M4 Sherman Crocodile
includes one M4 Sherman Crocodile Flame-thrower Tank & one Tank
Commander.
Approximately: 2"
Impressed by the performance of the Churchill Crocodile, US commanders begun speculating if a similar vehicle could be developed using the M4 Sherman tank and approached the British War Office about the possibility of fulfilling the estimated requirement of one hundred M4 Sherman Crocodiles.
The first prototype was completed in January 1944 with the first production vehicles rolling off the assembly line in March of that year. The production plan called for the British to supply the common components such as the armoured fuel trailer while the US would provide the necessary Sherman parts.
The flame projector was mounted externally to the front of the vehicle with the necessary fuel supplied via the armoured fuel trailer towed behind the vehicle. The two were connected via a fuel hose that ran along the outside of the hull.
This was cause for concern amongst US high command who’s change of heart meant that only four vehicles ever saw service with the 739th Tank Battalion (Mine Exploder). These examples saw limited action supporting the 29th Infantry and 2nd Armored Divisions during and following the Rhine crossings.
Flame-thrower
Flame-throwers saturate the target area in flaming fuel. They don’t need to
see their targets. They’ll hit anyway as long as the operator is
competent.
Unlike normal weapons, a Flame-thrower needs an unmodified Skill Test to hit the target.
Only Fully-armoured vehicles have any protection against Flame-throwers. If
any other type of vehicle or
team is hit, it is automatically Destroyed, even if it is in
Bulletproof Cover.
- A Fully-armoured vehicle hit by a Flame-thrower does not take an Armour Save. Instead, take a Firepower Test for the Flame-thrower.
- If it passes, then the vehicle is Bailed Out.
Otherwise, aside from a little coughing fit, the crew are fine but the Tank team and any Tank Escorts it has may not conduct Defensive Fire this turn.
Any hit by a Flame-thrower automatically Pins Down the whole target platoon.
Fuel Trailer
M4 Sherman Crocodile tanks are not affected by the Fuel Tanks rule like normal
tank flame-throwers.
