Trucks and Suports

This post covers a bunch of stuff I have been working on to support my Escalation League armies.  

First up are the Rolls Royce Armored cars I got to support my Free French Senegalese troops.  True the Rolls is not an armored car that can actually be taken with this list but I never imagiend that Battle Front would make the Laffy S15TOE that is an option so these are intended as proxies. Since BF did come out with the S15 see these very nice model here: http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=53&art_id=3142 I'll replace these at some point, if you like them let me know we can talk.

 The trucks on the left can transport my Senegalese or my German infantry.  Nothing special here just good services able transport and with the new rules for transport in Version 3 of Flames of war I may actually use theses on the table! 

On the right are the half tracks that will pull my 8.8 guns around the battle field. I also completed a Radio Truck for my battery of 10.5 CM guns.

My Free French AT guns are completed these are Old Glory minatures but they should be fine next to my Battle Front stuff at least its never been an issue for most items in the past

 Finally We have my new objectives for my Senegalese army.

First V3 Battle (the Battle)

Chris and I decided to let the dice pick our table and we got the middle urban table and no that awesome railroad Gun was not active!  Chris has a force of Polish infantry(two large Platoon) with a Mortar platoon and Cavalry Recon squad.  My force was the Senegalese force I have been working on with Two infantry platoons (seven stands each) a small mortar platoon (two mortars and no observers ) a Free French AT Platoon (three 47mm Italian AT guns) and a Combat Recon force of six armed trucks including a 60mm mortar Portee.

Chris opted for a night attack (we figured out latter that this was not a legal choice since free for all is a meeting engagement) and used his spear point move to run is troops up on me fast.  His Mortars dug on the first turn then realized that they were out of range effectively removing them form the battle. Chris's sniper also took out on of my mortars after they failed to dig them selves in.

My own sniper failed to kill any one but he did hold up Chris' advance on the left as he occupied a factory building.  Again we were wrong by the rules.  Chris should have been able to move into the lower level as by the rules that would be a "separate building" alternatively as it was a factory we could have used those rule that say factories are essentially a more or less open space with 4 wall around them.  Either way my infantry failed to take advantage by digging though my AT guns did and were saved by the gone to ground gun save the next turn (digging in no longer removed cover and gone to ground, hooray!)

I did manage to get my platoon on the right into a set of strategic buildings but I was not able to hold them long.  Chris pinned me with sniper fire then assaulted and my pitiful defensive fire did not get the necessary 5 hits. My men failed to counter attack (and most were dead anyway) so the French colonial troops abilities in close combat did not come into play.  I had two stands surviving of the original seven but they did stay (one was the VB, grenade launcher team).  I Rushed my combat recon and snipe, direct mortar fire and grenades were taking their toll but my inability to roll saves got most of my combat recon force killed.



On the left my other infantry platoon was unable to make headway on Chris's troops in the factory and after a failed assault with heavy casualties it was time to order the survives off the field.

First Game using V3

Chris and I tried out V3 last night. We each used 650 point lists his Free Polish infantry against my Free French Senegalese.  Each of us brought a sniper as we wanted to try the new sniper rules.

 
I'm not going to do a full write up of the battle as this time as I do not have pictures.  I do want to make some observations about V3 things I think are improvements.



Index:  This is a vastly improved! Chris and I were able to look up most items we had question on without any difficulty.  Had this been the only improvement I would have been thrilled but there were many others.

Gone To Ground Gun Saves:  This came up a number of times during the game as Chris' sniper tried to take out my guns. (Gone to Ground Guns now save on a 3+)

Snipers: With the ability for them to relocate and escape if enemy teams come too close make them much more useful. I think the type of board and opponent is going to be a deciding factor here but in the urban battle Chris and I played they were quite useful (Chris got especially good mileage out of his)

Assaults: Much clearer and cleaner all around and I got creamed in both assaults that happened in our game! 

Movement:  The increased movement.  My recon trucks could go 18" on the cities streets.  This gave me the luxury of keeping them back as a mobile reserve knowing I could get were I need to go in one turn with out moving at the double.   This is a two edged sword since often you foe will be able to get to a target faster than you may be used to.

Over all there are many more charts and illustration that make the intent of the rules much clearer than they ever were in V2 of Flames of War.

the battle report will be posted some time this weekend

An anoucement form Adler hobby

 

RED & GREY TOTAL WAR LEAGUE

We start a fresh new late war league with a focus on the New FOW books Gray Wolf And Red Bear but any late war army is welcomed.
The theme of the battles and gaming tables will be eastern front!
A escalating format will begin and follow thru into big "total war" multi-player games on larger tables. The three levels of play are geared towards both the beginner and veteran players allowing you to play in any level at anytime.

Level One: 1000 points w/HQ One Combat platoon on 4x6 table
Level Two: 1500 with HQ and Two Combat Platoons on 4x6 table
Level Three: 2000 point Total war games on a 6x6 table (6x9 is also available)

Total War games are a minimum of two players per side up to 4000 points per side on a 6x6-sized table. Players are allowed to take two companies with each one having the minimum reg. of one HQ & 2 Combat Platoons but may use the "Total War Rules" for moral, which allows "support options" to not be included in company moral checks leaving you in the game for more action and/or to lend out to newbies!

