sWS 60cm Infrared Searchlight Carrier UHU

Plastic kit from BRONCO, for the asembly of a German transport vehicle sWS 60cm Infrared Searchlight Carrier ‘UHU’ of WW II, on 1/35 scale. Includes sprues with plastic parts, clear parts, assembly instructions, P.E. parts and decals.

From 1943 to 1945, Germany produced Schwerer Wehrmachtshlepper or SWS for short as a cheap heavy military tractor. It is mainly divided into two versions, including armored type and soft-skinned type for carrying supplies or towing vehicles. The sWS is produced by Bussing-NAG and the Tatra plant in the Czech Republic, but its output was only 825 units before the end of the war. In 1936, the German company AEG was appointed to be responsible for the development of infrared night vision devices. It was not until 1942 that the equipment was successfully developed and released for use by the troops. At the end of the war, about 50 Panther tanks were equipped with FG1250 infrared night combat vision and rangefinders. The sWS and SdKfz251 half-track vehicles accompanying its combat are equipped with 60 cm UHU infrared searchlights. Most of these Panthers and UHU combat equipment were used by the 6th SS Armored Division sent to the Russian front. After the war, the night combat equipment was copied by the Russians and used in their new T-54 main battle tank series.