kampfgruppen smiledge versus Blue Spaders in an armoured engagement

Our local russian player wanted to try out an allied force so i lent her my Americans. Lets face it, shermans can not stand up to panzer 4’s and had little chance against my lone panther which took a sherman, a half track, and a whole squad of infantry before being immobilized and left out of the last two turns action. The Americans did manage to secure one table quarter but were forced out of the village they occupied at the beginning. The Germans lost 1 panzer 4 and 1 squad plus a MMG team with a panther and a half track, immobilized. The Americans lost all their tanks and halftracks and half her infantry. She loves not paying for movement to shoot infantry but hates not having the motherlands finest tanks. By the way this was a 1650 point battle as she had a lot of things she wanted to try out.

smiledge_d June 26th, 2019

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flammingo versus Big Red One in an armoured engagement

elcatinos June 24th, 2019

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Force Grubber versus Hades Rangers in an armoured engagement

Training Wheels
The wargaming table was set up as closely as possible to the online pdf map, however as was to be noted a slight omission was to be observed by the Allied Forces looking to break out of the beach head landing zone.
At the initial deployment the Allied player positioned his 1# M8 Greyhound and the M3 Scout Car to the near left corner of the map, so as to be as near as possible to the road way. In contrast the Axis player deployed the initial #1R35 Command Tank within the Bocage enclosed area, and the remainder of the infantry units (the Officer + assistant, the sniper team, the medium mortar and the green squad in the wooded area to the far right of the map to wait in ambush for anything moving along the roadway.

The first turn: the 1#M8 advanced forward along the road with the M3 immediately behind, this was fired upon by the Axis mortar (using over the barrel technique) but they missed. The Allied forces were now alerted to the enemy presence. The #1R35 advanced up to the Bocage boundary taking a run move.
Turn 2: The Axis mortar fired at the lead 1#M8 which was unable to use its Recce ability as the M3 was blocking it from reversing. The mortar hit causing 4 pin markers and stunning the crew. The 1#M8 was set to down on the dice. The #1R35 fired at the pinned M8 and punching a hole through the front armour easily destroyed it, leaving a burning wreck in the middle of the road. The M3 decided to reverse backwards, turn 90 degs and drive with all haste across the open field. The Axis player then tried but failed to call up the first veteran #2R35 but failed. The order was received by #3R35 and #4R35 who charged across the field towards the hedgerow boundary. The two Renault FTs also deployed in the wooded area and cautiously moved forward under cover of the Bocage hedgerow. The Allied player called up a Veteran 2#M4A3 tank and moved this along the roadway closing the gap to the wrecked 1#M8. The remaining Shermans and the 2#M8 deployed along the bottom right corner of the map and exploited the gap were the minefield had not been fully laid out to meet the side road, by charging ahead.
Turn 3: The Sherman 2#M4A3 tried to move past the wrecked M8 and instead of pushing it out of the way it strayed into the minefield and set off two mines, both penetrated the soft under belly of the Sherman, the first mine stunned the crew and the second immobilised it and damaged the turret traverse mechanism. Noting this Sherman was no vulnerable; the mortar fired over the barrel and scored a direct hit setting the engine on fire. The #4R35 advanced to the hedgerow line, fired and punched a hole through the frontal armour of the Sherman with a really lucky hit completely knocking it out altogether. In response the M3 continued its move across the open field much the displeasure of #1R35 who was still reloading at the time. Once reloaded, but too late to hit the M3 as it disappeared behind the Bocage across the road, the #1R35 instead fired at the Command Sherman, at distance and successfully hit it but did not penetrate casing a pin marker. Meanwhile #3R35 advanced to the hedgerow and set to ambush, and #2R35 advanced on to the battlefield and charged across the field to join his comrades. The rest of the infantry units remained in ambush.
Turn 4: The Allied 2#M8 advanced around the minefield on to the side road and turned off attempting to hide behind the nearest house ruin – it was hit by the #3R35 which successfully immobilised it, the veteran status of the crew clearly showing by its superior shooting skills. The Command Sherman unluckily failed its orders test and stayed put this turn, this caused the 3#M4A3 to be bottlenecked behind it and so being ineffective this turn. The two Renault FTs closed on the stricken 2#M8 to apply further pin markers but exposing themselves to the fire of the Shermans while the rest of the R35s repositioned to be able to fire at the Shermans next turn. The M3 Scout Car was also bottlenecked behind the two Shermans. The mortar fired at the stricken M8 but missed.
Turn 5: The R35s all fired on the Command Sherman, but only two hit and none penetrated causing more pin markers. The Command Sherman managed to activate and turned and proceeded on to the side road exposing its side armour to the R35 but they were all busy reloading at this point. The mortar team, again firing over the barrel scored a direct hit on the immobilised R35 knocking it out and setting it ablaze. The remaining Sherman moved forward to follow the Command Sherman also exposing its side armour, closely followed by the M3.
Turn 6: The #1R35 fired at the exposed M3 and blew off its front wheels thereby stunning the crew and the Ranger team within. The remaining four R35s all fired at the Command Sherman and hitting the side armour, two penetrated and managed to set the tank on fire, then with the closely followed second shot blew the turret right off the tank..!! The remaining Sherman moved past the former commander’s tank and towards the exit area, but noticed one of the Renault FT and easily destroyed it with one shot killing the crew. The remaining FT moved as if to hide behind the ruined house. The mortar team fired at the M3 but missed.
Turn 7: The remaining Sherman advanced towards the exit with no less than five shells from the R35s bouncing off its side armour, but all adding pin markers. The Ranger team believing the M3 was now a death trap attempted to exit the immobilised vehicle and on so doing run straight into the ambush set by the Green Grenadier squad. A long burst of gun fire from both MG42s was to be heard amidst the noise of the battle and two Rangers fell dead, the remainder diving for whatever cover was available. The mortar team fired again and destroyed the M3 Scout Car with another direct hit. The remaining Renault FT moved to reposition away from the Sherman.
Turn 8: The last Allied vehicle on the table, turned and killed the mortar team with a long burst from the hull mounted .50 cal MMG, while also firing, hitting and destroying the last Renault RT outright. The R35 all advanced the reposition then on firing all missed the remaining Sherman. The Grenadier Squad maintain the same position fired on the Ranger squad with the MG42s and caused enough pin markers to remove them from the game.
Turn 9: The last remaining Allied asset made its orders test and raced off the table via the exit as opposed to standing and fighting the rag-tag hastily put together misfits of the Heer reserves.
Overall the Axis team scored a total of 8 points, 5 for the Sherman command vehicle and 3 for the other Sherman. The Allied player scored 3 points for the remaining Sherman exiting the battlefield. The limiting factor of the R35 with its main armament was noticed with the

