Flames of war - Late war - No retreat

Forces 1500
Overlord - US - Medium Tank (CT)
HQ 2x M4 Sherman

4x M4 Sherman

4x M4 Shermanl

Mortar half track platoon
Recce Platoon

Tank destroyer section

4x 105 mm Howitzers

2x 155 mm Howitzers
AA half tracks
AOP

Panzers to the Meuse (pdf) - Panzer Lehr (CV)
HQ Panzer IV
4x Panzer IV J
Gepanzerte panzergrenadiers w/ tank hunter
2x Wirberlwind
2x Puma Scout car
2x Jagdpanther
3x Volks Nebelwerfer (Reluctant Trained)

In this scenario the Panzer Lehr defends the fields of Normandy against the oncoming horde of american tanks. The US attack thanks to their always attack rule. The German side puts Wirbelwinds, Pumas and Nebelwerfers in reserve and places the platoon of Panzer IVs in ambush. The Americans makes a recon move with the recce teams and a spearhead move with a tank platoon before the game starts.

Turn 1 

All mobile US units move forward and the artillery tires to range on on the Jagdpanther, but fails.

The Nebelwerfes arrive thanks to a lucky reserve roll, but not much more happens.

Turn 2

Further movement takes the US forces closer to the German lines. The artillery hits a Jagdpanther, but it passes its save.

The Pumas arrives from reserve. One Jagdpanthers takes a lucky shot at a Sherman and destroys it, but fail to move out of the ranged in artillery with its storm trooper move.

Turn 3

Units push forward in concealment and the scouts reveals the gone to ground infantry. Combined fire kills one infantry team. Then the heavy bombardment repeat its salvo and destroys one of the Jagdpanthers. 

The Panzer Ambushes at the German right flank and the Wirbelwind platoon arrive from reserve at the left flank. The Panzer IVs destroy the 2iC, one Sherman and bail 2 other Shermans, not enough for a test though. The Nebelwerfers fail to inflict any damage.

Turn 4

The Tank destoyers deploy and fires a salvo at the Pumas, but poor shooting result in only one puma being destroyed. The Panzer IVs takes a lot of return fire but saves it all except a long range shot from a Sherman that bails a tank.

The CiC, the remaining Puma and the Wirbelwinds kills two of the tank destroyers and bails another. The do however pass their morale. The Nebelwerfers bails a tank.

Turn 5 

The last operational tank destroyer kills the last Puma and one platoon is down. The remaining platoons position themself to avoid the Jagdpanther. The Shermans fire at the last Panzer IVs, destroying one. The Artillery does however kill two more. They pass their morale.

The CiC destroy one Tank destroyer. Combined infantry and Nebelwerfer fire destroy one recon car and bail 3 of the mortar trucks. The last Panzer IV destroy one more Sherman and forces the two bailed tanks to flee the battle.

Turn 6

The bailed tank destroyer remounts and fire at the German CiC but misses. The Shermans in the center also shoots at the CiC, scores one hit witch is saved. The US CiC fires at the last Panzer IV, but misses the shots. Another two infantry teams are killed by the massed .50 cal fire.

A well placed Nebelwerfer hit destroy one and bail two mortar trucks. The Infantry then kills another one with a panzershreck and the platoon flees. The CiC Panzer destroys the last Tank destroyer and the last Panzer IV destroys the Company command tank, but the commander quickly remount in a nearby Jeep. 

Turn 7

With heavy losses on both sides the AA trucks takes safer position behind a building. The remaining Shermans tries to destroy the CiC but the only hit is saved. The artillery fail to range in on any target.

The CiC backs away from the Bocage to avoid destruction while the last Panzer IV moves up the escarpment to fire at the Sherman platoon. Nebelwerfer fire once again proves useless.

  

Turn 8

The three remaining Shermans fire 6 shots at the CiC but all miss. The AOP range in the artillery at the last Jagdpanther. The mighty salvo penetrates the armor - but fail to destroy it. The power of the bombardment does however cause the crew to abandon their tank and flee the battle. Two platoons down.

The CiC backs moves up to the Bocage in an attempt to snipe the remaining armored car in the scout platoon. A well placed shot hits and destroys it, and the US are down to four platoons. The Panzer IV hits and one Sherman. The Nebelwerfers fail to inflict any damage but the infantry manage to blast away the US CiC with MG fire.

