relist ° TANK BATTLES 5 THE LORRAINE, SEPTEMBER 1944 - JANUARY 1945 aa OR agWESTERN as CTY Rerintag WHY COLLECT A FORCE FROM BLOOD, _ GUTS, & GLORY? In Blood, Guts, & Glory players join in the massive tank bartles that took place in the Los September 1944 to January 1945, This book will allow you to ficld several of the major forces that fought in the Lorraine campaign including the har _ | charging US 4° Armored Division, with heroes such as the famous Lieutenant General Gerorge S Patton and Lieute Colonel Creighton Abrams to lead your fe of France from I a seb able Se toy rn, Germany 0 Pacer Brgees Eee bee Be ete Gauss bes cranes al Panther medium tank and new SrG44 assault rifles. These units had Whichever side you choose, the rolling plains ofthe Lorraine will offer you the best terrain for fighting you can hope for! Bl steno en FRANCE 7] LU ces poet Celt g rata cit reruyn3 nog Rs Borer) WHY PLAY TANK ACES? Blood, Guts tion campaign, which is a sys companies that fought in the Lorraine, With Tank Accs you will earn medals and promotions as you command a small tank company and lead them to glory ilory also includes the new Tank Aces escala- cm that focuses on the tank thether you are Tank Aces will ou to explore ‘weapons at your disposal, includin and self propelled artillery, in order battlefields of th a up aw ox will has world of tactics for full use of support achieve victory on the In this campaign, you will begin the game with a small force As you fight your way through, your command will expand to include new tanks and platoons. Your battles will determine the face ofthe campaign. Will the German artack successfully cutoff Patton's Third Army? Or will the Allies break through into Germany beyon:BLOOD, GUTS, & TANK BATTLES IN THE LORRAINE, SEPTEMBER 1944 - JANUARY 1945 Written by: Michael Haught and Phil Yases Assistant Writer: Andew Haught Ealitors: Peter Simunovich, Jobn-Paul Brisigotst Proof Readers: Russell Brians, Joha Gos Gary Martin, Gregg Sitet Graphic Design: Viccor Pesch Assistant Designers: Casey Davies, Sean Goodison Miniatures Designs Evan Allen, ech Nash The 4 Armored Division .. ‘Warrior: Lieutenant General George $ Patton Jr Warrior: Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams “The Lucky Seventh: The 7* Armored Division US Combat Commands . Improving the Breed: M4 Sherman Tanks ‘M4 Sherman Tank Special Rules ‘Tank Company Armored Rifle Company... Fortune Favors the Bold: ‘The 644* TD Battalion Victory Not Glory: The 704 TD Battalio ‘Tank Destroyer Company .. US Support US Arsenal. Painting US Tans. Internal Art: Ben Wootten, Vincent Wai ig finiatures Painting: James Brown, Blake Coster, Mark Hazell my Painter, Mact Parkes, Shelby Taylor ‘Terrain Modelling and Photography: Baceftont Studio Playtest Groups: Arizona Deserc Ras (Thomas Welle), Dads Army (Andrew Dunean), Einherjar (Gs Jokull Gisason), ‘Game Korps Dog Company (Troy Fuller) La Brigada de Madd (Jorge Sancho), Oregon Flames Of War (Michael McSwiney), The Rat Patol (Ed Leland), The Regiment (Simon McBeth, Spritz of War (Nicold Da Lio) NTS 106. Panzerbrigade Feldherrnhalle. Panzer Brigade Special Rules FHH Panzerkompanie FHH Panzersturmkompanie FHH Panzergrenadierkompani Panzer Brigades at Arracouit. Panzerkompanie Panzergrenadierkompani¢wn. German Arsenal Painting Germans .. TANK ACES Pare I:"The Campaign sn Part 2: Your Tank Ace nn Part 3: Your Fore Part 4: Playing Game Out of the Fog Mission “Arracourt Battlefields ‘Campaign Sheets & Quick References ‘Thisis a supplement for Flames Of War; the World War I miniatures game. A copy of the rulebook for Flames Of Waris necessary to fully use the contents of th All rights teserved. No pate ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored in arerival sytem, or tansmited, in any form or by any ‘mans without the prioe written permission of the publisher nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other chan that in which iti published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser, © Copyright Batileront Miniatures Lid, 2012, ISBN 978-0-9876609-0-9NORMANDY TO LORRAINE Sia eee ENS ‘On D-Day, 6 June 1944, US and British forces landed on the beat he long-awaited lit France. The German Army responded with all the force it could muster, throwing ten armoured divisions, three heavy Tiger tank battalions, and 27 infantry divisions at the Allied 1 period of two and a half months. For mc ced like they might su the Allies bortled up in their small bridgehead. The cost had be the Allied forces had torn a hole in the west as they kept too high though, and by the end of July. in end of thi Despite the Thied Army rman line and were pouring through the g eral Patton’ looded into the Brittany Peninsula and raced towards Pari best efforts of the Germans, trapping the German od the German Army in the V and artillery echelons is, but lost most ing litle co stop the triumphant Allied advance disaster almosc destro They exiricated the sup of the armoured div oF most their tanks and infancry, lea aris was liberated across France and Belg then Brussels on 3 September. 0 June st uly ~ 13 August 25 August 3 September 14 September (ried Line ed Ball Express = THROUGH FRANCE npounding the G nd French fo man problems, anothes landed in southern France on 1 After month: 5s confidently predicting Allied press w of the war by Christma simism, eh By the end of August, Patton's Third Army faced just nine bartalions of infantry and ten tanks between it and the da of ammunition. German be shortage of fuel, and Almost all of the Allied across the beaches of However, a new problem had em supplies were still being landed. mandy, as no major ports had yet As the armies raced towards Germany, they n the beaches and their sources of dnt keep up. ands of tanks, been caprur ‘got further and further fr supply. E ith the vor half-erack n the famous Red Ball Express ‘ous appetites of tens of tho and cru The Third Army reached the Meu but then hi at Verdun on 31 August, for five days to gather en: ¢ Third Army, the Second and US First Armies to the north had priority for supplies 10: continue on. Unfortunately British Seventh Remysupply as they were advancing directly cowards Germanys Rohe industrial heartland. Thied Army's route led through Lorraine, the traditional invasion route to Germany, but faced the fortifications of the West Wall (also known asthe Sicgtied Linc), with no big prize a che end. Unwilling tobe sidelined, Third Army begged, borrowed, and stole uel to continue its advance, aided by the capture of German fuel ump, Patton managed to scrounge enough ful fora two-week dash to the Rhine for his ewo armoured divi sions, provided they didat gee tied up in heavy fighting. The only major natural obstacle 0 be overcome was the Moselle River, which Parton intended to force with his infantry divi sions to open the way for the