Building a Comet Armoured Squadron

Building A Comet Armoured Squadron With John Lee  With the launch of the Bulge: British release, I thought I would look at how a new player, or someone on a budget, can get a British force on the table that would be semi-competitive or at least hold its own with the focus on the new shiny Comets, Challengers, Archers, Rams, and Sextons.  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 army deal (Comet Armoured Squadron), that will help decide what formations to run.  The starter set contains the following: • Complete A5 Rulebook • British “Start Here” booklet • 4 x Comet (77mm) Tanks • 2 x Cromwell (75mm) or Cromwell CS (95mm) Tanks • 3 x Chaffee (75mm) Tanks

• 4 x Challenger (17pdr) Tanks • 2 x Archer (17pdr) Tank Destroyers • 5 x Sexton (25pdr) Self-propelled Guns or Ram Kangaroo (MG) Transports or Ram (6pdr) Tanks • 1 x Kangaroo Rifle Platoon • 2 x Decal Sheets • 10 x Unit Cards

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: British book, we can see what we can maximise from what we get in the army deal.  The most obvious formation is the Comet Armoured Squadron, but we will also explore the Cromwell Armoured Squadron and Kangaroo Rifle Company and we will look at options for 100pts.

Before diving into the formations, let’s look at the new kit in the army deal for this release.  The first is a re-release of the Comet plastic sprue.  The final evolution of the Cruiser tank, it’s fast, packs a powerful punch with its 77mm AT14 gun with a range out to 36”.  FA7 is useful but using cover and being Careful is your best friend.

The Chaffee plastic sprue is next and again is fast and lightly armoured with FA4 SA3.  Its 75mm gun is AT10 out to 28” and is a threat on the flanks or in your opponent’s back field.

The Challenger sprue is brand spanking new and has the late 17pdr gun with AT15 out to 36” but has no HE.  FA6 is not quite as good as the Comet and has a worse cross check but is still as fast as the Comet.  Use these to shoot at long range and then use the speed to get into the next position to shoot again!

Another brand-new plastic sprue is the Archer.  Whilst this is based on the Valentine chassis, it’s a new one-piece sprue.  Again, sporting the late 17pdr gun, its AT15 out to 36” and is rear firing.  Its slow but ideal for long range sniping and or ambushing!

Finally, the Ram/Sexton plastic sprue. This is a truly multi option sprue. You can assemble the Sexton, Ram tank or RamAM Kangaroo. The Sexton is the self-propelled 25pdr gun that can either fire a AT3 FP4+ bombardment out to 80” or direct fire AT9 out to 24”. The RAM tank is equipped with a 6pdr giving it AT11 out to 28” and has FA6 but a remount of 2+!  The RAM Kangaroo is the turretless APC for the Infantry to ride into battle with – FA6 – better than a half track or soft skin transport!

Looking at the Comet Armoured Squadron first, let us look at what units comprise this formation: • 1 Comet Armoured Squadron HQ • 1-3 Comet Armoured Troop • 1 Comet Armoured Troop or Chaffee Recce Patrol or Stuart Recce Patrol • 0-1 Chaffee Recce Patrol or Stuart Recce Patrol or Dingo Recce Patrol • 0-1 Crusader AA Troop Looking at the formation and what we get in the starter box, we can use almost all the box! Comet Armoured Squadron - Straight Out of the Box

Formation		100 points
Comet Armoured Squadron HQ	1x Comet (77mm) 2x Cromwell CS (95mm)	19 points
Comet Armoured Troop	3x Comet (77mm)	21 points
Chaffee Recce Troop	3x Chaffee (75mm)	10 points
Crusader AA Troop	2x Crusader AA ((Twin 20mm)	3 points
Formation Support
Challenger Armoured Troop	3x Challenger (17 pdr)	21 points
Kangaroo Rifle Platoon	7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x PIAT anti-tank team 1x 2-inch mortar team 3x Ram Kangaroo	11 points
Support
Sexton Field Troop	2x Sexton (25 pdr)	6 points
Archer SP Anti-tank Troop	2x Archer (17 pdr)	9 points

We are using everything from the box except for a Challenger sprue and adding a box of AA Tanks. So, four units (out of a possible seven) for the formation break. The bulk of your armoured force is fast!  Use it to get in your opponents face and swamp them with your high-end AT. A Mix of AT14 and AT15 will ruin anyone’s day. Chaffee’s for the spearhead and to race ahead for flank shots. Your infantry is protected and can ride in their APCs right up to the assault! The Archers provide the backstop AT along with the Cromwell CS and Sextons providing two artillery templates (with re-rolling hits).

