River Crossing: German Assault Raft and Crew

The pneumatic assault boat (Sturmboot) or heavy rubber raft was a staple of German river-crossing doctrine, allowing specialized assault troops to establish bridgeheads under fire. These rubberized craft were lightweight enough to be carried to the water's edge by hand and provided a stable platform for a squad to paddle across obstacles that would otherwise halt mechanized units. The crew, typically combat engineers or specialized infantry, remained low to the gunwales to minimize their profile against enemy small-arms fire. These missions were among the most dangerous of the war, often conducted in pre-dawn fog to maximize stealth during the initial phase of an offensive.\n\nThis highly detailed resin kit features an inflated heavy assault raft with realistic surface textures and rope line detailing. The physical inventory consists of 1 rubberized assault boat and 5 seated or kneeling infantry figures in active rowing and ready stances, all wearing M35 steel helmets and field tunics with complete combat webbing, including four soldiers with oars and one center-seated soldier armed with an MP40 submachine gun.