Friday, June 29, 2012

M4A3's by CrazyYank

Wait... that's not right...
That's better!
Hey all, please welcome our newest player and newest poster CrazyYank! He's our second American player and will be rolling with armored rifles out of BB&G to start off. Today, he's kindly sent over his first ever batch of painted 15mm mini's! A set of 5 M4A3's from Plastic Soldier Company. I've known CrazyYank for a good long time, he's a great modeler, fun to play with and a straight up good painter.

Thank god he sent these over I'm on the road for the next two weeks so I'll be relying on my ever growing team of painters and players to keep the blog lively.

I'm looking forward to our bat reps and more painted content. Welcome to the team Crazy!

Also, very soon, I'll be asking you all for content as well!

Of course that's classified and now I'll have to shoot you.


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Throck of War Charity Tournament

-- THE WAR DEPARTMENT --


From: Allied HQ
TO: Interested Parties
Contact: Throckmorton, throckmortonfow@gmail.com
Classified: TOP SECRET


1: All commanders in theater are requested to join in tactical operations at station Eagle and Empire on August 18th, 2012.
  • Eagle and Empire is located at:
    • Belle View Shopping Center. 1520 Belle View Boulevard, Alexandria Va.  

2: Marshaling will begin at 10am and combat will proceed at 11:00 sharp.

  • All players will be required to pay an entrance fee of $10. 
  • All entrance fees will be donated to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
  • Donations above $10 for LLS are accepted, will gain you brownie points but not actual points. 

3: You will be engaged in three rounds of combat against enemy generals. The following rules of engagement will be required. 

  • The First 16 Generals to respond to this communique will be allowed to play
  • You will field a late war army of no more than 1750 points
  • You may take this army from any book or online supplement that has been V3 approved. 
    • Devil's Charge will be allowed. 
  • Your army will be painted to at least a 3 color minimum. 
  • You will be engaged based on the following order of precedence:
    • First Round: Red Vs. Blue
      • Unless there is an army imbalance, in which case Red Star/White Star or German on German combat can be expected. 
    • Second Round: Red Vs. Blue Power Pairing based on victory points. We will do our best to pair red vs. blue. If not: 
      • Red Star/White Star or German on German combat can be expected. 
    • Third Round: Power Pairing based on previous two round's victory point totals. 
  • There will be one round of Fair Fight, Defensive and Mobile Mission.
  • All missions will be fought on a 5x5 table. Deployment conversions will be provided on game day.  
  • All missions will last 2 hours.
    • If no winner can be determined in that time your game will be scored as a Time Out Draw (See below) and each player will be awarded 2 victory points for the purpose of ranking. 
  • Pioneer Supply Vehicles 
    • Obstacles available from pioneer supply vehicles must be placed at the beginning of the game before objectives are placed.  
4: Winning, 'cause some one got to. 
  • Best General will be determined first by record then victory points as a tie breaker.  
  • Best General, Top Sportsman, Top Painted Army and Best Overall will all receive prize support (TBD)
  • Players will rate each other on Sportsmanship and quality of Painting in each army they face. Top point getter from each category will be rewarded. 
  • Top over all point getter will be named Best Overall and will drink from the Keg of Glory(TM) 
  • Painting and Sportsmanship will be judged on a scale of 1 to 5. 
  • For purposes of Best Overall wins & losses will be scored as:
    • 5 Points for a Stunning Victory
    • 4 Points for a Major Victory
    • 3 Points for a Minor Victory
    • 2 Points for a Time Out Draw
    • 1 Point for a Loss. 
5: In order to sign up, or if you have any questions please email throckmortonfow@gmail.com

6: This is our first ever tournament, thus we will listen to the wisdom of experienced players and change tournament rules if they are not in keeping with general expectations of the FoW playing public. However, No changes to the tournament rules will be made after August 1. 

Monday, June 25, 2012

Nail Biter in Bucks! Czech Tanks roll on KG von Throck

Hey team Throck, Rotny and I just finished up one hell of a nail biter. We've got sweeping flanking movements, heroic assaults, brave last pushes and a ton of great pic's taking you through the whole thing. It's a real barn burner, I gotta be honest, I thought I had it lost by turn 3 but... well... read on to find out what happened.



Look ma, no tracks! So, for once I decided to go at it without my beloved panzergrens, instead I went for as many fausts as one could possibly hold. A veritable faust-a-palooza. For Rotny's part, he's starting to branch out! He's got some recon, 4 freaking terrifying IS-2's and more tanks than you could shake a stick at. Here we have a hold the line scenario in Buckinghamshire with KG von Throck and the defenders against a very aggressive tank Czech force at 2000 points.


