Terence Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 I was playing against my dad the other day in a PBEM scenario when I saw the most amazing thing. This is in no way a complaint. I scooted my US M3 halftrack around behind some buildings to find a German Puma lurking there. Well, I knew he was there, but it sounds better that way. To make a long story short, the halftrack ended up about 2 meters away from the puma firing its .50 cal the entire time. The Puma exploded and caught fire, knocking me off my chair. It occurred to me that the way to explain this was that the .50 was high enough up and close enough to the Puma that it penetrated the top armor on the back deck. What do you guys think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Hofbauer Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 your experience is not unusual at all, rather it is what should be expected: the 50cal can kill the Puma from any aspect, look at the stats. Even from the front, I think it was the lower hull section which makes the Puma vulnerable to the 50cal even from the front. I remember there was a discussion back then about the lower hull section armor thickness being different in the 234/1, 234/2 and 234/3. Only one, either the 2cm or the 7.5cm stub, can't remember which, has the thicker lower hullsection that makes the vehicle .50cal-proof from the front. IIRC then that was a data glitch because the Puma was supposed to have the thicker lower hull section as well. some fink like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gpig Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Ooooh. I LOVE that story. Makes me sad, too. I was playing Wiltz PBEM and I had set up a .50 crew in the woods, covering the open clearings in front of my Victory flag. Around turn 10, those clearings fill up with 3 german halftracks and 1 PUMA. I'm practically peeing my pants, waiting for my turn to come back, as my orders for my .50 crew were simply to "un-hide." Hee hee hee . . . Well, over the next two turns my boys fire off about 10 bursts at two of the tracks, plus the PUMA, but to NO EFFECT. Ugh. The PUMA and tracks then proceeded to kill off my entire crew. (Sniff) I had already pictured a clearing FILLED with abandoned tracks. Alas, I was extremely unlucky. Or so it seems. Gpig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcm1947 Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Good story. It reminds me of the first time I noticed a .50 caliber taking out a Puma. Sure was a neat feeling. I couldn't have been happier had I done it myself. But yes the .50 caliber is one hell of a machine gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen-x87H Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Not surprised. I lose alot of HTs to .50 cal Gen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StellarRat Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 .50 cal can also destroy a Hetzer as I found out to my dismay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Age Santa Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 A HETZER!?!? :eek: I certainly hope not from the front... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Kruger Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 What vehicles need to be wary of .50 cal?? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bog Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 I had one occasion, playing the Small Gain scenario, where my Greyhound fired his 37mm, knocking out a German HT, then firing his .50 cal a second later, killing a second HT! :eek: I was impressed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen. Sosaboski Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 In A QB, a Marder III buzzed right by my MLR, sustaining no damage. It then came across my M3A1 HT and fired, immobilizing the HT and killing the gunner, but losing its TC. A 50 cal. that it had passed by then rotated and fired a long stream of bullets into the rear of the Marder, blowing it up. Now that was cool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offtaskagain Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Herr Kruger: What vehicles need to be wary of .50 cal?? :confused:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Anything with any wheels on it, namely PSWs, HTs, and trucks. Also any open topped AFV, and Hetzers can be killed from the side and rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Kruger Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Ok.. thanks a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanir Ausf B Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 IIRC the .50 cal. will penetrate 25mm of armor at 0 degrees at 0m. So, it would have to be very close to the Hetzer to take it out. Same for the PSW from the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porajkl Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Hetzer can be destroyed with .50 at distances up to 200 meters with side or rear shots. Done that with great delight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cos Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 I have lost 2 PzIV to Daimler AC to frontal shots in the 300 to 400 meter ranges (Panthers made short work of them after that). Also once had a Stuart knocked out a Panther on at about 250 meters on the frontal hit (Panther was too busy blasting my TD care about the Stuart). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiggDogg Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Thanks for the info that those pesky hetzers can be knock out from the side and rear by 50 cals. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Bellator Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 I'm sure I read somewhere that the .50cal was designed (or based on a design) in WW1 specifically as an Anti-Tank Machine Gun, to deal with the newly arrived WW1 era tanks. Hopefully a better grog than me will pick this up, but if you bear that in mind then it's no suprise that they can shred any light armour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Mahone Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 Yep, and somewhere in Afghanistan that same M2 Browning .50 caliber is giving some Taliban soldiers hell because that gun is still in use today (for obvious reasons already noted above). Head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mensch Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 who needs .50cals?? I'm playing a huge game with Jadayne made by The Desert Fox and all and I mean ALL of his American HT's have been wiped out by me using my MG's on my German Halftracks!!! :eek: First off I have never taken out an American HT with any type of MG in my gaming time. But this battle I have taken out at least six of his little Purple Heart Boxes!! heh.. who would have thought my widdle HT crew loaded up with AP Tungsten rounds. heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Manuel Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cos: I have lost 2 PzIV to Daimler AC to frontal shots in the 300 to 400 meter ranges (Panthers made short work of them after that). Also once had a Stuart knocked out a Panther on at about 250 meters on the frontal hit (Panther was too busy blasting my TD care about the Stuart).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I've had PzIV KO's by Daimlers & Stuarts at around 450m. I learned my lesson- now I keep the PzIV back and use StuG closer work if I have to. .50cal can be further out to get kills- In Small Gain I had a .50 kill ACs, Lynx, and HTs at 500m. Maybe being in the Top Floor helped...better angle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fangorn Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 I've lost a hetzer due damage to its gun caused by .50 fire. Nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killmore Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cos: I have lost 2 PzIV to Daimler AC to frontal shots in the 300 to 400 meter ranges (Panthers made short work of them after that). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I have lost a Tiger to Daimler at 650 meters. Front penetration too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Posted September 25, 2001 Author Share Posted September 25, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by killmore: I have lost a Tiger to Daimler at 650 meters. Front penetration too.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I once lost a Sherman in the living room. But I found it again when my mom vacuumed behind the couch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted September 25, 2001 Share Posted September 25, 2001 If you look at the stats for most modern light AFVs the most they boast on sides and top is proof against 7.62. The U.S. is currently fielding a new 4x4 AC for MP duties that can defeat .50 cal. but it had be made of fancy laminate armor. It's those heavy mgs and anti-tank rifles that prompted te Germans to start building bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offtaskagain Posted September 26, 2001 Share Posted September 26, 2001 Does anyone know of a weapon system thats been in front-line service longer than the M2? It entered service in 1919, and I can't think of anything that can beat that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts