbt. 1, 1st Pz. Division)- survived / deceased
18.Emil Seibold – 69 Kills (Das Reich)- survived / deceased
19.Wilhelm Knauth—68 Kills (sPzAbt. 505)- survived / ?
20.Karl Bromann – 66 Kills (sS.S.PzAbt. 503)- alive and well
21.Oberwachtmesiter Hugo Primozic—68 Kills (StuG Abt. 667)- survived / deceased
22.Sepp Brandner – 61 Kills (StuG Brigade 912)- survived / deceased
23.Oberleutnant Hans-Bobo von Rohr – 58 Kills (25 Pz. Abt., 7th Pz. Division)
24.Hauptman Richard Engelmann—54 Kills (StuG Abt. 912)
25.Leutnant Josef Dallmeier—50 Kills (either Fhr. PzJager Kp.1183 attached to 6th Volksgrenadier Division)
26.Walter Feibig—50 Kills
27.Heinz Kramer – 50+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)- Carius' gunner, KIA end of war
28.Alfredo Carpaneto – 50+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)- KIA end of war
29.Oberleutnant Mausberg – 50+ Kills - survived / ?
30. Leutnant Horst Krönke - about 50 kills (s.Pz.Abt. 503 & 505)
31.Oberscharfuhrer Jurgen Brandt—47 Kills (sS.S.Abt. 101)
32.Leutnant Heinz Deutsch – 44 Kills (Fsch. StuG Brigade 12)
33.Oberwachtmeister Fritz Amling—42+ Kills (in 48 Hrs. with StuG Brigade 202)
34.Oberwachtmeister Heinz Scharf—40+ Kills (StuG Brigade 202)
35.Leutnant Walter Oberloskamp – 40+ Kills (StuG Brigade 667)
36. Franz Riedel - 40 kills (Frundsberg)- survived / deceased
37.Leutnant Fredrich (?) Tadje—39 Kills (StuG Abt. 190)
38.Obersharfurhrer Rudolf Roy—36 Kills (JP-IV, 12 S.S. PanzerJager Abt. HJ)
39.Wachtmeister Gottwald Stier—30+ Kills (StuG Brigade 667)
40.Wachtmeister Josef Trager – 30+ Kills (StuG Brigade 667)
41.Oberwachtmeister Richard Schram—30 Kills (StuG Brigade 202)
42.Oberwachtmeister Karl Pfreundtner—30 Kills (StuG Abt. 244)
43. Oberleutnant Richard Freiherr von Rosen - about 30 kills (s.Pz.Abt.503)- survived
44. Unteroffizier Martin Burmester - 30 kills (s.Pz.Abt. 503)-
45.Oberwachtmeister Banze – 24 Kills (13 on one day StuG Abt. 244)
46.Hauptman Felix Adamowitsch –23 Kills (in an 8 day period, StuG Abt. 244)
47.Leutnant Eugen Metzger—23 Kills (StuG Abt. 203)
48.Hauptmann Rade –23 Kills (StuG Abt. 244)
49.Leutnant Heinrich Teriete – 22 Kills (in one engagement, sPzJgAbt. 653)
50.Unterscharfuhrer Franz Staudegger—22+ Kills (sS.S.Pz Abt. 101)
51.Leutnant (Res.) Franz Kretshmer – 21 Kills (sPzJgAbt. 653)
52.Unteroffizier Horst Naumann—21 Kills (StuG Abt. 184)- survived / ?
53.Oberleutnant Klaus Wagner – 18 Kills (in two days, StuG Abt. 667)
54.Leutnant Hermann Feldheim—16 Kills (sPzJgAbt. 654)
55.Unteroffizier Heinrich Engel –15 Kills (StuG Abt. 259) - survived / ?

It'd be cool if we could find an Allied list similar to this one.

