Tapp Praying Mantis

[RAFF-35]

I've been waiting about a month or so for this kit to turn up. This will be my first resin kit so should be an experience for me. The Mantis will be a whif within a whif as it will be transported into action abord the Bristol Heracles, found here;

https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=55016.0


Among the countless armoured vehicles conceived during the Second World War, few were as bizarre  or as innovative as the Tapp Praying Mantis. Conceived by the inventive Ernest James Tapp of County Commercial Cars, the vehicle showed a serious attempt to solve one of warfare's oldest problems: how to fire upon an enemy while exposing as little of oneself as possible.
Tapp patented the design in 1937, years before war engulfed Europe. Construction of working prototypes, however, did not begin until 1943. Instead of exposing an entire vehicle to enemy fire, the Praying Mantis would remain hidden behind walls, hedges, rubble, or embankments, raising only its weapons above cover to engage targets.
The vehicle's unconventional shape reflected this purpose. Its compact lower hull housed the engine and running gear, while above it sat a long, narrow crew compartment known as the Control Chamber. Unlike the crews of conventional tanks, the Mantis's two-man crew (Driver and Gunner) operated the vehicle while lying prone, facing forward toward a small rotating turret mounted at the front. This turret, nicknamed the Helmet, carried a pair of Bren Light Machine Guns.
The true genius of the design lay in its hydraulic lifting mechanism. At the crew's feet was a powerful hydraulic system capable of raising the entire Control Chamber to an angle of approximately fifty-five degrees. At maximum elevation, the turret could reach an impressive height of 11.5 feet (3.48 metres) above the ground. The vehicle could even continue moving while the chamber was raised. Fully lowered, the Mantis sat so close to the ground that it could conceal itself behind low bushes, roadside banks, or even patches of tall grass. Moments later, it could rise suddenly above cover, unleash a burst of fire, and disappear again before an enemy had time to react.
Trials with the second prototype demonstrated both the promise and the shortcomings of the concept. The vehicle's unusual controls proved difficult to master, and crews frequently complained of severe motion sickness caused by the swaying of the elevated fighting compartment. Military officials initially dismissed the design in 1944 as impractical.
Yet one influential officer saw potential where others saw failure.
Major General Percy Hobart, famous for championing unconventional armoured vehicles, became fascinated by the Praying Mantis. He recognised that while the machine might be unsuitable for conventional battlefield manoeuvres, it possessed unique advantages in urban combat. The brutal street fighting witnessed during the final campaigns in Europe, particularly in Berlin, only reinforced Hobart's belief that troops needed a vehicle capable of engaging enemies concealed behind walls, barricades, and inside buildings.
A further combat evaluation ordered by Hobart convinced him that the concept deserved a second chance. He successfully lobbied the Directorate of Mechanisation to continue development, and a refined version of the Mantis was approved for production. An order for 150 vehicles followed.
The war in Europe ended before the first production vehicles could arrive, denying the Praying Mantis the opportunity to fight on the continent. However, another conflict loomed. As Allied planners prepared for Operation Downfall, the Mantis found itself with a new mission.
Weighing just over four tons, the Praying Mantis was one of the few armoured fighting vehicles light enough for airborne deployment. During the opening stages of the invasion of Kyūshū, Allied forces suffered from a chronic shortage of armoured vehicles ashore. In many sectors, infantry units could rely only upon Willys Jeeps, a handful of surviving LVT Buffaloes, and the newly arrived Mantis vehicles.
The little machine quickly proved its worth.
Although its armour could not withstand artillery fire, it was more than sufficient against the light machine guns, rifles, and improvised anti-tank weapons fielded by the Japanese People's Army, whose fanatical "Glorious Death of One Hundred Million" doctrine drove desperate resistance across the island. Japanese armoured forces were scarce, leaving the Mantis largely free to perform the role for which it had been designed.
In support of infantry assaults, the vehicle became notorious for its startling combat style. Hidden behind walls or rubble, it would suddenly rise above cover, its twin Bren guns opening fire from seemingly impossible angles. In villages and towns, crews exploited the vehicle's height to engage enemy positions on upper floors, reaching windows and firing points that ordinary armoured vehicles could not effectively target. Defenders often found themselves under fire from a vehicle they could scarcely see.
The Mantis also excelled as a reconnaissance platform. Its remarkably low profile allowed it to infiltrate forward positions, observe enemy activity, and withdraw before detection. During the chaotic early weeks of the campaign, when transport assets were stretched thin, some units even employed the vehicle as a light artillery/ supply tractor.

[Rheged]

If the model is as competent as the backstory, this is going to be well  worth waiting for!

[RAFF-35]

If the model is as competent as the backstory, this is going to be well  worth waiting for!

Thank you very much! I've had a month to write the back story. I will add more to the story as I post build updates hopefully 

[crudebuteffective]

Got this one firmly on my watch list

[RAFF-35]

I have removed the trillions of tiny supports from the main pieces and have dry fitted them together...

[kerick]

I'll be watching this one!