Rotny's Czech Tanks
  • Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon
  • HQ: 1x T-34/85 w Cupola & Escorts
  • Combat Company 1: 9x T-34/85 w Cupola & Escorts
  • Combat Company 2: 5x T-34/95 w Cupoola
  • Corps Support 1: 4x IS-2 w/.50 Cal AA MG
  • Corps Support 2: 3x BA-64
  • 4 Platoons 1965
KG von Throck
  • Sturmkompanie
  • HQ: 2x Commanzerfaust 2x Panzerschreck
  • Combat Platoon 1: 1x Commanzerfaust 6x Pfaust MG Team
  • Combat Platoon 2: 1x Commanzerfaust 6x Pfaust MG Team
  • Combat Platoon 3: 1x Commanzerfaust 6x Pfaust MG Team
  • Reg Support 1: Heavy AT 3x PaK40
  • Div Support 1: 3x Tiger 1E
  • Div Support 2: 3x Neb 41's
  • Div Support 3: 2x 8.8 FlaK36 w extra crew
  • 7 Platoons 1965 Pts.



SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Quiet British country side

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Jimbo's First Report!

Hey All, Throck and Jimbo here. The following battle report is the first including American's, Jimbo's First major game and Jimbo's first Sealion game. Everyone welcome him to the blog! We're throwing down in the war ravaged province of Buckinghamshire.



This is Jimbo's first big game! He's done a learn to play and observed a few games before but he's taken the plunge and jummped right into Operation Sealion with the rest of the crew. Today we fight in Buckinghamshire in a breakthrough scenario at 2000 Points.


Jimbo's Yank Tanks
  • HQ: 1x Sherman 76 1x Sherman Jumbo
  • Combat Platoon 1: 1x Sherman Jumbo 2x Sherman 76
  • Combat Platoon 2: 1x Sherman Jumbo 2x Sherman 76
  • Combat Platoon 3: 1x Sherman Jumbo 2x Sherman 76
  • Div Support: 1x Armored Rifle Platoon
  • Div Support: Priority P-47
  • 4 Platoons: 2000 Points
Kampfgruppe VonThrock
  • HQ: 2x Commanzerfaust 2x Track
  • Combat Platoon 1: 1x Commanzerfaust 6x MG Team 4x Track
  • Combat Platoon 2: 1x Commanzerfaust 6x MG Team 4x Track
  • Weapons Platoon: Mortars 4x 12cm
  • Weapons Platoon: 2x PaK 40
  • Div Support: 4x Panther G
  • Div Support: 2x 8.8 PaK 43
  • Div Support: AA 3x Quad 2cm
  • Warrior: Dietrich VonThrockmorton (von Saucken)
  • 7 Platoons: 2000 Points



SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

What we're all fighting for is at the end of that road :)

Panzers in the Snow

Cheeky...
Next installment in my German army photog fun time. Here we've got a set of five PSC Panzer IV's. I did the same white wash scheme and weathering techniques on these as on the Panthers you all saw earlier. These are the absolute first 15mm models I've ever painted, along with the first WW2 models as well. Due to this, I didn't realize at the time that Heer Panzer Commanders wore black. Here the commander is in a very dapper grey scheme.

I feel like the PSC series of Tanks acts as a great entryway to Flames Of War. They are affordable, look cool, and aren't that hard to build (coming from a Warhammer 40k background anyways). I will always recommend Battlefront for the large majority of modelling I do but these little PSC guys have helped me get four more of my local gaming group into the game.

Please also note. We will have a very special announcement coming quite soon. 

As always, I love constructive criticism. 

Panzers Marsch

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Battlefront 8.8's, Winter War Style

Hey all, today I bring you another installment of show and tell. I'm on the road in sunny, humid South Carolina so I thought it might be good to show you all some wintery German 8.8's from Battlefront. This is the 8.8 FlaK36 set with the extra crew option (not shown here). I decided not to paint the crew in winter whites as, from what I understand, they were not issued the same winter gear as the front line grenadiers.

I've found out since then that the shells would be different colors depending on the type of ammunition. So, yeah, historical accuracy be damned. I find that I really liked the set and you can build it so that you can still elevate the gun. I was however given a bit of a mispack I think as one of the crew was repeated a few too many times. All in all, a good solid cast with a wicked sweet base and very intuitive to put together. 


Read on MacDuff!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Massive Engagement in Tiny Botolph Claydon, Bucks

Hey all, we went a little crazy this weekend and decided to do a 4000 per side mega battle for Operation Sealion. I did my best to set up the board to look like Botolph Claydon, a small town just to the south west of Winslow in Buckinghamshire, and honestly, I think it looks pretty good given the limitations of a gaming board vs. real life. Here we're also starting to use our new kill markers so hopefully you can see the ebb and flow of the battle a bit better. We've decided to go with red painted BF and Wargames Factory bases to highlight the location of killed teams. Let us know if you think it works out!

Now, read on for the bat rep!



Botolph Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England. Summer 1944. KG VonThrock, resting up from recent campaigning, decamped in the small shire town of Botloph Claydon. Elements of the KG were stationed in town with the balance of Throck's forces a few miles down the old orchard road at Claydon House. Task Force LoonyRotny, noting the split in the German forces decided a lightning strike from the north and south could cut the two halves off and they could be destroyed in detail. Early in the summer morning, with artillery in place and reconaissance in place the allied armies struck. Lord Loon, a native of the region mustered the local Home Guard and marched them south from Winslow to support the attack. This is a 4000 point per side cauldron scenario with the Germans as defenders and the Allies as attackers.


