[FOW] Cromwells with Fireflies? Comet? Thoughts on Nachtjäger?

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Lathor**

I don't intend to use an IR JP, but as an engineer I assure you that real life and documentation are two separate things regarding to what is possible, both ways

**Krinsath**

If they weren't Panther Gs, I'd buy two boxes. However, PSC has my Gs covered, and I'm fairly confident that there'd never be a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers.

The British stuff looks intriguing, but with eight armies of various stripes (GePzGrs, Panzerkompanie, Sch.Panzer, US Airborne, US Tank Co.x3 and Armored Rifle Co.) still needing to make their way through the process I'm fairly certain I shouldn't pick them up at the moment.

**Big P**

I dont disagree in principal, but you cant base historical analysis on 'what might have happened' as that is mythical speculation. You can only follow the available evidence from primary sources.

With regards the Jagdpanther, the Heer IR Working Group and the Sperber designer both maintain it couldnt be fitted for gunnery, though I believe it could be installed for driving.

I did find an interesting comment from 1st Company, Panzer-Lehr Reg. 130 on their IR training;

"In the field trials the techinical problems stood out, consequently with so many mistakes on the devices these were withdrawn prior to deployment"

And some comments on units that did use the IR...

Units that really saw combat with IR Panthers was a Versuchs unit under command of a Haas ( ca 4-5 Panthers) . It was in Hungary Dec-Jan 44-45. Otherwise during the Winter they cancelled the operations with IR device becauce of the snow which made the IR "Blind". Later the 1./29 (Rasim) saw combat at Seelow heights 4. /11 southeast of Berlin and finally the 1/130 in area Berlin. Reports says (perhaps) that a couple of vehicles of 1/BR (staff) saw action with the IR. Small groups was tested as well but without Panthers. Some crews saw a "lehrgang" but (ex Pz.Rgt 27) saw no action with the Panthers.

The 3./6 recieved its Panther and was transported to Hungary in March 45 but saw never action - as they were afraid it would fall in the advancing russian hands. The crew had one problem and it was to identify foe or friend throug the device - it was like looking on a old movie and you could not see if it was a T-34 or a Panther. Thats why they "hold" fire many times. On each IR Panther it was 2-3 Soldiers that was guarded the Tank armed with IR MP 44. They were also guarded on the back by a steel plate.

Well concerning the units I/130...I/24...I/11 is correct they rushed to Hungary in Dec.44 but without any IR equippment -one Comp of I/130 (1:st) stayed in Germany as a base for the later I/130 and continiud training with IR. The main reason they did not use the IR in Dec - Feb 44-45 was two reasons...the equippment was not reliable enough and as i said they did not used IR during the winter and snow.

But I still want to do one in 20mm!

**Avatar 720**

Krinsath wrote:
If they weren't Panther Gs, I'd buy two boxes. However, PSC has my Gs covered, and I'm fairly confident that there'd never be a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers.

When is there not a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers?

**Krinsath**

Avatar 720 wrote:
Krinsath wrote:
If they weren't Panther Gs, I'd buy two boxes. However, PSC has my Gs covered, and I'm fairly confident that there'd never be a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers.

When is there not a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers?

When there's the cost of 2100 points at RV.

**MrMoustaffa**

Krinsath wrote:
Avatar 720 wrote:
Krinsath wrote:
If they weren't Panther Gs, I'd buy two boxes. However, PSC has my Gs covered, and I'm fairly confident that there'd never be a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers.

When is there not a reason to field 10 Jagdpanthers?

When there's the cost of 2100 points at RV.

You can take them as CT in desperate measures as the main element of a Panzerkampfgruppe for the low low price of 1810pts. Heck, that's low enough you can still throw in some AAA or Luchs for recon, or a small 15cm rocket launcher battery

More realistically, you could take a single platoon of 3 or so mixed in with a lighter tank like StuG's or Panzer IV J's with tank riders and have a nice little force.