Well we are looking at a “historical re-fight” where “Fury” and its 3 mates unwittingly run across a singlePzKW VI Tiger. The “historical” source material starts when the Tiger kills one of the Shermans from ambush, blowing it up with a single shot. The surviving three M4s back up and lay smoke on top of the Tiger, which chooses to advance so it can see them: the Shermans then advance on it, splitting left and right. Two more are destroyed (both exploding into flames after single hits) while several 75mm and 76mm shots glance off the Tiger’s impenetrable armour; though this buys time for “Fury” to get around the back of the Tiger, firing point-blank into its thinner rear armour to destroy it.

The main Shermans used in the movie were : ‘Fury’, an M4A3E8 (76)W HVSS Sherman tank from the Bovington Tank Museum, formerly ‘Ron/Harry’, ‘Lucy Sue’, an M4A2 Sherman from Tay Restorations, ‘Matador’ an M4E8 (76)W HVSS Sherman from Jeep Sud Est, ‘Murder, Inc.’ an M4A4 Sherman from Adrian Barrell, and ‘Old Phyllis’, an M4A1 (76)W Sherman. In other words that is 2  only M4 75mm Shermans and 2 only M4 76mm Shermans.

I only have 2 Sherman models so Cromwells will have to do for the others.

As this was a “re-fight”  the game begins with the Tiger already having knocked out the rear M4 75mm Sherman and the Shermans having laid smoke, purely because there is no mechanism in “What a Tanker” to lay smoke. I prefer the game without smoke as the beauty of WAT is its simplicity and this would just add another layer I am happy to do without.

The Shermans deployed in battle formation.

The Tiger smoked out.

Fury begins the game with the following WAT cards:

• Impressive Bush;
• Dead eye; and
• Wild card.

The other tanks are just “plot devices” and do not warrant cards.

For those who have not seen the primary source material:

A very dramatic and intense few minutes.

In reality the Tiger would probably have used use the smoke as cover to bug out because it was likely to lose against the 3 Shermans. The remaining M4 75 would have difficulty pentrating the Tiger’s front armour at anything more than point-blank range, but should get a round through its side or rear armour at a very respectable distance. However, the two M4 76mm tanks could pentrate the Tiger’s front armour from 500–700m with standard ammunition and certainly with the tungsten-cored HVAP rounds. Only a few of these HVAP rounds were issued per tank for difficult targets… like Tigers.

We know from the movie dialogue that the initial range was 800 metres so unless the Shermans closed quickly they could be in trouble, but this was a battle far more in favour of the Shermans than the movie makes out.

Unlike the movie by 1945 the Sherman was one the least likely tanks to burn on a single hit, with only one in five or so penetrating hits causing a fire due to much improved wet ammunition storage and greater protection.

So what about that saying “Lights up first time every time” discussion we had a few games ago.

Well it seems this may be more myth than reality and would be an interesting discussion for a later date. For now see:

http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/275581-common-history-myths-please-read-before-posting/page__st__360__pid__5386831#entry5386831

The battle begins with the Tiger advancing through the smoke and opening up on the M4 75mm on its left.

As in the movie an instant second kill.

With is final movement dice the Tiger backed back into the smoke.

“Fury stands still waiting for a movement dice whilst the other 76mm M4 tries to outflank the Tiger.

The Tiger and the outflanking Sherman face of against one anotyher while “Fury” still waits for a movement dice.

The Sherman takes a dice off the Tiger.

“Fury” finally get into a position to fire but the shots bounce off the Tiger’s frontal armour.

The outflanking Sherman suffers a couple of dice of temporary damage.

Some quick movement from the outflanking Sherman puts it in a good position.

“Fury” tries to outflank the Tiger whilst the other protagonists face off at point blank range.

With “Fury in an ideal position it does not obtain a dice to “shoot”.

After several turns of “saved” shooting the situation remains the same!

The Tiger finally destroys a third Sherman leaving only “Fury” intact.

Finally, with the Tiger down to three dice “Fury” finally obtains revenge.

True to the movie. With the What a Tanker cards held by “Fury” (the Brad Pitt factor) becoming a deciding factor in the end.

I am finally making progress on Plains Indians (Comanche) from Warlords – pictures below. Obviously no war-paint yet and a lot of work to be done, but shouldn’t be to long before these are done and further orders are being sent o/s. I’m using David’s method (see earlier blog) but am going to try a final highlight of a mix of flesh (Citadel Dwarf and/or Elf Flesh) with the Citadel “bugman’s glow” as the figures look a little to dark – though that may be due to everything being brown at the minute.

Finally a picture of my “Batman Miniatures game” collection pieces thus far. I think this could be an excellent skirmish game for P.I.G.’s Wednesday evenings.

Bucko

On February 3, 1941, air reconnaissance revealed that the Italians were preparing to abandon the city of Benghazi. General O’Connor, in charge of the British and Commonwealth forces, dispatched the 7th Armoured Division with the aim of heading off the Italian retreat. By the afternoon of February 5, a blocking position had been established south of Beda Fomm, across the enemy’s two routes of retreat. After capturing the surprised advance units of the Italian column, the British engaged the main Italian force on February 6. Although the Italians boasted 100 cruiser tanks and the British could field fewer than one-third of that number, British tank commanders utilized the terrain far more skillfully. When night fell, 60 of the Italian tanks had been crippled, and the remaining 40 were found abandoned the following day; only 3 of the British tanks had been knocked out. A decisive British victory.

The retreat routes blocked by the 7th Armour.

Italian Tanks

British Matildas

First turn of th game  – the matilda of Dave K opens fire………..

4 Hits and no saves by David S seesan Italian tank brew up without even moving!!

Revenge is sweet as the 90mm of the Italian tank penetrates the Matilda.

Having out- manuevered the British, David S had nine dice into the side armour of the the second Matilda – not one hit!! The Matilda’s return fire quickly ending game one.

Swapping sides game two turned out to be more of a drawn out affair with most hits being saved.

The protagonists advanceon each other.

The Italian tank in a bit of trouble. – at least it would be if I could get to shoot!!

Edging past one tank the Italians couldn’t get past the second as the Matilda’s turrent moved and opened fire.

With one of the Matildas down to one dice this game was going down to the wire but their armour was proving the deciding factor as the Italians shots were bouncing off. Gradually losing any ability to respond as the hits mounted up on the Italians they lost their final dice and abandon their tank and the battlefield.

Two wins to the British – one decisive and the second a near run thing.