A short summary for wargamers on lease lend tanks in service on the eastern front in several parts. (https://badlyleadmen.blogspot.com/2022/05/variety-is-spice-of-life-part-1.html)
The Valentine is a very overlooked tank, considering it's service on both physical ends of the war!
Interesting and useful. Thanks for putting a summary together.
Interesting read - one nit pick, the Soviets got 2 M3 1/2 tracks, rest were M5 and M9 - the international harvester varient. 4209 of 1 and 480 of tother roughly.
QuoteThe Valentine is a very overlooked tank, considering it's service on both physical ends of the war!
Very true.
I used to be one of those types who looked at wargame stat lines and thought.
"Same speed and gun as the Matilda, less armour and later nito service - why would I bother?"
I've recently seen several tankie vidoes describbing the Valentine's assets.
Very smooth ride - so rather quicker across the ground than other tanks with similar published speeds.
Armour still pretty good at the start of its service, and good enough to fight the Japs throughout the war.
Extremely reliable and easy to fix - kept on running while your Jagtigers and other munchkin transport was abandoned in roadside ditches.
Quote from: steve_holmes_11 on 02 May 2022, 08:24:12 PMVery true.
I used to be one of those types who looked at wargame stat lines and thought.
"Same speed and gun as the Matilda, less armour and later nito service - why would I bother?"
I've recently seen several tankie vidoes describbing the Valentine's assets.
Very smooth ride - so rather quicker across the ground than other tanks with similar published speeds.
Armour still pretty good at the start of its service, and good enough to fight the Japs throughout the war.
Extremely reliable and easy to fix - kept on running while your Jagtigers and other munchkin transport was abandoned in roadside ditches.
Useful list. I understood the Valentine was used by recce units because of the reliability.
We like to flesh out the usual suspects with some variety even though the stats do not vary very much. Thus you see a few Shermans and Churchills as well as mixing up the Germans with tanks such as the 38t.
Gragh, connection crashed.
Tl, dr - get a working tank that the crew can use, it'll be better than any "hard stats" monster that's impossible to use/has fallen apart/crippled your crew/broken down already.
QuoteInteresting read - one nit pick, the Soviets got 2 M3 1/2 tracks, rest were M5 and M9 - the international harvester varient. 4209 of 1 and 480 of tother roughly.
Sorry about that. In 6mm they all look the same to me on the table.
Have to admit that M3 tends to be the Generic designation for 1/2 tracks. Functionally M3, M5 and M9 are essentially identical - the M2 is a bit smaller.
Second part is up (https://badlyleadmen.blogspot.com/2022/05/variety-is-spice-of-life-pt-2.html) covering British tanks.
Its not intended to be exhausted but to shed a bit of light on the topic for those who might have a passing interest.
QuoteHave to admit that M3 tends to be the Generic designation for 1/2 tracks. Functionally M3, M5 and M9 are essentially identical - the M2 is a bit smaller.
Almost . . . M3/M5 are the larger ones, M2/M9 are the smaller.
Edit: Actually, ignore that. A quick peruse of Wikipedia tells me they're all pretty much the same size. Maybe a foot difference in total length?
It's the fit-out and use that's different. M3 and M5 are early versions of what would become the APC, M2 was initially a prime mover & munitions carrier in artillery units.
Very informative thanks Rhys :-bd
I have the M3 Scout car/half track and M 16/17 Lease-Lend options already covered in 6mm Spearhead terms - no I'm not going to do a US/UK equipped Tank Brigade though!
A full list of lend-lease weapons sent to Russia is available in the MicroMark collection:
https://www.wargamevault.com/product/219596
https://www.wargamevault.com/product/219597
Mark
Quote from: Raider4 on 03 May 2022, 10:28:43 AMAlmost . . . M3/M5 are the larger ones, M2/M9 are the smaller.
Edit: Actually, ignore that. A quick peruse of Wikipedia tells me they're all pretty much the same size. Maybe a foot difference in total length?
It's the fit-out and use that's different. M3 and M5 are early versions of what would become the APC, M2 was initially a prime mover & munitions carrier in artillery units.
Yes M3/M5/M9 have same size body, M2 is a foot or so shorter and was originally intended as a gun tractor. They were used mostly by the A/T platoon in Armoured Inf platoons and could appear as transport for the MG and Mortar sections, due to their smaller section size.
Quote from: Rhys on 03 May 2022, 06:48:44 AMSorry about that. In 6mm they all look the same to me on the table.
Damn right. Tbh until you hit big scale at close up the differences are
Mostly invisible!
I've added part 3 (https://badlyleadmen.blogspot.com/2022/05/variety-is-spice-of-life-pt-3.html) covering US tanks in service on the eastern front.
Quote from: Rhys on 10 May 2022, 07:19:10 AMI've added part 3 (https://badlyleadmen.blogspot.com/2022/05/variety-is-spice-of-life-pt-3.html) covering US tanks in service on the eastern front.
Dang it, you're swaying me to a Lend-Lease tank brigade... fortunately for the sake of my lead pile and wallet no one's playing 6mm here atm :D
JUst reorganise your US or British stuff !
Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 10 May 2022, 10:38:50 AMJUst reorganise your US or British stuff !
I actually have no US, and very little of UK/Commonwealth that isn't Desert themed.
I think the four Churchill VII I have are it :D
Quote from: toxicpixie on 10 May 2022, 01:58:29 PMI actually have no US, and very little of UK/Commonwealth that isn't Desert themed.
I think the four Churchill VII I have are it :D
In Spearhead thats enough for a heavy tank regiment.
I made a start a while ago with my Soviet cavalry division having an alternative M4 tank battalion.
I'm currently digging through the lead pile to see whats usable. Surprisingly I have several Su57's that must have been hidden in a second hand lead pile brought in a back alley.
Quote from: Rhys on 11 May 2022, 07:09:08 AMIn Spearhead thats enough for a heavy tank regiment.
I made a start a while ago with my Soviet cavalry division having an alternative M4 tank battalion.
I'm currently digging through the lead pile to see whats usable. Surprisingly I have several Su57's that must have been hidden in a second hand lead pile brought in a back alley.
I'd need to add a regiment of infant and a load of T-34's :D
I'm sure Rhys has a spare Tank Army or two he can lend you TP ;)
I've only got a couple of brigades of T-34s
Would you prefer /76 or /85 ;)
Mine are Polish (LWP)
QuoteI'm sure Rhys has a spare Tank Army or two he can lend you TP ;)
Sadly my range of WW2 armies is rather limited, unlike my 1980's central front collection.
I'm not sure getting them over from the other side of the planet would be cost effective :D
H&R might be a better plan, if I get really bored by my existing backlog ;)