>>6352027
Tank: The Black Dog
Commander: Sgt Macheath aka Mack The Knife, big huge Scottish-American whose extended family back home suffered quite a lot before the U.S. finally waded into the war. He has been itching to fight for a long while, and sometimes frightens the crew with his brutality - he has a Sykes-Fairbairn combat dagger and (inexplicably) a large meat cleaver, and likes to fight with both of them whenever he has the chance to use blades instead of bullets.
Gunner: Cpl Potter aka Pot-Shot, smokes like a chimney whenever he can get out of the tank long enough, loves to gamble also and will take every opportunity to talk someone into a game of cards to possibly win more cigarettes playing poker, spades, or even just 'War'
Loader: Pvt Potter, aka Piss Pot, the Gunner's younger brother, drinks like his brother smokes, and got his name from an incident where he soiled himself, Macheath promised he would get a better nickname the day he killed a German with his own gun, and if he kills one with a knife he gets to call Mack 'Piss Pot' in perpetuity with no repercussions
Driver: Pvt Nelson, cool and collected, direly cynical, reads lots of poetry and can recite it with perfect, eidetic recollection, believes you're all going to die and that you probably deserve it
Asst Driver: Pvt Cage, a greaser-type from NYC, comes from destitution, knows how to juggle, throw knives, and do trick shots because his parents were both circus performers and sometimes clowns, has a horrible phobia of rats

>>6352030
Solid ideas, although I don't think two brothers would be allowed in the same unit, correct me if I'm wrong. Also it should be "MacHeath." Bummer that this is Sherman Qst instead of Tiger Qst but so be it.

My replacement for the loader:
PFC Krieger, a ranch-hand from out West. Gets asked to translate all the time but doesn't speak a lick of German. The campfire cook of the crew, in addition to being handy with all sorts of pistols & carrying a few tucked away on his person, whether he managed to sneak them across the Atlantic or looted them from the dead is unclear.

>>6352033
Oh yeah, I like that!

Also addendum: I think Mack should have visions(?)/hallucinations(?) of a black hound the size of a horse following your tank around, which he insists is a faerie omen that he is here to bring death to the Germans wherever he goes (hence the name of the tank), whereas Potter thinks he is mentally insane and Nelson believes it's a manifestation of Mack's many sins trailing behind you until it can drag him to hell, and Cage thinks it's a bunch of different stray dogs that just happen to be around because it's a warzone.

>>6352043
If the QM is in favor I'll back that, with Krieger assuming it's just the alcohol addling his mind. Perhaps Nelson studied at a seminary but dropped out due to a lack of faith, until the war restored his convictions.

File: PB2.jpg (44 KB, 460x421)

44 KB JPG

You are The Black Dog, currently ordered in France to mop up scattered enemy forces, reeling from the breakthrough of Operation Cobra. Sergeant MacHeath, a schizophrenic Scotsman, leads the crew. The gunner, Corporal Potter , helps keep a level head when need be, but can’t be bothered to do much else than shoot, smoke and gamble otherwise. Private Krieger is next in line, the most German he’s spoken and learned having been within the last few months. Private Nelson is the resident pessimist, mainly responsible for ensuring Private Cage doesn’t get up to no good.

A fine tank, and crew for her!

[0730], 7/27/44

The sun rose slowly on the French countryside. It was The Black Dog’s first assault, and all nerves were on edge. They were about a half hour into their advance when it happened. A friendly tank down the road burst into flames, a streak of light ripping through it. Small arms fire whipped around the tank, bringing everything to a halt.

“It’s a damn Panther in cover! Ass to us! Looks like some infantry their way too!”