Here are the last 7 to add to the list.
56. GUSSNERLACH, ?? * Kills = 15 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.9 - "Hohen") <
57. RIBBENTROP, Rudolf von * Kills = 14 * > (1 / 12 SSPz.Div.) < RK: 2-Jul-43
58. CHRISTEN, Fritz * Kills = 13 * > (SSPz.Jag.Abt.3 - "Toten") < RK: 20-Oct-41
59. BRUINS, Derk Elsko * Kills = 12 * > (SSPz.Jag.Abt.54 - "Nederland") < RK: 23-Aug-44
60. MOJ, ?? * Kills = 12 * > (StuG.Abt.190) <
61. FREYER, Siegfried * Kills = 11 * > (Pz.Abt.24) < RK: 23-Jul-43
62. RAGINITOR, Alfred * Kills = 10 * > (StuG.Abt.279 / StuG.Brig.276) < RK: 5-Apr-45

and here is the same list in alphabetic order:
The list below reads (from left to right):
- individual's Last Name
- individual's First Name
- number of Kills
- individual's unit
- Knight's Cross date (if applicable)
- Oak leaves date (if applicable)
- Swords date (if applicable)

ADAMOWITSCH, Felix * Kills = 23 * > (StuG.Abt.244 / StuG.Brig.904) < RK: 20-Oct-44
AMLING, Fritz * Kills = 42 * > (StuG.Abt.202) < RK: 11-Dec-42
BANZE, Karl-Heinrich * Kills = 24 * > (StuG.Abt.244) < RK: 27-May-42
BARKMANN, Ernst * Kills = 82 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.2. - "DR") < RK: 27-Aug-44
BIX, Hermann * Kills = 75 plus * > (Pz.Rgt.35 - 4 Pz.Div.) < RK: 22-Mar-45
BOELTER, Johannes * Kills = 139 to 144 * > (s.Pz.Abt.502) < RK: 16-Apr-44 OL: 10-Sep-44
BOSTELL, Wolfgang Hans v. * Kills = 48 * > (Pz.Jag.Abt.205) < RK: 2-Sep-44 OL: 30-Apr-45
BRANDNER, Joseph William * Kills = 61 * > (StuG.Brig.912) < RK: 17-Mar-45 OL: 26-Apr-45
BRANDT, Jurgen * Kills = 47 * > (s.SSPz.Abt.101) <
BROMMANN, Karl * Kills = 66 to 75 * > (s.SSPz.Abt.503) < RK: 29-Apr-45
BRUINS, Derk Elsko * Kills = 12 * > (SSPz.Jag.Abt.54 - "Nederland") < RK: 23-Aug-44
BURMESTER, Martin * Kills = 30 * > (s.Pz.Abt.503) <
CARIUS, Otto * Kills = 150 plus * > (s.Pz.Abt.502) < RK: 25-Sep-44
CARPANETO, Alfredo * Kills = 50 plus * > (s.Pz.Jag.Abt.502) < RK: 28-Mar-45
CASSELHEIM, Franck * Kills = 46 * > (Grossdeutschland Div.) <
CHRISTEN, Fritz * Kills = 13 * > (SSPz.Jag.Abt.3 - "Toten") < RK: 20-Oct-41
DAHLKEM, ?? * Kills = 19 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.9 - "Hohen") <
DALLMEIER, Josef * Kills = 50 * > (1183 Pz.Jag.Kp. - 6 VGDiv.) < RK: 28-Mar-45
DAUSER, Hans * Kills = 34 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 - "LSSAH") < RK: 4-Jun-44
DEUTSCH, Heinz * Kills = 44 * > (Fsch.StuG.Brig.12) < RK: 28-Apr-45
DIETER, Gert * Kills = 36 * > (Pz. "Lehr" Div.) <
EGGER, Paul * Kills = 113 * > (s.SSPz.Abt.502) < RK: 29-Apr-45
ENGEL, Heinrich * Kills = 15 * > (StuG.Abt.259) < RK: 2-Nov-43
ENGELMANN, Richard * Kills = 54 * > (StuG.Brig.912) < RK: 27-Jul-44
ERNST, Albert * Kills = 55 * > (s.Pz.Jag.Abt.519) < RK: 22-Jan-44
FEIBIG, Walter * Kills = 50 plus * > (StuG.Brig.301) <
FELDHEIM, Hermann * Kills = 16 * > (s.Pz.Jag.Abt.654) <
FEY, Willi * Kills = 68 * > (s.SSPz.Abt.102) < RK: 29-Apr-45