armoured breakthrough On 5 September, the advance resumed with the 80" Infantry Division crossing the Moselle south of the fortified city of ‘Mera. Unfortunately for the battalion involved, the Germans Fad not heen idle while the Americans gathered fuel. Two motorised and three second-line infantry divisions had moved to shore up the defences, and promptly smashed the small American force. Te wasn't uneil 10 September that the Americans were ready to try again, This time the attacks were better prepared and THE RED BALL EXPRESS To get the supplies to both the 1a massive conveyor belt of 6000 trucks was organised 0 first and Third Armies, ferry fuel from St. Lé to the front lines. The roads were marked out with sign posts with a large red dor, giving rise to the nickname the Red Ball Express ‘The route led to Paris where the trucks were split north ‘cowards Fist Army and east toward Third Army. Once they dropped off their loads, they returned on parallel roads to reduce traffic and keep the convey moving. The drivers, two divisions forced crossings between Metz and the city of Nancy, and a third crossed south of Nancy, quickly followed by che 4* Armored Division. Patton ordered the 4"* Armored. Division to encircle Nancy, with the cwo combat commands meeting at Arracourt. Once there, the division would regroup and strike for the German border. Having been given another five days, the German Army continued to work miracles, gathering another motorised infantry division, ewoextremely-battered armoured divisions and four brand-new panzer brigades to stop the American advance. The 4° 18 September after a lightning advance, only to be met there by a series of armoured counterattacks lasting until the end: of September. Asmored Division reached Arracourt on The resulting battles were the biggest armoured battles fought by che US Army in the Second World War, pitting around 200 American tanks and tank destroyers against over 250 German tanks. By the end of the fighting three out of the four panzer brigades had been wiped out, but Patton's armour was out of fuel and out of time. Ie would be neatly six more months of hard fighting before Third Army finally crossed the River Rhine in March 1945. three quarters of who were African-American, operated around the clock, suffering badly from fatigue. The Red Ball Express was shut down once the port of Antwerp became operational in November 1944. However, a its height, it delivered 12,500 tons of supplies + day. While not enough to keep an army going at full speed (Third Army alone consumed 350,000 gallons, or 1325 tonnes, of fuel every day, not counting food, ammu- nition, and other essentials), ic allowed for limiced opera tions, such as Parton's advance into the Lorraine. NORMANDY TO LORRAINThe rest of the 4" Armored pushes through the German defenders with the help of the 80* Infantry Division,ay ELT'S BUTC f= U.S. 4™ ARMORED DIVISION The 4° Armored Div le wd of the ag- NANCY gressive General John i breakout from Normandy in late July 1944. While most of the ar divisions headed east following che breakout, the 4° Armored smashed into the Brittany Peninsula, securing Co and Rennes, before joining in 1 across France toward the German frontier rember, the 4° Armored, now as Wood deployed his combat command R) north and south of the city along September, CCB and ¢ med actoss the icin pore ser Moselle and attacked Lorey before pushing north to Mont REE USig is bes a of Soper I and then on to Dombasle by 14 September. ingenuity and careful rationing, Parton and his THE MARCH OF THE 4™ ARMORED rer pace NAME ENOUGH Most divisions in the US Army had nicknames, such as ‘Old Ironsides” forthe 1* Armored, “Hell on Wheels” for mored, anc or the 3% Armored. However, when the time came for the 4% Armored Division to choose a nickname, General Wood put ie plainly thar “Fourth Armored Div © Soe a and will not have a nickname. They shall be know aes their deeds alone.” From that point on “N nored’s unofficial nickname rsd re E ae ao Combat Command A > ams . # Ci Combat Command B Ge cd Ge Combat Command R > en ‘ es German Frontines Battes S00" taney owision $FMeanwhile, CCA waited patiently as the 80% Infancry Division struggled to establish a bridgehead at Pont-i Mousson. Frustrated, the Americans forced another crossing, fa bie further south at Dieulourd, the site of an ancient crossing guarded by old Celtic, Roman, and medieval fort fications. They managed to open up a narrow corridor, but fiercely opposed by the German infantry and assault the river with CCA would be risky at best guns. Crossin The cautious Major General Eddy called a council of war to discuss whether or not vo send CCA across to exploit the gap. Colonel Bruce Clarke, commander of CCA, deferred to his top battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, who pointed across the river and simply replied, * That's the shortest way home!” Eddy gave in and sent CCA across the Moselle CCA pushed through the bridgehead and into the open country on the other side, The American tankers raced deep behind enemy line along the way. By nightfall CCA was within striking distance ‘of Chambrey. Together with CCBs and CCI the south, the noose around Nancy the Gi smashing up a dozen German canks ’ advances in getting so ti nans evacuated the city on 15 September, LUNEVILLE ‘As the American spearheads moved deeper, the Germans advance at Lunéville, bur were promptly thrown out. When German tanks ‘of 111 Panzet Brigade finally arrived on 18 September they assumed that Lungville was in German hands and they drove ‘unwittingly into the 42° Cavalry Squadron, The dismounted ‘cavalrymen fought hard with the help of M18 Hellcats of the 704" Tank Destroyer Battalion. The force doggedly held onto a few blocks of the city and called for reinforcements. launched an infantry attack to cut off CCR CCA, already in Arracourt, dispatched a task force com smanded by Abrams to help CCR. A fierce close-range fi trupted forcing the badly mauled Germans to eventually fall back. he focus of the German attack then shifted co Arracour. THE BATTLES OF ARRACOURT During the night of 18 September, the 113" Panzer Brigade" prepared ro attack CCA north of Arracourt. At the same time the battered 111 Panzer Brigade moved from Lunéville to attack fiom the south, but ic had become hopelessly lost during the night, Ie was up to the 113® to face CCA alone, ‘The morning of 19 September was filled with dense fog as 11 Panthers attacked blindly into the American lines. C Company, of Abrams 37 Tank Battalion, waited until they were within 75. yards before unleashing hell. Three Panthers were instantly knocked out. Shocked, the Germans tried to disengage, but a platoon of Sherman tanks sneaked, behind them in the fog and knocked out four more. As the ‘Americans quickly disappeared into the fog, the remaining, four