Tuesday 29 March 2016

Crocodiles


I'm reading this at the moment with an ulterior motive. I would like to add some specialized bunker busting armoured support to my late war US infantry platoon and had read previously about the attachment of 79th Armoured Division 'funnies' to American units after D-Day.


I had already known that Churchill Crocodiles were used in the battle for Brest, for example, which is only forty minute drive from where I'm now typing this. A quick Google and I found several photographs of the assault on Fort Montbarey in September 1944, using the flamethrower equipped tanks to support the US infantry.



I had also read about the Crocodiles being used in the attack on Gielenkirchen in November 1944 during Operation Clipper, which I've been interested in for a long time due to it's connection with the 5th DCLI (which reminds me that I really should revive that project in a different scale). This once again involved the 'funnies' in support of the US infantry.


There's clearly a basis here for me to deploy at least one Churchill Crocodile with my US troops, although I'll have to use the Quarter Kit conversion set to modify a Corgi Churchill, as all my armour is in 1/50th scale. I quite fancy doing an AVRE as well, as I have the diecast tanks already so would only need the resin conversion bits.

I'm not sure if it's 'allowed' to mix allied forces in Bolt Action but I think I can argue it's historically valid? I'm not just focussing on Bolt Action anyway, so I'll just go ahead and do what I like. I will need to check out the rules for flamethrower tanks first, just in case all the effort isn't actually worth it!

3 comments:

  1. In my book, historically valid deployment (with photographs to prove it, no less) wins over what's 'allowed' any day. I have Doherty's book, and like it lots. There are plenty of scenario ideas in it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Read Doherty's some months back and it's really useful to understand the tactical use of the funnies. Agee with AJ, lots of ideas to design scenarios

    ReplyDelete
  3. I didn't realise just how important he was in tank development and tactics before the war. Very interesting indeed.

    ReplyDelete

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