M36 Tank Destroyer
Tamiya released the Tank Destroyer M36 with a single motor in 1968 for the first time. We are proud to announce the release of a new M36 kit with new parts, except for the M2 heavy machine gun and transparent parts previously used in modern kits.
During WWII, U.S. forces developed the M10 tank destroyer with a 76.2mm gun, but it was ineffective against powerful German tanks such as the Tiger and Panther. Perched upon the M10A1 chassis equipped with a 450hp petrol engine, the M36 employed a new open-top turret and a 90mm gun. The M36 saw first action on the Franco-German border in October 1944, and until the German surrender in May 1945, over 1,000 M36s were deployed among 21 battalions and contributed to the Allied forces’ advance.
About The Model
- This is a 1/35 scale plastic model assembly kit.
- Length: 216mm, Width: 88mm.
- The open-top turret form is faithfully captured based on extensive research of the actual tank.
- Features new parts except for the M2 heavy machine gun and transparent parts.
- The turret interior includes details such as the 90mm gun breech and auxiliary machinery.
- The turret rear counterweight is realistically depicted with a curved form and cast surface patterns, and features ease of assembly thanks to slide moulding.
- The full interior includes realistic depictions of shell racks, floor, and bulkheads.
- Includes parts to recreate the exhaust deflector, towing hooks, and tow cables.
- Accessories such as ammunition cases and one full-body tanker figure are included.
- Assembly type tracks with one-piece straight sections.
- Comes with two marking options to recreate:
- A 3rd Army vehicle in Luxembourg.
- A 774th Tank Destroyer Battalion vehicle in Germany.
The American M36 Gun Motor Carriage tank destroyer was a powerful armoured fighting vehicle throughout World War II. The design of this vehicle emerged in 1943 to combat German tanks that had become heavily armoured, such as the Panther and Tiger models. The U.S. Army observed that their existing tank destroyers, such as the M10 Wolverine with its 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun, could no longer effectively fight the latest German armour. The M36 received a powerful M3 90mm gun, significantly increasing its offensive capabilities.
The M36 tank destroyer used the M10 tank destroyer chassis from the dependable M4 Sherman tank platform. The vehicle design included an open-topped turret, which provided clear visibility and communication benefits but left the crew vulnerable to enemy attacks and environmental conditions. Despite its vulnerability to enemy attacks, the M36 maintained its position as one of the few Allied vehicles that could destroy German heavy tanks at long distances because of its remarkable firepower.
The M36 tank destroyer began service late in 1944 when it played an essential role in the Battle of the Bulge to halt German armoured movements. The M36 tank destroyer demonstrated effectiveness in European battles and later during the Korean War, as its 90mm gun effectively countered early Cold War tanks.
The M36 had multiple versions, including the M36B1, which combined the turret with an M4A3 Sherman hull, and the M36B2 variant constructed on M10A1 hulls. The M36 tank destroyer remained operational in various countries until the 1990s after World War II, when it was extensively used by several nations.
American armoured doctrine was transformed by introducing the M36 tank destroyer, which showcased strong anti-tank capabilities suited for changing battlefield conditions.