Panthers struggled to see their attackers. Then suddenly the Shermans appeared once more behind the Panthers and finished them off completely. Further along, M18 Hellcat tank destroyers of the 704" Tank Destroyer Battalion destroyed 16 more Panthers ftom the. uunforcunate 1134 Panzer Brigade. By the afternoon, the last of CCA’ tanks arrived from Lunévilleand knocked outan ad ditional nine Panthers, putting an end to the German attack, During the day’s fighting, Wood claimed the 4 Armored had destroyed 43 enemy tanks, mostly Panthers, at a cost of | three MI8 Helleats and five M4 Shermans. Convinced the Germans had been destroyed, Patton ordered CCA to continue thei offensive east. They reached Dicuze when word came that the Germans had attacked .gain—ie was the belated 11" Panzer Brigade. Abrams’ Shermans raced back toward Arracoust and hit the 111 Panzer Brigade hard, knocking out 11 Panzer IV J and five Panther tanks, The German attack was again stifled. Arracourt Over the next few days the Germans launched repeated attacks against the 4® Armored, but each time they were repelled by cough infantry, bold tankers, cunning tank de- stroyers, and punishing P-47 fighter-bombers. When the dust setled, che division had lost 41 M4 Sherman and seven, MSAI Stuart tanks but claimed 200 tanks from the Fifth, Panzer Army, earning the Americans of the 4® Armored the nickname “Roosevelt's Butchers” by the Germans. ERS =T'S BUTCHE‘Aer the fighting in the Lorraine, the division was enjoying a long deserved rest and efit when news of the German attack in the Ardennes reached the Third Army on 16 December 1944, Patton shied his most able division, i cluding the 26%, 80* Infantry and the 4" Armored Divisions north to the Belgian border to launch his counterattack on 21 December. During that night, the German ‘Army had slipped through between the lead elements of the advancing Third Army and the 101" Airborne Division in Bastogne, completing the encizclement of the important crossroads there. The US paratroopers were cut off. While they were used to fighting in isolation, the “Screaming Eagles” ofthe 101* couldn hold out for long. Breaking the siege became the 4* Armored’ top priority ‘Thefight to reach Bastogne was difficult. Combat Commands A and B each made a drive before being ground co a halt, exhausted, and out of options. Still they had propelled the division deep into German lines. On 26 December, with Bastogne just out of sight, it was CCR’s turn wich Abrams! 37° Tank Battalion leading the way. ABRAMS TAKES THE LEAD “The German 5 Fallichirmjdger (Parachute) Division made the advance slow and tough for the US tankers. Bur Abrams pushed his men hard through one small vllag He doggedly kept the pressure on the Germans, cycling his ‘companies and denying the enemy a momei fier another: fs respite However, the moment had arrived when Abrams’ bactal- jon was down to 20 operational tanks and 250 “Armored Doughs” (a nickname given the armoured infantry). His ‘A and B Companies were depleted and had run out of the reliable 75mm ammunition needed co knock our enemy ‘guns and infantry. To make matters worse, the well-defended village of Assenois stood between his tanks and Bastonge, just five miles away ‘THE CHARGE OF 37th TANK BATTALION 2G DECEMBER 1946 cat mtt WE'RE GOING IN Abrams began to doubs if he had che strength co keep going. His thoughts were interrupted by the droning sound of American transport planes risking it all through a thick sheet of German fak to drop supplies 10 the besieged defenders of Bastong pointed in the direction of their objective That was it, his resolve was hardened. Abrams, “Were going in to those people, now.” He turned to his men and had C Company's seven remaining tanks brought forward, After conferring with General Parton, he ordered a bold rush straight through Assenois to Bastonge with "Lieutenant Charles P Boggess’ M4A3E2 Jumbo, nick- named “Cobra King”, leading the way: With a pat on the back of the nervous lieutenant, Abrams told Boggess, “Get to those men in Bastonge.” Wich that the Lieutenant mounted up and the column moved out. At 1615 hours, Boggess’ tanks were on their way. ASSENOIS Waiting for them in Assenois were eight dug-in anti-tank nsand a large number of Fallchirmiager and Volkgrenadier troops. To help deal with che defenders, Abrams called in a pre-arranged barrage from 13 artillery batteries as his tankers charged through. Over 2300 shells smashed into Asseno as the Americans stormed down the road. Remarkably only 1 single half-erack and a jeep were hit and destroyed by friendly fre The Gerrans’ return fie was ineffectual as they tried to cope with both artillery and he thick hide of Cobra King as it blocked the incoming fire with its mass. The Jumbo fired its 75mm gun like a machine-gun, firing 21 shells in a matter of minutes and plastering the German lines with explosive shells as ie tore through the village. Confusion was rampant in the German lines as the “Armored Doughs” swept the bewildered German defenders with machine-gun fire from their half-tracks A ly ‘BASTOGNE —— SereAll was going well until a telephone pole was hit by a 155mm shell and toppled onco a half-track, which stopped the vehicle and cut Boggess’ column in half. As the tanks sped forward to Bastogne, the “Armored Doughs” fought a bloody hand-to-hand fight with the defenders of Assenois amongst the deadly barrage from their own artillery. ‘Abram’ tank, Thunderbolt VI, sped forward to see what was holding up the advance. When he reached the telephone pole, Abrams and his crew dismounted under fire to help clear the obstacle and get the column moving again. HENDRIX’S HEROICS During che struggle, one armoured rifleman, Private James Hendrix, noticed a pair of anti-tank guns firing on the tanks. ‘Armed with his MI rifle, he shot one of the guns’ crew and ‘ordered the rest to surrender. They refused. As Hendrix ap- proached their foxholes a German poked his head up only bee struck by che butt of Hendrix’ rifle. The rest of the crews surrendered their guns, which were chen put our of action. Bese sc dn inh ve kes of sch 6 M3 hal-ace was struck by an ant-ean round. The occ firs German machine-guns were evezping the wreck with Nike “raed Deogi ang aera Bi dA nacitong Private Fendi jumped out of his alta and sped the Bee te etcadng eclnc-pets Hendin apd wilh Bie founded men uni they wa eacated strewn around the vehicle, dead and wounded, with theie uns but failed to silence the Germans, Then ‘On his way again, he witnessed a German grenade explode inside another M3 half-track. Most of the men escaped before the vehicle went up in flames, but one man was lefe behind. Once again running through enemy fire, Hendrix rescued che man and put the flames out, but the died of his wounds. Hendrix was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Assenois, S BUTCHI