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German designation RSO Pak40 referred to Raupenschlepper Ost (RSO) or Crawler Transporter East, armed with Panzerabwehrkanone 40 (75mm anti-tank tank adopted for service in 1940).  Vehicle was a Selbstfahrlafette (self-propelled anti-tank tractor) developed specifically for Eastern Front against Soviet forces. During WW2, major highways in Soviet Union were nothing more than packed dirt roads, which required half-tracked or tracked vehicles to transverse, especially during Autumn rains and Spring thaw. Thus RSO initially deployed into service as logistical transport. Raupenschlepper, Ost - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raupenschlepper%2C_Ost
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By 1943, Germans urgently need increased tank production to thwart massive Soviet armor numerical superiority. Self-propelled anti-tank platforms armed with 75mm PAK40 guns were mounted on various transport as interim solution for frontline troops. Company making RSO made agricultural tractors before the war, hence possessed inherent mechanical expertise. 7.5 cm PaK 40 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.5_cm_PaK_40
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Inset 1 : RSO painted in upper section German African Yellow base color, lower section Dark Earth. Tracks painted Dark Grey, drybrushed via Chrome. Black pastels brushed onto model for surface detailing.
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Rollover : RSO with crew reloading its 75mm anti-tank ammunition. Tank shells + crates came from Tamiya German artillery kit, men from Academy German tank crew wearing camouflage smocks. Smocks hand-painted Waffen-SS Spring dapple pattern, hand painting provided better control over dapple size and pattern, so long as a sharp-tip paint brush and utmost hand dexterity is leveraged. German Reich Camouflage - www.kamouflage.net/camouflage/00136/en_index.php
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Inset 2 : Crew compartment close-up, engine is nestle between the front seats, engine air intake  vents at rear. Although a 4-man crew is usually assigned, a minimum 2-man crew could operate Pak40 with gunner selecting the target and loader placing shells into the breech thus maintain momentum of combat engagements. There were combat conditions when sole German Panzergrenadier (armored infantryman) operated Pak40 gun against enemy tank assaults when rest of his crew were wounded or killed. Panzergrenadier - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzergrenadier
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One famous engagement was Waffen-SS Belgian volunteer Remi Schrijnen during 1944 Battle of Narva in northern Soviet Union. He single handedly destroyed 12 Soviet tanks with his Pak40 gun before being blown 50 feet into the air from nearby enemy shells. Battle of Narva - Battle of the Tannenberg Line (1944) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Narva_-_Battle_of_the_Tannenberg_Line_%281944%29
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Schrijnen was found alive with serious wounds after German counter-attack and subsequently bestowed coveted German Knights Cross for military bravery. In postwar years, he was known as "Knight of the Flanders", Flanders was the Germanic Flemish part of Belgium. Träger des Ritterkreuz des Eiserne Kreuz SS-Unterscharführer Remi Schrijnen (SS-Strm.Brig.Langemarck) - www.stengerhistorica.com/GalleriedeClausewitz/Ritterkreuztraeger/Schrijnen.htm
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