After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points

After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points

After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points
With Chris Potter

Monday lunchtime soon rolled around and after a weekend of light banter between the two of us, myself and Tim got together for an action-packed game of Flames Of War.

Tim brought along his plucky Brits, combining a full artillery battery of 25pounders, with some Sherman platoons complete with Firefly, and a Bren Carrier platoon supported by a Motor Rifle Platoon.

 

To win the game, I gathered together the men of the 101st Airborne Division in x2 platoons with Bazooka Upgrades, supported by Sherman 76mm and Sherman 75mm platoons.

We played a 50pt battle as part of the UK Office Hobby League, and rolled the Annihilation mission. During set up, Tim attempted to spearhead his Bren Carriers and managed to move most of his force within spit-ball distance of my Shermans. Using cover, he managed to sneak forward his force, so that by turn 1 he was already in the midst of the Airborne. But as Major Winters of Easy Company, 506th said at Bastogne “We’re paratroopers, we’re meant to be surrounded”

After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points

The Airborne fought on and by Turn 2 had destroyed 3 Shermans with bazookas and were pushing on the enemy centre, putting a huge amount of pressure on Tim to defend his Artillery. Some shocking rolls from the British Artillery meant that my exposed Paras were safe as they attempted to rally on the objective. I had lost 1 Sherman 75mm in some incredibly tense shooting down the road, and had another 2 bailed, with my 76mm bogged down at the edge of the wood on the enemy right. But still I wasn’t beaten.

After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points

However at the start of the British Turn 3, disaster struck as the Motor Platoon rushed the bailed Shermans and in their Assault Phase destroyed one and captured the other. Then to really rub salt in the wound, Major Winters (my Airborne HQ) became separated from his men and came under fire from a flanking platoon of British Shermans. Cut down in the open, the US Paratroopers failed their Last Stand roll and the British claimed the Battlefield.

After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points

It was a close game, and both myself and Tim learned a lot – he has gathered some intel on how his army list works, and I now know to keep your HQ close and use cover as much as possible!

We have agreed a rework of our lists as Tim gets more paint on his models, and I take a deeper look at the command cards to beef up my Paratroopers some more! The rematch is scheduled for later this week, but first I have to face off against Gareth’s 21st Panzer list and hope I can deny the Germans some badly needed reinforcements on the beach.
~Chris

After Action Report - Tim A and Chris, British Armoured Vs US Paratroopers 50 points

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