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for a total of $155: 1 x BRAB14 Bulge: British Comet Armoured Squadron Starter Force $110 1 x BBX59 Crusader Armoured AA Platoon $20 1 x FW272 Bulge British Book $25 This is a compact fragile force, and we can make it a stronger formation if we change it up a bit: Comet Armoured Squadron - Better Formation

Formation		100 points
Comet Armoured Squadron HQ	1x Comet (77mm) 2x Cromwell CS (95mm)	19 points
Comet Armoured Troop	4x Comet (77mm)	28 points
Chaffee Recce Troop	3x Chaffee (75mm)	10 points
Comet Armoured Troop	4x Comet (77mm)	28 points
Formation Support
Kangaroo Rifle Platoon	7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x PIAT anti-tank team 1x 2-inch mortar team 3x Ram Kangaroo	11 points
Support
SAS Section	2x SAS Jeep (MG) 1x SAS Jeep (.50 cal MG)	4 points

Still only four units for the formation break but two of those units are now equipped with four not three tanks in the platoons – better survivability and more shots! What we have given up though are the Challengers, Archers, and Sextons. Still one limited artillery template and add in the SAS Section to provide another unit that will be a thorn in your opponent’s side. To tweak this again, you could have three tank platoons for the Comets, remove Cromwell CSs, and add a fifth platoon for the formation, remove the RAM Kangaroos for the Infantry platoon and add a Sexton troop of four.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for a total of $205: 1 x BRAB14 Bulge: British Comet Armoured Squadron Starter Force $110 1 x BBX71 Comet Armoured Platoon $50 1 x BBX73 Jeep Recce Troop/SAS Section $20 1 x FW272 Bulge British Book $25 Next up is the Cromwell Armoured Squadron. This formation is comprised of: • 1 Cromwell Armoured Squadron HQ • 1-3 Cromwell Armoured Troops • 1 Cromwell Armoured Troop or Chaffee Recce Patrol or Stuart Recce Patrol • 0-1 Chaffee Recce Patrol or Stuart Recce Patrol or Dingo Recce Patrol • 0-1 Crusader AA Troop Again, we use most of the box except for the Comets: Cromwell Armoured Squadron

Formation		100 points
Cromwell Armoured Squadron HQ	2x Cromwell (75mm)	10 points
Cromwell Armoured Troop	2x Cromwell (75mm) 2x Challenger (17 pdr)	24 points
Chaffee Recce Troop	3x Chaffee (75mm)	10 points
Cromwell Armoured Troop	2x Cromwell (75mm) 2x Challenger (17 pdr)	24 points
Stuart Recce Troop	3x Stuart (37mm)	6 points
Formation Support
Kangaroo Rifle Platoon	7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x PIAT anti-tank team 1x 2-inch mortar team 3x Ram Kangaroo	11 points
Support
Sexton Field Troop	2x Sexton (25 pdr)	6 points
Archer SP Anti-tank Troop	2x Archer (17 pdr)	9 points

We have five units for the formation break with two platoons sporting four tanks rather than three for better survivability. Adding in the Archers, we have six AT15 platforms. One limited artillery template and armoured infantry. Still a compact force but one that has speed and flexibility and now two spearhead options with the Chaffee’s and Stuarts. To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $225: 1 x BRAB14 Bulge: British Comet Armoured Squadron Starter Force $110 1 x BBX57 Cromwell Armoured Troop $50 1 x BBX58 Stuart Recce Patrol $40 1 x FW272 Bulge British Book $25 We can strengthen the formation by adding another Stuart and AA Tank Platoon, removing the RAM Kangaroo Transports, and allow a full battery of Sextons for fire support: Cromwell Armoured Squadron - Strengthened