Turn 9

Two Shermans takes pot shots at the CiC now bailing the Commander. The last one tries to finish of the last Panzer IV - but the shots miss. The Artillery hits the Panzer IV, but it saves the hit.

The CiC fail to remount. With the US CiC and 2iC out of action the one objective is to break a fifth platoon. The Panzer IV destroy one Sherman. The infantry moves up to kill the AA trucks, supported by Nebelwerfers, and in a storm of fire the AA trucks goes down and the US are down to three platoons - and flees the battle.

German Victory 4-3. 

The Panzer Lehr hold their ground.

Comments
What seemed to be a uphill battle for the outnumbered Germans turned out to be an quite even game. Maybe a more safer approach from the US side would have given the Americans a solid victory, but then it would have turned out to a rather boring game of dice statistics.

For me (as German player) I expected the TDs (Tank destoryers or Teleport destroyers, depending whom you ask) to be the biggest treat, but it turned out to be the artillery that dealt the deadliest blow. Six guns combined fire gets double wide template with AT5 FP3+ for same points as four TDs - ouch!

For my opponent the Infantry was the Achilles heel. A ten man strong platoon with three Panzershrecks and one Panzerfaust is almost impossible to assault with tanks. And this time there was not enough guns to blast them away.

Flames of war - Great war 1918 - Surrounded

Forces 1500 pts
German line division (CT)
HQ+2 Light mortars
Rifle platoon
Rifle platoon
HMG platoon
AV7 tank
AV7 tank
7,62 cm infantry gun
7,62 cm infantry gun

British elite division (CV)
HQ+Sniper
Rifle Platoon
Rifle Platoon
Mark IV female
Mark IV male
18 pdr
18 pdr

This scenario is very similar to the original one in the rule book, with minor modifications. The battlefield is smaller and there is no immediate ambush. Defender starts pinned and all defending tanks start in scattered reserves that all arrive turn three. Victory can be achieved by taking objectives after turn 5. The Germans roll highest and becomes the attacker.

Turn 1

Germans: Combined fire from the tanks and the guns destroy the 18 pdr.

British: A sniper ambush and try to kill off a mortar but fails. The infantry platoon destroy both infantry guns! The remaining 18 pdr bombards the HMG:s but fail to kill any and only pin the platoon. The infantry fare better, killing a HMG and the platoon command.

Turn 2

Germans: The HMG tries to dig in but fails! The second 18 pdr is destroyed by a lucky hit from a mortar. Both AV7 push into assault, killing one team each, as the Brits run away from the fearsome fortresses. Assaults are also attempted on two flanks by the infantry, but the stubborn defensive fire stops both assault.

British: All troops unpin and the running infantry digs in again. Focused fire from the infantry kills off the survivors in the vulnerable HMG platoon.

  

  

Turn 3

Germans: Scared of loosing more troops, both infantry platoons tries to dig in but fails! The AV7:s continue the assault killing another team and forcing another break off.

British: The tanks arrives! The male tank gets two shots off the AV7, but misses! The German mortars are destroyed by the infantry platoon, with some moral support of the sniper, that proves to be a very bad marksman.

Turn 4

Germans: The infantry now digs in. AV7:s misses the male tank (it saves one shot) but then continue the assault killing another team, forcing most infantry to flee into the woods. The tanks MG:s fail to kill any infantry.

British: The male tank continue to fire at the AV7, but it save the one hit. The female tank push itself forward and gets into range to assault the infantry, witch loses two teams and breaks off.

Turn 5

Germans: The AV7:s manage only to inflict a damage at the Male tank. MG fire from the tanks proves more effective and kills 2 dug in teams.

British: The Male tank repairs and destroy one of the AV7, reducing the Germans to three out of eight platoons! The female takes up a slow pursuit of the infantry.

Turn 6

Germans: A Company morale is now needed with only three platoons at the table. It's passed! The remaining AV7 hits but fails to destroy the Male tank, witch is now damaged twice! The succeeding assault from the infantry destroy the male tank, witch cannot prevent them from winning with two damage markers.

British: The infantry digs in at the forest, realizing they cannot assault with the AV7 in position to support with defensive fire. The female tank push forward, but rolls a "1", and gets a damage marker! However, it kills two teams from the infantry platoon, witch fails its morale and flees!

Turn 7

Germans: The company morale is passed again! The now immobile Female tank is blown to pieces by the last AV7. The British infantry does however survive the torrent of MG fire. The AV7 attempts an assault, but bogs down in the process.