PRESSING ON Meanwhile, Boggess’ column, now consisting of just five Shermans and one M3 half-tack, broke free of Assenois | and pushed on to Bastogne. The hal-cack in the middle of | the column, was overloaded with riflemen and fell behind the faster tanks, creating a wide gap in the column. The Germans made use of the space created in Boggess column | to deploy a string of Teller mines across the road. The half: | track did ROOSEVELT notice the danger and was destroyed by a mine. | fantrymen and che tankers dismounced and cleared the road before mounting up on the Shermans £0 The survivin chase after Boggess INTO BASTOGNE Cobra King and the wo remaining tanks were driving forward when they suddenly encountered a German pillbox. Boggess puc three high explosive rounds inco the concrete structure. Remarkably the pillbox caught on fire and began smoking, As Cobra emerged from a nearby wood. Bog ‘ng cautiously approached it, several soldier ss shouted out for the soldiers to identify themselves. An officer came forward with”. a massive smile and said, “Vim Lieutenant Webster, 326% Air- borne Engineers, glad to see you guys!” Ie was 1650 hours, 26 December 1944 The 4% Armored had reached Bastogne after five days of, bloody combat. At 1710 hrs, Abrams reported to Brigadier ® inder of the LOL" Air. borne to see what he could do to help. The siege had been, lifted, but the fighting wasnt over yet. General Anthony MeAuliffe, comn “The 4° Armored worked with the 101* Airborne to widen the corridor and then helped to throw the enemy back into Germany before crossing the Rhine themselves. By the time the war ended, the 4" Armored Division had charged all of the way to Czechoslovakia,LIEUTENANT GENERAL ee Ue Bae GEORGE “An army without profanity couldn't fight its way out of a piss-soaked paper ba Paxton graduated from West Point in 1909 and was commis: sioned into the US Cavalry. He joined the US Olympic team for the 1912 summer games, competing in foot and eques- trian racing, swimming, fencing, and pistol shooting events ‘hen, in 1916, Parcon attack when he took hive armoured cas to hunt down and uried out Ameria’ frst armoured Kill cwo of Pancho Vill’ closest generals, one of which was shot by Patton himself. His bold actions in Mexico won him Tank Brigade during World War, where he was wounded in combat command of the new 30 he First Following Germanys blikrieg campaigns of 1939-40, the US Army underwent rapid expansion of its & \k forces and Patton was promoted in 1941 ro Major General to take Armored Division during the Louisiana and Carolina Maneuvers. command and train the 2 After the US entry Corps during the defeat of II Conps at Kasseri to Lieutenant General and took command of the demoralised o the wat, Patton commanded | Armored Afier Pass, Patton was promoted invasion of North Aftica in lave 1942 feroope Through hard work (and liber use of profi) fact Gucearin March 1983 Parcon was then given command of the Seventh Army for the invasion of Sicily in 1943, where he famously raced with his |, British General Monxgomery, to Messina. It was also where he slapped wo soldiers suffering from bade fatig Patrons career nearly ended when the press got a hold of the scandal, but General Dwight Eisenhower intervened and. saved Patton from an early retirement. In 1944, came into action during the breakout from the Normandy beachheads. Patton's hard-chargi Brittany and Patton took command of the Third Army, which divisions pushed into ing the Meuse River on his army ran out of fuel. Through ehrife fi, Patton and his staff gathered enough then struck east read supplies to conduct the Lorraine battles When the Patton reacted instantly, shifting jermans attacked in the Ardennes on 16 December, his best divisions north before ven being ordered to do so, When he counterattacked on December, he took personal control ofthe operation, even going so far as to prescribe that the new Jumbo assault tanks should be at the point of every advance, won led his army across the Rhine into Germany and straight through to Czechoslovakia before the war ended. For his achievements Patton was made full General in April 1945, After a warm homecoming tour of the US, Patton returned 0 occupation duties in Germany: On 9 December he was avolved in a automobile accident and died of his injuries on 21 December 1945. George S Pation, J generals. His career was covered in success but was also ofcen s regarded as one of America’s greatest marred by controversy. Nonetheless, Patton's ageressve lead- ership helped shape an army of citizen soldiers into a hard: Fighting and unstoppable force.PATTON ON PROFANITY Whe sound nice 0 some bunch of lie old ladies ax an afierno iuhous profanisy: and ie has tobe eloguene profan paper bag. As for she xpes of comments I make, sometina Lieutenant General George § Patton Jr. is a Warrior and Higher Command Transport Team rated Fearless Veter: He is mounted in an M20 utility car. You may fi for +100 points with che Tank Company on page Armored Rifle Company on page 26, or the Tank Destroyer, ‘Company on page 32. FOUL MOUTH "We're nor going to just shoot going to rip out their ving Goddamned gues and use them fo grease the reads of our ranks. We're lousy Hun cocksuckers by he bushel-fucking-basket.” jons-of-bitches, were so murder those —George $ Patcon, Speech to the Third Army, 5 June 1944 In an) ch Patton didnot move At the Double dl American platoons with their Platoon Command team in Line Of Sight of Patton pass Motivation Tests on result THE GREATEST SOLDIER “Americans love a winner. Americans will not colerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all fof the time. I woulda give a hoot in hell fora man who lose and laughed. Thav’s why Americans have never lost nor will et lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful ro an ‘George S Patton, Speech to the Thisd Army, 5 June 1944 is Destroyed during the game American morale fre huge ls, despite any gains. If this happens, the American player lose at the front and back ome int and their opponent gains one Viewory Point at the end of the battle. nember something important, to really make it stick, I give it o them double dirty It may noe | | | An army without, ea party, but it helps my soldiers to remember You can’t ran an afanty couldsit fight its way ous ofa pis-soaked a, By God. g h my own eloquence A PINT OF SWEAT “L believe in the old and sound rule that an ounce of sweat will save a gallon of blood. The harder we push, the more Germans we will kill. The more Germans we kill, che fewer of our men will be killed.” FORGE S PATTON JR. —George 5 Patton, Speech to the Third Army, 5 June 1944 Each vurn Reserves for his company Patzon may re-roll one die rolled +0 receive LG OLD BLOOD AND GUTS “We are advancing constandly and we a holding onto anything, except the enemy’s balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living shic out of him all of the time... We are going to go chtough him like crap through a goose ike shit through a tin hora! Gi § Parton, Speech to the Third Army, 5 June 1944 If your force is the Attacker in a mision, each American plasoon wishin Line Of S Spearhead movement (ce we of Patton may make a 1 of the rulebook) at the beginning of the game HOLD'EM BY THE NOSE AND KICK’EM IN THE PANTS “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” ‘ George § Patton, date unknown, A force led by Patton bas the Always Attack rule (see page ‘he rulebook)EUTENANT COLONE =IGHTON ABRAMS “They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards Creighton Williams “Abe Point in 1936 and joined the 1 Cavalry Division. In 1940 he gained the rank of Captain and took command of a Armored Division Abrams Jt. graduated from West tank company in the newly-formed 1 Leading up co the war, he was given command of the 37 Tank Battalion of the 4 Armored Division, In the prewar months of 1941, Abrams focused on training his men, Even before his men received their frst tanks, “Abrams had his men rake to the training field equipped with imaginary tanks, He instructed that the a together, with an arm on the next com ak ceews must stay ics shoulder, to simulate working together. In this way and others he fostered ‘cooperation and trust between his men. ‘Abrams and the 37 Tank Battalion made landfall in France ‘at Ush Beach in July 1944, During the fighting, Abrams led from the front and expected his staff to do the same. He removed a Sherman tank from and gave them to his S-2 (intelligence), S-3 (operations) and liaison officers with orders co take command should ‘company officers fll in combat. ch of his companies 4 During the frst bales in the Lorraine, the Americans made | very little headway trying to cross the wel-defended Moselle River, but there was no stopping Abrams and his tankers. The Tank Battalion sped to Arracourt, deep behind enemy Tines where it clashed with the Germans’ own offensive. But ‘Abrams’ aggressive leadership had tipped the balance in the ) Allies favour, earning him a Distinguished Service Cros. After the Lorraine fighting, Abrams’ understrength battalion was assigned co Combat Command R (CCR) to rest and refit, but cheir break was rudely interrupted by the German offensive in the Ardennes. The 4 Armored packed up and sent its three combat commands north to try and break through to the embattled paratroopers in Bastonge. After the other combat commands had made some headway toward Bastogne, CCR was called up to make the final push Abrams pushed his men hard, drove ind met up with the besieged 1944, For his bold drive, he shed Service Cross. Like in the Lorraine, through che Germans’ line paratroopers on 26 Decemb was awarded another Dist Abrams continued to command the 37° Tank Battalion unit, he was promoted to Colonel in 1945. Under his leadership the 37® had gained the reputation as being the best rank coutfi in the US Army. For his service Abrams was awarded wo Distinguished Service Crosses, wo Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, che British Distinguished Service Order, and the French Legion DHonneu. Afier WWII, Abrams went on co command all US forces in, View Unit and was later appointed the Chief of Staff of the 5s, Abrams died of lung cancer in 1974. In honout of his legacy as a tanker, the modern M1 Abrams main battle tank was named afeer him. States Army. An avid lover of In a sare fit of humility, General Patton once said, “Im } supposed to be the best tank commander in the Army, but L have one peer—Abe Abrams.ABRAMS’ THUNDERBOLT During the course of the war, Abrams wore out six tanks Despite this, he never had one shot our from under him, ‘which was amazing given his habit of leading from the front of his column, standing tall in his turret co get a better view In fact, Patton once old reporters that if they wanted ro interview Abrams, they had better do it nov as Patcon didn’t Believe Abe would survive the wat! Abrams tanks were called Thunderbolt. He put himself in the action, shooting enemy tanks at point-blank ranges and helping out where he could. The men thar served in the 37" claim thac Thunderbolt had the most kills out of the hactalion, hovever an official tally was never kept From Normandy through the Lorraine, Abrams was com- | manding Thunderbole before even seeing combat! He and his crew were so attached to the old Mi that they had co be ordered to give it up. "having run down several tanks | Next in the Thunderbolt linage was an M4 its predecessor, Abrams and his crew ran Thunderbolt VI into the ground during his famous drive into Bastogne, but it served the men well before giving up the ghost in 1945. For the drive into Germany, Abrams took command of Thunderbolt VII, the last in the series. Abrams customised the basic M4A3ES model by adding extra armour protection and an extra .30 cal machine-gun on che turtes. Thunderbolt VII served Abrams well all of the way to the end of the war. CHARACTERISTICS sn Abrams is 2 Warrior and wm raced Fearless Veteran. He is ced in one of his “Thunderbolt” tanks as follows: IMA Sherman" ThunderboleV™ 155 points MAS (an) Shean" Tanda GASES Sherman "Thunderbol VII bu may field Abrams in the Tank Company on page 22 oF he Armored Rifle Company on page 26. ‘THAT'S THE SHORTEST WAY HOME! Under the aggressive direction of General John Wood (4* Ar- mored Division commander), Colonel Bruce Clarke (CCA fommander), and Lieutenant Colonel Abrams (37* Tank Battalion commander), the Americans liberated Arracoure ith lightning speed. force led by Abrams may make Spearhec age 261 of the rulebook) with up to two of your platoons at the beginning of the game. Up FRONT Abrams took a tank out of each company and gave one to his S-2 (intelligence), S-3 (operations) and liaison officers. They, like him, were expected to lead from the front and take over in the event the junior officers were wounded or killed Combat and Weapons platoons in a force led by Abrams suse the German Mission Tactics special rule (se page 242 of the rulebook). WE'RE GOING IN Down to a mere 20 tanks and just ive miles from Bastonge, Abeams sent a message to Patton: “will you authorize a big tsk with Combar Command R for a breakthrough to Bastonge?” Patton’ reply was instant. “I sure as hell wil!” A platoon led by Abrams may use the Gern special rule (ee page 241 of the rulebook} sn Stormeroeper 3 (76mm). Like Ay GHITON ABRAMS LT. COL. CRE= LUCKY SEVENTH a A ean sek The ‘Lucky Seventh’ was formed on 1 March 1942. The division firse wene into combat under che command of General Lindsay Silvester in mid-August 1944 and joined in the Allied advance across France to the German frontier as a pare of Patton's Third Army. Despice a severe fuel shortage, the 7" Armored arrived at the