Task Force LoonyRotny
  • Loon Orne Commandos/Home Guard
  • HQ: 1 CMD Rifle Team
  • Combat Plt 1: 2x CMD 12x Rifle/MG
  • Combat Plt 2: 2x CMD 12x Rifle/MG
  • Div Support 1: Ind. Armored Plt. 3x Sherman V 1x Firefly
  • Div Support 2: Corps SP AT Platoon. 2x M10C 17 pdr
  • Div Support 3: Royal Arty, 4x 25 pdr guns
  • Div Support 4: Naval Gunfire Support
  • Div Support 5: Limited Air
  • Home Guard: 3x Platoons
  • 6 Platoons 2000 Points
  • Ronty Vana's Czech Tank's
  • HQ: T-34/85 Cupola & Escort
  • Combat Plt 1: 9x T-34/85 Cupola & Escort
  • Combat Plt 2: 5x T-34/85 Cupola
  • Corps Support 1: 3x IS-2
  • Corps Support 2: 2x Decoy Panther A
  • 4 Platoons: 1995
KG VonThrock
  • Kampfgruppe VonThrock
  • HQ: 2x SMG Command, 1x Schreck, 3x Tracks
  • Combat Plt 1: 1x Cmd SMG, 6x MG, 4x Tracks
  • Combat Plt 2: 1x Cmd SMG, 6x MG, 4x Tracks
  • Combat Plt 3: 1x Cmd SMG, 6x MG, 4x Tracks
  • Weaps Plt 1: Gepanzerte Heavy Mortar 4x 12cm Mortar, 2x Observer, 1x Cmd
  • Weaps Plt 2: Panzergren Anti Tank Gun Plt 3x Pak40, 1x Cmd SMG 3x Tracks
  • Div Support 1: 4x Tigers
  • Div Support 2: 5x Panther G
  • Div Support 3: 2x 250 Tracks 4x 250/9 Tracks
  • Div Support 4: Armored Rocket Launchers 4x Panzerwerfer 42 w/extra crew
  • Div Support 5: A/A Plt, 3x Quad 2cm
  • Div Supoort 6: Heavy AA 2x 8.8 FlaK 36 w/extra Crew
  • Div Support 7: Priority Air Support HS-129B
  • Warrior: Dietrick VonThrockmorton (von Saucken)
  • 12 Platoons: 3995 pts.



SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Table Set Up

Smexy Road Shot

Germans Deploy Defensively in Botolph

Thursday, June 14, 2012

PSC/BF Panthers in the Snow For Show and Tell!

Hey all! Welcome to the first installment of Show and Tell! (Ok, so the name may need some work, but we'll roll with it for now). Here is where we'll show off the mini's we paint and the little men we love. Someday you to could be featured here!


To start, I offer to you today the mighty Panther. Some of the first 15mm mini's I ever painted waaaaaaay back in like, oh March-ish I think? My late war German's were originally based off of KampfGruppe Bake in the Korsun Pocket. Thus the snowy look to my grens, tanks and accompanying support.  


I made a little mistake on the PSC Panthers, the directions didn't say to put the machine guns on. Or maybe they did and I missed it, so they're lacking those. Hard to pick up on the table top but easy to see in the photos below. Also, note that the PSC have the A & D Panthers mixed up in the directions so, if you're new to the Panther set flip those bad boys around and remember to put the guns on!


I always appreciate constructive criticism, please rip apart!


Panthers on the March
 More after the break!

Rotny's Post Game thoughts from Yesterday's Bat Rep

(My Czech loving comrade Rotny Vana, dropped me an email further explaining his thoughts on our game I posted yesterday. Check it out.)


Hey guys! Man tank on tank games are quick! It was a good game, and the first game of FoW where I actually felt like I had a solid, well thought out strategy to win the game. But as the famous saying goes, no battlefield plan ever survives the first shot—and this was definitely one of those cases. 


First, I decided to attack (first deployment drop) to get the +1 on my roll to go first, figuring that I’d have an above average chance. Unfortunately I got ‘french diced’ (a tongue in cheek concept our gaming group uses since Throck’s French FoW dice seem to defy the laws of math and physics and roll an inordinate amount of 6’s!). From there, it kind of went downhill for my plans.


Even going second, I figured that the T34’s on the weak flank could take a some of the Panzer IV’s and lure the Tigers/Panther deeper into my backfield. Half of that happened as planned, unfortunately not the important kill the Panzers half! 


The IS-2’s, even though they score a few hits, couldn't penetrate Panther armor, even at AT15 FP2+! Then, despite being at range and concealed, they got hit three times, and I failed all three saves (on 1’s mind you)! 


