Bolt Action Unboxing: Sherman VC Firefly
November 4, 2016 by dignity
Today we're unboxing the new Sherman VC Firefly for Bolt Action from Warlord Games.
This is a variant of the American Sherman equipped with a powerful 17 pounder anti-tank gun. It soon became highly valued as the only British tank capable of defeating the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy at standard combat ranges.
In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first. Between 2100 and 2200 were manufactured before production wound down in 1945.
Major George Brighty and Lieutenant Colonel George Witheridge were the ones to really push the Firefly development against all opposition from the MOD. So they are probably the culprits who acquired a Sherman to work on.
What are your theories about the acquired Sherman Firefly?
Only the Firefly could knock out Tigers and Panthers?
Wonder what killed all those Tigers and Panthers then… cos it wasn’t just Fireflys.
Maybe they died of old age ?
😉
Possibly…
air support?
I actually built one of these yesterday. Went together easily.
When is John going to get the Prodos head sculpt treatment that you and Warren got? He’s got the tanker helmet for the photos. Think of it, whole companies of Shermans facing of against Tigers, all sporting the same commander or driver.
Another great video! I neglected the opportunity to talk on the last tank unboxing (shame on me), so in a belated effort to redress this issue . . . First up, just a quick word “defending” the video: Only the Firefly could knock out Tigers and Panthers? I may have missed it, I’m not sure the guys ever actually said that. I’ve listened to the video twice now, but I could have still missed it. One addition (i.e., NOT a correction) – Justin calls this at first a “VC.” (Wow, the VietCong used Shermans in Vietnam? I really learn something… Read more »
It says up above “the only British tank capable of defeating the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy”. Though it seems to have changed slightly since earlier.
Derp, I see it now. I thought we were talking about something said in the video.
Part II . . . 😀 Justin, you’re not alone in trying to figure out how different armies allocated / organized tank destroyer assets. The Germans had tank destroyer battalions (panzerjäger abteilung), while tanks were in panzer regiments / battalions / companies, but their StGs were originally allocated also to the artillery (as British AT assets were) as “batteries.” This is part of what made StuGs so damned effective, their whole crew was a GUNNER first, AFV crewman second. Panzer crews were reversed. I have sources that say that German tank crews usually needed five rounds to “walk” a shell… Read more »
By end 44 many British troops had two Firefly tanks, one generally being the Troop leader who was also usually assigned the best gunner.
Wonderful. That’s MORE Panzer Leader counters I have to make now. 😀 I will confess to having made some counters of JUST Firefly troops (completely inaccurate, indeed, just for fun as a “dream team” counter). Using the math formulas used in Panzer Leader, you wind up with attack factors on a late-war Wehrmacht Panther platoon. Which I guess makes sense. You have a very high-velocity, high-performance 76mm gun in the form of the 17 pounder (corrected to what I posted above, checking around I’m finding that the 77mm variant of the 17-pounder was installed on the Comet), compared to the… Read more »
For those interested in such things, here’s some more in-depth info on the markings (hope you don’t mind my input, John). The division badges are as John mentioned and would usually be on the left hand side (if you look at it head on) with the numerals being on the other side (though some units used other placements, in particular the Poles). The 3 digit numerals are also just division specific, hence being next to a certain Divisional badges. Most Armoured Divisions use the red square with the numbers, which denote a particular battalion within a division. Here’s a bit… Read more »
Man, @crazyredcoat – long time no see. 😀
I appear sporadically, mate. Been busy of late. 😛
Firefly was upped to two to a tank group, or 50% in some units in the later war. Oddly a whole lot of the German armor was kaput by then! Firefly is a beautiful Kludge but…don’t talk crap abut my Easy 8 again, yo. Hell the Konflikt ’47 should be FULL of Easy 8. Of course the tesla tanks they sell only have the 75mm turrets as the alt turret which is okay for Bolt Action but not how things are in Konflikt ’47. But gift horse mouth i guess. But the 3 pounder would be a better turret to… Read more »
looks a nice well detailed model.
Re Justin’s question about the turret basket in Fury.
If you check out the “how it’s made” video extras with DVD/ iTunes version of the film it explains that the internal shots filmed in the tank were done using a enlarged wooden mock up of the inside of the tank. The inside footage of the tank isn’t shot from inside a tank. Something to do with access and camera angles. The pre-mentioned extra vids explain it better if you watch them.
Hope that helps Justin.