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Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set
with John Lee

With the launch of the Bulge: German release, I thought I would look at how a new player, or someone on a budget, can get a German force on the table that would be semi-competitive or at least hold its own with the focus on the new shiny plastic Panther (lates), Jagdpanther, Hornisse and Hummel. For the new player, it opens the door to playing Flames of War without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker.

So, if we look at what we get in the excellent value starter set (Heavy Tank-hunter Kampfgruppe), that will help decide what formations to run.  The starter set contains the following:

  • Complete A5 Rulebook
  • German “Start Here” booklet
  • 3 x Panther (late) (7.5cm) Tanks or Jagdpanther (8.8cm) Tank-hunters
  • 5 x Hornisse Tank-hunters or Hummel (15cm) SP Guns
  • 2 x Ostwind (3.7cm) or Wirblewind (quad 2cm) AA Tanks
  • 3 x Panzer IV (7.5cm) Tanks
  • 2 x Puma (5cm) or Sd Kfz 234 (2cm) Armoured Cars
  • 1 x Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon
  • 4 x Sd Kfz 2512 Half-tracks
  • 2 x Decal Sheets
  • 10 x Unit Cards

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away.  Now if we look at what formations are in the Bulge: German book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box. The most obvious formation is the Jagdpanther Tank-hunter Company, but we will also explore the Brigade Panzer IV Tank Company, and Ardennes Armoured Panzergrenadier Company. We will look at options for 100pts.

Before diving into the formations, lets look at the new kit in the starter box for this release.  The first is a re-release of the Panther G / Jagdpanther plastic sprue. This kit allows you to make one or the other but not both (unless you magnetise it). The Panther (late) has the 75mm gun with AT14 as the existing Panther but more front armour (FA10).  Having FA10 or more makes a big difference in game terms. You start needing AT14 or higher to knock it out from the front.  Still has the same side armour though of SA5, so needs protecting on the flanks with infantry. The Jagdpanther still has FA9 but is armed with the deadly 8.8cm AT17 gun with a massive range of 48”!  Park these behind your infantry in cover at long range to do their deadly work.

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

The other new kit for this starter box release is the Hummel/Hornisse kit. Again, you can make either one but not both (although you could get away by not gluing the gun in place and swapping it out when needed). The Hummel in plastic is a welcome addition and brings with it the ability to drop an artillery template of AT3 FP2+ to a range of 80” and with veteran skill will be ranging in on 3s (4s in terrain). The 2+ FP will make it a nightmare for your opponent if they fail saves (especially with repeat bombardments!). They also have a useful AT11 direct fire if needed out to 16”.  The Hornisse with its FA2 is a glass cannon, but what with AT17, 48” range and Careful, you can park it at the back of the board in cover and should do OK. Use its Stormtrooper ability to get out maximized shots and hide.

Onto the formations now and looking at the the Jagdpanther Tank-hunter Company first, let us look at what units comprise this formation:

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

Based on the formation and what we get in the starter box, we can use all the box!

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

There are four units for the formation break and each unit is only one or two teams strong! So, this is going to be rather brittle, and you are going to need to play this formation using its high AT17 reach and 48” range. The best armour in the game is their careful rating and their storm trooper ability, so being hit on sixes in cover at long range and being able to pop out behind cover with a blitz followed by shoot and scoot. Infantry in half-tracks to either defend an objective or the flanks of your tank-hunters. Pumas to spearhead, with the Panzer IVs to assist against enemy light and medium armour. Hummels to provide their deadly artillery template with AT3 and FP2+. The Ostwinds provide protection against the enemy Jabos or against light armour with their AT7.

We can change up the formation a bit by removing the Hummels and adding two more Hornisses instead. This will leave you with a spare sprue, but your formation is a bit stronger with one platoon that has four teams in it and more AT17 firepower! You will need to drop the Pumas and change the Ostwinds to Wirblewinds.

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $135:

1 x GEAB21 Heavy Tank-hunter Kampfgruppe

110

1 x FW271 Bulge German Book

25

TOTAL

$135


Next up is the Brigade Panzer IV Tank Company. This formation is comprised of:

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

By adding a couple of Panzer IV boxes, we can use everything from the Starter box except the Pumas and AA Tanks to put together this formation:

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

We have four units for the formation break but the platoons are bigger so can be mitigated somewhat. These are Brigade tanks so are Aggressive rather than Careful, you have thirteen of them though, and leaves you points to add in the rest of your force which includes the Brigade Panthers, Hornisses for long range high AT sniping, infantry that can defend or attack and an artillery template with the Hummels. This is a more versatile list than the first two and be easier for a newer player to run.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $235:

1 x GEAB21 Heavy Tank-hunter Kampfgruppe

110

2 x GBX142 Panzer IV Tank Platoon

100 

1 x FW271 Bulge German Book

25

TOTAL

$235


Finally, the Ardennes Armoured Panzergrenadier Company. This formation is comprised of:

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

By getting a few more boxes of half-track variants and another platoon of infantry to add to our starter box, we can get a decent force together using this formation. Whilst not be using the Hornisse sprues, we can swap those in if we need to later:

Building a Bulge: German Force based on the New Starter Set

Solid formation of six units for the formation break, that are Careful and at full strength.  Two infantry platoons to attack or defend with two artillery templates and AT9 provided by half-tracks and Pumas (spearhead if you need).  Brigade Panthers to provide the heavy AT and Panzer IVs to provide support with AT11.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $295:

1 x GEAB21 Heavy Tank-hunter Kampfgruppe

110

1 x GBX168 Armoured Panzergrenadier Company HQ (Plastic)

15

1 x GBX169 Panzergrenadier Platoon (Plastic)

25

1 x GBX152 Sd Kfz 251 Transports

40

2 x GBX177 Gun Platoon - Mortar Section (Plastic)

80

1 x FW271 Bulge German Book

25

TOTAL

$295

If you plan on running other formations or already have existing formations that you want to flesh out, the starter box has some useful options to help do that with the Panther (late) or Jagdpanther, Hornisse and Hummel.

There you have it – some options to ponder for getting started with different formations with the starter box.  Enjoy!
~John