At that point, setting up a field of fire on my strong flank was no longer an option. Now all of this might have been salvageable, but Throck is too good a general not to pounce on battlefield advantages (ed note: duh), and he played it like a champ (ed note: duh duh).


In our post-game we discussed that I should have been more aggressive with my tanks. I think that given the lay of the land I made the right call in the end. I would have had to choose a more aggressive deployment to be more successful on the offensive. A good and fun game, and more lessons learned as I get used to the ropes of a Guards Tankovy… 


See you all next time (I promise I’ll get that dastardly Throck eventually!) I’m off to Battlefront to get me a French dice tin, and the FLGS to buy a full Strelkovy horde…

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Panzers And Czech's Roll Into Combat

Hey all, I give to you now the second of our battle reports from the weekend's festivities. Here it's Throck vs. Rotny in a tankapalooza of tread head goodness. Both of us decided to throw down our tank armies in a classic Soviet on German battle. Who wins? Read on to find out.



Here we have a classic tank battle. Throck's Panzerkompanie vs. Rotny's Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon. We pointed out at 1750 in a Free For All scenario. We're fighting over Buckinghamshire in the operation Sealion Campaign.


PanzerThrock
  • HQ: 2x Panther G & Bergepanther
  • Combat Platoon 1: 3x Panther G
  • Combat Platoon 2: 4x Panzer IV H
  • Div Support: 2x Tiger 1 E
  • 3 Platoons, 1740
Rotny's Czech Guards Tanks
  • HQ: 1x T-34/85 with Escort & Cupola
  • Combat Platoon 1: 9x T-34/85 w Escort & Cupola
  • Combat Platoon 2: 5x T-34/85 w Cupola
  • Corps Support: 3x IS-2 w/.50 cal AAMG
  • 3 Platoons, 1745



SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The Battlefield

German Deployment

Behind German Lines, Shortly after the Battle in Bucks...

Fun with grenades. 
(Hey all, Von Jager, a forum denizen over at the Flames of War forum wrote up an after action story for the battle Loon and I had over Becks this weekend. I thought it was so good I asked his permission to repost it here and he said yes! Many thanks for the great story, you told me you're honored to have it posted here, well, we're a new blog and we're honored to have inspired you into writing a story off what we posted. Many thanks for your creativity. And now to the story)


With the battle lost, Hauptsturmfurher von Throck made his way to the village and the Batallion Hauptquartiers; the village alive with news of the left flank wide open after von Throcks loss in the attack, now starts to pull out with all haste. As von Throck enters the village he notices laying beside the road next to the HQ a body; looking closely at the crumpled figure on the roadside he notices that its the body of the Unterscharfurher who commanded the ill-fated Panther platoon that quit the field so quickly...He had been shot in the head. 

As he approached the HQ, he noticed a black Mercedes, and before he starts to enter the HQ the car door opens and a tall blonde officer wearing the uniform of an Obersturmbannfurher of the SD's Reich Security Service steps out of the black car; "Herr von Throck?, You need to come with me" he says 


(Read on after the break)

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Throck Vs. Loon in Bucks

Well, hey there everyone. It's been a minute since we've done an Operation Sealion bat rep. So here I serve up to you the first of two from the weekend and the first of a Bat Rep trifecta that will be coming you way this week we see yours truly, VonThrock, step up against Loon's Brit's in a 1750 Surrounded fight in Buckinghamshire. If you've ever wondered what a Sad Panther looked like, read on to find out.


Sunday, June 10, 2012

D Plus One at the FLGS

Hey all,  quick update on from a busy (and a little sick) sort of weekend. In commemoration of D-Day, onn Thursday I had the opportunity to play an 8,000 point game based on a D-Day plus one scenario with Panzer Grens, SS PanzerKompanie, FJ and others vs the 2nd armored,   29th ID, Canadians and the 101st. Great game that ended in a draw. Pics after the break

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Today We Remember

I missed the Memorial Day post I was planning so I wanted to take a moment to today, the anniversary of D Day, to remember the real lives that were lost and the real horror that so many faced to keep our country free from tyranny. 





Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Kerr & King Terrain Arrived!

Hey Throckers and Throckettes! On a day when I had to pay 500 bones to fix my car and it turns out it still doesn't work I needed a little bright and shiny in my day. And to my great joy it came in the form of my Kerr & King terrain order!

I gotta tell ya'll, these are some great terrain pieces and well worth the approximately three week wait to get here from jolly 'ole England. 

8 New Buildings from Kerr & King!
Initial thoughts: Wow these are super detailed, light but not flimsy feeling and sturdy models. Their website calls them a cast resin but what ever mixture they're using feels different than other resins I've worked with before. There was very little flash or odd casting remnants on these and literally no release agent. There's nothing I love more than NOT having to wash my models. There were some odd things about these boys but I'll get into more detail, with many many more pics, after the break.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Germans Crush Combined Czech/Brit Forces in Gloucester

So for today's half of the weekend reports I'm putting a fight that I'm sure we'll be arguing about for ages here at Throck HQ. We decided to do a team game, linking up the previous two reports (Throck v Rotny and Throck v Loon) into a third and culminating battle deciding the fates of our armies in that sector of the Operation Sealion battle. 

