Andrew’s Churchills in Italy with Andrew Haught I thought I’d take a little time-out from my usual duties and share my thoughts on the British Tank Squadron featured in Road To Rome. Of course, I'm talking about  the mighty Churchill tank! The Tank Squadron list featured in Road To Rome (page 68) is an interesting list to play around with. Through the Churchill is rated as a Slow Tank, its main gun are on par the German StuG; but its main focus in my list is for assaulting. Learn more about the Road To Rome here...

They can provide anti-tank in a pinch if I get into a real sticky situation, but with the M10C 17pdr SPs rated at Anti-tank 15 will do most of the heavy lifting in this department. My full list is as follows:

Tank Squadron (Confident Veteran) Tank Squadron HQ   with two Churchill III or IV (late). 200 points Combat Platoons   Tank Platoon   with three Churchill III or IV (late). 300 points Tank Platoon   with three Churchill III or IV (late). 300 points Support Platoons   Carrier Platoon   with three Universal Carriers & three Wasp Flame-thrower carriers. (Fearless Veteran) 200 points Anti-tank Platoon (SP), Royal Artillery   with four M10C 17 pdr SP (late) upgraded to Top Armour 1. (Confident Veteran) 390 points Field Battery, Royal Artillery   with HQ Troop & one Gun Troop. (Confident Veteran) 185 points Total Points: 1575 points

I included the Field Battery, Royal Artillery in my list for their ability to fire Smoke Bombardments. Any enemy tanks that the M10Cs can’t deal with i.e. King Tigers etc will be primary targets. Buying me enough time till I can manoeuvre enough to take advantage of the weaker side armour. Of course firing actual bombardments to pin down enemy infantry will help the assaulting Churchills no end. Especially when facing Panzerfausts or Panzerschrecks.

If the Churchills and M10Cs weren’t enough of a threat to my opponent, the Wasps pose enough of a threat on their own to warrant much of my opponent’s attention. My plan is to divide and conquer; advance with the Wasps utilising the available terrain as best I can with the Universal Carriers and Churchills forming the spearhead slowing driving towards the enemy.   Covering the advance will be the M10Cs destroying my opponent’s key anti-tank assets from concealing positions. All while the 25 pdrs provide smoke to cover the advance and the odd artillery bombardment when required.

I will be relying heavily on my Veteran status to see me though the game. My main worry is German infantry loaded with Panzerfausts. But once pinned and smoked my tanks will be hit on 6s meaning I’ll be able to get into assaults relatively unharmed. ~ Andrew.