KING & COUNTRY DD178
Overview
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Introduction and figure overview
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Historical context: Percy Hobart and 79th Armoured Division in Normandy
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Collector notes: identification, variants, market value
This review examines King & Country’s DD178 Major‑General Percy Hobart figure in thorough detail, appealing to collectors interested in D‑Day subjects and specialised miniatures. It outlines the figure’s manufacturing facts, scale, equipment, and secondary‑market presence while also offering a concise historical profile of General Hobart’s indispensable role in the Normandy invasion.
Historical Background
Major‑General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart (14 June 1885 – 19 February 1957) played a pivotal role in the Normandy invasion by commanding the British Army’s 79th Armoured Division, formed August 14, 1942, and disbanded August 20, 1945 (en.wikipedia.org). Originally commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1904, Hobart transferred to the Royal Tank Corps in 1923 and established himself as a visionary of armoured warfare (britannica.com). After a contentious retirement in 1940, Winston Churchill recalled him in 1941 to train a new armoured division and ultimately appointed him commander of the experimental 79th Armoured Division in March 1943 (en.wikipedia.org).
Under Hobart’s leadership, the 79th Armoured Division developed specialised armoured vehicles—dubbed “Hobart’s Funnies”—designed to solve problems posed by the Atlantic Wall and Normandy beaches. These included swimming tanks like the Duplex Drive Sherman, mine‑clearing Crab tanks, Churchill‑based Crocodile flame‑throwers, AVRE bunker‑smashers, bridging and carpet‑laying tanks (britannica.com). On D‑Day, 6 June 1944, these vehicles supported beach assaults, demolishing obstacles and allowing Allied forces to land effectively (britannica.com). Hobart’s innovations extended beyond Normandy. His vehicles operated throughout the North‑West Europe campaign—during operations such as the Battle of the Scheldt, the Rhine crossings (Operation Plunder), and the struggle through the Reichswald—and provided critical engineering support in each major engagement (en.wikipedia.org).
His strategic legacy lies in how integration of specialized engineering armor into combat operations became a force multiplier, shaping modern supporting-armour doctrine.
Collector Notes
DD178 Major‑General Percy Hobart was released by King & Country in August 2012 and officially retired in 2020 (actionfiguren-shop.com). It is a single figure (“personality” release) depicting Hobart in a British duffel coat and the black tank corps beret, representative of his command of 79th Armoured Division (actionfiguren-shop.com). As a ‘DD’ line figure, it matches the 1:30 scale of most King & Country D‑Day releases. Specific product code is DD178. Identification tips: intact original packaging and box insert dated 2012 improve provenance and value. Paint quality often shows fine detail in facial features and beret insignia (tank corps emblem); worn or rubbed beret paint or missing coat details are typical defects to watch. No known variants or exclusive sub‑editions.
Packaging followed standard King & Country duffel‑coat figure box design, including illustrated sleeve and clear display window. In the secondary market, DD178 sells in the range of approximately USD 60–120, depending on condition and box state. Mint‑in‑box examples with certificate and sleeve fetch upper‑range prices. Loose figures in good paint may attain $70–90. As with other character pieces, demand is moderate due to the figure’s historical interest. Condition issues such as chipped paint on coat folds or thinning of the beret’s insignia can lower value by 15–25%.
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