British: With both tanks lost only 2 platoons (barely) remaining, a company morale test is needed. It fails and the remaining British troops flees the battle. They did not hold their ground.

German victory 4-3.

Comments

I think this scenario is not the best designed, as the attacker can assault turn one (without the pinned defender taking a turn first) if you deploy to close. With  our number of troops its manageable, but if you  have more infantry it can be really difficult to avoid. With the Brits defending I also found the lack of AT-capability painful, as they have to rely on fragile 18 pdr:s and late arriving male tanks. Nevertheless, the battle turned out very even and only the dices decided the outcome in the end.

Flames of war - Vietnam - Indian County

Forces 1000 pts
US 7th cav Airmobile (Tour of duty)
HQ+medic+3 mortars
1 Arimobile rifle platoon
1 Arimobile rifle platoon
2 Hog (grouped into two pink teams with Loaches)
2 OH-6 Loach
4 UH-1 Slicks

PAVN infantry battalion  (Tour of duty)
HQ+1 HMG bunker

1 platoon strong company (B41+LMG)
1 platoon strong company (B41+LMG)
3 12,7mm AA MG
1 two platoon strong local force (LMG+Mortar)

1 Special task force (3xB40 1xFlamer)

Scenario
The Free world player must take the LZ objective while Vietnamese has to take the other objective, to win after turn 5. Free world player (US) starts with half of the platoon at the table and the rest in pick up zone. All gunships arrive turn one. US goes first and Vietnamese player makes one ambuscade. Victory can also be achieved by killing 6 platoons (companies) more than the enemy at any point.

Rolling for elephant grass results in a "4" meaning all vision is limited to 15 cm.

The ambuscade results in pinning the US platoon and wounded two teams.

Turn 1

Gunships arrive from reserve and the second rifle platoon is airlifted into the LZ area (called "the hill"). The platoon unpins and the medic fail to remove one wound marker, killing the team in the process. Combined fire from helicopters kills the PAVN company  and it fails it morale and counts as destroyed for morale purposes (Score 1-0).

One Vietnamese reserve arrive (local force is chosen). Guerilla reserve rule this time result in the company being able to ambush close to the US platoon. Shooting (with rifles) results in the medic being killed and another wound marker.

Turn 2

The US Platoon at the Hill unload their transports. The other platoon fights off the local force with a torrent of fire, killing most of the squad with the rifle platoon and the gunships. It pass its morale test.

Two PAVN companies arrive from Guerilla reserve accompanied by a HMG nest. One arrives to support the local force, while the other takes on the hill platoon. A few RPGs are fired at the gunship but fail to destroy it. The Vietnamese tries to assault the hill, but defensive fire pin back the assault.

Turn 3

The last US platoon, the mortars arrive to the battlefield. The gunships destroys the Vietnamese company that tried to shot them down last turn together with most of the local force company (score 2-0). 

Now the special task force and the AA guns arrive from reserve. The AA guns opens up on the closest pink team, shooting down the Loach. The special task force flamer kills two teams at the hill.

Turn 4

With the mortars finally in place the hill has turned into a bloody fortress. The mortars and the surviving Loach destroys the AA-platoon (score 3-0). The intact pink team open up on the PAVN company at the hill, resulting in a bunch of dead Vietnamese.

A volley fire from the special task force hits the Loach helicopter in the other Pink team and destroys it. Another attempt is made to storm the hill, but defensive fire from rifles and mortars proves to much and destroys the PAVN company (score 4-0). The other US platoon is assaulted by the local force, who kills the CiC and destroys the LMGs when the US breaks off. They are however destroyed in the process and it fails it morale and counts as destroyed for morale purposes (score 5-0).

Turn 5

Things is looking messy for the US. The platoon at the Vietnamese objective lost all its leaders and digs in. The platoons on the hill does the same, and they all hide to benefit from gone to ground.

The destroyed PAVN company returns, this time in perfect position at the Vietnamese objective.The local force also finds its way back, this time in position to assault the hill. They do however not attempt to assault, due to the unpinned platoon having to much defensive fire. At the Vietnamese objective the old PAVN company assaults the remaining teams, forcing a break off into the new PAVN company, destroying the US rifle platoon (score 5-1).

Turn 6

US forces tries to kill the platoon holding the objective, but 10 hits from the helicopters results in only 1 dead Vietnamese team. Shooting at the hill proves ineffective and the battle is lost for the free world.

The Vietnamese secures the objective, with 5 losses against 1.

Vietnamese victory!