battlefields of northwestern France liberating Chateau- Thierry and then Verdun by the end of August. METZ When Patton's Third Army reached the Moselle River, he divided his armoured forces to deal with the three major cities blocking his way. The 7 suppore the 5 fortified city of Mevz Armored was assigned to Infancry Division opposite the extremely ‘When the tankers arrived outside Metz they encountered an claborate network of fortifications, wnnels, minefields, and wellsited anti-tank weapons. Not only would the over the Moselle, it would have to contend with these fortifications manned by fant cal soldiers from the city’s military school who knew Metz inside and our, division have to force a crossin Nevertheless, the 7 Armored crashed into the teeth of the defences. The overly-keen division was wasted against the fortifications and were soon hocribly depleted. After bitter losses, the 7" Armored found an opening south of Metz and forced a crossing where the fortifications were light. The Fighting was still cough as che division fought hard for each hill and valley until 24 September when they were shifted north to Holland. HOLLAND By 24 September, British Field Marshal Montgomery's Operation Markee Garden was in its final throes and the Allies had litle to show for their effort. Access to the port city of Ancwerp remained shut, thanks to the tough German defenders around the Scheldt Estuary. This made che fuel shortage a massive problem all across the front lines, from Montgomery's 21 oup in d “Third Army in the Lorraine. Ie became vitally important for the Allies co clear the Germans out of Holland and open up Anowerp’s ports Army north co Patton's The 7% Armored was moved north and assigned to the US. Firse Army to help clear out the German defenders in the Peel Marshes south of Nijmegen. ‘The ranks quickly became bogged down in che mire typical of the fi High roads were the only place tanks could go, making them perfece targets for German anti-tank guns, To make matters worse, the division was broken up into small units thar were unable to support each other during the battle. Once again, ting the the division took heavy casualties and were removed from the fight co rest and receive badly needed reinforcements REST AND REFIT By the end of October 1944, the division had received the tunenviable nickname: “Unlucky Seventh” having sustained! very high casualties, lost dozens of vehicles, and being poorly handled. As ic rested and trained, the division received the’ fish replacements necessary ¢o fill out the uni ‘On 1 November, General Silvester was relieved and replaced by General Robert Hasbrouck, previously the commander of the 7® Armored’s Combat Command B. To take his position the newly promoted Brigadier General Bruce Clarke was ‘Armored Division to lend some barele experience to the rebuilt division, Ie would not be long before the Unlucky Seventh would have a chance to reverse their misfortunes, brought in from the 4" THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE On 16 December 1944, the Germans launched a major of fensive in the Ardennes Forest. The plan was to reach the Meuse River, head north on to Antwerp to cut off several American and British armies, and force a peace settlement favourable ro Germany. The offensive caught the Americans completely by surprise and cut through the thinly held frontlines, All available units ‘were rushed co meet this threat, inchuding the 7 Armored. Massive roadblocks made movement very slow as the 7% Armored tried to get from Holland co where they were needed in Belgium, General Hasbrouck dispatched Clarke's CCB ahead of the rest of the division to Se. Vieh, a critical crossroads that needed to be kepr from the Germans,st. ViTH Of the three main attacks launched by the Germans, the open the American lines. through the opening centre thrust succeeded in smashis The German Fifth Panzer Army po hoping to captute the critical crossroads and railroad hub junction at St. Vith, Although the US 106" Infantry Division, hhad been smashed apart, remnants kept the Germans busy Jong enough to rush the 7 Armored Divisions into : ombat Command B of the 9 Armored was the and 9 then first to arrive and immediately went to work tying to stabi lise the breech, The task proved too difficult for the untried division, so when Clarke's CCB arrived on 17 December, the region's defences were handed over to him. the German advance had pushed deep into the American lines to the north and south of St. Vith, creating a dang within, The ‘wo American combat commands coordinated and set up fous salient for the American forces defendi a thin infantry screen made from dismounted cavalrymen and engineers to hold St. Vith, while the armoured divisions ook tp the eastern and southern approaches. No sooner had the lead clements of CCB arrived than the Germans attacked, Luckily che swift advance of the Germans fusion to make their attacks weak hhad caused enough cor THE MARCH OF THE 7™ ARMORED 1944-45 Se fred aie 7° Armored Div Attacks German attacks and uncoordinated, waves. However, lowing Clarke time to fight off the first 1e Germans were determined to caprute St. Vith and committed their precious few armoured reserves 10 the fight on 19 December, including the elite Fih Brigade (FBB), 1 Begliet Heavy artillery bombardments and attacks toward the rear plagued the heavy toll on the Ge wored as they fought hard, exactin mans and forcing them to commit ¢ ‘more tanks to the battle, However, the German penetrations of the front lines convinced Clarke co withdraw to the more Even heavy snows on 22 December didnt stop an ambitious rman attack by 75 tanks attempting to wrest control of Rodt from CCB. ‘The German tanks strugg and che lighter M4 Shermans ma order and inflice heavy casualties on the FBB. jd in the mud, xd to withdraw in good During the fighting, the Allies restructured cheir commands and the 7* Armored was reassigned to the XVIII (184) Airborne Corps, under the command of General Macthew tried to set up what he called could be resupplied by air. While this strategy might work for para Ridgway, who immediate throughout the salient th “fortified goose-ege teoopers, Clarke protested that ic was nov a sound strategy for an armoured division, His concerns were echoed by Field Marshal Montgomery; Ridgway’s superior, who immediately countered the orders and had Armored withdraw, having fought an excellent delaying action, The 7 the 82! Airborne Division was holding aped the closing salient on 2 ho Armored fought its way back to Vielsam, where he way open and December. During the he men of the Lucky Seventh lost 113 vehicles, but had bloodied che Fifth Panzer Army, drained it of precious fuel reserves, and bought the Allies time to get reinforces Pot | | | i { = LUCKY SEVENTHUS COMBAT COMMANDS rured divisions to add J CCB had the bulk of the division’ off bly vo ther command. The concept ks propelled a proposed by dna Chaffee, known as the father of and w »attack. CCR stayed behind in the US armoured forces. He envisioned a flexible unie alon lerystank destroyers, and under scrength sin pe, or battlegroup, » reinforce or take over a stalled advance. 4 Armored Division 1¢ a division could be broken up into abo Cn divisions attack in the Ardennes, but the size ofa brigade or y it representative of many combat commands in operation ombat Command A, B, and R, referred to as COMBAT COMMAND A COMBAT COMMAND B Poe arte Pn red Cee Ee ee oe ee ce es Peat) ioe cue 22° ARMORED FIELD A BATTERY, 489° AAA SELF Pe Ta a ccs Ce Rota ARTILLERY BATTALION Sty Party a ee la er edered Ure mL eae TE Pao DT Le an) ‘ARTILLERY BATTALION PROPELLED BATTALION Peas CL mm EL Tutt te a Sea Tey tt Neer red earn) oa ected ecaite mallets dill ry [CoV Ko aS Pe Tete ee See ror Or ee sa der ale a ee teltgeben Specie Geer ager Rae ae FOU ASERS,. ite aie Soca mca al len ae peg Core er ee rene i Ca eae PVE cee ar rt La al lant oat PROPELLED BATTALION ree att cecilia adi adi dla dna sdlline deed a en EN Bit peer ais eee he aterm es came Seay es ec cea a. a Rtg rant cosa Pte) MIGMGMC Combat Eng Cea eee Co a rie aosIMPROVING ne? eee UL Pe) When the Second World War broke out in September 1939. the US Army possessed 18 M2 medium tanks. The situa tion had not improved when the US Army was shocked inte he fall of France in June 1940. With a require ment of 2000 as-yet-undesigned medium tanks by the end of 1941, the Army accepted a radical proposal from GMC for Chrysler to build a brand-new tank factory, the Detroit Tank ically vo mass produce tanks. Within a year the updated M3 medium tank (named the General Grant by the British) ws rolling our the doors, with the Detroit Tank. Arsenal producing over 3000 in its first year. action by Arsenal, sp With the M3 on the production line, attention tured to a new M4 medium tank (named the General Sherman by the British). The Md was designed as one of the most powerful ‘medium tanks in existence. It mounted a 7: fully-avetsing turret, and armour able to withstand any ded. Like th it was powered by a Continental radial aircraft engine. This mm gun in a rank gun then bein ‘earlier medium tanks. gave ita reliable engine with lots of power, but resulted in an ‘unusually tall rank. The first model into production was the M4A1 with a cast hull, quickly followed by the M4 with a welded steel hull, manufaccured by heavy engineering firms like Lima American Loco, and Pressed Steel. ‘These first saw combat with che British at El Alamein where they were known as the Sherman I] and Sherman I respectively A shor of radial engines led Chrysler to devise a multi ne of five seandard automotive engines linked to a his M4A4 (Sherman V to the British) model replaced in production at the Detroit Tank Arsenal. With demand still outstripping production, General Moors builc another tank factory at Grand Blane, near Flin, Michigan. This factory turned out the M4 model, this rime with a ewin GM diesel motor. Both of th ‘types were rarely seen in the US Army, being sent to Britain, the Soviet Union, and China instead, common drive shaft Sherman IIL Meanwhile Ford entered the picture with a new 500 hp V8. 3. This was produced in rela- tively low numbers (for a tank produced in such staggering tank engine, creating the M4 numbers as the Sherman!) until Grand Blane switched t0 Producing it in early 1944. Once this model started reaching fhe troops in August 1944, ir quickly became the most popular version of the Sherman. These M4A3 tanks produced by Grand Blanc were some of he frst of a new perience had shown a number of problems with the original design: weaknesses in the armour, dai x, and poor turret hatches. The single piece hull front, ‘wer’ armoured ammunition stowage neration of Sherman tanks. Combat ex stow ew-style ranks had a bins filled with fire-retardant Quid, a better commander's cupola, and a new loader’s hatch. With the basic Sherman tank rolling off the production § lines in huge numbers, atention was turned to producing new variants. The frst of these was armed with a 105mm howitzer co give the cank battalions their wa artillery. The Detroit Tank Arsenal produced these in both the M4 and. M4A3 configurations, With the armour of German tanks geting thicker cach year, there was concern over the ability of the Sherman tank to deal with them. The designers created a variant armed with 2.76mm gun with better anti-tank capability, but the initial response was that ie was totally unnecessary since the tank destroyers would fight encmy tanks leaving the tanks fice Co engage other targets. Fortunately production of MAA M4A2, and eventually M4A3, models began anyway; as demand for them soared when the Army fa of heavy German tanks forthe first time in Normandy. With no heavy tanks available, another variant was rushed into production in early 1944. This M4A3E2 (the second cexpetimental variant of the M4A3), was a heavily armoured) assault tank designed for infantry support. Nicknamed the Jumbo”, the M4A3E2 arrived too late for the fighting in. Normandy, only reaching che front in Occober 1944, In late 1944, the final eweak to this famous design, HVSS ‘SS (Horizontal Volute Suspension) gave a much smoother ride and better lute suspension, entered production, H Spring floatation on wider tracks than the old vertical suspension. Tanks fitted with this were commonly called “Easy Eights” from the M#A3ES designation given ro the prototype. ‘Ihe Easy Eight continued in service after the war, fighting in che Korean War. M4 SHERMAN TANKSAy eS OS Tn lace 1944, the US Army in France started receivin ‘new variants of the Mé Sherman tank, Some of these only differed in their guns and armour, but others changed the way thar the tank operated as well. These special rules reflect these changes. DETROIT’ FINEST The Ford V8 engine M4A3 series of tanks. Its power gave them a good top speed, While its robustness and reliability allowed chem to take ad -vantage of this without worrying about breaking down. improved the performance of the “Some of the Gli...taid that the CCB must have been going downhill with a buendred-mile-an-bour eailwind all the way.” —Belton Cooper, 3% Armored Division Tanks that use the Devroits Finest special rule have a Movement Disance of 14°135em on Roads or Cross country Terain. DUCKBILLS Duckbill rack extensions gave the Sherman better mobility in boggy ground. However, they were attached to the pins linking two pieces of track, so che tank had to keep its speed down to avoid breaking them off and throwing a track. At the stars of the game a player may elect to fic all of their This gives them Wide Tracks (see page 61 of the rulebook), but make: their mobility ating Slow Tank Sherman tariks (ofall