Brin June 23rd, 2019

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flammingo versus Big Red One in an armoured engagement

elcatinos June 23rd, 2019

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Kampgruppe Biedenstein versus GNAllied in an armoured engagement

Played in 6mm using centimeters instead of inches, this was an interesting adaptation to the standard Tank War, and provided a battlefield of delightful scope. Unfortunately, the British armored lines were unable to prevent the breakthrough of German heavy reinforcements in a counterattack. With this sort of result, it is only a matter of time until Tigers come to a stop on the cliffs over Omaha beach.

Minibeady June 20th, 2019

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Slyforce versus machecoulbattalion in an armoured engagement

Slyvore June 16th, 2019

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machecoulbattalion versus Slyforce in an armoured engagement

la prise du village par les forces alliés a été stoppée par la puissance des canons allemands, notamment un 88 placée sur la colline et le soutient des tigres et des panthers.
le bocage n’a pas réussi aux schermans et aux firefly dont les carcasses parsèment les champs.

brunodesloups June 16th, 2019

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Force Grubber versus 52nd Highland Div in an armoured engagement

Scenario 5: The First Move Inland; a bloody Tank War battle between the Tank Destroyer Unit and the Scots Highlanders around one of the numerous French small villages near the Allied beach landings.
The village was to be one of the numerous little villages in Normandy near the northern coastline just out with the D-day invasion beaches. The table comprised of a typical village in the southern half of the table which formed a cross-roads for 3 converging roads with one road north towards the beach area. The village was to be contested by the Stug and Jagdpanther battery and the Sherman Firefly and Vs of the Highland Div. The forces were arranged as follows:
Axis forces:
Company Commander: Jadgpanther 420, Lt Willie Schuler, regular, Jagdpanther
Jadgpanther 421: Unterfeldwebel Karl Pritz, regular, Jagdpanther
Stug 422: Unterfeldwebel Gunter Prine, regular, Stug III ausf G. c/w MMG and shurzen side armour.
Stug 423: Unterfeldwebel Herman Wische, regular, Stug III ausf G. c/w MMG and shurzen side armour.
Stug 424: Unterfeldwebel Ludwig Boss, regular, Stug III ausf G. c/w MMG and shurzen side armour.
Highlander forces:
Company Commander: veteran Sherman V medium tank.
1st tank: veteran Sherman V medium tank.
2nd tank: veteran Sherman V medium tank.
3rd tank: veteran Sherman V medium tank.
4th tank: veteran Sherman Firefly medium tank.
Regular Artillery Officer with a regular jeep.
Veteran Artillery Officer and veteran jeep plus one soldier with a rifle.
The opening round had the Axis forces place the Company Commander’s Jagdpanther and Stug 422 on the table, but hidden. The Stug was camouflaged behind the boundary wall to the church. The Jagdpanther was on the central road in the middle of the village. The minefields consisted of 2 dummy ones (located on the bridge and behind the wall to the East flank of the village. The real one was one the approach road to the village.
The opening turn began with the advanced 1st Sherman tank advancing over the dry stone wall from the Northern table edge and shooting wildly at the hidden Stug. Next was the Sherman of the Company Commander which advanced near to its comrade and set to ambush. The Jagdpanther then activated and fired at the Allied CO’s Sherman narrowly missing and clipping the radio aerial but causing no damage. The Stug 422 activated and fired at the 1st Sherman hitting is squarely on the front plate and easily penetrating through to the engine bay, the Allied crew bailed out and abandoned the tank. The next to arrive was the free Allied Artillery Officer in his jeep – he alighted the jeep and immediately called in an Artillery strike on the Jagdpanther.
