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In this Death Korps Diorama at Warhammer World were various heavy tanks and infantry.
Across the diorama was infantry and a fair bit of snow.
This Malcador Infernus was part of that diorama.
The Malcador Infernus is a variant of the venerable Malcador Assault Tank design. It is not widely used by Imperial armed forces at the present time and is in fact little known even within the Imperial military.
The Royal Engineers and their Canadian counterparts had used armoured bulldozers, ordinary commercial machines covered in armour plate, since D-Day. These did a satisfactory job but were too slow and vulnerable to work with tanks. Thus it was agreed to convert some redundant Centaur Cruiser tanks into armoured bulldozers since they would be able to keep up with tanks during an advance.
The Centaur was an alternative to the Cromwell with similar characteristics but a different engine – a Nuffield Liberty V12 instead of a Rolls-Royce Meteor. The conversion was carried out by the MG Car Company of Abingdon. It involved removing the turret, installing a winch in the fighting compartment, and plating over the turret aperture. An armoured lookout was created for the tank commander, alongside the driver and the bulldozer blade was fitted to a frame attached to the sides of the tank. The blade was raised and lowered by the winch via a small tripod jib.
Centaur Dozers entered service in the last months of the war. They were operated by 87th Assault Dozer Squadron in 6th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers as part of 79th Armoured Division. They were employed to clear paths for tanks through the rubble of bombed German cities. They were later used by British forces during the Korean War and the Suez Crisis of 1956.
This Dozer at the Tank Museum was converted from a Mark IV, one of 80 Centaurs fitted with the 95mm Close Support Howitzer. It served with the Army until 7th August 1963.
This is Settra the Imperishable on display at Warhammer World.
Feared by all in both life and death, Settra the Imperishable is the lord of Khemri, a ruthless tyrant whose appetite for conquest cannot be satisfied, no matter how many lands he invades or people he subjugates. Settra now busies himself with reconquering the lands that were once his – lands that, in his long absence, have fallen into the hands of upstart lords and bickering emperors. In time, all will bend the knee before the supreme ruler of Nehekhara once more.
These Tomb Kings of Khemri Skeleton Chariots were on display at Warhammer World.
Skeleton Chariots are the pride of the Tomb Kings, gilded and lethal machines crewed even in death by Nehekhara’s finest warriors. Often fielded en masse, their rattling advance is heralded by clouds of dust, thrown high into the air as they thunder across the sands. Crashing into the enemy with bone-shattering force, these vehicles crush living bodies beneath their heavy wheels as their undead crew lay about the disorientated foe.
The T-34, was a Soviet medium tank, which had a profound and lasting effect on the field of tank design. At its introduction in 1940, the T-34 possessed an unprecedented combination of firepower, mobility, protection and ruggedness.
After an unsuccessful attempt to develop a new, better armoured and armed tank, the T-43, Soviet command made the decision to retool the factories to produce an improved version of the T-34.
Its turret ring was enlarged allowing a larger turret to be fitted and thus the larger 85 mm gun. This tank was called the T-34-85.
This T-34-85 was on display at The Tank Museum at Bovington.
The Invictor Tactical Warsuit is a stripped-back variant on the Redemptor Dreadnought frame. Instead of a revenant hero in a sarcophagus, this combat walker is piloted by a live Primaris Space Marine. They are deployed in every capacity, from armoured escort duties to close-range siege breaking and urban monster-hunts. Still the most iconic role for these walkers is as the armoured support for Vanguard Space Marines. Their combination of mid- to close-range firepower, armoured resilience and the selfless mindset of the pilot combine to provide exceptional support.
This diorama is one of the newest displays at Warhammer World. This is a Warhammer Old World diorama and shows The Battle of Matorea. A massive conflict between the undead Tomb Kings of Khemri and the valiant Kingdom of Bretonnia. One half of the battlefield you have a Bretonnian castle being defended with Bretonnian knights sallying forth from the battlements. Opposing them are the hordes of undead skeletons, chariots, and monstrous constructs. Flying across the battlefield are the bone dragons of the Tomb Kings of Khemri and Pegasus Rights of the Kingdom of Bretonnia.
