As World War II progressed, the vehicles used on the battlefields became larger and larger. When these mammoth machines broke down or became damaged, the task of bringing them back from the front lines was not an easy one. This need was especially felt by the German Wehrmacht, who were fighting on a wide range of battlegrounds: from the scorching desert of N. Africa to the railroad-lacking plains of Russia. Bringing damaged vehicles back from these difficult conditions was indispensable to replenishing fighting strength to the army.

The German 18 Ton Heavy Half-Track "FAMO" and Tank Transporter Sd.Ah.116 was one of the vehicles that contributed to this task. Including all variations, over 2,500 18-ton half-tracks were produced by the end of WWII. One of the major types was the tank recovery half-track, equipped with two rows of seats and a flatbed for storage of equipment such as a draw-bar and spare wire rope. Tool storage compartments were found on each of the outer sides of the flatbed. In addition, the underside was equipped with a winch. Its powerplant was a Maybach HL 108 12-cylinder engine, which put out 270hp.

Tank transporting was conducted by either direct towing with a draw bar, or by loading the tank atop a massive trailer. Officially known as "Sd.Ah.116", the Type 116 Trailer connected with the 18-ton heavy half-track, allowing transportation of 22–23 ton class tanks such as the Pz.Kpfw.III, Pz.Kpfw.IV and other heavy artillery. The trailer was suspended between two bogies, the rear of which was equipped with a separate steering mechanism.

After the impressive debut of the FAMO kit, Tamiya began to receive many requests for variations. Among the several types of FAMO to appear during WWII, the most frequently requested was the Sd.Ah.116 trailer-towing version.

• Scale: 1/35
• Total length: over 640mm
• Figures included: 12 (eight of four poses from original FAMO kit, four new figures of three poses)