Panzer of the Lake Miniatures latest release, the Ladoga tender, take the companies name very literally. During the siege of Leningrad, the shipment of goods to the city via Lake Ladoga was critical to the cities survival. The lack of availability of naval vessels on the lake meant that the Soviets need to create a new type of boat in order to sustain this supply chain. The Ladoga Tender was actually three types of boat—a 10.3m type, a 10.7m type, and a 14.3m type—although all three were similar enough to be called one type. They were simply-produced boats with a large cargo bay (two bays on the 14.3m type) amidships and an open piloting area aft. The small boat could carry up to fifty civilians or soldiers belowdecks, was nigh unsinkable, and could travel at a modest speed of… six knots. 118 were built during the Siege. The Luftwaffe presence over Lake Ladoga prompted the arming of some boats with DShK heavy machine guns. The most impressive feat of these little boats, however, was that none were sunk supplying Leningrad, though many were heavily damaged.
From 1943, the tenders started seeing use across the entire Eastern Front, participating in landings on the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Vistula-Oder, and Dnieper. They continued in use right until the end of the war. This file is intended for printing in FDM, with files for the 14m and DShK-armed versions to be added shortly at no extra cost. While BA Normandy game are quite popular atm, if you want to play some East Front landing this will be a very useful model.
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