u/Dakubou4217

I am one of those people extremely bothered by the whole "let's slap the M44 and M55 in every tree" and the same for certain other vehicles.

My solution is one that Gajin already kinda dealt with, by making every copy pasted vehicle have visual differences from each other. Like how the M24DK just has gear and bags, its simple, but it makes the vehicles feel ever so slightly more unique.

In Decemeber 1944, Operation Greif was launched, a huge subterfuge where the Germans took months planning for and preparing an entire battalion to imitate and infiltrate American soldiers and vehicles.

Of the battalions armor there were two Ersatz vehicles being 5 Panther Ausf.G tanks dressed to match a silhouette similar to the M10 Wolverine, an American tank destroyer.

And a select amount of Stug III Gs made to look vaguely American, but mostly dressed to break up its recognizable shape.

My question is, if there were a third Ersatz, would it be a Pz III or Pz IV? And how would it be disguised?

IVs ans IIIs were available at the time, IIIs being a lot less commonplace and being used mostly in command roles.

I feel like the IV would be difficult to disguised as a specific American tank very well, so we could assume it would have its cupola removed, and simply have additional metal sheeting that would slope the front of the hull, and also cover the recognizable engine bay. The turret could also receive sheeting or would simply get covered in canvas.

The Pz III on the other hand, would be uniquely qualified to be made into a semi convincing M24, and presuming that it could, and the Germans being aware of this, they might have gone through the trouble of acquiring acouple.

What do you think?

(Third image is a "uparmored" Pz IV that I found that looks how Id assume the Ersatz IV might be, with some shoddy phone editing)

I'm building an Operation Greif army for Bolt Action, and Ersatz vehicles are my favorite in general, so now that I know of this mysterious Panzer IV Ersatz, I need to find any info so I can try to recreate it.

I caved in and got a YEAR of premium time and big ol gajibble finally said "hey!! Let's give our strongest little soldier something to play play with!! Hm... let's give him something from... Isreal!!"

RRRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH I HATE THIS GAME I WANTED THE VFW