 Turns out we had some lessons to learn about list balance and how to set one of these up. It was still a blast and a good deal of fun and learning was had by all. But certainly, we'll know better next time. Read on to see what I'm talking about.



Shattered in previous engagements a Czech Armored company led by RotyVana and a cadre of Commandos led by Major CrazedLoon, (OBE, GCB, GC etc etc...) fortuitously run into each other on the long road back to link up with their parent units in Gloucester. Unfortunately, KG VonThrock has plans to finish the job he started. Using superior mobility he cuts the combined Bit and Czech forces off. Now, the allies must break through... or be annihilated.


KG VonThrock
  • HQ: 2x Cmd Panzerfaust w/Tracks 85 pts
  • Combat PLT1: Full Panzergren's With Tracks and HQ Faust 230
  • Combat PLT2: Full Panzergren's with tracks and HQ Faust 230
  • Weapons PLT1: Heavy Mortar Platoon 4x 12cm sGW 43's 165
  • Weapons PLT2: Anti-Tank Platoon 2x PaK 40 105
  • Div Support 1: 4x Panther G 750
  • Div Support 2: Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon 2x 8.8 PaK 43 220
  • Div Support 3: Armored Rocket Launcher Battery 4x Panzerwerfer 42 w/extra Crew
  • Total: 2015
Combined Ronty Loon Forces
  • Crazed Loon:
  • HQ: 1 CMD Team 2x PIAT teams 60pts
  • Combat PLT1: Understrength Commando Co. 7 teams 195pts
  • Combat PLT2: Undrestrength Commando Co. 7 teams 195 pts
  • Combat PLT3: Understrength Commando Co. 7 teams 195 pts
  • Div Support: Royal Artillery 4x 25 pdr 145 pts
  • Div Support: Limited Air Support Typhoon 170 pts
  • Warrior Team: Lt. Col. Peter Young
  • Rotny Vana
  • HQ: T-34/85 w/Cupola 95
  • Combat PLT 1: 5x T-34/85 w/Cupola 450
  • Combat PLT 2: 5x T-34/85 w/Cupola 450
  • Total: 995



SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

The Battlefield

German Deployment

Allied Deployment

UNITS IN RESERVE
KG VonThrock
  • PaK 40's
  • Mortar Team
  • Armored Rockets
Combined Ronty Loon Forces
  • 2 T-34/85 companies
  • 1 Understrength Commando Company


DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
KG VonThrock: I knew I needed to hold hard and force the allies to make a choice about Tanks or infantry. I decided to put my larger Anti-Tank assets on the table. The 8.8's were in position to threaten their reserve deployment zone, the panzergrens are set up to hold the objective on the road closest to the table edge and I've got the Panthers creeping around behind the hill to ward off a possible flanking move.
Combined Ronty Loon Forces: We had to strike fast, but we didn't want the tanks on the table early because of the Panthers and 8.8's Throck was starting with. We decided to but the arty and two commando squads up and keep the rest in reserve. Our hope was being able to push the Czech tanks straight at the Germain Main line and break through once the Arty and Commando's had softened them up.

TURN 1

The british again step off, this time it's for all the marbles.

Jerry lies in wait.

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Combined Rotny Loon Forces
    KG VonThrock


      TURN 1 SUMMARY
      Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Not much to do but move. I send my boys forward at the double towards the three story house dominating the center of the board. I shoot off my arty at the dug in panzer grens, while we fail to hit, we've got them ranged in now.
      KG VonThrock: Steady boys.... Steady....

      TURN 2

      Brits Take First Blood ending the life of a poor spotting team

      And pour into the fields

      COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
      Combined Rotny Loon Forces
        KG VonThrock


          TURN 2 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: There's a bit of claret in the water... He's got one of his mortar spotters pretty far out. So, I send the boys in and take him out.
          KG VonThrock: Yeah, still holding. Foot sloggers better get here soon. Bays are starting to sing "Lily Marlene"

          TURN 3

          Rockets arrive on the table

          Panthers Move to Shore up the line.

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: 2x Commando Teams
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter


          TURN 3 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Arty continues its barrage on the dug in Grens taking out a half track and one tray.
          KG VonThrock: I getz mah rockets! And shoot them. Taking out some commando's in the open field.

          TURN 4

          Commandos move to put pressure on the rockets

          Both Tank Platoons Show up and bolt towards the line.

          Commando's open up on the rockets taking out one. Great shot blokes!

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: 3x Commando Teams
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter
          • Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track


          TURN 4 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Tanks arrive, commando's get frisky with the rockets and take out one, and the air force scores a kill on the 8.8's. All around a good round of shooting for the allies.
          KG VonThrock: I open up into both commando teams, doing little damage and now, my tanks can see their infantry. Next turn I shall tear them up!

