Week One: Rob Villnave

Week One: Rob Villnave Okay, so it is army building time again.  I have decided on an Infantry Company for this go around.  Which breaks away from my tank obsession as many of you know me as that Tanksgiving guy.  Fear not as you will see I have my boys backed up by some armour. And not only Infantry but British Infantry.

I have always had a fondness for the British Tommy.  I think it comes down to attitude.  I am sure any general would say that a big part of winning wars comes down to attitude.  And the Tommy has a get in there and do it attitude. I have also been plagued in recent months with commentary on my local clubs forum, and a few others, about how Americans are Tank Company players and how no one around here plays British.  So in good form as an American I took that, as I should, as a challenge.

So now to muster the forces; on page 64 of the Flames Of War Forces book you will find my British Rifle Company.  I have chosen to keep the force as balanced as possible by making sure the three main team types are well represented.  So you will find Infantry, Gun and Tank teams in this force.  Giving a new player a wide variety of goodies on the table top, this also proves time and time again to help handle most situations well by diversifying.

Rob's Army List

Platoon Quantity Uint Points Headquarters       Rifle Company HQ 1 Company Command Rifle team 25   1 2iC Command Rifle team   Combat Platoons       Rifle Platoon 1 Command Rifle / MG team 140   1 PIAT team     1 Light Mortar team     6 Rifle / MG teams   Rifle Platoon 1 Command Rifle / MG team  140   1 PIAT team     1 Light Mortar team     6 Rifle / MG teams   Weapons Platoon       Carrier Platoon 3 Universal Carrier 160   2 Universal Carrier with hull-mounted MG     1 Universal Carrier  with .50 cal MG   Divisional Support       Armoured Platoon 3 Sherman V 280   1 Firefly VC   Armoured Platoon 3 Sherman V 280   1 Firefly VC   Anti-tank Platoon (SP), Royal Artillery 4 M10C 17 pdr 260 Field Battery, Royal Artillery 2 Command Rifle team 85   1 Staff team     1 Observer Rifle team     1 OP Carrier     2 OQF 25 pdr gun   Medium Battery, Royal Artillery 2 Command Rifle team 130   1 Staff team     1 Observer Rifle team     1 OP Carrier     2 BL 5.5" gun       Total Points: 1500

Rob's Model Requirements

Product Name & Code Retail Price (US Dollars) Comapny HQ (BB721) $12.50 2x Rifle Platoon (BR722) $46.00 2x Universal Carrier (BR210) $28.00 2x Sherman Firefly VC (BB121) $25.00 2x Artillery HQ (BR710) $46.00 25 pdr gun (BR573) $21.00 Medium Battery, Royal Artillery (BBX13) Scrounge from an old box set. Achtung! (FWBX02) $40.00 Flames Of War Third Edition Book Bundle (FW003) $60.00

Total Army Cost: $291.50 (includes Achtung, I must account for the cost of those tanks). Materials, Books: $107.95 (glue, accelerant, micro files, snips, hobby knife, pin vice). Total Project Cost: $399.45.

Rob's First Tank Platoon

All things considered I am happy with the total; especially when you consider that everything other that the toy soldiers can be used to make future forces. So the cost of those materials can be spread out over the life of my hobby. So really penny for penny at $291.50 a British Infantry Company packs one mean punch. Compared to Joe’s force it encourages me to look at infantry forces in a whole new light. ~ Rob.

Rob's Second Tank Platoon