Contacts:
Enemy - Pz. V - Medium Range - Front Left - [TURRET REAR VISIBLE]
Enemy - Infantry - Medium Range - Front Left
Friendly Forces - Close Range - Rear Left
Friendly Forces - Close Range - Rear
Friendly Forces - Close Range - Rear Right

The Black Dog
-Turret Facing - Front
-Ready Round - AP
-Ready Rack (8 Max) - 1 HCBI, 4 AP, 3 HE
-Status - Stopped
-Fuel - Needle Above ¾ Full
-Smoke Grenades - 6
-30 Cal - 27 Boxes
-50 Cal - 6 Boxes
-Shells: 2 HCBI, 52 HE, 29 AP, 8 WP
-Commander - Unbuttoned
-Gunner - NO HATCH
-Loader - NO HATCH
-Driver - Unbuttoned
-Assistant Driver - Unbuttoned

What will you do?
>Pivot the tank with your armor facing the enemy and engage [INCREASED SURVIVAL]
>Rotate the turret and engage. [GREATER KILL CHANCE]
>Advance forward, try to secure a position. [CAN MOVE PAST, DANGEROUS]
Additional, Extra Commands:
>>Select one or multiple crewmembers to button their hatch up.
>>Fire Bow, Coaxial, and Heavy Machine guns at your discretion
>>Write-In

>>6352094
>Rotate the turret and engage. [GREATER KILL CHANCE]
It's rear is to us, if we land a good shot we can take it out in one go.
>Fire Bow, Coaxial, and Heavy Machine guns at your discretion
Their infantry won't have anti-armor weaponry, let's mow them down with our heavy machine gun.

>>6352094
>>Rotate the turret and engage. [GREATER KILL CHANCE]

>all crew button up
>coaxial suppress infantry

https://youtu.be/dyIeNYt_Vvs?si=_c5pWEOu1jSwgJS5

based quest

>>6352097
do this and in addition
>have whoever's working the radio (I think that would be the assistant driver?) report contact
>>6352104
the coax is... coaxial to the main gun
it's going to be slewing towards the tank

>>6352049
>Rotate the turret and engage. [GREATER KILL CHANCE]

>>6352129
I meant the hull gun

>>6352132
's all good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsX7G6Fiwww

I take it it's either / or for using the MGs or buttoning up.
>Fire on the Panzer
>Wait until the shell is fired, then spray the enemy infantry with the MGs

>>6352193
>it's either / or for using the MGs or buttoning up
the pintle mounted .50 cal on the turret is intended for AA use and cannot be used when the tank is buttoned up but both the coaxial and the hull mounted MGs (both .30 cal) can
experienced crews would normally keep the tank unbuttoned unless subjected to artillery or particularly vicious sniper fire - it was far more important to be able to look around
but our "heroes" here aren't very experienced at all, so it would behoove them to soil their panties a bit and button up at first contact

>Rotate the turret and engage. [GREATER KILL CHANCE]

THE BLACK DOG: “Baker 1-2 is down! Panther got him, bearing 300, about half a mile!”
MACHEATH: “Do you have him, lad?!”
POTTER: “C’mon… C’mon! Got him!”
MACHEATH: “Fire!”
POTTER: “On the way!”

[MISS]
NELSON: “When you go out to battle against your enemies…”

POTTER: “Fuck!”
MACHEATH: “Repeat!”
KRIEGER: “Up!”
POTTER: “On the way!”

[RICOCHET]
NELSON: “And see horses and chariots and a people more than you…”

MACHEATH: “Repeat!”
KRIEGER: “Up!”
POTTER: “On the way!”

[OVERPEN]
NELSON: “Be not afraid of them…

MACHEATH: “Repeat!”
KRIEGER: “Up!”
POTTER: “On the way!”

[KILL]
NELSON: “For the Lord your God is with you.”

MACHEATH: “Holy hell, you got him!”
KRIEGER: “Ha-ha! Yes! Fuck you!”
CAGE: “Infantry’s retreating!”
RADIO: “Baker 1-3, Baker 1-1, good kill, good kill. Standby while we find a replacement lead…”

The day continued mostly without issue. The enemy was in full retreat, and the crew was doing mostly mop-up. The Black Dog continued the advance.

[1715], 7/27/44

Dark was falling, but the advance hadn’t stopped. The Black Dog had survived to be the lead vehicle, and noticed a transport, in full retreat, less than a mile away.