ATTENTION NEWBES: These big games are a great format for players who dont have a army or theirs isn’t finished yet as we are encouraging those folks to come by and join in the games take control of a unit or two and join in the battles & fun.

Games are Played Thursdays till 11pm and on the Second & Last Sat of each month from 1pm till????
This league will also have "Achievement's in gaming" fun awards for gaming and modeling in the form of prize support & trophies.
We will be learning Version 3 rules for this so please come by and learn with us!

Signing up is simple send a email or call Adler Hobby

(We have four players already) so JOIN NOW!

Adler Hobby LLC

www.adlerhobby.com

(603) 465 7072

adlerhobby@yahoo.com

For Sale Late war Free Poles

I posted a few pictures of these earlier (and here they are again).  My friend Robert Burr has to sell part of his collection due to financial difficulties he does excellent work and who ever gets these is getting a heck of a deal.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/flagg668/m.html?_nkw&_armrs=1&_from&_ipg&_trksid=p3686

Compagnie de Tirailleurs Sénégalais

I have been working on this project in the back ground for a while now. Here we have two platoon so Tiralleurs Senegalais that will lead Raiding army.  I found research on this force difficult but I ultimately used a mix of English and French troops those in English uniforms tend to be painted as Europeans those in French (excepting officers) tend to painted as Africans.  This seems to fit what I do know of Le Clerk's pactchwork French Army. 






The Combat Recon or Découverte de Combat forcres were an important part of Le Clerk's army.  These troops were based on the British LRDG and used many of the same vehicles.  I have also assumed they used the same paint jobs. This was based off a camo scheme I found on line.  The Horizon Blue base color seams particularly French so I went with it.

I added some French motorcycle troops and others items form my bits box.  I also scratch built a the Mortar portee option the french can add there their platoons.  I look forward to having these guys race around the table table st some point.

Hopefuly I can finish the rest so this can quallify as my seccond army for the league.

Surrounded Legion Estrangers Vs. Fallschirmjagers

Made my weekly trek to Adler hobby I have something very odd to report.  This may be the first two week period where Chris and I have not played a game!

My opponent last night was Don Piro who swooped in last week and won the Best scenic bases award for the League (Congrats Don).  I was faced with is beautifully painted Fallschirmjagers.  Our randomly rolled mission was Surrounded (a new V3 scenario) I got to be defender and placed my Legionnaires and supports in a rectangle at the center of the board.

I had 2 platoons of regular infantry, 1 platoon of Sappers, a cavalry recon force, 3 H39 tanks, a battery of 81mm mortar (plus two more with the HQ) and two platoon of AT guns (one of the 25mm AT guns were HE only so useless against Don's all infantry force (I am very happy that V3 will let me treat these as 3 rifle teams so at least they can defend them selves).

Don's Army consisted of two platoons of Fallschirmjagers each with to HMGs attached, a platoon of 75mm Recoiless guns, two Pak 36 AT guns, a platoons 8cm Mortars (yes AJ they are 81 mm mortar, sorry people inside joke), he cleverly split these by Kampgrouping two with is 2ic. Don also had a beautifully painted battery of 75mm guns.

I had to set up first and being in the middle I had to have my force ready to face either side. The big issue was my French 75s.  Unlike the "Roast Beefs" my guns only get one turn table (it cost the same price as their 4, WTF) in this case I placed two facing each direction as "quick fire" gives means I do not have to re-roll hits with a two gun bombardment. I figured I would have plenty of direct fire targets.

Don loaded his troops to one side.  A good plan as it 1. gave him a chance to concentrated his forces against one objective and 2) forced most of my men to get out of their holes or face over whelming local superiority.

Don and I both used smoke through out the game to good effect blinding at least part of each others artillery.

Don went strait at my objective in the "North East" corner and I sent my Cavalry Recon and H39s running in as flank support. My limited armor got a few kills and then died to close assaults (the Cavalry recon had all three units bailed at once OUCH!).  I lost two platoons of armor for three infantry and one gun stand but I also delayed Don's assault on the infantry defending the objective so I considered it a good trade at the time. (latter could have really used the armor!)

Don's First Assault was turned back by well aimed rifle/mg fire from my 1st Platoon. I popped my Ambush a Free French 47mm AT platoon (French 47s acting as proxies for captured Italian guns) these and more small arms fire took out a few more of Dons men.

Don's next assault was also bloodily repulsed after hand to hand fighting. that cost me a gun and an infantry stand.  At this point the battle sort of turned into Ground Hog day... Smoke Bombardment, bloody assaults with heavy casualties on both sides.  Then a Stand off as my Sappers and tried to get in to position to kill Don's lone remaining recoiless gun and its command team.

Finally I was able to kill this platoon and due to Don's earlier loss of his Co he he failed his company motivation... but before I could be declared winner I also had to pass motivation. Which I did for the win...

Great Game Don really enjoyed it!