variants) swith Duckbil M4A3E2 Jumbo and M4A3E8 Easy Fight tanks cannot be sited wish Duckbille and ignore the Ductbille special rue CEE SHERIAN INTO & SLOW Te, LNT | 8° /aecin on Roso ox cess COUNTRY, BUT ALSO ot exces eine alcove ran oxrea He ROU. To avOD Wi, SueRvaN Cat seein J SMOOTH RIDE The driving force behind the development of HVS (Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension) was the need for awider tacks for crossing soft ground, and a smoother ride ‘As result, HVSS made ie much easier for gunners to use the basic stabiliser system ficed to the Sherman tank. An MAABES Easy Eight tank docs no suffer the +1 penalty to ite score To Hit when sing the Stabilizers special rule, ‘provided that it did not move mare shan 6°/15em during the Movement‘ out of Rough Terrain and it did not move in, enter, or move SMOOTH RIDE Cereens Rous Tema of worse note ra Gen aveenen waaesee" | Zonta ne tends ftreisneneesvaust son | Teg Suoors Roe specu. RAE. EAs) Eltt TANKS 70 SHOCT AT LLLJUMBOS LEAD THE WAY Initiilly che M4A3E2 “Jumbo” assault tank was allocated to tank battalions supporting the infantry. Once the armoured divisions caught on though, they started using Jumbos as the ead rank in their advances, deliberately encouraging the ‘Germans to shoot atic rather than the lighter M4 Sherman tanks operating with it You may allocate hits to an M4ABE2 Jumbo tank as if ie bad the lowest armour rating asigning ita hie before the lesser armoured sanks. This rude docs not apply obit: from Artillery Bombardments or hits from Aiveraf TANK TELEPHONES By the end of 1944, most Sherman tanks working with infantry had been fitted with field telephones on the rar ro. allow che infantry to point out targets to the tanks, If a Tank team with Tank Telephone and an adjacent Infantry team did not move in the Movement Step, and the Infantry team is not Pinned Down, the Infaniry team can use the Eyes and Ears rule (se page 195 ofthe rulebook) to Reveal one Gone to Ground enemy Tank team as if the infantry team was a Recce team. If ather tanks in the platoon fire, they must either have their own Infantry oth team pointing out the target or continue 0 treat the target as Gone to Ground. JUMBOS LEAD THE WAY THe JUuss LEAD THe Wy SPL RULE ALLOWS THE AMERIOAN PLUER TO ALLOCATE THE FIRST AT To THe Heavy neo NABER JUMBO “ai JS Iie TREATED #8 WAVING THE LONEST ARUOUR, THE GERHAN PLANER CN USE THE Gin Thies RU ON PAse 96 OF THE RUEBCOK To ATTEUPT TO aT aN MUABEB B85) Tee Hr Wesnesr Aenous Fst) ILE ON Pace 96 or Tre BULeBOCK | equres Te purer ene Sor” | ‘TANKS WITH THE LOWEST ARWOUR, A] tee cezwan runes eos « § 08 uoRe, $0 THe AUERION ALDER MUST ALLGCATE THE HT TO AN EASY Eli? NSTI OF THE Tune. Tie Us rwer mst avocaTe Te a7 70 Toe WASEB SLERIAN 2s | Frise ony Tamar wan Jae AS THE SueRua’s FRONT ARwouR i TREATED AS THE HneST OF I The Teves THAT eRe wT, To wus | ne vamersuit ers he HISMEST ANTETANR RATING. ALLocATED 70 THE HEE Juba 18 7 TREATED de han Lowes ARC OF HLL THE TANKS ORE THN Te /icon any Tit Wi AUST BE FROM THE PANDER W 28 THE Mlve> ANT “TaN RATINGS RLLE ON PAGE 98 OF THE RULEBOOK Redunes THE LOWEST ANT TANK RATING | 70 BE Assionen To THe LOnesT ARNOUR RATA, ita ANTI TaN T ND THe PanTaee TaN £0868 ONE ‘Ts THRD HIT Goes TO THE MHA SHERNAN TAN SHOUING ITS SDE ARKOUR AS TT HAS THE Next Lowest ARNue ‘Tus wus? Be THE SECOND HT FROM THE PANER WAS Ths HAD its THe NEXT LONEST ‘ARUCUR RATING OF H nT * POR BENG OVER ferrin say i] Ww = = al < © Ww 2. G x z= < j= g & = w TS Ss P4The Mf’s hull was welded, giving it square sides. The M4A1 was essentially the same tank however its hull was cast our ofa single piece of steel and therefore has a rounded appearance c) ® ¥ One quick way to identify Peeve Premera eer feared ete ae oe Cet eaer ee re eee et re et The M4A3 was developed asa replacement model for the M4 SO eee ent eet) identify an M4A3 Sherman tank. The first isthe single-pioce ‘ransmission housing on the front of the tank, rather than the bolted multi-part housing on older modes = @ ~z TE | eee Pee |? | oi) |e eee ae ee eee teen te Availability: The M4A3 fire saw action as replacement vehicles from August 1944 and served to the end of the war. While the M4A3 improved the breed, some things still needed co be addressed. One of the critical laws was the face that the tank’ ammo tended co catch on fire with practical eee ee eee ese eet tacks. They also added another hatch on the top of the turret tw help the crew get out faster we * The front end of the M4A3 also underwenc some changes The drivers’ hatches were made larger, prompting the frone armour place co be dlted at a steeper angle. Extra armour See ra Availability: The M4A3 (late) model first saw action as replacement vehicles from September 1944 and served to che end aacM4A1 (76MM) SHERMAN een ee ee eee ag eee aene eer ken ee ery installed in the M4A\ chassis. "The tank retained its cast hull Beer ea yest eras ewer aa ee ee eee ny acer erate 4 a ee ee eee eee Seren ee reer sve one ete Introduced new crew hatch arrangements in both the curret and hull and installed wee stowage for the ammunition. These features would be repeated in the later M4A3 designs Availability: The M4A1 (76mm) first sw action during the breakout in Normandy as a part of Operation Cobra and See eee ee ene ee M4A3 (76MM) SHERMAN ee eeu ena ee a 6mm gun, making for a fas, hard-hieting tank, Like the other late M4A3 models, you can spor an M4A3 Core ee aa eee eet ee en ce ~ . Tank, Deois Fi ae Ce ee era [eet Reyer cnn ne Per ramneaiert ee en een tc RCo eer ener eee es M4A3E8 EASY EIGHT The M4A3ES, better known as the Easy Ei Pee ea es eee eee at eres M4A3 (76mm), the Easy Eight model introduced a new Pee eterna eS, Cd bd a ane i ee ee The Horizontal Volute Suspension System (HSS, for shore) made it much easier to replace damaged road wheels and 4 new wide track was developed to improve the tank’ off pe eee ees improved ride and fr better flocation over soft ground. ‘Availability: ‘The M4A3ES Easy Bight entered service in late December 19444 during the fighting in the Arclennes and yt the end of the war. It continued to serve in the US Army uatil 1955, SHERMAN SPOTTINGTANK COMPANY To Zen UP ELC Axe mnoneo oivsion AQ 7 anwoto ovsion Dey ee cee pics vane oil RELUCTANT | CONSCRIPT J} [{ RELUCTANT | CONSCRIPT. oe Ne MO) A Titnk Company from the ?* Armored Division is rated .- ‘Confident Trained. (rears | vereraNy ( reaniess | vereran J c preemie fone penne nna ae en ed ee rece eer ae Division (marked 7 ). All other platoons marked with either of these divisional symbols must Peet eee neem eae Tecconanyta RIB A Tank company may be supported by both Veteran troops (marked @) and Tamed troops ee es preety Alen ‘ARMOUR reoming ong r Peed os ed Satay ores Deeg rot eae aed thttedip User mig rN er 7 zs reer on onthe (htt elim USestsis Do Soa Rite Platoon Poco nad Saad Cee