What was the VW K2s Type 166 Schwimmwagen?

Schwimmwagen amphibious automobiles were used primarily by reconnaissance units, enabling them to cross water obstacles when bridges, ferrys or fords could not be used, either because they were in enemy hands or had been destroyed. Porsche produced 150 Schwimmwagen amphibious cars in 1940, they were used for field trials which proved successful. Volkswagen then took on the mass production of the vehicle, of which 14,265 were produced between 1942 and 1944.

Which model kits are available for the VW K2s Type 166 Schwimmwagen in 1:300, 1:285, 1:87, 1:76, 1:72, 1:56, or 1:35 scale?

Manufacturers such as Italeri, Tamiya (1:35), Rubicon Models (1:56), Academy, Atlantic, Hasegawa (1:72), Milicast (1:76), ROCO (1:87), Battlefront Miniatures (1:120), GHQ Models (1:285), and Heroics & Ros (1:300) supply detailed kits and conversion kits of the VW K2s Type 166 Schwimmwagen.

Kfz. 1/20, l.schwf.Pkw
VW K2s Type 166 Schwimmwagen

Porsche produced 150 Schwimmwagen amphibious cars in 1940, they were used for field trials which proved successful. Volkswagen then took on the mass production of the vehicle, of which 14,265 were produced between 1942 and 1944. Schwimmwagen were used primarily by reconnaissance units, enabling them to cross water obstacles when bridges, ferrys or fords could not be used, either because they were in enemy hands or had been destroyed.

Kradschützen Ersatzwagen

Kradschützen (motorcycle Schützen) companies of the motorcycle infantry battalions or reconnaissance battalions were to be mounted entirely on motorcycles and motorcycle combinations, but they did use Kübelwagen cars on occasion, to transport some of their heavier equipment. The new Schwimmwagen amphibious car had better off-road performance than the Kübelwagen, it was able to keep up with the motorcycle troops, and cost only about half as much as the BMW R75 or Zündapp KS 750 with sidecar, which is why it was classified as a Kradschützen Ersatzwagen for motorcycle troops, replacing the sidecar combinations. For the same reason, the Schwimmwagen was a popular light recon and command vehicle in armoured units.

Available Models

VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:35 Italeri 313
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:35 Tamiya 35224
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:56 Rubicon 280080
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:72 Atlantic 610
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:72 Academy C13401
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:72 Hasegawa MT13
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Typ 166, 1:76 Milicast BG294
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:87 H0 ROCO 236
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166, 1:87 H0 miniTanks 5005
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166 (× 4), 15 mm Battlefront Miniatures GE411
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166 (× 10), 1:285 GHQ Models G67
VW Schwimmwagen K2s Type 166 (× 10), 1:300 Heroics & Ros G90

Technical Specifications

Type: Light Amphibian 4×4
Wheelbase: 2.00 m
Length: 3.825 m
Width: 1.48 m
Height: 1.615 m
Weight: 910 kg
Speed: 80 km/h, 10 km/h in water

Bibliography

Mayer-Stein, Hans-Georg: Volkswagen Militärfahrzeuge 1938–1948.
Sawodny, Michael: VW at War. Kubelwagen, Schwimmwagen & Special Vehicles.

German Miniatures of World-War Two