British Armoured Regiment vs Mittlere Panzers!

Tonight was an interesting night. Knowing the Armoured Regiment was a bear, Tom and I borrowed Luke's. We decided we would each have a go with our nationals list and see if we could make any headwar. Tom had the unpleasant distinction of facing it first. He brought mead to ease the pain.

Thanks to Luke for loaning us his regiment.

STEVEN'S BRITISH ARMOURED REGIMENT HQ: 1x A10 Cruiser Mk II, 2 Light Tanks 1st Company: HQ (2x A9 Cruiser Mk I Cs), 2 Cruiser Platoons, 2 Light Tank Platoons 2nd Company: 2 Cruiser Platoons, 2 Light Tank Platoons 3 Divisional Cavalry Scout Carriers Air Interception NOTE: All Cruisers are A13 Mk II Cruiser Mk IVs All Light tanks are MkVICs

TOM'S MITTLERE PANZERKOMPANIE HQ (1 Panzer IV, 1 Panzer II C Late) 5x Panzer II C Late 5x Panzer II C Late 3x Panzer II C Late 2x Panzer IV D 2x Panzer IV D Stuka Schwere

We rolled for the mission and got "Fighting Withdrawal". The British would be defending. Tom takes a swig of mead.

DEPLOYMENT AND TURN ONE

The objectives are: Bottom left on the hill. NBottom center-left between the wheat and the forest. Bottom center top right of the forest (defender's obj). I place the ENTIRE large company in ambush. That's 5 individual platoons. 14 tanks in ambush. The other company is deployed thus: 2x Cruiser Platoons in the bottom left. A light tank platoon in the central wheat field, and another cruiser + 2iC in the center-right. Tom deploys his 2 big Panzer II units in the upper left. All of his Panzer IVs in the upper center, and his small Panzer IIs + 2iC in the upper center-right.

>>>> CLICK HERE TO READ ON!

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More Historicon offerings: Luke's Bocage!

Luke's bocage has become very popular in the flea market!  He'll be there again this year, offering this great terrain at a great price!

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Painted Train, & Cassino Monastary Prizes @ the Live Show!!

WWPD LIVE FROM THE FRONT
SATURDAY: 8PM
Room: GENERAL SESSIONS 7 

Guys, our train is in hand.  Furthermore, the excellent gents from MG-42 painting have generously donated a JR Miniatures Cassino model.  Both of these amazing additions to your collections can be won by only one way:

Coming to our live show, and entering the raffle!  BUT!  There's a slight catch.  The Raffle will be done at the end of the show- the very last thing we do will give away these amazing prizes.  In order to enter the raffle you have to be in the lecture room before the 2nd break, and stick it out through the end.  No showing up for free beer and bouncing!

Not that you need any incentive to stick around with us!

This is in addition to many smaller prizes we'll be giving out for our trivia.  Brush up!  The trivia will be WWII, FoW, and even WWPD related.

And now, read on to see the pictures of the awesomeness YOU could win!

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German Schutzen vs French Escadron De Reconaissance Brief AAR

BRIAN'S SCHUTZEN HQ + Rommel Full Schutzen, MG upgrade Full Schutzen Light Pioneers Mixed Recon 4x 38(T) 2x 105s Stuka Schwere'

STEVEN'S ESCADRON DE RECONAISSANCE HQ Panhard 5x Panhards 5x Panhards 5x Panhards 3x Recon Hotchkiss 5x SOMUAs Active Infantry Mortars 75 Battery Air interception

This is a fairly brief AAR. I had the board setup and left over from the previous battle in the heavy french terrain, and wanted to run my Nationals list against some infantry in a difficult scenario. Brian obliged with his Schutzen and we rolled up Breakthrough!

Below, I will post all of the pictures, but I am not going to give a blow by blow, instead I will summarize the entire battle here:

Basically, I split my attack into two fronts. The first was down the center with Panhards, and Hotchkiss. The other on my left with SOMUAs and infantry. In reserve I had 1 panhard platoon (it never showed, but we only played 5 turns).

Brian helpd me up solidly- maintaining the cross-roads with schutzen. And boxing me in on my left with schutzen and HMGs. His artillery was watching the approach on the left, and his pioneers and recon moved forward to the objective. He had 38(T)s in reserve.

The attack was going decently, but a few rough turns occured- I lost 5 panhards in an assault against schutzen for very little loss to Brian. My infantry actually performed well, but ground themselves down (easy to do with 8 confident trained infantry!).

The big assault came on turn 5, thinking it would be the turn to make my breakthrough. But instead, the forest ate most of my SOMUAs and company command right in the face of pioneers lead by Rommel. At that point, I was tired (very busy weekend!), plus the game had gone on for a bit and I didn't want to watch my boys cut down horrendously, so I called the game for Brian, in a 5-2.

