Vehicles of War in Days of the Fox

By Corey Konieczka

With the newest Tide of Iron expansion just around the corner, I thought that people would appreciate a detailed look at the vehicles found in Days of the Fox. The dusty lands of North Africa hosted some of the largest and most famous battles of the entire war. Since the North African campaign focused so heavily on vehicular combat, there is a wide range of brand new vehicles.

Bedford OY Transport Truck

The three-ton, 4x2, Bedford OY truck played a variety of roles in the war. While primarily used to transport troops, machine guns and supplies, it was also used as a mobile workshop and office. Although criticized for its lack of four-wheel drive and its inability to tow a decent-sized gun, the Bedford OY was a key vehicle for the British in all theaters of the war.

Bren Gun Carrier

The British relied heavily on their universal carrier line as armored personnel carriers. The Bren Gun carrier in particular was armed with a Bren machine gun that fired through a simple slit in the front.

Matilda

Although extremely slow and mounted with a weak 2 pound gun, the Matilda provided crucial support as an infantry tank. The biggest advantage of the Matilda tank was that it was thickly armored, up to 78mm in some places. The heavy armor was legendary for its time, earning this tank the name "Queen of the Desert."

Crusader

The Crusader tank was one of the most well recognized British vehicles to fight in World War II. While only moderately armored and wielding a weak 2 pound gun, its wheel and engine designs made it faster than any tank it opposed. It first saw action in June of 1941 and later played a crucial role in relieving the siege of Tobruk in Operation Crusader.

Panzer III

Developed in the 1930's, this tank was intended to fight armored vehicles alongside the Panzer IV. The Panzer IV later received a gun upgrade that proved much more effective against tanks than the Panzer III's 37mm gun. Even still, the Panzer III was used extensively as an infantry support vehicle and even saw service until late in the war.

Panther

The Panther first saw action in 1943 and was intended to replace the Panzer III and IV. It is often regarded as one of the best tank designs of World War II due to its excellent combination of armor, speed and firepower. Even though this tank did not participate in the North African campaign, it is included in Days of the Fox as a bonus vehicle and will be used in the future.

Be sure to check back for more previews, including an in-depth article about anti-tank guns and their inclusion in Days of the Fox.