Early War Game part 3 wrap up

(Go HERE for part 1 and HERE for part 2).
What a blast! The game was epic. One of the longest games of Flames of War I have had in a while. Perhaps it is because of all those 4/5+ fire power rolls that keep it going for so long. Regardless of that it was fun. It had all the great elements of a good game. Tension built up as we both tried to knock each other out of the game. I was lucky that my Panzer II platoons stayed in the game for so long. I actually felt I had a lot of good dice rolling in this game but that was actually in the early phases and it balanced out later with some ordinary rolls especially during an hilarious assault on the HMG platoon which saw them as the victor with Panzers backing off. The report of course has been compiled from memory so I may have gotten some details wrong but the images should tell the tale. It was actually a bit of work to create the report but it was a fun process made easier by the amount of photos I actually remembered to take consistently.
In general I find my Early War panzer company is fantastic in the early phases of the game. Stormtrooper (when I remember) makes them quick to get across a table. However when it starts to shrink it can often end up stretching itself to fill all the holes. I guess that is a little historical and goes along with the strike suddenly and in strength and keep moving forward Blitzkreig type doctrine of Early War Germans. 

Below. German teams destroyed at end of game.

Below. French Teams Destroyed, Bailed, or had to withdraw from the game.

How cool do Motor Cycle Platoons look. Got to have one of those in my future projects list.

Any way thanks again to Lochy for such a great game. We did joke about the French Zulu hordes that just kept on coming at one stage. It was another great Sunday and left me with enough time in the afternoon to go for a Bike ride with my daughter. We had enough time for a Saga game but I decided to decline and get some exercise instead. War gamers need that every now and then perhaps. As it had rained during the game it meant we had some muddy puddles to get messy with. Good fun.

Cheers and thanks for reading from Brendon (The Kiwi)

Early War game report Part 2

Part 1 here. Read on here for Part 2.

Infantry Reserves arrive and leg it into the forest. Somuas move out. Right side Panzer II platoon down by 2 more tanks but stay in the game. 2iC Panzer III is no more.

Panzer III swing to the left Objective. Spray infantry with MG and destroy some teams. 1 armoured car goes up in flames.

 

The Panzer II platoon had advanced into the village but one got nailed by a Somua. The same Somua Platoon bailed a Panzer III. The infantry unpinned and moved towards the objective but stayed in the tree line. A French motorbike patrol appeared to see the source of all the smoke they saw from down the road (from off the table that is).



Panzer II move and waste bullets at Motorcycles that quickly move away without damage. Another armoured car bites the dust but the Platoon holds on. More Infantry teams are removed.



Sons of Anarchy (France Chapter WWII style) sneak away behind a hill in a cloud of dust.

 

Holy French Vanilla Ice Cream! An HMG and Infantry platoon arrive from Reserves. Somuas move up. Small Infantry Platoon in woods unpins and regroups. Can the Panzers hold on under pressure?



Total chaos. Bullets flying in every direction. A Panzer III is wrecked for good and some Infantry teams get removed. When will it end?



When will this lunacy end? HMG platoon is gone, Infantry Platoon in woods is gone. 1 Somua tank moves up. Panhard in forest hangs on. French is one platoon away from a Company Morale check. Top left hand corner sees the Panhards moving to the battle. Too much confusion and smoke means the Stukas dive bombers stay away.



By some miracle Panzer II manage to bail 2 x Somua tanks. Finally the last Armoured car in the forest is wrecked and the Infantry there can take no more. A Panzer II goes up in smoke and and Panzer III is ruined. The motorbikes swing back around the hill.

You can see whats going on so no need for arrows. The RT infantry un-pin and charge towards the objective. A Panzer II gets bailed. A Panzer III gets bailed. Will they hold out!? Another French platoon lost and they will be forced to take a Company Morale check. 



They do. Phew! As the sun sets at the end of a long summer day the French call it a day and withdraw. German aggression has just pushed the front line deeper into France.

Go to Part 3 for a short wrap up and some more interesting images.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi) 

Early War 1480 game report Part 1

German versus French. Mission: Pincer

Germans (Brendon)
HQ: 2 x Panzer III E,
Combat 1: 4 x Panzer III E,  Combat 2: 4 x Panzer II C Late,
Combat 3: 5 x Panzer II C Late, Recce: 2 x 6 Rads, Air Support: Limited Stuka

French (Lochy)
HQ: Panhard,
Combat 1: 5 x Panhards, Combat 2: 5 x Panhards, Combat 3: 5 x Panhards,
4 x Somua Tanks, HMG Platoon, Motorbike Platoon, Infantry Platoon
Infantry Platoon (Reluctant Trained)


The Table from the French end.

Deployment. French Recce a Panhard from the Village to Road behind trees (top left)

Stuka can see some targets. Company Boss in the centre.



Forward!

I decided to gun it across the table at turn 1 and double timed into the centre of the village. The Recce didn't need to double time as they remained on the Road and had a pre turn1 recce move. 2 French platoons started the game in the forests so would have to move to get any shots on the German tanks. I forgot Storm Troopers move in turn 1 and 2. Typical. German Recce had a cheeky shot at the Panhards on the Road. Stukas dive bombed.


Panhards retaliated at the German aggression and leap back onto the end of the village to shoot the German Recce at point blank range. Panhards in the Forest nosed out to shoot at the double moved Panzers. Near the right Objectives the Panhards nose out but get some bogged teams.

German Tanks are in the Village! Attack!



Panzers shoot back!



Panzer III tanks move forward but a German turn of bailing and only 1 destroyed Panhard (Black tokens = Bailed).

Will the French hold out? Will the reserves arrive in time to turn the tide? Go to Part 2 (lots of pics) to see what happens next.....

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)