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Armoured Platoon Box Front Sherman Armoured Platoon (BBX08)
Sherman V and Firefly Vc

During 1942-43 the standard size of an armoured troop (platoon) was 3 tanks and had served the British well. However it became clearer as the war progressed that the standard 75mm gun of the Sherman would not be powerful enough to deal with the ever increasing amounts of armour the German were applying to their tanks, a solution was sought.
This product has been replaced by the plastic Sherman Armoured Platoon (BBX27)...
Already in service in 1943 was the excellent 17pdr anti-tank gun and it was decided to mount this in a Sherman turret. After some trial and error a mounting was affected. The new 17pdr armed Sherman was dubbed the Firefly.

The Firefly was then issued to the armoured divisions, with most formations issuing them to the Armoured Troops as an extra tank, thus bringing the strength of a troop up to 3 Shermans and a Firefly.

Firefly Vc with stowage
Sherman V with stowage

Some squadrons grouped their Fireflies together in a single troop, and later in the war some Armoured Troops had up to two Fireflies.

The Sherman V (M4A4) was the most common Sherman available to the British Armoured Divisions (while the Independant Armoured Brigades mostly had Sherman III) during the D-Day landings.

To keep mechanical repairs and maintenance streamlined the Firefly Vc (based on the M4A4) was issued to the Armoured Divisions.

More on the Sherman in British Service...

Firefly Vc In Flames Of War

The Firefly is a great enemy tank killer with an AT of 13 and FP of 3+ but with Armour of 6/4/1 you don’t have that much steel to protect you from rounds coming the other way! The hull MG has been removed to give more stowage for those deadly 17pdr rounds as well.

The Firefly is best used as a long distance tank killer while the 75mm armed Shermans or Cromwells carry out their offensive manoeuvring.

Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage Your late war British, Commonwealth or Allied Sherman or Cromwell tank Squadron will usually have one firefly per troop in North west Europe in 1944 and maybe two per troop in the Sherman equipped Regiments from the end of 1944 onwards.

In Italy they didn’t arrive until quite late in the war and you would be lucky to have enough to give one to each troop.

More on the Firefly Vc...

Sherman V In Flames Of War

While the Sherman V main gun (Anti-tank 10; Firepower 3+) lacks the same punch as the Firefly, it shares the same armour (Front 6; Side 4; Top 1). The Sherman V is able to support the Firefly with the ability to fire both HE and Smoke.

Both the Sherman V and Firefly utilise the Semi-Indirect Fire and Tow Hook special rules.

Designed by Evan Allen
Stowage by Jeremy Painter
Painted by Jeremy Painter

Sherman V with stowage
Armoured Platoon Box Back
Firefly Vc
Firefly Vc with stowage Firefly Vc with stowage
Firefly Vc with stowage Firefly Vc with stowage
Firefly Vc with stowage Firefly Vc with stowage
Firefly Vc with stowage Firefly Vc with stowage
Firefly Vc with stowage Firefly Vc with stowage
Firefly Vc with stowage
Sherman V Variants
Sherman V with stowage
Firefly Vc with stowage
Sherman V with stowage Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with stowage
Sherman V with Firefly Vc


Last Updated On Friday, October 23, 2015 by James at Battlefront