Tapp Praying Mantis

[RAFF-35]

Mantis Crocodile would be terrifying for anyone on the receiving end! 

Mantis Firefly would be terrifying for the people on the firing end! 

Can you imagine what the recoil from a 17-pdr would do to the poor little Mantis? 




PS: The Churchill Crocodile had a fuel trailer for its flamethrower, so why not! 

I think we may have a slight miscommunication here. I thought that Firefly would be a good entomological name for a flame throwing Mantis..... Not suggesting that we mount a 17-pdr to the top of a 3-ton vehicle 😂

[buzzbomb]

That's so cool! Did you scratch build it?? 

Yes, the white stuff is standard plastic card. Roadwheels and bogies from the Tamiya Universal Carrier and the tracks from the IMA Carrier Track set.

PS: The Churchill Crocodile had a fuel trailer for its flamethrower, so why not! 

Scale down to a Rota Trailer ?

Conceptually, putting a smaller flame thrower like the OKE version or Carrier Wasp would be feasible.
On this train of thought, an upsized concept on a Valentine or similar hull would give proven chassis/drive chain for larger weapon systems.

RAFF, sorry for the thread drift.. but the concept you have raised here is quite intriguing.

[Rick Lowe]

Like the model and the back story, both.

And yeah, up-gunning Stan would seem to be the top priority now...
Forget 'Channels', I'm sure the Sarge would back you - and after all, 'Forgiveness is more easily obtained than Permission'; especially if the results justify your actions...

[RAFF-35]

That's so cool! Did you scratch build it?? 

Yes, the white stuff is standard plastic card. Roadwheels and bogies from the Tamiya Universal Carrier and the tracks from the IMA Carrier Track set.

PS: The Churchill Crocodile had a fuel trailer for its flamethrower, so why not! 

Scale down to a Rota Trailer ?

Conceptually, putting a smaller flame thrower like the OKE version or Carrier Wasp would be feasible.
On this train of thought, an upsized concept on a Valentine or similar hull would give proven chassis/drive chain for larger weapon systems.

RAFF, sorry for the thread drift.. but the concept you have raised here is quite intriguing.

No need to apologise,  I enjoy the idea of trying to work out how prototypes like the actual Mantis (or TSR-2 as a classic example) might change in serial production.

Regarding your Valentine idea, are you suggesting to upscale the Mantis weapon system onto a Valentine chassis or have I read that wrong?

Asides from up-gunning it or mounting a flamethrower,  are there any other weapons that could be fitted? Or even any other uses asides from infantry support, reconnaissance and light tractoring duties? Could the Mantis continue service postwar in colonial conflicts or be sold on to other nations?

[NARSES2]

I wonder if they'd mount the 100 round drum magazines to the Brens ? Save rising/lowering them quite so often ?

[Rick Lowe]

I wonder if they'd mount the 100 round drum magazines to the Brens ? Save rising/lowering them quite so often ?

Seem an eminently sensible idea to me. 

More rounds for when the opposition think you've run out, too - which could be a Tactic that could be used a few times... cease fire, let them pop their heads up or start coming at you, and open up again. 

Would they keep spare mags in the turret, or would they have to lower it again to reload?

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Great idea, neat modelling and a terrific backstory!