          TURN 5

          Panzergrens move in for the kill on Peter Youngs commandos

          State of the Front, bottom of turn five.

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Loon Combat PLT 2: 2x Commando Team
          • Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED.
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter
          • Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track
          • Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher
          • Div Support 2: 1x 8.8


          TURN 5 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: We're holding our guys back, trying to take out the 88's and panthers before we head in. The shooting this turn doesn't do much as the tanks, commando's and arty all fail to strike home.
          KG VonThrock: Got my other Panzer Grens on the board and I'm faced with a hard question. The allies have left one of their objectives relatively open and I could dash for it. However, Peter Young and his commandos are threatening both my panthers and my rockets. I've got to take care of that first. I unload with the tanks and the grens. Then assault straight at them, destroying Yonung and his team.

          TURN 6

          Grens move up and get out to seize the objective in the Allied deployment zone.

          Czech's lose 2 tanks in sustained fire from the German emplacements

          Czech's roll up to the allied objective, stopping short a quick victory by the Germans

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Loon Combat PLT 2: 2x Commando Team
          • Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED.
          • Rotny Combat PLT 1: 1x T-34/85
          • Rotny Combat PLT 2: 1x T-34/85
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter
          • Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track
          • Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher
          • Div Support 2: 1x 8.8


          TURN 6 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Our third british commando company shows up and starts to rush over to the objective. They're not going to make it in time but at least the Tankovy will. We shoot down range but dice just aren't going our way this game.
          KG VonThrock: Time to get aggressive. I move my second panzer grean company up to their undefended objective. This will force them to move at least one of the two Tankovy company's away from the main line of dug in Grens on my left. The Panthers and lone 88 open up on the Tankovy bailing 3 and killing 2.

          TURN 7

          German combined arms take their toll on the Czech's and British

          Tactical situation at the end of turn 7

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Loon Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED
          • Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED.
          • Rotny Combat PLT 1: 4x T-34/85
          • Rotny Combat PLT 2: 1x T-34/85
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter
          • Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track
          • Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher
          • Div Support 2: 1x 8.8


          TURN 7 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: That was rough, Throck's shooting tore up both of our armies. But we Czech's and Brit's are known for our determination, so we'll keep in this fight!
          KG VonThrock: Time to get my grens at the allied objective out of the firing line. They mount up and head back to the safety of the fields behind them. PaK 40's arrive and start to close in on the T-34's near the allied objective. Most importantly, my shooting really strikes home this turn eliminating all but one in the Tankovy Comany AND the knocking out the commando platoon putting pressure on my objectives.

          TURN 8

          Panthers move in for the kill on the remaining T-34's

          British Artillery Strikes home

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Loon Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED
          • Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED.
          • Rotny Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Rotny Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED
          • Rotny HQ: DESTROYED
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter
          • Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track
          • Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher
          • Div Support 2: 1x 8.8
          • Combat PLT 2: 1x MG stand 1x Track


          TURN 8 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: Rotny fails his command test and the Czechs flee! This leaves the plucky brits alone to move up and defend their objective. They, too are under the threat of one die roll ending the game. But british artillery scores a half track and an infantry stand from the second panzer gren platoon.
          KG VonThrock: Before I do anything else I want to reduce those last tanks. My 8.8 takes out the final one from the left tankovy company and the combined fire of my Panthers and PaK 40's score 2 kills on the right Tankovy company.

          TURN 9

          Germans move in on the objective

          Battlefield at the end of the game.

          COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces
          • Loon Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Loon Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED
          • Loon Warrior Team Young: DESTROYED.
          • Rotny Combat PLT 1: DESTROYED
          • Rotny Combat PLT 2: DESTROYED
          • Rotny HQ: DESTROYED
          KG VonThrock
          • 1 Mortar Spotter
          • Combat PLT 1: 1x MG Stand 1x Track
          • Div Support 3: 1x Armored Rocket Launcher
          • Div Support 2: 1x 8.8
          • Combat PLT 2: 1x MG stand 1x Track


          TURN 9 SUMMARY
          Combined Rotny Loon Forces: At the top of their half of the turn Loon fails the commando command check and the game ends.
          KG VonThrock: All of my boys mount up and head in for the Objective. It's time to cement this thing.
          I think the most important lesson we learned here is that two 1000 point lists is not necessarily the equal of 1 2000 point list. Next time we do team games like this I think we'll need to allow one person to be the "HQ/mandatory" half of the points and free the other player up with some looser restrictions. Luckily, fun was had by all and many lessons were learned along the way.




          Generated by WWPD's BatRepper Software.

          Sunday, June 3, 2012

          Commando's Fail To Break out of Sommerset

          Hey all, first of two game reports from the weekend! Had an eventful weekend of killing and being killed by my fellow gamers.



          Cut off in Somerset the Red Devils knew they needed to act. It was not feasable for them to be evacuated by sea so they headed off in the direction of Gloucester. In their way, Kampfgruppe VonThrockmorton. The Game will be set at 1750 points in a hold the line scenario. VonThrock will be defending and Crazed Loon will be trying to break through. The objectives are set so that one sits far behind the other on the same road.


