Boot Camp is your introduction to 4th Edition and the exciting world of Flames Of War, the world’s most popular World War II miniatures game.

Boot Camp Battle Report Afrika Korps vs Desert Rats To conclude the lessons laid out in the 4th Edition Boot Camp, Phil and James put the theory into practice by playing a 62-point game using the Free For All mission. Free For All is a good mission for newer players, as it doesn't include special rules like reserves or ambushes, and both players have the same general goal: to find and destroy the enemy.

After demonstrating how creating a force works in 4th Edition in the Army Building video, Phil decided to use that 62-point Grant Armoured Squadron in the battle.

Phil's Desert Rats Grant Armoured Squadron   Grant Armoured Squadron HQ — 3 x Grant 18 points Grant Armoured Troop — 3 x Grant 18 points Crusader Armoured Troop — 3 x Crusader II 5 points Support Units   Motor Platoon — 3 x Bren gun, Boys AT rifle, 2-inch mortar 7 points 25 pdr Field Troop — 4 x 25 pdr gun 14 points Total 62 points

James made his own 62-point army from Afrika Korps, a Panzer III Tank Company.

James's Afrika Korps Panzer III Tank Company   Panzer III Tank Company HQ — 1 x Panzer III (long 5cm), 1 x Panzer III (short 5cm) 12 points Panzer III (mixed) Tank Platoon — 3 x Panzer III (short 5cm) 15 points Panzer IV Tank Platoon — 1 x Panzer IV (long 7.5cm), 1 x Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) 16 points Support Units   Africa Rifle Platoon — 4 x MG34, 1 x 2.8cm AT rifle 7 points 8.8cm Heavy AA Platoon — 3 x 8.8cm Heavy AA Platoon 12 points Total 62 points

You can play Flames Of War at whatever points level you and your opponent like. 50 points will usually give you a fairly quick game, while 80 or 100 points will give you a longer, more varied battle. In this case, 62 points just happened to be what Phil's example force worked out to, but it is as good a points level as any and gave us a good medium-sized game in which both our forces had a variety of different units.

Below: The battlefield before the first turn, showing the objectives and initial deployment.

In the first few turns, we both make plans by which we hope to win the game, then try to put them into effect. Of course, they say no plan survives contact with the enemy!

Who will triumph in the final turns of the battle? Both of the formations are edging toward breaking point, so it could go either way...