Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company
with John Lee
For those who have read any of previous articles, you will know that I have an affinity for reconnaissance formations.  I had written the article for the Waffen-SS Half-Track SS Scout Company and I am writing the Bagration: German variant for the launch and thought I should explore the formation in the D-Day release to round out the differences, how to use them and some sample lists.

The Half Track Scout Company is similar to the Waffen-SS one except we have the addition of the Sd Kfz 234 (7.5cm) Gun Platoon(s) option.  Essentially you can take three to twelve platoons making it a strong formation if you wish with built infantry and useful AT9 FP 3+ guns to support your halftracks. Being Heer, they are also rated as “Careful” meaning hit on 4+, best armour you can get!  Add in your scout platoons scout ability, means they will be hit on 6s at close range if you are concealed and did not shoot whilst still moving into position!

Now the scout troops have three vehicles in the platoon, lightly armed with 2cm gun and MGs but useful to get a strong formation on the table and allow you to take some of the big toys such as Tigers or Panthers (either Heer or Waffen-SS).

There are two ways I go with this formation – a primary formation that allows me to achieve the above ie more big tanks on the table; and as a secondary formation to pair with say a Beach Defenders company or a Tank Company.  I will explore the options further below starting with the primary formation and will look at 105pt, 80pt and 55pt options.

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

I do not normally max out all the platoons – I feel that taking 4-6 Scout Troops, 1-2 Gun Platoons and the Reconnaissance Platoon is enough to keep the formation from breaking and gives you more options to take the big tanks you are trying to get on the table.

Going for my minimum recommended size as pictured:

 Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

This is a core 35pts for the 105pt and 80pt lists. I would reduce the core list further for the 55pt option covered further below. Looking at the 105pt list first, we now need to look at what support options could be taken. With the ability to choose from either D-Day: Waffen-SS or D-Day: German black box units, you can mix and match what you want to suit your playstyle. Support options need to be taken from the D-Day: German chart.

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company
So, let us look at what we need to consider from a support perspective for this list.  They should be supported by tanks, high end AT, artillery and what we need to cater for around reserves. With 70pts left to play with, I want to build a highly mobile reserve unit that can come in and either assault infantry off an objective or shoot an opponents armour at maximum range. This means either the Tiger or Panther. I think the best Tiger is the SS Tiger platoon – 2+ motivation, veteran and careful – 37pts for three of these beasts. You can put these in reserve with two scout troops.  I want to take some Flak88s with Pak Front to provide some heavy AT capability across the table if my Tigers are in reserve.  Some Nebelwerfers to provide some suppression indirect fire. A sample list could look like this:
 Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

I like this type of force and suits my play style. Lots of small units running around with four AT14 guns in nests spread across the table supported by infantry that can either attack or defend with heavy tanks that can come in from reserve or dominate the table and nebs to keep infantry pinned down in their foxholes.

For an 80pt list we would change it out a bit by replacing the SS Tigers with SS Panthers, dropping a scout troop and removing the reconnaissance platoon’s half-tracks:

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

Of course, you could always replace the Pak Front card and change out the Flak 88s with Pak 40s or Pak 43s and bring the Tigers back in – just depends on your play style.

For a 55pt game, this is where recon unit lists shine – more flexibility with smaller points than other formations.  Still want to take tanks, infantry, artillery:

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

The FJ StuH Assault Howitzers pull double duty to provide artillery fire with AT3 and FP 3+ and with AT10 direct fire can take on light and medium tanks, dig out infantry directly on 2+ and at a pinch can assault on 4+ (for one round at least anyway with counterattack of 5+). The Flak 88s are there for your heavy AT work and the “Soft Skin Transport” Command Card allows you to reposition them if required.

Looking at secondary formation options now, we want to provide at least a minimum formation that should be survivable and would only include the integral reconnaissance infantry if taken with a primary tank formation.  So, a bare minimum would be two scout troops and a gun troop or three to four scout troops only.  For a secondary formation, I would probably only look at this in the 105pt lists. First list I would look at is the Beach Defender Grenadier Company:

 Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

A great defensive formation with two integral mortar platoons and integral Pak 40s with your SS Tigers as your main reserve if required and FJ Stugs to take on any light/medium armour and four scout troops to run around the table causing trouble!

The tank formation I would look at is a Panzer IV Tank Company.  Allows integral Tigers and is relatively good formation wise with four units. 

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

Want to start your own D-Day German Scout Company? Click on each of the images below to see the full spotlights below 

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

Building a D-Day German Half-Track Scout Company

 Adding the secondary formation with the integral Reconnaissance Infantry platoon gives you the ability to hang in there longer and gives you more options – especially if you are like me and prefer mobile battles.  To add some Nebelwerfers with an observer, you could change out the Tigers for Panthers, remove the transports for the Reconnaissance Infantry platoon and a scout troop.

This command card formation can provide some interesting options.  I hope this has given you some food for thought. Happy list building!
~John