          Crazed Loon's Commandos
          • HQ: Commando w/PIAT 60 pts
          • Platoon1: Full Commando Company 12 Stands 360 pts
          • Platoon2: Full Commando Company 12 stands 360 pts
          • Platoon3: Half Strength Company 6 Stands 195 pts
          • Platoon 3: Commando Mortar Platoon 2x Mortars 80 pts
          • Div Sipport 1: Corps Field Support 8x QQF 25 pdr gun 250 pts
          • Div Support 2: Limited Air Support Typhoon 170 pts
          • Div Support 3: Naval Gun Support 200 pts
          • Points: 1735
          KG VonThrock
          • HQ: Panzer Grens w/faust 85 pts
          • Platoon1: Gpz Panzergrens with Faust HQ 230 pts
          • Platoon2: Gpz Panzergrens with Faust HQ 230 pts
          • Wep Plt1: Panzergren Hvy Mortar Plt 4x Mortars 165 pts
          • Div Support 1: 4x Panther G 750 Pts
          • Div Support 2: Heavy AT Platoon 2x PaK43/41 8.8's 215 pts
          • Warrior: VonThrock (VonSaucken) 65 pts
          • Points: 1740



          SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

          VonThrock's Deployment

          VonThrock Close Up

          Loon's Deployment

          Loon Close Up

          UNITS IN RESERVE
          Crazed Loon's Commandos
            KG VonThrock
            • 88's
            • Panthers
            • Mortars


            DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
            Crazed Loon's Commandos: Loon: I'm bringing 2 full commandos companies with an under strength 3rd. But way more arty is coming along this time. I've gone full up on royal artillery, naval guns a commando mortar section and limited air support. My plan in the opening moves of the game is going to be push fast and push hard to one side with a smaller contingent of my commandos taking the other. Hopefully this will force Throck to decide if he rather concentrate his force to the heavy side and leave his flank unprotected or stay spread out and not have enough to deal with the hard push.
            KG VonThrock: Throck: Going for my, quickly becoming standard, Gpz Panzergrens. I dont' there's just something I love about motorized troops. I've added VonSaucken this time in the hopes of getting some reinforcements a bit quicker. The plan is simple. Each Gren Platoon uses all of its firepower on one platoon at a time to cut them down quick. Other wise, hold the line and hope for the Panthers.

            TURN 1

            Red Devils Step Off

            Germans wait paitently

            COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
            Crazed Loon's Commandos
            • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
            KG VonThrock


              TURN 1 SUMMARY
              Crazed Loon's Commandos: Bum rush forward at the double across the line. Naval observer takes up position in one of the farm houses, able to safely hunker down.
              KG VonThrock: I shoot at the naval observer, alot. And alot of nothing happens.

              TURN 2

              Brit's continue the advance across the front.

              First Blood!

              COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
              Crazed Loon's Commandos
              • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
              • Far Left Commando Plt: 2 Stands
              • Mid Left Commando Plt: 1 Stand
              • Far Right Commando Plt: 2 Stands
              KG VonThrock


                TURN 2 SUMMARY
                Crazed Loon's Commandos: I move forward again under the cover of darkness. Of course, while I'm close enough to shoot in some cases, I forget about LOS rules that require me to keep an inch between teams to shoot between them so my firepower is reduced and I dont do much at all.
                KG VonThrock: I start pouring fire into the far left and far right platoons and score two kills on each. Some of my troops on the left are ill position to pour in the same far left platoon so they suck it up and kill a stand in the middle left platoon.

                TURN 3

                Brits move up to the church

                And take a beating across the line

                COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                Crazed Loon's Commandos
                • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                • Mid Left Commando Plt: 1 Stand
                • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                • Mid Right Commando Plt: 2 Stands
                KG VonThrock


                  TURN 3 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: Night spotting rolls keep my arty out of the game for a third turn in a row. I move up 6" and shoot innefectually at Throck's dug in Grens.
                  KG VonThrock: SOLID. While I didn't get any of my reserves (I think VonThroken was taking a nap...) The far left platoon is reduced to just the command and attached PIAT platoon. The Far right Platoon takes a beating and runs. I'm able to deplete one of the mid platoons as well. It's early, but it looks like the assault is starting to peter out.

                  TURN 4

                  Red Devils Dig In

                  Panthers Show Up!

                  COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos
                  • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                  • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                  • Mid Left Commando Plt: 1 Stand
                  • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Mid Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  KG VonThrock
                  • Left PzrGren Platoon: 2 Stands, 1 Track


                  TURN 4 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: I've taken a ton of wounds, it's time to get defensive, dig in and hope for the best with the arty. Night is still around but my arty can finally see the Krauts. I score two stands and a half track from the left Panzer Gren platoon, but sadly the transports don't run.
                  KG VonThrock: PANTHERS ON THE TABLE... Sorry for the caps, it's just happy making. Loon is digging in, right, this could be a pain. My left panzer grens are pinned through the turn and the reduced firepower comes at a bad time. I'm able to run off another team on the right leaving one under strength commando platoon near the church and the balance of his forces on the right.

