Tigers in Urban Combat

This is a giant rocket firing mortar the Germans used to destroy whole buildings with one hit.

There were a number of operational Tiger II tanks in Berlin at the end of the war.  This is the ambush scheme of camouflage, modified for urban operations.

This camouflage is notional, that is, it never existed, but the pattern was used, but typically in brown, tank, and green. 

I have two of these tanks that I got used 20 years ago or more.

I think it is a pretty cool color scheme for city combat.

This is the Porsche Tiger.  This is what the Tiger I would have looked like if Porsche got the contract.  As it was the turrets were put on the Tiger II tanks and this hull was used for the Elephant tank destroyers.  I think they did actually complete one or two of these.
 

Preparation for a Counter-Attack

Tanks and infantry prepare for a limited counter attack.

German doctrine was to try and counter attack as soon as possible so the enemy did not have time to establish defenses.

Panzerschreck. 

Note troop in the window.

Twin 128mm guns in a single turret.
 

Tanks in Rubble

Bombed out store fronts.

Enemy in almost any direction requires a 360 defense.

Vehicles that were rarely seen on the battlefield.

Mostly used in the indirect fire mode, or in long distance ambush.  Pulling away before the enemy got within range.

It was too slow to out run the enemy so it would usually retire to a secondary prepared position.

 Super heavy rocket gun, perfect for urban combat.

Very Late War Heavy Tanks

Two series production Tiger II tanks with the urban ambush camouflage scheme.

A familiar sight late in the war, Germans troops defending rubble.

Triple purpose, dual 128mm Anti-Aircraft, Anti-Tank, and indirect fire turret for the Tiger II.  The turret is very heavy and the tank was quite slow.

Porsche tank hull with early production Tiger turret.

Late war urban ambush scheme, this time in color.
 

ARV and ARV

Here are the two Soviet ARVs that I made from Roco Minitanks T34 tanks.

I suspect that  ARVs like this were in the inventory of the Soviet Union perhaps as late as the end of the Cold War.

Certainly there are nations, Yemen and Vietnam that STILL use the T34 as an active duty tank in 2026.

So there must be some that still have them in reserve!

Tanks are expensive and even an old tank, as long as it runs is useful.

I painted these in the color that I use for the Soviet Union in WWII and into the early Cold War until about 1960.
 

ARV Towing Vehicle

A Soviet truck and two armored recovery vehicles, receiving supplies.

The weight of tanks puts a lot of wear on them, but without the turret and a ton of ammunition they ARV often lasted longer than the tanks.

So in real life an older ARV might serve more modern tanks as long as they were in the same weight class.

A towing vehicle like this could also serve in armored personnel carrier or armored artillery units.

I like them in wargames because if there are a few tanks knocked out on the bridge or in the mountain pass or on the main street, the ARV can remove the obstacles.  Sometime a smoke mortar might be part of the ARV kit so they can provide a screen to work behind. 
 

ARVs and a Truck and Supplies

Orion WWII Soviet Tank Crews in 1/72nd scale.

HO 1/87 scale Roco Minitank conversion.

Roco Minitank HO scale 1/87 vehicle conversion.

The supplies are resin cast and designed to fit into various vehicles in my collection.

Truck is from Filament Fighters, HO scale 3D printed.
 

ARV Vehicles

This type of Armored Recovery Vehicle typically has a large winch.

This allows the ARV to hook up to a stranded vehicle without having to risk getting stranded itself.

Sometimes more purpose built vehicles will have a spade or dozer blade to allow them greater purchase when towing a vehicle with a winch.

Some of my Roco vehicles have the little wheels and some don't.  They are kind of fun, but on the other hand they roll down slopes.

This vehicle has a bow machine gun, because sometimes they take fire from the enemy.

Two different types of T34 armored recovery vehicle.
 

Boom Tank

While a vehicle that can tow disabled tanks out if the mud, and snow, is great, having a vehicle that can help replace an engine or transmission too is even better.

This Roco T34 has been modified to just such a vehicle.

A few pieces of scrap sheet plastic, a couple pieces of plastic rod, and Roco wire spool, and a little hook and you have everything you need to make this vehicle.

Many tanks burn engines and transmissions out quickly.  

Having a crane tank like this can make the difference in keeping a tank in service and having to leave it behind.
 

T-34 ARV

This Roco Minitank might be 50 years old.

In the 1970s I was reading about Soviet Union making armored recovery vehicles out of the T34.

The simple version is remove the turret, weld over the hold in the hull top, and add a hatch.

I added a couple tow cables.

And some tools.  This model sat unpainted for over 40 years until this week.  Not detail painted, but good enough for wargaming.