Ersatz StuG
(GE125)
includes one Ersatz StuG Assault Gun
In preparation for the Ardennes offensive, Hitler had given Otto Skorzeny and his commandos the task of infiltrating American positions to capture key bridges and create as much general havoc behind enemy lines as possible. Skorzeny, who had shot to fame due the successful rescue of Benito Mussolini in September 1943 conceived a daring two-part plan.
The first part required special English speaking troops to infiltrate enemy lines and create chaos while the second required Panzer Brigade 150 to capture and hold the critical bridges that were so vital to the success of the offensive.
A vital part of any success Panzer Brigade 150 would enjoy would be its equipment; all American in origin. However, upon inspection, Skorzeny was less than impressed. In the collection sent, there were no operational armoured vehicles other than a few armoured cars; no tanks whatsoever. To beef up the numbers, Skorzeny was able to acquired five Panthers tanks and StuG III G assault guns. Orders were given to disguise the Panthers to resemble the American M10 tank destroyer while the StuG III G were intended to look like the M7 Priest
All of the vehicles were painted green and given large white stars to complete the illusion. While the vehicles were far from convincing, Skorzeny at least now had the numbers he required to secure a route to the Meuse.War
The Ersatz StuG G in Flames Of War
Mobility: Standard tank
Armour Front: 7
Armour Side: 3
Armour Top: 1
Hull MG, Enemy disguises, Protected ammo, Schürzen
Weapon: 7.5cm StuK40 gun
Range: 32”/80cm
Rate of Fire: 2
Anti-tank: 11
Firepower: 3+
Hull mounted
Enemy Disguises
Skorzeny’s troops used captured trucks and painted all of their vehicles green with white stars. The disguises weren’t perfect, but they took whatever advantage they could.
A platoon equipped with Enemy Disguises must be Identified before the enemy can shoot at it or assault it.
These units start the game unidentified.
If a platoon equipped with Enemy Disguises shoots, conducts anti-aircraft fire, or launches an assault, they are immediately identified by all enemy platoons.
In order to Identify a platoon equipped with Enemy Disguises, an enemy platoon must attempt to shoot at it or select it as the target for an Artillery Bombardment. Before rolling To Hit or Range In, the platoon rolls a Skill Test.
■ If they pass the Skill Test, they Identify the German platoon and shoot at or bombard it as normal. The German unit is now Identified to all enemy platoons.
■ If they fail, they do not Identify the unit, but may shoot at or bombard other German platoons instead.
Enemy Recce teams that attempt to shoot at or bombard a platoon equipped with Enemy Disguises automatically identify them if they are within 8”/20cm.
An AOP or Bunker cannot Identify a platoon equipped with Enemy Disguises. Aircraft cannot choose a team that has not been identified as the target of an air strike.
Protected Ammo
Many tanks are destroyed not by the enemy shell but by their own ammunition being hit by white-hot fragments of armour and exploding. The chances of this were minimised by providing a safe place for stowing ammunition within the vehicle such as an armoured compartment or inside a water-filled jacket.
If forced to bail out, crews of tanks with protected ammunition are far more confident when it comes to remounting their vehicle quickly.
Tanks with Protected Ammo re-roll all failed Motivation Tests to Remount Bailed Out vehicles in the Starting Step (see page 102 of the main rulebook).
Schürzen
Schürzen are the thin armoured plates hung on the sides of some German tanks to protect them from infantry anti-tank weapons, like anti-tank rifles and bazookas.
When a tank that is protected by Schürzen is hit by a weapon with a Firepower of 5+ or 6 on the Side armour by shooting and fails its Armour Save, roll a special 4+ Schürzen save:
■ If the save is successful the Schürzen protects the tank from the side shot.
■ If the save is not successful the shot penetrated the side armour as normal.
Hull-mounted Guns
Some tanks mount weapons in the front of the hull instead of in a turret to save weight or to make them easier to produce.
A hull-mounted weapon mounted in the front of a vehicle has a 180-degree Field of Fire covering everything in front of a line drawn across the front of the vehicle. If the weapon is mounted at the rear of the vehicle, the Field of Fire covers everything to the rear of a line drawn across the rear of the vehicle.
Contents
1x Left-hand side track.
1x Right-hand side track.
1x 7.5cm gun with muzzle brake.
1x 7.5cm gun without muzzle brake.
1x StuG parts sprue.
1x Resin Ersatz StuG hull.
15mm, metal/resin
Battlefront Miniatures