Brian had a great deployment (which is something I know he's worked on!), and did a great job of holding me up. I pushed my troops a bit too hard given the terrain and deployment, and also didn't concentrate enough. All in all it was an enjoyable game, and good to come up against a nightmare scenario with my nats list! I still think the list has extreme merit, especially when I have some maneuvering room. But congrats to Brian and taking on what I consider a very mean list, and coming out on top!

Here are the pictures. The turns are delineated by the overhead shots!



>>> Click Here to Read On!

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German Panzers vs French Reserve (Reluctant!) Infantry!

Last night I set up an absolutely sadistic terrain board for an infantry on infantry battle with Brian. Unfortunately, Brian had to bail at the last second, so Sean manned up and took command. We decided to do an early war battle. I don't quite have enough German infantry to do a full company for EW, so we decided that we'd do Panzers vs reluctant french. This is Rommel's Ghost Division pushing deep into the enemy lines, and the french are reeling from the Blitzkrieg!

To represent the hurried nature of the German forces, we went with "Hasty Assault".

STEVEN'S FRENCH RESERVE INFANTRY HQ + Mortars (60mm + 2x 81mm) + 2x 25mm AT Guns French Reserve Infantry Platoon French Reserve Infantry Platoon French Reserve Infantry Platoon British Guards Rifle Platoon French Reserve Horse Drawn 75mm Battery French Reserve 155mm Heavy Artillery Battery French Reserve Divisional AT Platoon (2x 47mm Guns) Deep Recon Platoon Sporadic Air Interception 2x HMG Bunkers

SEAN'S MITTLERE PANZERKOMPANIE HQ (Panzerbef. + 2 Early Panzer II C) 5x Panzer II C (early) 5x Panzer II C (early) 5x Panzer II C (early) 2x Panzer IV D 2x 8-Rad Leicthe Pioneers (Full) Stuka Schwerepunkt

As you can see, we aren't really a set point value. 1500ish.

TURN ONE AND DEPLOYMENT

In Hasty Assault, the Defenders (French, duh) get half off the board in delayed reserves and one immediate ambush. The French deployed 75s (in the top left), 155s (top center), Guards Rifles (guarding the artillery), and a platoon of French rifles with attached 25mm guns in ambush. The objectives are in the top center plowed field, and the top right- stuck recovery vehicle. The Germans have an objective in their board edge in the bottom center field.

Sean also had half of his stuff in reserve. He started with Panzer IVs, Panzer IIs, and Pioneers in the bottom right (mostly out of frame- sorry about that!)

>>>CLICK HERE TO READ ON!

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After Hours Episode 5

After Hours 05- After recording episode 21, Steve, Joe, and Jon chat about stuff that interests them.  The majority of the chat centers around movies, Historicon, and Cassino.  Not a lot of "funny" content this episode, but plenty of insightful musings!

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British 8th Army Motor Infantry vs DAK Schutzen in No Retreat

CHRIS' AFRIKA KORPS PANZERGRENADIERS HQ Panzergrenadier Platon Panzergrenadier Platon Panzergrenadier Platon 4x Marder III (7.6) Panzer Platoon with 3 Iv F1, 1 F2, and 1 Panzer III N Nebelwerfer Battery 2x 8-rads

STEVEN'S 8th ARMY MOTOR INFANTRY HQ Motor Infantry Platoon Motor Infantry Platoon Scout Patrol HMG Platoon 6 Pounder AT Platoon Armored Car Patrol (3x Humber II) 3x Grant I 3x Stuarts

WWPD's own Chris Miller came to my house for the weekend along with his wife Sarah to hang out. We got a Flames of War game in- surprisingly it was Chris' FIRST game! As with Joe's battle previously, I decided a game with me defending would allow me to focus on teaching rather than playing.

DEPLOYMENT AND TURN ONE

Objectives: On the British side to the left of the small central hill, and just "north east" of that in the small area of rough terrain. British have 6 pounders, and 2 motor platoons on board with HMGs in ambush. Chris has (from North to South) 8-rads, panzergrenadiers, marders, panzergrenadiers and nebelwerfers, panzergrenadiers & Panzers.

>>>CLICK HERE TO READ ON!

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WWPD News From the Front Episode 21

"Mk IV AC Unit, Wall Mounted."