Formation		100 points
Cromwell Armoured Squadron HQ	2x Cromwell (75mm)	10 points
Cromwell Armoured Troop	2x Cromwell (75mm) 2x Challenger (17 pdr)	24 points
Chaffee Recce Troop	3x Chaffee (75mm)	10 points
Cromwell Armoured Troop	2x Cromwell (75mm) 2x Challenger (17 pdr)	24 points
Stuart Recce Troop	3x Stuart (37mm)	6 points
Crusader AA Trrop	2x Crusader AA (Twin 20mm)	3 points
Formation Support
Kangaroo Rifle Platoon	7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x PIAT anti-tank team 1x 2-inch mortar team 3x Ram Kangaroo	11 points
Support
Sexton Field Troop	4x Sexton (25 pdr)	12 points

Now we have six units for the formation break and half the platoons now have four tanks rather than three. A full-strength unit of artillery to provide the fire support that will be needed! To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $245: 1 x BRAB14 Bulge: British Comet Armoured Squadron Starter Force $110 1 x BBX57 Cromwell Armoured Troop $50 1 x BBX58 Stuart Recce Patrol $40 1 x BBX59 Crusader Armoured AA Platoon $20 1 x FW272 Bulge British Book $25 Finally, the Kangaroo Rifle Company. This formation is comprised of: • 1 Kangaroo Rifle Company HQ • 2-3 Kangaroo Rifle Platoons • 0-1 3" Mortar Platoon • 0-2 Vickers Machine-gun Platoon or MMG Carrier Platoon • 0-1 6pdr Anti-tank Platoon • 0-2 Universal Carrier Patrol or WASP Carrier Patrol • 0-2 Universal Carrier Patrol We will use all the box bar four sprues alongside three more boxes to round out the force: Kangaroo Rifle Company

Formation		100 points
Kangaroo Rifle Company HQ	2x Sten SMG team 1x Ram Kangaroo	3 points
Kangaroo Rifle Platoon	7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x PIAT anti-tank team 1x 2-inch mortar team 3x Ram Kangaroo	11 points
Kangaroo Rilfe Platoon	7x Bren Gun & SMLE rifle team 1x PIAT anti-tank team 1x 2-inch mortar team 3x Ram Kangaroo	11 points
Wasp Carrier Patrol	3x Wasp (flame-thrower)	4 points
Universal Carrier Patrol	3x Universal Carrier (MG)	2 points
Universal Carrier Patrol	3x Universal Carrier (MG)	2 points
Formation Support
Chaffee Recce Patrol	3x Chaffee (75mm)	10 points
Comet Armoured Troop	3x Comet (77mm)	21 points
Challenger Armoured Troop	3x Challenger (17 pdr)	21 points
Support
Sexton Field Troop	2x Sexton (25 pdr)	6 points
Archer SP Anti-tank Troop	2x Archer (17 pdr)	9 points

Six units for the formation break and all infantry units mounted in APCs with support from tanks providing the offensive mobile firepower. Three units with spearhead. Limited artillery template and Archers for long range sniping or ambush! To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $255: 1 x BRAB14 Bulge: British Comet Armoured Squadron Starter Force $110 1 x BBX53 Rifle Company $50 1 x BBX55 Universal Carrier Patrol $30 1 x BBX76 Sexton or Ram Troop $40 1 x FW272 Bulge British Book $25

To tweak the list above, we should add in 6pdrs, 3” Mortars and maybe a third infantry platoon and MMGs. We can do this by removing the Chaffee’s, Sextons, and Archers. Lots to tinker there based on your playstyle. This is a great army deal and here’s why. If you buy two sets, you effectively get enough stuff to build out all the different Armored Squadrons that we have discussed in this article and the Hussars Squadron which has a slightly different composition. The Hussars Squadron allows you to take troops of Challengers and/or Cromwell’s with a maximum of EIGHT Challenger tanks!

The first two formations allow you to take double Chaffee’s and by getting two boxes, you can field a full troop of Archers. With ten RAM sprues, you get to choose whether you want ten as RAM Kangaroos to field a full Kangaroo Infantry Company or four Sextons, three RAM tanks and three RAM Kangaroos! By getting two boxes, you have a cheap entry into fielding multiple formations and then a few other boxes to flesh it all out. There you have it – some options to ponder for getting started with different formations with the new army deal. Enjoy! John Note: All prices are US dollar retail.