MACHEATH: “See that truck down the road? I don’t want to anymore.”
POTTER: “On it- Wait, shit-!”

A shell flashed in, before anything could be done.

[KNOCKED OUT]

The Black Dog was hit before they had even known what had happened, similar to their own kill earlier that morning. Smoke billowed, though the tank hadn’t immediately gone up. It was just a matter of time, though.

[NELSON LIGHTLY WOUNDED]
[red[NELSON UNCONSCIOUS]
[KRIEGER LIGHTLY WOUNDED]

MACHEATH: “Who’s hit?!”
POTTER: “I’m okay!”
KRIEGER: “Gahhh, fuck, my arm!”
CAGE: “Fuck, it’s Nelson! He’s out, cold!”

Sure enough, the rest of the crew was able to bail out safely. Save Nelson. Someone would have to go back.

What do you do?
Roll Xd100, for each character you use. Lower rolls better. (#1 d100 used for first character chosen, etc..)
>Attempt a rescue with MacHeath [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]
>Attempt a rescue with Potter [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]
>Attempt a rescue with Krieger [GOOD SURVIVAL CHANCE]
>Attempt a rescue with Cage [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]
Or…
>Leave him [LOW SURVIVAL CHANCE]

Rolled 97, 46 = 143 (2d100)

>>6352430
MacHeath orders Cage and Potter to pull him out because I assume the piece of rolling scrap doesn't have equilibrator springs on the driver's hatch?

>>6352460
well, fuck

>>6352430
>Attempt a rescue with MacHeath [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]
A tank without a driver is not a tank. We keep him.

>>6352465
Mind rolling it, please?

Rolled 24, 70 = 94 (2d100)

>>6352430
>Attempt a rescue with Mack and Cage

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>6352465

Turn my pistol on the rest of the tank crew and defect to the German Reich.

>>6352628
Based, too late in the war to make a difference though.

>Attempt a rescue with MacHeath [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]
>Attempt a rescue with Potter [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]
>Attempt a rescue with Cage [HIGH SURVIVAL CHANCE]

MacHeath was the first to break free of the tank, staying on just long enough to help direct the others. Far off, a hidden gun fired again.

MACHEATH: “Pull him out, boys! Krieger, help us get him down!”
CAGE: “Incoming!”

Another shot hit the tank, flames licking as the crew scrambled to escape. The flames caught Cage, leaving his face and part of his torso scarred and stinging. MacHeath was thrown from the tank, passed out from the blast.

[MACHEATH UNCONSCIOUS]
[CAGE LIGHTLY WOUNDED]
[NELSON RESCUED]

CAGE: “Fuck, sonavabitch, it burns!”
POTTER: “The Sergeant’s out too now!”
KRIEGER: “Me and Cage have got him, you hold onto Nelson!”

Just barely, Cage and Krieger managed to pull their unconscious Sergeant away from the tank. Potter managed Nelson up over his shoulder, and made it to the others, just as the tank cooked off.

[MACHEATH RESCUED]
[THE BLACK DOG LOST]

[1915], 7/27/44

The men had settled down for the evening. Somehow unscathed, Potter was resting in the motor pool, smoking like a madman. He was halfway through his pack for the day, and was already thinking of how he’d con others out of theirs, when MacHeath walked up.

MACHEATH: “Sergeant.”
POTTER: “Docs have said I’ll be fine, lad. Just had the ‘ol bell rung.”

No sigh of relief was shared, just a single nod. Their first day of combat, and it had almost been their last. They were stopped in a tight square of hedgerows, and a perimeter had already been set for the night. Without a tank, the men felt… naked.

MACHEATH: “How about the others?”
POTTER: “Cage is getting sent behind the line. No more than a week, I’m told. Krieger just needs some rest, they have his arm bandaged all snug. Same with Nelson, just some cuts what got sewn up.”
MACHEATH: “Good… good. Get some rest, Potter… Thank you.”

[ALL CREW SURVIVED]
[CAGE SENT TO REAR]

File: PB3.jpg (61 KB, 510x512)

61 KB JPG

The next morning, the crew had gathered to see Cage off, as the ambulance was prepping to carry the noncriticals.

