"I'm taking a company of armor into the Bocage country. Who's with me!?" Captain Carpenter gathered the cherries around. "Our tank company consists of 17 M4A3 Shermans and five M18 Hellcats. For those of you heading to our Assault Gun Platoon will enjoy the benefits of the brand new Hellcats. Each vehicle has a maximum speed of over 55MPH on paved surfaces. It is the fastest tank in theater. Its main gun is the same as that on the Sherman, but its speed is its true benefit."

"The company is organized into three tank platoons of five vehicles per platoon and the one assault gun platoon. My vehicle and the Executive Officer's tank make up a two-vehicle section for command and control purposes."

"I don't expect it will be easy," Captain Theodore Carpenter spoke to the group of new recruits. "The Russians have had a terrible time with the newer German tanks; the Panthers and the Tigers. They are large, have very heavy thick armor and pack a huge wallop. The Russians have been able to stop the German Panzers with their T-34 tanks. Even then, they have had their hands full. The M4A3 Shermans you are working with are a new and improved tank over the M5 Light Stuart Tank. The Stuart was beat every time by the Mark III and Mark IV tanks in North Africa. We will have to see how it goes with the Panthers and Tigers."

"From what I hear, the newer, larger tanks have hydraulic and fuel problems and spend more time in Maintenance than they do in action. That is a plus for us, since we should outnumber them in engagements. In order to use this advantage to our favor, we need to establish a base of fire behind covered and concealed locations in order to make it difficult for the Germans to both see our tanks and shoot at them. If cover and concealment is not available, it is safer to put some distance between yourselves and a Tiger or Panther than trying to charge into them. If you establish a base of fire with a platoon, we can maneuver the remaining members of the company on a flank and attempt to attack the newer German tanks from the side or more desirable, from the rear. Attacking German tanks from the rear is the preferred method."

"You can expect our company to be attached to the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion for combined operations. This will provide the benefits of dismounted infantry with the lightning speed and firepower of armor. So expect to get acquainted with our grunt brothers in the Infantry. Our Direct Support Artillery support will come from the 94th Armored Field Artillery Battalion which uses 105mm Howitzers. We can also expect support from our own mortar platoon which uses 81mm mortars mounted on halftracks."

OOC Thread is linked at top of post.

Can we be on either side? German or Allies?

Everyone in the RP will be in the US 4th Armored Division. I see where you are going and would love to test the dice rules I have established, but I'm afraid the Tiger could be quite over powered in the hands of some RPers. :(

@GuntherI understand. I know that some are dissilusioned by the armor and gun and forget the many flaws it had... It is far too easy to godmod with historical liberties or deus ex machina.

We're playing as the Americans? I want to play as the good guys though.

Please conduct political discussions in PMs.
thank you.

Check out the tank v. Tank combat resolution rules on the OOC page. Beware the Tiger.

@GuntherBasically, hit=you are in a world of pain. Maybe a lucky bounce once in a while but that would still probably sting to have that big ol' 88 mm shell smash off your armor.

If you are interested in Military History or the military in general, this would be a fun Role Play for you. We are working in a co-operative role as Tank Commanders in World War II, picking up after the Normandy landings are complete and after Cherbourg and the Cotentin Peninsula have been secured. We will be part of the US 4th Armor Division breaking out of the Bocage country, heading south towards St. Lo. We will encounter hedgerows initially and undoubtedly the 2nd SS Panzer Division (Das Reich).