Guest article by Mark Eudes Teoh
Most of us have already known war tanks that were set forth into battlefields behind enemy lines, making their marks in military history. But has anyone ever heard of the RAM and its tech tree line?
The Ram was a cruiser tank based on the US M3 Medium Tank series, reusing its chassis and renamed Ram Tank MK 1. Built in Canada and sold to Great Britain at the start of WW2, they were equipped with many new features. They included a change in armament, endowed with increased firepower with the installation of a QF6 pounder antitank gun with its total of 92 rounds. It weighed 29k kg and a continental R975-EC2 engine that ran at a speed of 40km/hr.
In a short period of time, the Ram was superseded by M4 Shermans, used extensively by armed forces of the Commonwealth countries. After undergoing some gear modifications, RAM TANK MK II was used as an armoured command vehicle for training in Great Britain. However, it was utilised for target practice alongside Shermans by the Canadians during the Allied Normandy Invasion.
Other tanks based on RAM chasis were the kangaroo, command ram, flamethrower ram, sexton self-propelled gun. To avoid the allies repatriating them, copies of Ram mk 2 were handed over to the Dutch armed battalions in Holland after WW2.
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The Variants
Ram I
First edition of ram tank, equipped with a 2 pdr gun. Initial gun was to be a 75mm as the turret was designed as such. Later used for training purposes.
Ram II
Ram II was utilised in the up-gunned MK11 armed with a 6 pdr main gun when it was made available in any quantity. Like Ram I, it was also used in training grounds.
Kangaroo
The Kangaroo was best remembered by troops who rode in them. Converted from the Ram tank, the Defrocked Priests were proven to be underpowered and susceptible to antitank weapons during Operation Totalize, an offensive launched by allied troops in later stages of the battle of Normandy. One of the first extant predecessors of the Infantry fighting vehicle concept. (ed.)
Sexton
One of the more successful developments. First used in combat in Italy by Br 8th Army and later in the subsequent Allied Normandy Invasion and Campaigns in northwestern Europe.
Honourable Mentions
Badger
Despite already have The Wasps Carrier, Churchill Crocodiles, M4 Sherman Crocodiles in battlefield.They needed faster vehicles on the field and that was when the Ram Badger was introduced to eliminate entrenched troops and fixed defensive structures (bunker/ pillboxes).
Armoured Recovery Vehicle
Two recovery vehicles were developed from the Ram chassis: the ARV I, which was essentially a towing vehicle modified by simply adding an A-frame, tolls and a chain hoist; and the ARV II, which replaced the main turret with a casemate and dummy gun but had a much more substantial winch, boom and rear spade, allowing the vehicle to recover other vehicles swamped or knocked out during a beach landing.
3.7" Self-propelled Gun
Inherently unstable due to the high center of gravity caused by the massive gun; this version of the Ram did not see action as was most likely as dangerous to the crew as it was to the enemy.
In Flames of War
I would consider the Ram tank as a slightly improved Sherman tank in terms of its Anti-Tank as well as making used of its Determined Remount ability which makes it even easier for you to remount on a 2+ compared to a 3+. Front Armour wise would be the same as the other British tanks. Given the range of 28 inches is fair enough for its 6 pdr gun.
With Anti-Tank 11, it allows you to pack a punch on the battlefield except for a high frontal armour tanks such as Tiger II Tank or any value that is higher than 11. In terms of the Firepower, it may potentially destroy your opponent’s tank by luck or bailed them out which is good enough to hold them off.
Given their careful traits, you need to keep your distance for more than 16inches and in concealment. The downside being vulnerable to anti tankers that are above 12. Keep an open eye and proceed with caution. If you bring 4 ram tanks, the machine guns are sufficient to pin enemy infantry platoons.
Overall, the Ram Tank is a very situational tank depending on whether you should rush with it or stay behind in concealment and support your other units from behind. Yet again, always be high alert on what is on the enemy line, you wouldn’t want to let your Ram destroyed by any Anti-Tank 13 onwards in the first few turns. However, it is a good tank to play around and have fun with.
The Kangaroo
Ram Kangaroo is rather another interesting unit transport to be played in game. A vehicle which able to make your infantry team move faster than their regular tactical movement. This allows them to advance further, ready to assault any enemy troops that is right in front of them without any hesitation. Thus, giving them the benefit of assaulting during the Assault Step. The unit itself allows 3 Passengers in 1 unit, so bringing 3 Ram Kangaroo would be good enough for a squad of Rifle Platoon which consists of 9 teams.
No doubt the Motivation can be a bit low but as long as it does its job in bringing your infantry close to the enemy line, it is good enough. The Machine Gun mounted is Forward Firing which forces you to only shoot from the front. So, British Generals, do position your Ram Kangaroo wisely during the Movement Step. With Front Armour 6 is good enough for you to be able to reach enemy infantry line with no worries but do be wary of Anti-Tank weapons such as the Bazooka, Panzerfaust, amongst others.
The kangaroo comes with the close assault special rules, allowing passengers to dismount when charging into the frontline, which comes into play during the assault step. Personally I would rate the Ram Kangaroo as one of my favourites.
In Conclusion
The Ram tank is a very situational tank depending on whether you are on the offensive or defensive in battlefields. Always be on high alert behind enemy lines if you wouldn’t want it destroyed by any anti tank platforms.
It is always good to play around with your list as there is no such thing as a bad list. As for this Bulge British, it provides generals with more expendable troops as well as a whole wide range of tanks. Of course, all these come with the Command Card upgrades if you are looking for better stats options. Most importantly always enjoy the process of gaming as a hobby and hopefully to have access to more options available in the future
