Q of the Week: One tank?

[Leon]

Without worrying about historical accuracy, if you could only have one type of tank on the table, which one would it be and why?  (The only condition is it has to be WWII or earlier.)

[lentulus]

...one type of tank on the table,...

That makes it an interesting question.  I agree with the folks who consider the late war marks of the Sherman firefly or 76 as the best tank of the war, but that includes logistic elements that are not reflected on the tabletop; with getting you there, yes, which should be reflected in point cost where applicable. 

If logistics aren't there, most rules give late panthers a solid edge, and it is not an unreasonably rare vehicle.

[FierceKitty]

Early 15th century Hussite battle waggon. No other AFV has ever enjoyed such a decisive advantage over the opposition or been involved in such a run of victories. AND you get to model St Barbara's cathedral from Kutna Hora (bearing in mind that the present roof is actually a few centuries more recent).

[Maenoferren]

Jagdpanther
no turret but long barrel 88 will take out most opposition at long range, gets a bit scary when they get close though, or as Lentulus said a panther, if they were allowed to give it welly when zooming about the battlefield.

[NTM]

Panzer III always liked it probably from building so many of the Matchbox and Esci kits in my youth. Although it was phased out as a battle tank during 1943 it was a match (just) for the Sherman 75 and provided the platform for the most successful self propelled gun of WWII IMHO, the StuG III. They will feature heavily in my Sicily/Italy project for 2011. I seem to be drawn to units which employed it my Market Garden Germans are based on Kampfgruppe Knaust including Kompanie Mielke which had 6 Panzer III's with long and short 50mm and 2 Panzer IV (although I have not done the IV' as they were destroved attacking the bridge and I am mainly interested it the fighting on 'The Island'). Thinking about it I have German tanks in 10 and 15mm and all of them are either Panzer III or Stugs.

[Luddite]

T34.

Best...tank...ever (in Comicbook Guy cadence).

Why? 

Versatile, fast, powerful, reliable, and made in vast quantities.  Accept no substitutes...

[nikharwood]

PzIV in any & all variants - purely for the aesthetic - it's a thing of beauty.

[Sandinista]

T34 - Nazi killer

also looks good 

[Kebabman]

Its got to be the T34 (all models),they killed more Nazis and advanced further than any other tank.

A close second for me would be the Comet.I do think that this could have been the Wests T34 ,just a little late in the day....

[Steve J]

For the Brits it would be the Crusader, the Germans the Panzer MkII or Stug III, the Italians the L3/35 tankette and the Russians the T-34.

The first two because they bring back fond memories of Arifix and Matchbox kits of my youth; the Italian tankette because it just so mad and the T-34 because it was such a great, groundbreaking tank. I know it was meant to be only one tank, but I just couldn't choose.

[goat major]

hot water tank. it's filthy on that battlefield

[FierceKitty]

Tanks for the suggestion.

[nikharwood]

Without worrying about historical accuracy

Just spotted this qualifier: in which case I go for this one:



...on the basis that it comes with Tank Girl & Jet Girl [Naomi Watts - who went on to be the pretty starlet in King Kong] 

[Leon]

Just spotted this qualifier: in which case I go for this one:



...on the basis that it comes with Tank Girl & Jet Girl [Naomi Watts - who went on to be the pretty starlet in King Kong] 

I don't think that qualifies for this one though...

The only condition is it has to be WWII or earlier

[nikharwood]

Yeah I know..but I selectively filtered that as it would have stopped me posting a nice picture