March 12, 2014 by warzan
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With Warren getting so excited about the new Bolt Action coverage we have planned he roped in Alessio Cavatore from Warlord Games to have a look at five of the best German Tanks of World War II. What do you guys consider the best tank of this era?
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“It’s not a tank…”. I almost fell of my chair laughing at the point. So funny. As for the best tank, I would say it was the Panzer IV. The Panther and Tiger were great tanks, but they were much too complicated and used too many resources to build and maintain. The Panzer IV, on the other hand, was simple, reliable, easily upgraded, and well-suited for mass-production. With adequate armour and firepower, this workhorse could, and should, have served Germany better than the “big cats”. The Sherman would be a close contender, being equally simple and reliable. But it looses… Read more »
Oh boy, now I do understand why the “historical bits” don’t appeal to Warren – ’cause it’s brought up as a series of data sheets comprising technical details of equipment. That’s a nonsense, really! These tanks weren’t robots, and it was not the size of their guns or the thickness of their armour that made them ‘better’ or ‘worse’. It was all down to the poor bastards operating these beasts. So if you’re taking on “historical topics” please don’t fall for the technical blurb. History is not a story of machines but a story of human beings. And that’s what… Read more »
As an aside: “Ausf” is an acronym for “Ausführung” meaning “version”. If you’ve mastered “Sturmgeschütz”, pronounciation shouldn’t be an issue, the Umlaut is the same. 😉
I’m not quite sure the tank battles are such a good idea at this scale — but I will no doubt be in the minority with this view…
I agree with you ..3,6 and 10mm are the way to go for tank battles
I still find it surprising that GHQ still manage to get more detail on a 6mm tank than 28mm manufacturers manage to do on theirs
Perhaps what would make a good follow up episode would be for Warren and Alessio to visit the Tank Museum and see the real thing, like http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S9U5mU2c-k4
Love going to Bovington…Still want to get to the Russian one
http://www.tankmuseum.ru/
Which is apparently 3 times the size of Bovington
Love the idea of tank battles!
You dry fitted every set of track backwards! *goes into seizure*
I was sitting next to an Italian, therefore – tanks should move faster in reverse 😉
Besides – I think it keeps my ‘noob’ street cred well and truly intact 😉
Truly he is the chosen one…
love how Warren always puts on the tracks on the wrong way 😉
The other thing to remember from an historical view is that the Allies had TOTAL air supremacy, and very accurate and quick reacting artillery with unlimited ammunition.
Read the history. Grenadiers ( Kurt “Panzer” Meyer) is a good place to start.
Normandy front in WW2 was pretty one sided, really just a matter of time.
Most Germans new this by 1944.
If you just use tanks, and nothing else, it may leave you wondering how Germany lost…..but tank on tank is not the whole equation.
Very good points!
Or a good read on how to command and operate Tiger tanks, read Otto Carius book “Tigers in the mud”.
Not to mention they never got the spares to keep the tanks running all the time.
Did not really want to mention about Warren fitting the tracks on back to front, but as others have already mentioned. You would guess that would happen, after the front mud guard fitting on the FoW King Tiger, bless him :). The tank battles sounds interesting, might need a bigger than average board, to get the real flow of movement. Or may be use the FoW scale tanks with the Bolt Action tank battles rules ;). But I would prefer to see the Bolt Action scale, it would look epic. A good scenario would be, there is a battle damaged… Read more »
Simple really … the three cardinal rules of @warzan
1) I drop models
2) I stick shit on the wrong way
3) I still love it and thinks it’s all kinds of awesome 😉
Alessio saying “super beast of doom” is my new ringtone. Two thumbs up!
I think this is an impossible question to answer, it all depends on the year and the country as they all used their tanks differently, the French had some great tanks in 1940 especially the Somua but was used badly strategically by the French so its full potential was never realised
a challenge AH , i challenge your 12 stuG with 4 jagdpanther 2 jagtiger ..!
yes i know i am cheating
Just you wait. JUST YOU WAIT. When I get back Im gonna bore you all to death with my freaky freaky tank brain! MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! Not not really! But seriously itching to get an army built! Or two. Most likely two.
NO!! REALLY DO IT!!! I love listening to tank knowledge/trivia.
And only two? I see 4 that I will have to have. Brits, US, German, Russians. All for Tank Battles!!
Is it just me or does tank battles in 28mm seem pointless unless you have a sports hall to play in
Good idea
Sports hall booked – Check
Beer Ordered – Check
Good Times!
Getting Tanked up while playing with tanks umm like the sound of that as well.
You where looking for an event to host …..
Me tanks and beer is the best combo… On to my third Sherman now… Painting has been slow.
Also have to convert up three Stumi tanks which is more difficult than I thought
The first Airfix model I made circa 1965 was a Pzkpfw V Panther. The first tank unit I bought for FoW, Panthers. The first tank I bought for Bolt Action before I’d even read the rules a Panther. Guess boyhood impressions have stuck with me.
Damn! why am I at work so I can’t watch the video!
“Tanks & Beer” sounds like good manly fun or “Bolt Action Apocalypse”
Awesome stuff guys – are we going to get an Allies follow up? 🙂
My fav tank of the war…. Hummm I don’t know 😉
Though right now for Bolt Action it’s the Stumi as anything to do with Finland kicks all bottom.
But yeah 22 Fireflys/ Sherman V tanks is my dream in this scale though I’d want to have Dingos or Daimler’s to back them up.
If I lived in the UK, I would love to go up against your 22 stug’s, but my favorite tank of wwII is the Sherman
So what size formations are we looking at with the new tank battles supplement? As Bolt Action at the moment is roughly based around an infantry platoon, are looking at Troop level for the tanks or Squadron level? It was mentioned that if you use Infantry it has to be mechanised or at least some sort of motorised infantry. I am liking the idea as my British infantry at the moment are based on a RB motor Bn, with a Cromwell and Firefly, so by adding a couple more Cromwell’s, ill have a Troop of tanks. I reckon a Jalopy… Read more »
I think this will had a whole new dimension to the game. I do think if there is going to be tank battles with more than a couple of tanks on each side the normal 6×4 table is not going to be big enough.because based on the gun of the tank you could just sit still and shoot at each other and win by attrition.
Achtung Panzer by Guderian is a good read
Tanks, don’t matter if they are good or bad, tanks will always be fun! The Stugs with their side armors always remember me of Star Wars Tie Fighters, maybe that’s why Warren loves them so much.
Wittman was most famous because of Villers-Bocage, but he was not the top scorer. Otto Carious and Kurt Knispel were among a bunch of equally famous and capable tank commanders, though for sheer balls, have a read about this guy – Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz, aka der Panzergraf.
Talking an entire battalion into surrendering – now that’s a great way to win a battle.
A little it of wee came out when I heard about the tank warfare rulebook.