"Potentially Stupid Question re Warlord Shermans" Topic

So, in gearing up my 28mm Brits, I want to put a Sherman troop together (we don't use BA, but I love their tanks). Anyway, I want to use the "new" Italeri 1/56 plastic Shermans they released together, but I want to add the Firefly (the typical 4 Shermans plus 1 Firefly full strength troop).

Before I drop almost $150 USD on tanks, I wanted to make sure they match up well. I know this is a stupid question, being that they are all Warlord tanks, but having not seen them yet in person, did the scale up in plastic match, precisely speaking size wise, the resin Shermans? I would hate for the Firefly and the Shermans to be noticeably different on the tabletop.

James – troop organisation should be 3 Shermans plus 1 Firefly rather than 4. Battlefront box sets are really about selling more tanks and have a lot to answer for. On the plus side, you've just saved 20% of your budget!

Ahh that is good news. I was actually going with an orbat I found elsewhere, I will find the link when I am off my mobile at home, but I will go with your info. Saves me some money :)

Go 15mm and you'll pay only $40 USD or so for the whole lot…

Not actually an answer but have you considered Blitzkrieg?

link

Great castings few parts and top service.

Oink.

They look pretty good, but I am already in pretty deep with 1/56, far too late to go 15mm (I am a multiscale guy anyway, I do Eastern Front in 20mm).

Anyway, as to the TOE I used to get the numbers, it is here:
link

Which is sourced from here:
link

But I am gonna go with 3 Shermans and a Firefly regardless…save a nickle. =) Besides, not many full strength units to be had that often in Normandy.

Those T0&Es are based on a ratio of one model to four vehicles.

AS above, generally Sherman troops had three 75mm Shermans and a Firefly, although as numbers of Fireflies increased some units reverted to troops of three tanks.

Also late war, some Sherman units had 2 Fireflies and 2 75mm Shermans as well.

There is a saying that with the British Army, there is no such thing as standard!

Actually, one of the really interesting things about the British army to me in WWII, was how often it changed, and adapted to different equipment, and how unit structure was affected by that new equipment, so thanks for the input.

James, Blitzkrieg come in 1:56 and 1:48.

James – war establishment (TO&E) did change over time and there were also some unit variations, but a troop of 3x 75mm and 1x Firefly was full strength and can be considered standard for NWE. If you still feel like getting a fifth model, add another Firefly rather than a 75mm. You could then go for the post- Normandy structure where troops of 2x 75m and 2x Firefly were used by some regiments.

As has been said, 3x Shermans & 1x Firefly was the normal troop organisation, with the troop commander riding in one of the 75mm-armed Shermans.

Some units managed to scrape together enough Fireflies for troops of 2x Shermans & 2x Firefly, but those were normally short-lived and with losses they soon reverted back to the normal 3:1 ratio. Where there were two Fireflies, the troop commander usually rode in the second Firefly.

Extra Shermans can come in handy if you need a Squadron HQ tank or an artillery OP tank.

Hi James – glad you found my webpage – sorry it has pointed you in the wrong direction.

Most of the orbats on my site are geared around 1 stand to 1 platoon scale gaming – which gives a few distortions to allow some of the less frequent but still useful kit on the table.