This was a very impressive diorama and really showed off both Old World forces.
Settra the Imperishable lays siege to the coastal city of Matorea with a massive undead host as Cecil Gastonne, the Wyrm Slayer rallies its hopelessly outnumbered defenders. Just as the city’s defences begin to fail, the trumpeting of silver clarions sounds in the east, heralding the arrival of Duke Gastille. Have the duke and his knights arrived in time to lift the siege, or will they join the doomed defenders in a heroic death?
The castle was scratch built.
The Warhammer World Studio embraced classic modelling techniques to design and craft the landscape and buildings, with minimal use of plastic terrain kits. Built from scratch, the castle’s walls use extruded polystyrene sheets with the brickwork patterns hand carved and textured. The repeated features, such as the battlements, were hand sculpted, then moulds were made from the original so that multiple resin pieces could be cast from them. There are a number of conversions to spot. For instance, the flying Bone Dragons were cut down to individual bones and repositioned.
The Bedford MW was a general service truck used by the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.
This RAF water tank truck MWC was on display at RAF Cosford.
Despite lacking four wheel drive and so being unsuited for off-road use, the MW’s powerful engine, short wheel base, low centre of gravity and relatively light weight gave it excellent acceleration and almost sports car like handling.
The iconic image of D-Day often features landing craft disgorging infantry and the thundering advance of tanks. Yet, less celebrated but equally important, were the specialised vehicles that paved the way for this advance. Among these was the Sherman Crab, a modified M4 Sherman tank designed for a singular, brutal purpose: detonating landmines.
This Sherman Crab was on display at The Tank Museum at Bovington.
The brainchild of a South African officer and developed by the British, the Sherman Crab was a testament to battlefield pragmatism. Its most recognisable feature was the rotating drum mounted on its front, equipped with heavy chains. As the tank lumbered forward, the drum whipped the chains against the ground, detonating any buried mines in its path. This unglamorous but essential task reduced the threat of mines crippling the Allied assault.
The Sherman Crab wasn’t without its limitations. Its flailing mechanism was slow, limiting its speed to a walking pace. Additionally, the flailing process created a massive dust cloud, obscuring the battlefield for both sides. Unlike earlier flail tanks, the Crab’s genius lay in its power source. It didn’t rely on a separate engine, but cleverly drew power from the tank’s own powerful drivetrain, making it more efficient and reliable. While vulnerable when flailing, the Crab retained its main gun, offering some defensive capability. Though the gun was reversed when flailing reducing the capacity to fight back if attacked.
Despite these drawbacks, the Sherman Crab proved its worth on D-Day. The D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6th, 1944, were a defining moment of the war. Allied forces faced heavily fortified German defenses, including extensive minefields protecting the beaches. This is where the Sherman Crab came into its own. Several Crab flail tanks were among the first vehicles to land on the Normandy beaches. Their job was critical: to clear a path for the following infantry and armored units. Despite their slow speed (around 1.25 miles per hour while flailing), the Crabs effectively detonated mines, creating a safer passage for the main assault. Clearing pre-laid minefields was crucial for establishing beachheads and allowing follow-on forces to move inland. The Crab’s effectiveness helped pave the way for the bloody but ultimately successful Allied landings in Normandy.
The Sherman Crab proved to be a valuable asset for the Allies, particularly in Western Europe. While overshadowed by the more famous Sherman tanks in battles, the Crab played a crucial, if unglamorous, role in clearing the path to victory. Its design influenced future mine-clearing vehicles, showcasing the ingenuity employed to overcome the challenges of modern warfare.
This incredible Imperial Guard Parade was on display at Warhammer World.
There are some nice details on the edges of the diorama.
I don’t think I noticed the train before.
Another view of the parade.
