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Operation Supercharge 2023

Operation Supercharge 2023 – Northern Boards - Perth, Western Australia
With Adam Brooker

Last weekend we had our first Flames of War Mid-War dynamic points tournament at Northern Boards, Perth Western Australia on Saturday 3rd of June. It was a great one-day event, with a few new and returning players from around the Perth area. It was a 105 Point Flames of War Tournament, with 3 rounds on the day. We had 10 players, which is two less than originally planned, but a better turnout than last time, and several other players that would have joined in if it was not a long weekend. We also had a few prospective players drop in to see how the games went, so we have a growing Flames of War and Team Yankee community in the Perth area, which is very encouraging.

Once again we had some excellent terrain and tables, thanks to wonderful players like Elliot West, Kristian Holford, Mark Mildenhall, and Corey Herrmann, as well as a great location to play it at Northern Boards, Wangara, Perth, which has some great places around it to pick up lunch at the Wanneroo Markets.

It was a slightly more Allies (6) vs Axis (4) turn-out, with 2 US Armies, 3 British and 1 Soviet Force, against 3 German and 1 Hungarian Force. With two desert tables for players to try to re-create one of the actual Operation Supercharge, with 2 Aussie British Forces on the tables.

My German Ghost Panzers Force had 5th SS Wiking Armoured Panzergrenadiers with supporting Panthers from the Grossdeutschland Division at Kursk, but as I could not afford the points upgrade to SS troops in game, I just ran them as normal Armoured Panzergrenadiers. It was a small, but elite force that went very well in the Assault, and it was the first time I had really used the mounted assault rules in half-tracks. They surprised both me and my opponents with their effectiveness!

Operation Supercharge 2023

My first battle against Elliot West in the European countryside saw the Attacking Germans against a Defending US Rifle Company supported by ambushing M10s and US Paratroopers holding an objective, with 2 units of Priests providing plenty of Artillery support. The Panthers came down a flank, helped by Spearheading Luchs, while on the other flank, 7.5cm Sd Kfz 251s took out a unit of Priests despite losing 2 initially. Grilles also started plastering dug-in US rifle platoons and blasting half-tracks.

Operation Supercharge 2023

Panthers took out M3 Stuarts, absorbed a close ambush from M10s and then destroyed them in return, while Luchs took out the other unit of Priests. The Big cats seem to put off the US troop's aim. The Germans finally assaulted the US Paratrooper's position, who had been absorbing relentless mortar and HMG fire for 4 turns, slowly whittling them down. The beleaguered Paratroopers finally succumbed and the Germans claimed the Objective.

The next battle was against Harry Leith’s dug-in 9th Australian Division Riflemen around the ruins of a desert fort. The Aggressive Germans quickly launched an assault on two flanks before the Aussie reserves could arrive, with one platoon on foot assaulting dug-in Aussies on a Wadi, with supporting fire from HMGs and a Command half-track pinning the defenders. It was taken but almost half the platoon was killed in the attempt.

Operation Supercharge 2023

On the other Flank, Armoured Panzergrenadiers assaulted an Aussie HMG platoon in the half-tracks, which without luck or high AT weapons, despite over 16 hits from HMGs in defensive fire, the armoured Germans waded through it and caused the brave Aussies to flee. The Armoured Panzergrenadiers then rolled into the rear of the fort, away from the menacing 6pdrs and ambushing 17 pdrs, eventually wiping out 2 Aussie rifle platoons, and their HQ, and claiming the Objective. Flanking Shermans almost caused havoc, but a lone 7.5cm Sd Kfz 251s, who bravely held on, took out two Shermans and caused the other to flee. I was very impressed with my 7.5cm Sd Kfz 251s and Armoured Panzergrenadiers, the Aussies just could not hurt them enough in assault, even with sticky bombs.

The last battle was again versus 9th Australian Division Riflemen, but this time Corey Herrmann’s, and this time they were 6pdr Portees, somehow… they had got to a rail yard in Europe, those guys are fast and sneaky!! I really don’t like 6pdr Portees…. Very annoying!

They quickly took out my Grilles and then started sniping my darling 7.5cm Sd Kfz 251s, who had just taken out 3 dug-in 25pdrs with the help of the half-track 8cm mortars. For most of the game, they traded shots, the blasted 6pdr portees hanging around with the luck of a drunken Aussie! It wasn’t until the Luchs rushed over from the other side of the battlefield and machine-gunned them to death that their guns were silenced!

Operation Supercharge 2023

Panthers finally arrived from Reserve and took out some marauding Matilda II tanks who were going to make mincemeat of my Armoured Panzergrenadiers, but it was getting bloody! Several epic assaults on both flanks were taking infantry down to almost nothing, my fanatical platoons on the left flank defended to a single stand, against assaulting Aussies, Stuarts and Crusaders, grimly holding the objective, until forced off, then rallying to contest it. On the other flank harassing HMG teams, mortars and Panthers suppressed two Aussie Rifle platoons on their objective, and finally the Armoured Panzergrenadiers took and held the objective against the brave Aussies, an excellent and memorable match, but every game with Corey always is, a wonderful opponent.

Overall it was an excellent day, and with a lot of luck, I managed to win all 3 games…..

Operation Supercharge 2023

So 1st Place was an embarrassed yours truly, and Jared Evans 2nd Place with his Soviet Hero Rifles (Enemy at the Gates) and the almost invulnerable KV-1s.  Kristian Holford 3rd (and Best Painted) with his awesomely painted and themed Chindit Burma - British Rifle Company (Armoured Fist), it truly was excellent to see it in person. Elliot West got Best Sport and had provided some truly wonderful tables for us to play on.

Everyone had a lot of fun, met some new friends and even managed to get a bit of swag, I would really like to take this opportunity to thank both Battlefront and Aetherworks for their support of this event, it really made it just that much better, and I know all the players appreciated it. We have a growing community here in Perth and will be sure to get even more players to our next event, which with the release of Nordic Forces soon I think will most likely be Team Yankee.

Happy Gaming

~ Adam

Operation Supercharge 2023 Operation Supercharge 2023
Operation Supercharge 2023 Operation Supercharge 2023
Operation Supercharge 2023 Operation Supercharge 2023

 

 

 


Last Updated On Thursday, June 8, 2023