Comments on: Is the Star on the Firefly Correct?

By: nHenkpas

nHenkpas — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 17:27:09 +0000

Thanks mate!

By: M4A3E8sherman

M4A3E8sherman — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:20:57 +0000

Panthers and Tigers did not perform fantastically even on the occasions where they did encounter M4s. The most important factor in a tank battle was simply who engaged first, followed by who was attacking and who was defending.

By: Doddy

Doddy — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:25:42 +0000

The allies tanks were so hopelessly outclassed by the German tanks they met, the arrival of a tank that could at least hurt them was a big deal. Hence the big reputation of Firefly, su-152, IS et all. In truth of course the German tanks were so hugely outnumbered and low on spare parts/fuel and the allies had such superior air power and artillery they didn’t actually need to kill tanks with tanks. But having something that could was good for morale and propaganda purposes, advancing on a German position not knowing whether there was tigers there in normal Shermans or t-34s must have been fairly terrifying.

In reality commonwealth tank units were usually not facing tigers and panthers, they were facing infantry with anti tank guns plus the odd pz4 or Stug. In such circumstances the normal Sherman was more use than the firefly sine the 17-pdr never really managed a decent HE shell. As such Shermans and fireflies (or indeed cromwells and challengers) working together covered all eventualities.

By: Zeus67

Zeus67 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:45:18 +0000

I guess that British national pride took a big hit when told that their mediums were found lacking against the Sherman. Also, I think that the firefly was the first Sherman with an “Anti-Tiger” gun that made it to Europe in D-Day.

By: Zły Wilk

Zły Wilk — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:38:24 +0000

Alright thanks

By: Balc0ra

Balc0ra — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:18:38 +0000

Well Firefly is already on the 360 version of WOT, the model that is. It was a US tank in the Closed Beta.
It was tested as a US tank since the UK tech tree was not implemented in the 360 version yet. That was a cross-platform trailer as in PC,I pad, 360 and even the card game. So they had tanks exclusive to each platform to. So I guess that’s why they kept the start on it if you look at it that way. Tho the 360 crew never said it was to be a US medium. But the model was tested as a US tank.

By: Listy

Listy — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 11:16:00 +0000

To the British, it holds a position like that of the T-34 is to Russians, or the .45 M1911 does to the Americans. Why exactly is hard to explain. I might have to have a look at that.

By: wan2tri

wan2tri — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:52:54 +0000

Well the picture’s file name has “Guards Armoured”, and considering that the Guards Armoured Division was the spearhead of XXX Corps during Operation Market Garden, it’s quite possible that it (the picture) is indeed taken in the Netherlands…

Through TinEye I’ve been able to confirm that it is indeed the Netherlands. The caption is “Hell’s Highway towards Nijmegen”, so for obvious reasons the picture was taken somewhere between Eindhoven and Nijmegen.

By: Foxton

Foxton — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:23:10 +0000

It’s just a legend amongst allied tanks, a bit like the Tiger for the Germans. How amazing it was in practice is, as per usual, hard to determine, but it seemed rather successful in all roles a medium tank is expected to fulfil.

I think it’s fame more comes from national pride: the UK took an American tank and made it (subjectively) better. Even if it was a stopgap measure until the Comet/Challenger was finished. Comet doesn’t get as much love because it just wasn’t used in major operations until Korea, where it was eclipsed by the Centurion.

By: Zły Wilk

Zły Wilk — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 09:49:17 +0000

What is so special about the Firefly that so many people talk about it?