The Loose Association of Wargamers

BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:30 pm

RMD wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:59 pm When the Australians got the Crocodile, they had the Mk VIII version - 95mm plus flamethrower.

What a combo - Aussies, big gun AND a flamethrower! Almost makes you feel sorry for the Japs.....

Almost.

all mounted on a tank the japs had no anti tank weapon to even dent.....

goat major wrote: ↑Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:36 amBrainzai!!!

That is just genius.

A beehive round for the 95mm would have made it the perfect anti jap weapon.

goat major wrote: ↑Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:36 amBrainzai!!!

FreddBloggs wrote: ↑Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:42 am

BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:30 pm

RMD wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:59 pm When the Australians got the Crocodile, they had the Mk VIII version - 95mm plus flamethrower.

What a combo - Aussies, big gun AND a flamethrower! Almost makes you feel sorry for the Japs.....

Almost.

all mounted on a tank the japs had no anti tank weapon to even dent.....

No indeed. And they really struggled in dealing with the Sherman. Plenty of Lees and Stuarts were lost to 47mm guns and the occasional 37mm, but mostly to 75mm shaped-charge rounds and on one memorable occasion, a 320mm spigot-mortar. Shermans were impervious to the 37mm and 47mm guns, so the Japanese were increasingly forced to deploy their artillery in the anti-tank role.

That said, in its report to SEAC, 254th Brigade did say that it was overkill, as Lee/Grants and Shermans were more than capable of doing the job assigned to them. Churchill was slow and in a brigade used to performing deep, hard strike-marches down Burmese roads to cut in behind enemy formations, this was seen as an enormous disadvantage. However, they did report that it had unparalleled cross-country and wading ability in the jungle and tidal creeks.

320mm spigot mortar?! Jesus.
Like somebody chucking a dustbin full of explosives at you.

But how do you keep it supplied along Burmese roads?

Norman D. Landings wrote: ↑Sun Mar 07, 2021 1:31 pm 320mm spigot mortar?! Jesus.
Like somebody chucking a dustbin full of explosives at you.

Yeah, Type 98 320mm Spigot Mortar. The Japanese brought a battalion of them (12 weapons) to Imphal on the backs of elephants:

grizzlymc wrote: ↑Sun Mar 07, 2021 2:24 pm But how do you keep it supplied along Burmese roads?

A phenomenally long and sophisticated logistical network that ultimately proved capable of bringing tank-transporters and the world's longest Bailey Bridge overland from India, that's how...

Ephalents, that's how.