FREYER, Siegfried * Kills = 11 * > (Pz.Abt.24) < RK: 23-Jul-43
GAERTNER, Johann * Kills = 103 * > (s.Pz.Abt.503) <
GIESEN, Arno * Kills = 111 * > (2 SSPz.Div. - "DR") <
GUSSNERLACH, ?? * Kills = 15 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.9 - "Hohen") <
HENKE, Fritz * Kills = 20 plus * > (SSStuG.Abt.1 - "LSSAH") < RK: 12-Feb-44
HERZIG, Johann * Kills = 36 * > (s.Pz.Abt.508) <
HEUBECK, Konrad * Kills = 52 * > (1 SSPz.Div. - "LSSAH") < RK: 17-Apr-45
HIMMELSKAMP, Bernhard * Kills = 40 * > (4 Pz.Div.) < RK: 13-Sep-43
KERSCHER, Albert * Kills = 100 plus * > (s.Pz.Abt.502) < RK: 23-Oct-44
KLING, Heinz * Kills = 51 * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 / s.SSPz.Abt.101) < RK: 23-Feb-44
KNAUTH, Wilhelm * Kills = 68 * > (s.Pz.Abt.505) < RK: 14-Nov-43
KNISPEL, Kurt * Kills = 162 to 168 * > (s.Pz.Abt.503) <
KOERNER, Karl * Kills = 100 plus * > (s.SSPz.Abt.503) < RK: 29-Apr-44
KRAMER, Heinz * Kills = 50 plus * > (s.Pz.Jag.Abt.502) < RK: 6-Oct-44
KRETSCHMER, Franz * Kills = 21 * > (Pz.Jag.Rgt.653) < RK: 17-Dec-43
KROENKE, Horst * Kills = 50 * > (s.Pz.Abt.503 / s.PzAbt.505) <
LANG, Fritz * Kills = 113 * > (StuG.Abt.232) <
LARSEN, Rudof * Kills = 63 plus * > (Grossdeutschland Div.) <
LITZKE, Erich * Kills = 76 * > (s.SSPz.Abt.509) < RK: 20-Oct-44
LUITHLE, ?? * Kills = 70 plus * > (Grossdeutschland Div.) <
MALKOMES, Hans * Kills = 20 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 - "LSSAH") < RK: 31-Oct-44
MAUSBERG, Karl * Kills = 50 plus * > (s.Pz.Abt.505) <
MENNEL, Hans * Kills = 25 plus * > (2 SSPz.Div. - "DR") <
METZGER, Eugen * Kills = 23 * > (StuG.Abt.203) < RK: 29-Sep-41
MOJ, ?? * Kills = 12 * > (StuG.Abt.190) <
MOOYMAN, Gerardus * Kills = 22 plus * > (14 SSDiv. - "Nederland") < RK: 20-Feb-43
NAUMANN, Horst * Kills = 21 * > (StuG.Abt.184) < RK: 4-Jan-43
OBERLOSKAMP, Walther * Kills = 40 plus * > (StuG.Brig.667) < RK: 10-May-43
OSCHA, Hubert Ludwig * Kills = 70 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.2 - "DR") <
OSCHA, Heinrich Warnick * Kills = 77 * > (SSPz.Rgt.2 - "DR") <
PFEUDTNER, Karl * Kills = 30 * > (StuG.Abt.244) < RK: 10-Sep-42
PRIMOZIC, Hugo * Kills = 68 * > (StuG.Abt.667) < RK: 19-Sep-42 OL: 25-Jan-43
PRZEDWOJEWSKI , Felix * Kills = 38 plus * > (SS-StugAbt.3 - 3.SS-Pz.Div.) < RK: 16-Dec-43
RADE, ?? * Kills = 23 * > (StuG.Abt.244) <
RAGINITOR, Alfred * Kills = 10 * > (StuG.Abt.279 / StuG.Brig.276) < RK: 5-Apr-45
RIBBENTROP, Rudolf von * Kills = 14 * > (1 / 12 SSPz.Div.) < RK: 2-Jul-43
RIEDEL, Franz * Kills = 40 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.10 - "Frndsbrg") < RK: 28-Mar-45
ROEDER, Paul * Kills = 49 * > (Pz. "Lehr" Div.) <
ROHR, Hans-Babo v. * Kills = 58 * > (Pz.Abt.25 7 Pz.Div.) < RK: 15-Nov-44 OL: 24-Feb-45
RONDORFF, Hans * Kills = 106 * > (s.Pz.Abt.503) <
ROSEN, Richard von * Kills = 30 * > (s.Pz.Abt.503) <
ROY, Rudolf * Kills = 36 * > (SSPz.Jag.Abt.12 - "HJ") < RK: 16-Oct-42
SANDROCK, Hans * Kills = 123 * > (SSPz.Rgt.12 - "HJ") <
