Trumpeter 1/35 00346 M1 Panther II Mineclearing Tank

The M1 Abrams Panther is an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank specially modified for mine clearing missions. Modifications to the Abrams tank include the removal the turret, and installation of mine rollers on the front of the vehicle. Rollers attached to the front of the vehicle explode landmines without causing damage to the vehicle. Weighing 43 tons, the Panther II can clear a 5,000-square-meter area within an hour. Plough and roller kit attachments push mines out of the way when clearing roads without damaging the vehicle. The two Panther II vehicles in the 130th Engineer Brigade¡¯s arsenal are one-third of the Army¡¯s total stock. Two have been used since 1999 for mine-clearing missions in Bosnia, and two more are en route to Kosovo.