Steven, Joe, and Dirty Jon are in the hot box! A wall mounted A/C unit provides steady companionship throughout the episode. The boys talk Historicon, Cassino (Flames of War source book), and other nonsense! Plenty of "Wow"s abound with Joe back after a hiatus!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 0:00 - Intro- Charity events, AAR, etc
• 0:15 - Historicon!
• 0:25 - NOOB ZONE: Hit Allocation Importance
• 0:31 - BF and Gamecraft Miniatures Reviews
• 0:48 - Infantry Aces
• 0:59 - Mail Call
• 1:14 - Cassino Review
• 1:46 - BF Communique

Download this week's episode directly: http://www.archive.org/download/WwpdNewsFromTheFrontEpisode21/Episode21.mp3
Subscribe via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wwpd-news-from-the-front/id398903039
Subscribe with other: http://feeds.feedburner.com/WWPDPodCast

Links discussed in this episode:
Historicon

Heroes of Armageddon
WWPD on Facebook
Wounded Warrior Project
Gamecraft Miniatures

EDITOR'S NOTES:
Apologies again for the A/C unit. The scotch started getting me by the time "After Hours" was recorded. That always means it's a great episode! Luke- feel better! Also- Dave Taylor DOES head up the Heroes of Armageddon site, I messed that up. Sorry!

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They keep multiplying.

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Italians and Americans scrape in the desert (which has No A/C still :( )

Well our A/C still isn't fixed (Monday we're getting an entirely new system), but Joe Mezz decided that a little summer heat was no reason to call off a battle! Appropriately, we decided a desert match was in order. This time around we did US armor vs Italians. Since Joe hasn't played in a while, I wanted to really take the opportunity to take him back to basics. I gave the yanks a few extra points to ensure combined arms, and made sure to take my time to teach Joe how best to beat.. er.. me. I think Joe is a fine pupil, but he's not a jedi yet- he must.. confront… vader.

Also, Dirty Jon has my Africa book so I can't remember if Rifles can support the US Armor. I'm 99.9% sure they cannot in mid war, but I didn't want to have to add the cumbersome transport rules with the armor rifles, so I let Joe take some regular ol' dogfaces.

The mission was Fighting Withdrawal. I wanted to A) get all the forces on the board, B) Put Joe in a position to be attacking, and C) have a time constraint. It fit the bill.

US ARMOR HQ 2x Shermans (2iC upgraded to a dozer) 4x Shermans 4x Shermans 5x Stuarts Rifle Platoon Priest Battery Full Recon Platoon

Italian Bersaglieri HQ (Confident Trained) Bersaglieri Group (Confident Vet) Bersaglieri Group (Confident Vet) Bersaglieri Mortars (Confident Trained) 75mm Cannon Platone (Confident Vet) 5x M14/41 (Fearless Vet) Lancias (Confident Vet)

DEPLOYMENT AND TURN ONE

Italians from left to right: Bersaglieri, Cannons (first objective on the lower left hill), M14/41s, Company Command (in range of every platoon!)(Objective in the fork), Mortars, Bersaglieri (objective on the hill).

Lancias in ambush.

Americans from left to right: Priests, Rifles, Recon, Shermans + 2iC, Stuarts hiding, Shermans + Company Command.

>>>CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE REPORT!

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Quick news update and French 25mm AT Guns

Hey guys- first up I know it's the 2nd Sunday since our last 'cast and folks are jonesin'! (Seriously, thank you everyone who's e-mailed us asking when the next episode would be out- it keeps us going!)

Unfortunately, we did not record this weekend and may not for a few days. The reason? Our Mk I Air Conditioning unit failed a difficult weather check and bogged down. Unfortunately, it's also 13 years old and thus unreliable. Anyways, I've stretched that dumb metaphor long enough. The bottom line is my house is 90 degrees, and the thought of sharing a room with Luke and Jon in this heat is not pleasant. Right now my top priority is getting it replaced and getting my pregnant wife somewhere where she can be comfortable!

This weekend I sent her to her parents' and I stayed with the ship. I got some painting done, but it was so hot I mostly just sat around miserably.

So the next episode is TBA- we will definitely get one more in before Historicon.
Speaking of Historicon: don't forget to come to the live show at 9:00 Saturday night! We will have the room details soon, and there will be flyers for it which you won't miss!

And now here's a few pictures of some French 25mm AT Guns I finished up. These are Quick Reaction Force. I also got a blister of the BF ones, and I can solidly say the BF guns are WAY better. The crew are a decent match, with the QRF guys being a tiny bit smaller. The QRF *do* have the correct helmets though, so that's something. Overall, I still prefer the BF models, but it is what it is.

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GUEST AAR: Polish vs Germans "Hold the line"

This is a guest AAR by "Anatoli" from the very excellent Anatoli's Game Room


Scenario : Hold the line (1500pts per side)

Forces Polish Infantry Battalion vs German mechanized infantry.

Polish units held in reserve: 1st and 2nd infantry platoon, scout platoon, Tankettes. Cavalry “Bypassed”.

Polish deployed on table, two hmg platoons  joined by the C.O and 2iC, 37mm AT and 75mm artillery platoon.

