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Front vehicle identification markings replicate ones displayed in rear 
(ex. tactical vehicle, "A"-battery, WH license number), added marking of white bulldog inside shield outline was unit symbol for Sturmgeschütz Abteilung (StugAbt) 279 or Assault Gun Battalion 279. For most part, these units were assigned to German artillery branch rather than tank organizations since intended purpose was to provide close-in infantry support. Although by late WW2 stages, StugAbt units were progressive up-armed to deal with numerical superiority of Allied tanks, especially against the Soviets on Eastern Front. Independent Sturmgeschütz Units of the Wehrmacht - orbat.com/site/sturmvogel/stug.html
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Inset 1 : Close-up of Sturmgeschütz Abteilung (StugAbt) 279 bulldog insignia, some units encircle it within a shield, others painted only the dog. Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 279 - orbat.com/site/sturmvogel/stug.html#200
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StugAbt 279 was formed in Schweinfurt-Germany on July 1943, but delays in armor vehicle allotments prevented unit from seeing combat until Jan 1944 when it was assigned to 17th Army - Army Group A in southern Ukraine. Battle lines in that area was in-flux as Soviet offensives had already cut-off 17th Army land-based connection through Perekop Isthmus north of Sevastopol. 17th Army (Germany) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Army_(Germany)
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Rollover : Rear deck surface details were enhanced by rubbing black pastel powder onto cotton cloth, cloth was then rubbed against the model parts to accentuate its details, entire area was spray sealed with Testor Dullcoat from aerosol can. Pak40 gun breech painted in flat black, drybrushed via chrome. German PAK artillery - www.diggerhistory.info/pages-weapons/enemy_ww2-2.htm
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By May 1944, StugAbt 279 was decimated along with other entrapped German units in Sevastopol, remnants of which were evacuated by sea. One rationale for quick 1944 collapse of German defensives in Sevastopol was actually meticulous German destruction of Soviet defense networks during 1942 Sevastopol conquest (250-day Siege of 
Sevastopol). With city in complete ruin, it was impossible to resurrect in-depth defense lines in short order upon Soviet approach, Red Army retook the city on 9 May 1944. Siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sevastopol
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StugAbt 279 was rebuilt June 1944 at Deutsch Eylau-Germany, assigned to German 4th Army - Army Group Center in August 1944 to stem tide of massive Soviet summer offensive called Operation Bagration. Operation Bagration - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bagration
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Engaged in defensive retreats along with entire Germany Army on Eastern Front, unit ended its combat career in Spring 1945 East Prussia. German 4th Army - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Army_(Germany)
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Inset 2 : 7.5cm PAK40 gun tow version, man-handled into ambush position by Waffen-SS team wearing camouflage smocks. Need to quickly reposition the gun during engagements necessitated a self-propelled vehicle mount. 75mm on SP chassis - spearhead1944.com/gerpg/gerpics/image4.htm
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Tall wheat fields alludes to southern Ukraine circa 1943-era. Although German Heere (Army) and Luftwaffe (Air Force) units also worn camouflage uniforms, German SS department operated a research section specializing in camouflage pattern design. One would see such dapple camouflage patterns evolving from 1940 French Campaign to 1945 war's end. WAFFEN SS CAMOUFLAGED UNIFORMS - www.1944militaria.com/waffen_ss_camouflaged_uniforms.htm
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Since 1939 invasion of Poland, major highways in Eastern Europe were far from German paved autobahn 
standards, majority of which were nothing more than packed dirt roads. Road conditions only got worse as German forces penetrated deeper into Soviet Union 1941. 1941/1942 snow-mud-slushed winter brought entire German Eastern Front mechanized offensive to standstill. Fortunately, Germans captured vast amount of Soviet hardware in Summer 1941 (along with nearly 1 million Soviet POWs), one vehicle of which was sturdy Soviet Stalinetz S-65 and STZ-5 tractors. German Steyr company used the STZ-5 as basis for its 1942 RSO design. Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - STZ-5 BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher - www.o5m6.de/stz_5_m13.html
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Inset 3 : Close-up of Waffen-SS PAK crew as gunner sights target, as loader prepares to ram round into breech. This is same fighting position in RSO Pak40 tractor. Both men into photo wears Waffen-SS reversible Spring/Autumn dapple camouflage smocks and helmet covers over standard German infantry uniforms. German 75mm PaK40 Anti-Tank Gun - http://svsm.org/gallery/75mm-PaK40