Turn 2: The initial artillery strike arrived and did not score a direct hit but pinned the CO’s Jagdpanther for 2 pin markers. The second veteran Allied Artillery Officer arrived in his jeep and also alighted and called in a strike on Stug 422. The Axis reinforcements failed to arrive when requested as the road across the village was blocked with debris from Allied aircraft strikes earlier that day. The Allied 2nd Sherman arrived and proceeded to also drive over the dry stone wall and settle near the Allied CO’s tank and the burning shell of 1st Sherman. The Firefly arrived and crossed the battlefield behind the rocky outcrops. The Axis CO’s Jagdpanther tried to fire at the approaching Shermans but failed the Order Test so did nothing. Stug 422 fired and missed the 2nd Sherman. The 3rd Sherman failed to arrive this turn.
Turn 3: The artillery strike on the Stug 422 also arrived and although causing no direct hits shocked the crew enough to apply 2 pin markers. Stug 422 tried to fire but failed for this turn as clearly too shook up by the very near artillery misses. The Firefly advanced and tried to shoot at the Jagdpanther but missed wildly. The 2nd Sherman also tried to hit Stug 422 but also missed. The 3rd Sherman arrived and proceeded to drive along the roadway and fire at the Axis CO’s Jagdpanther and hit but did not penetrate the slopped armour of the Jagdpanther’s front plate. The 4th Sherman arrived and tried to obtain cover behind the far stone wall. Stug 421 arrived and advanced forward at the run. Stug 424 arrived and advancing to cover of the nearby house also fired at approaching Firefly and at a good range easily punched through its front armour causing an impressive explosion also stunning the crew, even after a moment the crew still did not evacuate the stricken Firefly so perished within. The Axis CO’s Jagdpanther fired but missed the Sherman in its sights. Stug 423 arrived and also advanced at the run. The 3rd Sherman arrived and advanced at the run to close the distance.
Turn 4: The remaining Jadgpanther arrived and move up behind the CO’s Jagdpanther glad the artillery strike was over. The CO’s Jagdpanther fired and totally destroyed the 3rd Sherman completely with none of the crew escaping. The 4th Sherman advanced and taking a lucky shot hit the Stug 422 who was using the church wall as partial cover knocking the assault gun out, the crew abandoned the vehicle and escaped. In response Stug 423 fired at the side armour of the 3rd Sherman and punched straight through its side armour to the engine bay destroying the tank and setting it ablaze. At this point the Jagdpanther 421 fired and knocked out the Allied Company Commander’s tank also setting it ablaze, its crew escaped. The Allied veteran advanced at the run through the nearest mine field setting of 3 mines all of which failed to hit the jeep instead applying very significant pin markers which coupled with the effect of Tiger Fear has immobilised them. The other Jagdpanther fired an missed the last Sherman.
Turn 5: The last Sherman advanced across the open field and fired at Stug 424 hitting is squarely in the front plate knocking it out, but the crew escaped down the road and off the table. The CO’s Jagdpanther failed its Orders test and so did nothing this turn. The other Jagdpanther fired but only caused a glancing blow to the Sherman’s side armour stunning the crew. Then Stug 423 fired and hit the last Sherman squarely on the side armour and penetrating through the engine bay knocking it out.
Turn 6: The CO’s Jagdpanther fired at the last jeep and caused the fuel tank to catch fire, which the crew extinguished. Stug 423 fired at the jeep and hit, destroying it and the Artillery Obs within as well.

Overall, the British Highland Division was initially delayed in its assault by waiting for the preceding artillery strike which didn’t materialise, then by the presence of the minefields. Once momentum was achieved they attacked with vigour and managed to knock out two partially obscured Stugs but at the overall cost of 5 Sherman tanks, 2 Jeeps and 2 Artillery Obs.

Brin June 15th, 2019

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