M17 Whiz-Bang
(US059)
includes one M4 Sherman, one M17 Whiz-Bang rocket launcher, one plastic Sherman components sprue & one Loader figure.
In 1943-44, the US Army began examining the use of rockets as a means to supplement tank guns. The first efforts involved the use of 7.2 inch demolition rockets from the T40 launcher for breaching seawalls during amphibious landings. This was later standardized as the M17 Whiz-Bang launcher.
The 7.2-inch Multiple Rocket Launcher M17 was designed to be mounted on the M4 Sherman series of medium tanks. Intended for use against concrete bunkers and other fortifications, the payload of twenty rockets were fired electronically either as a salvo or individually.
The box-like frame which housed the rockets was hydraulically elevated from the controls of the 75mm main gun and could even be jettisoned from the safety of inside the tank. However, the system was not without its drawbacks; for instance, the location of the launcher restricted access to the turret hatches.
The M17 Whiz-Bang in Flames of War
Mobility: Standard tank
Armour Front: 6
Armour Side: 4
Armour Top: 1
Co-ax MG, Hull MG
Rocket Launchers
Rocket launchers were one of the secret weapons of the Red Army at the start of World War Two. By the end of the war every army had their own version of these lightweight weapons capable of delivering a stunning volume of fire and saturating the target area with explosives. Each army’s Arsenal describes their rocket launchers.
Saturation Bombardment
Each T34 Calliope counts as four weapons when firing an Artillery Bombardment.
A Calliope Tank Platoon cannot use the Hit ‘Em With Everything You Got special rule.
Sixty Rockets
The Calliope’s 60 rocket tubes took a bit of time to reload, but a crack crew found ways to speed things up for the next salvo.
At the start of the game, place a Full Salvo marker with a platoon with Sixty Rockets rocket launchers. Remove this marker after firing an Artillery Bombardment.
If a platoon with Sixty Rockets rocket launchers does not have a Full Salvo marker when it fires an Artillery Bombardment, roll a Skill Test for each Rocket Launcher able to fire in the Bombardment. Only those that pass the Skill Test can fire as part of the Bombardment.
Place a Full Salvo marker on a platoon with Sixty Rockets rocket launchers at the end of any Shooting Step in which every Rocket Launcher in the platoon was able to fire an Artillery Bombardment, but none did so.
15mm, resin/metal/plastic
Battlefront MIniatures
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Battlefront Miniatures Europe Ltd
Tissington Close Unit 4C
Nottingham, Vereinigtes Königreich, NG9 6QG
customerservicerow@battlefront.co.nz
https://www.flamesofwar.com/
Responsible person:
Frontline Games
Faerbereiweg 3A
Schleswig-Holstein
Huetten, Deutschland, 24358
info@frontlinegames.de
https://www.frontlinegames.de/