KRIEGER: “Hey, at least that mug of yours still works! Who knows how you’d pull if your lips couldn’t trick the broads into not looking at that face, get some rest, pal!”

A thumbs up and a smirk through a partly burnt and bandaged face was the most Cage could muster, before being packed away in the ambulance. As it disappeared into the French countryside, the rest of the men stood, exchanging cigarettes, and staring at the sky.

NELSON: “There he goes. To better pastures. What’s next, Sergeant?”
MACHEATH: “We get our replacement. We’ll see what they have for us. Tank, and a new bow gunner for her.”
POTTER: “It can’t take long enough. Who’s got cards?”

Roll 1d100 to determine your new tank.
>1-6 - M4(a) [SAME MODEL]
>7-20 - M4(b) [LOADER HATCH]
>21-27 - M4A1(a) [IMPROVED ARMOR]
>28-45 - M4A1(b) [IMPROVED ARMOR] [LOADER HATCH]
>46-47 - M4A3(a) [IMPROVED BASE MODEL]
>48-50 M4A3(b) [IMPROVED BASE MODEL] [LOADER HATCH]
>51-70 M4A3(75)W(a) [IMPROVED BASE MODEL] [IMPROVED ARMOR] [LOADER HATCH]
>71-80 M4A1(76)W(a) [IMPROVED BASE MODEL] [IMPROVED TURRET] [IMPROVED ARMOR] [LOADER HATCH] [76MM GUN] [WET STOWAGE]
>81-100 M4A3(76)W(a) [IMPROVED BASE MODEL] [IMPROVED TURRET] [IMPROVED ARMOR] [LOADER HATCH] [76MM GUN] [WET STOWAGE] [EASY EIGHT]
What will the new tank be called?
>Write-In
Who is your new Driver?
>Write-In

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>6352749
>GREAT DANE
>PVT. HUTCHISON
Nicknamed Hutch, was from a farm out in the Midwest, knowing how to work on machinery and tractors made him think it was a good idea to ask to be a tanker.

>>6352752
+1

>>6352752
+1 as well
What is the Easy Eight upgrade, & what are HCBI shells?

>>6352845
(HVSS) better suspension, and Smoke shells that are not white phosphorous.

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>6352752
I like it

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>6352870
>>6352752
Interesting deliberation going on in the motor pool right now.

Alright, odds, we get a slight step up and the loader gets his own hatch. Evens, we get a nice and shiny tank, and a chance the crew lasts more than a day of combat without getting knocked out.

>>6353079
FUDGE!

What, you thought you were special? Someone in supply didn’t seem to think so. No matter. It’ll be a few days while the men lick their wounds and refit. That’s gift enough. They went about their business, moving with the task force. Though they would have to wait for a replacement tank, they’d still follow the front.

Standing in for watch, helping out supply, and working in mess and medical, the men did their duty. Far off, the sounds of battle echoed. Shells of all sizes ripped, and the men turned to the sound for a moment.

POTTER: “Man, I wish we were a part of all that!”
NELSON: “You’re that eager to get back in it, huh? After what we just went through?”
MACHEATH: “Patience, boys. We’ll be up front again soon enough.”

[COUTANCES SECURED]
[ALL CREW HEALED]

7/29/44

POTTER: “Hey, Krieger, check it out! This one’s got a hatch for you.”
KRIEGER: “Great. I’m only slightly less likely to burn up when we get hit. Yippee.”
NELSON: “‘Great Dane’? What is it with you and dogs, Sarge?”
MACHEATH: “They’re… interesting…”

[M4(b) ACQUIRED]

While the crew looked over their “new” tank, a tall, blonde-haired young man approached, seabag in hand, mouth agape.

KRIEGER: “Hey, this guy’s mouth’s open like he wants a smoke or something. Give it to him, maybe he’ll fuck off.”
POTTER: “The hell do you want?”
HUTCHISON: “I’m looking for Sergeant MacHeath?”
MACHEATH: “You’ve got him.”
HUTCHISON: “Private Hutchison. My squad lead told me to report to you.”

