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Decided to get back into wargaming after a bit of hiatus for a year or so, mostly playing 40k. I wanted to try something new and decided to give FoW a go so I picked up a couple boxes of these PSC Shermans M4A4's to start off with. Never painted miniatures at this scale before, whole new challange plus being a little rusty but I'm happy with how they have turned out.

I'm not really sure where to go from here, definitely going to get some Stuarts next. But I quite like the idea of a Motor Company but I hear they aren't great, has anyone had much experience with running an army like that?

They look great!

PSC are great models, I've got a load of those Shermans myself.

Just a quick point, PSC do a Stuart; but it's not the type the British use. so for Stuarts you'll either have to wait for them to do the M3 or go elsewhere. I made that mistake and got a box that I now can't use!

@Tibbsy.
Can you convert the M5 Stuarts into 'jalopies' to use them?

Lanrak wrote:
@Tibbsy.
Can you convert the M5 Stuarts into 'jalopies' to use them?

It's the hulls that are different so unfortunately no.

Tibbsy wrote:


Just a quick point, PSC do a Stuart; but it's not the type the British use. so for Stuarts you'll either have to wait for them to do the M3 or go elsewhere. I made that mistake and got a box that I now can't use!

M5 Stuart is the Stuart VI in British lists, yes you can use them.


Stuart VI tanks from LdSH(RC) recce troop, Eelde, the Netherlands, 23 May, 1945.

Stuart IV tanks are also in Polish 1st Armoured division, and likely other countries supplied by the British, like Canada and the rest of the Commonwealth.

 Orlanth wrote:

Tibbsy wrote:


Just a quick point, PSC do a Stuart; but it's not the type the British use. so for Stuarts you'll either have to wait for them to do the M3 or go elsewhere. I made that mistake and got a box that I now can't use!

M5 Stuart is the Stuart VI in British lists, yes you can use them.

Ah, it seems I was getting a bit confused... Apologies.

It's been a while since I looked into it; but I seem to remember the particular unit I was doing didn't have any of the types out of the PSC box; and they looked different enough that converting wouldn't work well at all.

I needed the Stuart V if I remember right, which I think is the M3A3.

Happens, choose a different unit.

I dont collect British yet, but when I do my units will shift to match the lifts.

Some allow Crocs, some allow Cromwells, some allow Shermans, some allow Fireflies etc and others dont.

The generic lists help. The generic Flames of War V3 Armoured Squadron allows Stuart V or VI as its basic light tank.

More importantly they have the same stats.
If you want to recreate a specific action or a specific battalion then wait for Stuart V's to be available. Otherwise just go with what is there.

I a collecting 2. Panzer Division next, Normandy campaign, and found to my chagrin that the tank destroyers were Jagdpanzer IV, though the historical order of battle says the division has 21 StuG's.
As the Jagdpanzer IV and the StuG are identical in statline I just took the list I wanted and included four StuGs. No unfair advantage gained, I can justify it historically and I get to use the Battlefront StuG's from the starter box in my army.

If you want them now, just get M5 Stuarts and field them. The M3 Stuarts have less from armour in older lists, IIRC 3. But the Stuart V's from the army lists do not, they have armour 4 like the Stuart VI. Uparmoured perhaps, or just list convenience?

You could also play Guards, who had M5A1 Stuart in time for Normandy. But you ought to paint yellow circles on the tanks if you do.

Otherwise wait a bit. M3 Stuarts are listed by PSC as 'in the pipeline'.

@Tibsy.
Was not the M3 A3 (Stuart V) the one with the hull upgraded to look like the M5 Stuart anyway?
(Angled front armor rather than angled then vertical for the vision slits?)

I may be mis remembering this though. Might be worth double checking?

STUART V (M3A3) - Note the sloped armor on the side of the hull.



STUART VI (M5)

I know what you mean Orlanth; but I picked a specific unit and I've already painted the rest of the squadron!

Motor Company lists for the British aren't that great because they rely on Motor Platoons. They're MG infantry stands, but there's only 4 of them in a unit, plus a PIAT and Light Mortar Team. They won't be able to withstand attacks from infantry, and don't have the firepower American and German armored infantry do to handle tanks.

That being said, I do bring along a unit with my British Armored company when I can, because they can mount .50's on their halftracks.

 infinite_array wrote:
That being said, I do bring along a unit with my British Armored company when I can, because they can mount .50's on their halftracks.

As long as you're playing the 11th Armoured Division, that is. I take a motor squad to support my Grenadier Guards Armoured Company for historical accuracy and can take no .50 cals in Overlord and only one .50 cal in Market Garden.

 Ghaz wrote:

 infinite_array wrote:
That being said, I do bring along a unit with my British Armored company when I can, because they can mount .50's on their halftracks.

As long as you're playing the 11th Armoured Division, that is. I take a motor squad to support my Grenadier Guards Armoured Company for historical accuracy and can take no .50 cals in Overlord and only one .50 cal in Market Garden.

Yup, sorry, that's what I meant. Which is a further strike against the Motor Platoon. Inferior numbers and inferior firepower.