Warlord Games: Stummel

Stummel?

Yes, the Sd Kfz 251/9 Ausf A (Stummel) Half-track...in this case the new plastic kit available from Warlord Games for the 28mm WW2 game Bolt Action. This is the vehicle that my German forces have been waiting for. The Stummel mounts a 75mm L/24 low velocity gun, which for Bolt Action is a light howitzer. Artillery is the king of battle in the 20th century and the same holds true in Bolt Action. Having a self-propelled artillery piece, even a light one, gives your force considerable punch.

The kit itself is a plastic model, which if it is based off the other Sd Kfz 251's (and I have no reason to think other wise), means that you have a relatively easy model to put together. The hull comes in three parts (top, interior bottom and drive train bottom) and best of all (at least for me) is that the tracks and interleaved road wheels come as a single piece. I still have bad memories of 20mm tank track assemblies for Battalions in Crisis.

The photo below is not the 251/9...instead it is one from the Late War Panzergrenadiers box set, which is a 251/1 Ausf D.

The linked article gives you the stats for this vehicle as well as their deal for a 2,000 point Panzergrenadier Force which includes a command 320/20 Hanomag with a 37mm PAK AT gun.

As with all open topped, light vehicles it is important to have keen situational awareness as this vehicle is not heavily armored by any stretch of the imagination.