Stupidity: As the position of the Tiger was perpendicular to the Sherman platoon's line of march, and they were advancing across totally open country with firm ground all around, it didn't matter a hill of beans whether they shot the first or the last tank in the column.
Ssiscool
25th Feb 2022
Fury (2014)
Suggested correction: You really didn't explain the context here. Was there a big discussion of which tank to shoot first?
The mistake is saying that the tank column was travelling through an open field. It wouldn't matter if Tiger 131 hit the lead or rear tank in the column as they could manoeuvre around the disabled tank. A somewhat valid point.
You missed the point of the correction. Is it shown in the movie that they specifically targeted the first tank?
19th Feb 2015
Fury (2014)
Factual error: In the hedgerow battle, the Fury tank platoon face off with a German MG 42 machine gun and two 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun. Each of these guns opens fire only after the previous one gets knocked out. In a real combat situation, all of the guns would open fire at the same time and establish a cross fire, effectively suppressing the ground troops and tanks from advancing. (00:31:35 - 00:33:30)
Suggested correction: By the time the movie takes place (mid to late April 1945) the German army was mostly inexperienced troops with an incredibly small nucleus of veterans. Though the tactical use of weapon systems you mention is correct, I doubt most of the formations still putting up a fight in Germany proper would have had the knowledge/ability to carry it out.
With low experience I would expect the soldiers to open fire too soon and with no communication between guns to create the "talking gun" effect. The fact that the two guns opened fire separate of each other makes very little tactical sense regardless of skill or experience.
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