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.

Hi, I'm a new FoW player, infact i have not played a single game yet. I have made a Desert Rats Armoured Squadron And i need some help what I should get next to expand it.

I use the Overlord book.

This is what I have at the moment:


Desert Rats Armoured Squadron: 1050

Headquarters:

Desert Rats Armoured Squadron HQ: 225
2 Cromwell IV and 1 Cromwell VI CS

Combat Platoons:

Desert Rats Armoured Platoon 1: 275
2 Cromwell IV and 1 Firefly VC

Desert Rats Armoured Platoon 2: 275
2 Cromwell IV and 1 Firefly VC

Desert Rats Armoured Platoon 3: 275
2 Cromwell IV and 1 Firefly VC

you need to bump each tank platoon to 4 total tanks. Being Reluctant, you will run rather fast if you have to take a morale test. Then add 3 stuarts for recon.

Alright, thanks for you advice

How well do tanks do against infantry?

Against infantry out in the open, Tanks do fine.

Against dug in infantry, the Cromwells do ok given enough time as the 75mm guns have the firepower to dig out the infantry*, but under most cases, you'll have to assault the infantry to move them off an objective and being reluctant, you'll need to make sure either your first hit is good or you've got additional platoons for follow-up assaults. Normandy infantry aren't too bad, but with late late war Germans, everyone has a panzerfaust so you'll need infantry of your own to dig them out.

Fireflies carry a 17 pdr which is great for killing other tanks, but suffers from No HE so the main gun can't be used against infantry. They also do not have the light tank rule so they cannot keep up with your Cromwells if they're moving on roads.

* Unless hit by a breakthrough/bunker buster weapon, infantry have a 3+ save. After the 3+ save, if infantry are in bullet proof cover (dug in or otherwise), a firepower check is needed to confirm kills from any failed saves. Most Machine Guns have a 6+ firepower so except for an occasional kill, you're going to need something with more firepower. The 75mm gun on the Cromwell is firepower 3+, but has a RoF of 2 which gets reduced to 1 of you moved. Dug in, gone to ground veterans (typical german infantry in Normandy), need 6s to hit at short range. 3 stationary Cromwells get 6 total shots with their 75mm guns so they expect 1 hit. The hit stand has a 1/3 chance of failing the save followed by a 2/3 chance of a successful firepower check resulting in .22 kills. Against a 7 strong german platoon, it'll take those 3 Cromwells 20 turns of shooting to force a morale check.

Was the Firefly used in North Africa? I thought that was introduced in '44?

 snurl wrote:
Was the Firefly used in North Africa? I thought that was introduced in '44?

The Desert Rats served in Normandy, which is when they were supplied with Cromwells.

To the OP, unless you're locked into the Normandy campaign you may be better off using the Armoured Recce Squadron from Market Garden.

Agreed. The Challenger pairs up with Cromwell much better than the Firefly as it also has light tank. Be aware that there is some degree of power creep in late war lists roughly corresponding with what time period is covered. A list from Normandy is generally less powerful than a list from Market Garden/Bulge which are slightly less powerful than end of war lists. While this is more noticeable with the allies/US lists as the German lists start seeing a massive changes in paradigm after Normandy/Gray Wolf.

 Ghaz wrote:

 snurl wrote:
Was the Firefly used in North Africa? I thought that was introduced in '44?

The Desert Rats served in Normandy, which is when they were supplied with Cromwells.

To the OP, unless you're locked into the Normandy campaign you may be better off using the Armoured Recce Squadron from Market Garden.

cannonfodr wrote:
... and being reluctant, you'll need to make sure either your first hit is good or you've got additional platoons for follow-up assaults. Normandy infantry aren't too bad, but with late late war Germans, everyone has a panzerfaust so you'll need infantry of your own to dig them out.

They still benefit from British Bulldog which mitigates their low morale slightly.