Table: Rural / forest region. Worked very well for a Polish front game. A few hills, a forest area in the middle, scattered fields and a country road leading through the middle of the table.
…………………………………………….
>>>>CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE AAR!

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SS Panzergrenadiers vs Guards Strelkovy (mid war)

Outnumbered, and low on ammunition the SS Panzergrenadiers continue the fight. Our own beloved tanks gave out many miles ago, so we'll use the untermensch's against them! We've rounded up all of our spare halftracks to send around behind the enemy in an attempt to encircle and breakthrough! Tom commands his russkies, and I command the Germans.

SS Panzergrenadiers HQ + 2iC Panzerknacker Panzergrenadier Platoon 1 + Panzerknacker Panzergrenadier Platoon 2 + Panzerknacker Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoon Beutepanzer Platoon (4x T-34s) Captured KV-1e (Confident Trained) Armored Rocket Launcher Battery (3 + extra crew)

Soviet Guards Strelkovy Battalion HQ + 4 AT Rifles (attached to first Strelkovy) 1st Strelkovy Company with 3 Platoons, 2 HMGs, and Komissar 2nd Strelkovy Company with 2 Platoons, 1 HMG, and Komissar Heavy Mortar Battery with 6 Heavy Mortars Guards Armored Heavy Tankovy with 3 KV-85s 2x Flame Thrower Teams (attached to 1st Company)

The mission is Breakthrough, the SS are the attackers.

TURN ONE AND DEPLOYMENT

The Soviets get everything on the board. The massive strelkovy and heavy mortars are in the right (the mortars are just off camera). The smaller Strelkovy and KV-85s are in the north center. Both Strelkovy are ready to move out and hold the objectives.

The Germans put the Gepanzerte Panzergrenadiers in reserve. T-34s, Panzergrenadiers, and armored rockets deploy all the war forward in the bottom center. Smetna (the captured KV-1e) can be seen hiding just to the right of the center ruin.
>>>CLICK HERE TO SEE THE EPIC STRUGGLE!

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US 2ID Rifles vs German 326 Infanterie Grenadiers in No Retreat

US 2nd Indianhead Division HQ (SMGs) First Rifle Platoon (All SMGs) First Rifle Platoon (All SMGs) First Rifle Platoon (All SMGs) 81mm Mortar Platoon (6 tubes) 4x M4 Shermans Combat Engineers + 3 bazookas + Supply truck Full M7 Priest Battery Full 155mm SP Battery AOP

326 GRENADIERS (Confident Trained) HQ + Panzerfausts + Panzerschreck + 2 8cm Mortars Grenadier Platoon + Panzerfaust Grenadier Platoon + Panzerfaust Pioneer Platoon Armored Rocket Launcher Battery + Crew (Confident Veteran) 3x Jagdpanthers (Confident Veteran) **FIELD FORTIFICATIONS** 2x HMG Nests + 2 trench lines 8x Barbed Wire Entanglements 3x Minefields

The US 2nd Infantry Division has reached the outskirts of the vital port city of Brest. The Germans here are dug in tight as a tick with fortifications both French and German built. Elite Fallschirmjaeger mingle with battered remnants of once mighty German divisions. Here, one company leads the charge to burst through the German lines and seize the city! Launching from a bombed outskirt at dawn, the Indianheads were eager to prove that they were "second to none!"

The mission is No Retreat.

DEPLOYMENT AND TURN ONE

The Germans begin the game with one Grenadier platoon and the Pioneers. Since Brian has to deploy his fortifications, he decide an ambush would be a moot point. His command sets up in the farm house in the center of the board. An HMG tobruk pit is just on the north side of the building, with the 2nd on the southeast side between the building and the bridge. Pioneers are deployed in the south, with grenadiers in the north. The river is swollen and flooded forming low lying marshes.

The Americans deploy everything far forward. From the north to the south: 6 gun Priest Battery, 1st Rifle Platoon, 2iC + Observer Sherman, 155mm SP battery, 2nd Rifle Platoon, 81mm Mortars, 3rd Rifle Platoon, Shermans, Engineers + Company Command.

The Objectives are in the bottom center just behind the wire and north of the marsh. The second objective is in the north-east wheat field.

>>>READ ON TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

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6 down, 15 to go, comrades

>>>SEE THE REST OF THE COMMUNIST HEROES

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German Camouflage Tutorial

This Tutorial will show you how to produce the 'Dirty Jon' style of German camouflage - with no Airbrush required! By following these techniques, you can produce a table-top quality German camouflage for your Flames of War army, or adapt the techniques for your own style and army.

>>> CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF JON'S TUTORIAL!

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Gone Fishin'

I am about to head south for a few days, so WWPD will go silent till early next week.

I've been a painting machine- here is what I will come home to:

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