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Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

M10s vs. Tigers
with Jökull Gíslason

Captain Sheehan walked into the busy command tent. The old man was yelling orders in all directions. As he saw Sheehan enter he quickly motioned him to come closer. 

“Those bastard Germans just don’t know when they are beat, they have managed a counter attack from Vire. I’ll be damned if I will allow them to stop this breakthrough from this hedgerow hell we have been stuck in since D-Day.”

The major brushed aside some maps on the table until he pointed his finger down on one.

“I need you to set up your company in defensive positions around this lovely little town of St Louet-sur-Vire. Secure and hold and make sure Jerry knows he ain’t getting no further. I need you to leave at once with what men you can gather and I will send you all the support I can find. I can spare you a platoon of Wolverines. Lieutenant Gainor is solid and most of his boys have been in a brawl before. Tell him where you need him, but leave the details to him.

And Sheehan, you’ve got to hold. We’ve got to keep the main force in attacking or else we’ll be here for years or have to wait until the Russians come from the east and that won’t do. 

Dismissed”


Wolverines vs. Tigers

In this battle I had the chance to field my first force from the new D-Day: American book. This is a fantastic book and along with the accompanying command cards it gives you great options  to customize your force. I was going for the veteran Armoured Rifles. Here I particularly like the subtle difference with the regular Armoured Rifles who are better at rallying (Blood ‘n Guts) and the veterans who are not as good as rally but are careful and have tactics. The Armoured Rifles have everything you could wish for, infantry, bazookas galore, support weapons, and their trusty half-tracks which can lay down strong supportive fire. This book is easily my favorite book so far. 

For this game we played 65 points, our group Burning Bridges is now playing Late War Normandy and gradually expanding our forces as we paint and get them ready.

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers


My opponent was Major Kristleifur running a Mixed Panzerkompanie from Fortress Europe. Kristleifur is one of the many real nice players of the community. He was running a pure Panzer force without support, which he has yet to paint.

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Scenario
The battle for Normandy offers a lot of chances to add a historical element into your games. During Operation Cobra the 2
nd Armored Division fought of a German counter-attack and this would be the background of our story. By just adding a small part of history to your games can greatly add to the experience and feel of the game. We picked a mission from the Missions pack available online here... 

This gives players an option to pick a battle plan. We did this by designating a dice 1-2 Attack, 3-4 Manoeuvre and 5-6 Defend and then revealing them at the same time. Against a tank force I promptly picked Defend and Kristleifur decided to pick Manoeuvre. Then we rolled for the mission on the table and ended with No Retreat.

After deploying the objectives I decided to start with my HQ, full Armoured Rifle Platoon, and the M10s in ambush. The artillery is much more useful against infantry and gun teams. I set up a solid defense line. Kristleifur then placed his entire force on his left flank, in No Retreat the entire battle is usually played on a small section of the board.

Turn 1
Kristleifur opted for a direct attack closing the distance between the Panzers and infantry. Shooting was completely ineffective, reduced by moving and against gone to ground infantry there were no casualties.

The Wolverines sprung from their ambush in the small wood to the left of the infantry. Their fire took out an entire Panzer IV platoon.

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Turn 2
The panzer stopped their advance and concentrated their fire on the M10s. Helped by a Blitz move the Sd Kfz 231 managed to get behind the Wolverines while the panzers to a front on approach. The shooting saw two M10s burning and one bailed.

The bailed M10 remounted keeping the platoon in good spirits. Then two platoons came from reserves, the M7 Priests and the reduced Armoured Rifle Platoon. Fire saw the M10s take out a Panzer IV and the Priests destroying a Sd Kfz and bailing another.

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Turn 3
Losing tanks by the turn and making no gains the Germans focused their effort on the remaining M10s since any assault was out of the question while they take part in defensive fire. One was destroyed and the last one bailed.

With the help of the formation commander the last M10 remounts, bazookas fire, artillery fires and leaves two Panzers bailed, but the Wolverine destroys a Tiger with a shot from the front. Welcome to Late War Tigers! 2nd Platoon has almost reached the objectives.

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Turn 4
It's now or never. The last Tiger and the remounted Panzers move in for assault. They manage to bail the last M10. Then they follow with an assault. The Tiger goes in first and after a couple of turns of close assault the Tiger retreats. The Armored Rifles manage to destroy one of the Panzers with defensive fire and in the following assault lose two infantry teams before the last Panzer also flees.

The last M10 remounts, but then fails its morale and flees. They have held on for long enough, the 2nd Armored Rifle Platoon has arrived to boost the defense. The artillery fire smoke to cover them while they take up positions.

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Wolverines vs. Tigers

Turn 5
It becomes clear to the German commander that he no longer has the strength to push the Armored Rifles of the objective and concedes the game.

US win, with one unit destroyed 7 VP vs. 2 VP. 

Wolverines vs. Tigers


After Action Report
The game played as its historical counterpart, when the 2nd Armoured broke the German counter attack. The Armoured Rifles performed brilliantly. This force has everything and can face anyone. It also has the numbers to give it excellent staying power. The M10s were the unit of the match and were cost effective. With four Panzer IV and a Tiger destroyed they had done more than their fair share meeting the German onslaught. I think my Armoured Rifles will go on to good things.

Kristleifur’s force needed more versatility. Tanks are good but I think this battle shows well that they cannot win battles by themselves. It is like playing rock, scissors, paper with only rock. Here I think the combined force approach came easily out on top. I got little use of my artillery in this battle. I didn’t know Kristleifur’s list before hand and I find artillery very useful against guns and infantry.

This was a fun friendly battle, based on a historical reference. It was all the best things Flames Of War can offer!
~Jökull