MacHeath shouted towards their new tank, from which came a reply.

MACHEATH: “Nelson!”
NELSON: “Yeah!”
MACHEATH: “Got you a new roommate, walk him through everything.”

[ASSISTANT DRIVER - PVT HUTCHISON - GAINED]

[1115], 7/30/44

Great Dane advances on Avranches with the rest of the 4th Armored. Though it’s mostly uneventful, no advance is uninteresting.

MACHEATH: “Did you see that?! It went right by us! Turn the gun around, now!”
KRIEGER: “Sarge, the hell you talkin’ about? We missed it in the advance!”
MACHEATH: “God, God! Kill that damned dog, now!”
HUTCHISON: “What the hell is he saying?!”
NELSON: “I don’t know, guy, just keep your damn head down!”

[MISS]
[RICOCHET]
[HIT]
[HIT]

[JAGDPANZER IV KILLED]

MACHEATH: “Wait… That’s not a-”
HUTCHISON: “Has the Sarge gone crazy?”
NELSON: “You’d have to be, to be here.”
POTTER: “That explains the dog fetish!”

File: PB4.jpg (189 KB, 1600x1241)

189 KB JPG

[1330], 7/30/44

KRIEGER: “Fuck me, arty and air are chewing everything up before we can get to it!”

Almost to spite the complaining, the shriek of incoming enemy shells stunned the crew.

NELSON: “Incoming!”
MACHEATH: “Button up!”

Before he can get to safety, shrapnel catches Sgt. MacHeath’s arm. The other arm clumsily pulls the hatch in, then holds his injured arm gingerly, while he seethes in pain.

[MACHEATH LIGHTLY WOUNDED]

POTTER: “Sarge… You’re bleeding!”
MACHEATH: “I know, damn it! Get this fucking tank moving!”

[1515], 7/30/44

RADIO: “Baker 1-1, Baker 1-4… Going to uh… roll up to this next farm. Baker 1-4, Baker 1-1, Good copy, we’ll follow behind.”

*BOOM*

[BAKER 1-4 KILLED]

Another tank, ripped through like so many before. Then, the thundering of far-off guns, and the looming footsteps which shook the earth.

HUTCHISON: “Artillery!”

Shrapnel catches MacHeath again. This time, scoring his cheek and jaw. He slumps over, holding it with his good, unbandaged arm.

[MACHEATH LIGHTLY WOUNDED]

POTTER: “Sarge is down!”
MACHEATH: “I’m fine! Eighty-eight-front, in the treeline, hit it!”
KRIEGER: “We’re up!”
POTTER: “On the way!”

[MISS]

*BOOM*

[BAKER 1-1 KILLED]

HUTCHISON: “Come on! He’s right there!”
NELSON: “You either hold that gun down, or pray, boy!”
KRIEGER: “Up!”
POTTER: “On the way!”

Roll 1d100
>1-30 Hit
>31-100 Miss

Rolled 69 (1d100)

So did you roll behind the scenes last time we lost a tank or was it simply destined to happen, & are certain rolls going to be higher = better & certain others lower = better? Also, are rolls going to be best of 3, or just however many rolls are made, one will be chosen?

>>6353160
Nice, we must have hit the exhaust.

>>6353160
>Rolled 69
nice

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>6353137
here goes nothing

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>6353137
[barking intensifies]

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>6353137

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>6353160

>So did you roll behind the scenes last time we lost a tank or was it simply destined to happen?

Everything outside the narrative is done with a ruleset I've taken from a board game I own. When you lost the tank, and everything that's happened "mechanically" up to this point, has been rolled for, in some way or another. Everything "narrative" is my own writing and doesn't conflict with the rules much.

>Are certain rolls going to be higher = better & certain others lower = better?

Expect most rolls in this game to be lower = better.

>Are rolls going to be best of 3, or just however many rolls are made, one will be chosen?

Kinda more "go with the flow" with this one. Still figuring that out myself, sorry.