                  TURN 5

                  Panthers no more

                  Grens on the Left Move In to the Church

                  Tactical situation on the German right at the end of turn 5

                  COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos
                  • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                  • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                  • Mid Left Commando Plt: 1 Stand
                  • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Mid Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  KG VonThrock
                  • Left PzrGren Platoon: 2 Stands, 1 Track
                  • Panthers: DESTROYED


                  TURN 5 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: Dawn breaks and Typhoons launch from a rear air base. They Score 3 dead panthers and the 4th run off. Best news of the day. Typhoon's do their thing on the clumped up Panthers and remove 750 points in one fell swoop. Pure Hotness. Throck refuses to move out of his fox holes on the right of the board allowing my artillery to stay ranged in but they do no harm.
                  KG VonThrock: Guh... That was heart breaking... My hatred for Loon is now in full bloom as my mortars make it on to the table. I move my left hand platoons, now freed up having succesfully reduced his left flank, into the church to start trying to take out the heavily dug commandos on the right. To no avail. Hitting dug in infantry is hard. Now I know how Loon feels.

                  TURN 6

                  Brits Push In to the German Right facing fire from the line and the large building at the cross roads.

                  COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos
                  • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                  • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                  • Mid Left Commando Plt: 2 Stands
                  • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Mid Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Center Commando Plt: 1 Stand
                  KG VonThrock
                  • Left PzrGren Platoon: 3 Stands, 2 Tracks
                  • Panthers: DESTROYED
                  • Right PzrGren Platoon: 1 Stand, 1 Track


                  TURN 6 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: OK, it's turn 6 and I've only got one man over the deployment line. It's time to get aggressive. I drop shoot into the right Grens with one full and two depelted squads and then smoke 'em. We up the action and head into the jaws of the dug in german position. And.... Are pushed back, no longer dug in, worrisome.
                  KG VonThrock: 88's get on the board (what evs...) I unload into the platoons but that lucky brit makes a huge number of saves... Drat.

                  TURN 7

                  The brits, deeply depleted

                  COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos
                  • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                  • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                  • Mid Left Commando Plt: 3 Stands
                  • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Mid Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Center Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  KG VonThrock
                  • Left PzrGren Platoon: 3 Stands, 2 Tracks
                  • Panthers: DESTROYED
                  • Right PzrGren Platoon: 1 Stand, 1 Track


                  TURN 7 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: More arty kills more PanzerGren but the left grens keep their morale in check and stick around.
                  KG VonThrock: OK, I need to kill one fricking platoon for him to start making company checks... I unload on the (nearly full) platoon near the church and take them out! WEWT, next turn victory will be mine!

                  TURN 8

                  And single british stand remains in the German Deployment area

                  Grens move in for the kill

                  COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos
                  • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                  • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                  • Mid Left Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Mid Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Center Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  KG VonThrock
                  • Left PzrGren Platoon: 3 Stands, 2 Tracks
                  • Panthers: DESTROYED
                  • Right PzrGren Platoon: 3 Stand, 2 Track


                  TURN 8 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: Ha! Passed it! Waiting for the invetable with the standard british determiniation. Arty takes out some more Grens.
                  KG VonThrock: He passed it! And that one fricking stand is dug in. I simply can't kill it with guns, I move in for the kill with the assault.

                  TURN 9

                  COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos
                  • The front of a farm house will need some repars....
                  • Far Left Commando Plt: 6 Stands
                  • Mid Left Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Far Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Mid Right Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  • Center Commando Plt: DESTROYED
                  KG VonThrock
                  • Left PzrGren Platoon: 3 Stands, 2 Tracks
                  • Panthers: DESTROYED
                  • Right PzrGren Platoon: 3 Stand, 2 Track


                  TURN 9 SUMMARY
                  Crazed Loon's Commandos: Yeah, failed it that time. Game ends on a failed morale check by my last stand.
                  KG VonThrock: GG Bro.
                  LOON: The commando push was stopped by some very good spotting distances by Throck and some very bad spotting distances by my arty. That left Throck at a big advantage as the butchered commandos could not put up a reasonable fight once they made the advance. I found the mortars in general a waste of points which could easily go to other things. I lacked a hard unit which could stand up to concentrated infantry fire power a tank team might be worth a try next game. THROCK: Those last few turns were frustrating. Dug in infantry is rough dig out. And I was a dumbkopf for leaving all of my Panthers able to be bombarded by a single plane. Heart breaking to lose them. The lesson here though is that Panzer Grens can dish out a hell of a lot of fire power with those half tracks esentially acting as an extra (if a little fragile) 4 platoons of MG teams. It's a serious amount of shots and today, they served me quite well.




                  Generated by WWPD's BatRepper Software.