Mirage

*Mirage* is the callsign for the Mojave Rose Tankery Team's Sdkfz.234/2 *Puma*. It is commanded by Aurora. The *Puma* is a unique vehicle on the team being an armored car, it is the only non tracked vehicle. While armored cars are permitted in by both the American Tankery Association, and the World Tankery Congress the use of such vehicles is a hotly debated topic, *Mirage* has been the target of some anger for this very reason. Due to its impressive speed, *Mirage* is most commonly used in a scouting role often being accompanied by (and leaving in the dust), *Nomad* and *Skink*, Mojave Rose's light tanks. This scouting role is vital to adapting to the current situation, something that is especially well used by Mojave Rose.

## Former Affiliation

Vehicles that participate in tankery were either manufactured during wartime that soon found their way into tankery teams modified to have protective carbon linings or accurately reproduced by engineering firms for the sole purpose of being sold to teams.

When it comes to Mojave Rose's Sdkfz. 234/2 *Puma*, its past life is one filled with conflict. Mojave Rose's 234/2 was one of the quickest off the assembly line, managing to squeak its way into the closing days of the Battle of Kursk attached to the Wehrmacht 2nd panzer division. Within the week of its deployment, the armoured car was moved along with the 2nd Panzer Division to France for refit and reinforcement. In France, the tanks of the 2nd Panzer Division would be reinforced with Panthers, as well as the remainder of the expected *Pumas*. Following the invasion of Normandy, the 2nd Panzer Division was moved to Normandy in June 1944; where it would see near daily combat with British 7th armored division. The division would see fierce combat throughout 1944 fighting against the Americans, British, and Canadians across the western front. Although the 2nd Panzer division saw a number of notable victories, they saw many more defeats and eventually the division was whittled down. With a mere 25 tanks (some 40ish vehicles total(including the *Puma*)) the division participated Operation Luttich, a failed German counter offensive that ended with the 2nd division having to fight its way out of an encirclement in the Falaise pocket, with immense loss in tanks and other material.

This is where the history of Mojave Rose's *Puma* comes into question, due to the losses to their already depleted numbers in Operation Luttich, there is a chance that Mojave Rose's *Puma* did not make it out of the encirclement. If the *Puma* did make it out it would have likely continued its fighting, participating in the Battle of The Bulge, as well as the Battle of the Rhine. Whether the Puma lived through the war or was captured in the encirclement at the Falaise pocket, it would have been sent to a vehicle collection area and set for scrap. However, it seems that the *Puma* escaped its fate and found its way into the US and eventually into the junkyard in Barstow , California.

## Under Mojave Rose's Ownership

The Sdkfz,234/2 was part of a bulk purchase from a junkyard outside of Barstow, along with the 7 other vehicles that composed the initial roster for Mojave Rose. Mirage participated in a race at a Tankery convention that resulted in Mojave Rose obtaining a Panther II. The team that operates *Mirage* would later augment their superior speed for scouting with a stereoscopic rangefinder to make them that much more effective at their job.

*Nomad* is operated by a crew of 3

* Aurora *( Commander )*
* Riley *( Driver )*
* Avery *( Gunner/Loader )*