SCHAFER, Oskar * Kills = 50 plus * > (s.SSPz.Abt.503) < RK: 29-Apr-45
SCHARF, Heinz * Kills = 40 plus * > (StuG.Brig.202) < RK: 17-Aug-44
SCHRAM, Richard * Kills = 30 * > (StuG.Abt.202) < RK: 23-Dec-42
SEIBOLD, Emil * Kills = 69 * > (SSPz.Rgt.2. - "DR") < RK: 6-May-44
SENGHAS, Paul * Kills = 30 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.5 - "Wiking") < RK: 11-Dec-44
STAUDEGGER, Franz * Kills = 22 to 35 * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 / SSPz.Abt.101) < RK: 10-Jul-43
STIER, Gottwald * Kills = 30 plus * > (StuG.Abt.667 / StuG.Brig.667) < RK: 13-Aug-43
STRIPPEL, Hans * Kills = 70 plus * > (Pz.Rgt.1 - 1 Pz.Div.) < RK: 22-Jan-43 OL: 4-Jun-44
STUBAF, Paul * Kills = 48 * > (s.Pz.Abt.508) <
TADJE, Friedrich * Kills = 39 * > (StuG.Abt.190 / StuG.Brig.190) < RK: 21-Oct-42
TERIETE, Heinrich * Kills = 22 * > (s.Pz.Jag.Abt.635) < RK: 22-Jul-43
TRAEGNER, Josef * Kills = 30 plus * > (StuG.Abt.667) < RK: 23-Aug-43
VIEZENZ, Günther * Kills = 21 * > (10./Gren.Rgt.7) < RK: 7-Jan-44
WAGNER, Klaus * Kills = 18 * > (StuG.Abt.667) < RK: 4-Sep-42
WARMBRUNN, Karl-Heinz * Kills = 57 * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 / s.SSPz.Abt.101) <
WEISSFLOG (Weißflog), Hans-Joachim * Kills = 47 plus * > (Pz.Rgt.16 - 116.Pz.Div.) < RK: 5-Mar-45
WEISSHEIMER, Albert * Kills = 65 * > (s.SSPz.Abt.501) <
WENDORFF, Helmut * Kills = 84 * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 / s.SSPz.Abt.101) < RK: 12-Feb-44
WITTMAN, Michael * Kills = 138 * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 / s.SSPz.Abt.101) < RK: 14-Jan-44 OL: 30-Jan-44 Swd: 22-Jun-44
WOLL, Balthazar * Kills = 100 plus * > (SSPz.Rgt.1 / s.SSPz.Abt.101) < RK: 16-Jan-44

Lafayette Poole's most notable tank was an M4A1 with 76mm gun named "In The Mood" (from Company "I"). I think he went through several (as did many tank aces). Another consideration is Creighton Abrams who was not only a VERY capable commander but noted as making a number of kills from his tanks (all nickmaned "Thunderbolt").

The US and British Commonwealth just didn't keep track of this "kill" business so we don't hear as much about Allied tank aces. I

It's kind of funny that the army that made the biggest propaganda deal out of "tank aces" was the one that ended up LOSING the war! The German Army's mission was to keep the Allies out of Germany and they failed completely on every front.

Actually, I also believe it was more difficult for Allied tankers to become tank aces, because there were significantly fewer German tank targets than Allied tank targets, and those that were available were smashed handily by Allied Air Superiority.

Our Fighter bombers made short work of German Heavy Tanks and just about everything else that had the misfortune of being caught out in the open.

Still, to be an Allied tank ace (ala Creighton Abrams or Poole) was a significant achievement and absolutely needs to be memorialized in 1/72 scale.