Today, we're looking at SS-Panzerbrigade Westfalen. While it may not be the next NGFS Assault Boat Company, it checks all the right boxes and brings enough to the tournament scene to be a very solid sleeper list.
In previous "List Dissection" style posts, we'd usually examine a set list at a set point limit, then go through each piece of that list to point out how and where it really shines. Here, I'm going to take a slightly different approach: I'll explain my list methodology a bit, go into detail on how the bits and pieces of this list fits into this methodology, and then wrap up with a few list examples.
List Methodology
There's nothing too special about how I build lists, but I usually work with the following rubric when building an infantry company.HQ
Combat Platoon 1
Combat Platoon 2
Recon or AA
Smoke/Pin Template
Mobile Platoon 1 (Anvil)
Mobile Platoon 2 (Hammer)
I like to go for 6 platoons on nearly all lists, because I like having those Hammer and Anvil mobile platoons on the board and those are usually where the majority of my list points end up. I call them Hammer and Anvil because those are the purposes they serve in the list.
The Anvil is the big, weighty object you drop on the board that either draws your opponent's attention, or drives them away from it. Elephants, King Tigers, Churchill Crocs, Vet US Armor with Jumbo & 76's, IS-2's, etc. The Hammer is usually a lighter, more specialized AT asset that works the flanks or combines with the Anvil to take out major threats to my list. US TDs, Marders, Panzer IV's, SU-100s, etc.
The infantry in the list works to apply gradual pressure to the "joints" of my opponent's list: flushing assets out into the open so the mobile platoons can take them out, or assaulting dug-in targets after being softened up by those mobile platoons.
Given this methodology, the SS-Panzerbrigade Westfalen list hits all of those points well, and brings a number of unique advantages to the table that makes it stand out.
List Special Rules
The special rules for Westfalen really start things off on the right foot - especially for a tournament list.Enjoy the War swings over from Desperate
Defenders of the Ruhr gives my list the Always Defend rule, which means I won't have to worry about "winning the die roll to defend" when I inevitably run up against another infantry company. It also means a Recon platoon is no longer a "Must Buy". Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of uses for Recon on defense - but it lets me take an AA asset instead, giving my army some much needed cover from air power and AOPs.
There are some negative special rules in here - mainly that I lose Kampfgruppe and Mission Tactics, and can only use Stormtrooper if my CiC or 2iC is attached to the platoon. I'll work to mitigate those negatives during list construction so that don't impact me too significantly.
Westfalen also gets the Bazooka Town set of rules which brings me to list construction and......
HQ Assets
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| Surprise! |
Westfalen also has access to up to 3 Panzershrek teams. Buy 2 to 3 (with an emphasis on 3).
Combat Platoons
The Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs platoon is not the most points efficient platoon I've ever seen (see previous discussions regarding fully-equipped Panzerfaust platoons), but Super Enjoy the War does make those last 2 or 3 remaining Panzerfaust teams good for last stands against tanks. At 200 points, I wouldn't buy more than 2 platoons.
Weapons Platoons
If I wasn't Always Defend, I'd buy the Recon platoon.If the list didn't have access to cheap Nebs (or 10.5's), I'd buy the Mortar platoon.
The MG platoon is the only realistic purchase here, only because it can combat attach to keep my Combat platoons on the board. Buy 2 if you have the points and attach out.
Support Platoons
There are a lot of them, so I'll only cover the ones that fill the remaining slots in the list: Hammer, Anvil, AA, and Smoke/Pin Template.Hammer
Erzatz SS-Panzer Platoon - These guys are money, and will likely be my Hammer platoon. They are fearless trained and have Super Enjoy the War as well. Upgrades are optional here, though I'd probably trade up for 2 Panzer IVs just to get the better AT.
508. Schwere Panzer Platoon - Depending on the total build points, these guys could fit in either a Hammer or Anvil role. They still get Stormtrooper, Mission Tactics, and are not Unreliable because they are not an Ersatz platoon. RT isn't bad for a Panther platoon, and 520 points for 4 of them is a pretty solid deal.
Anvil
507. Schwere Panzer Platoon - I'm really tempted to take 3 Jagdpanthers with Tiger Ace skills on this one, but I need this platoon to be a little more robust. If I'm spending 600+ points on a platoon, I'd rather have 2 really strong tanks over 3 sorta-kinda strong tanks. Two RV King Tigers fit the bill pretty damn well.
Schwere Panzerjaeger Platoon - Also clocking in at 600 points are two CT Jagdtigers. I'm a little torn between these and the King Tigers. The Breakthrough Gun trait on the 12.8cm PaK44 lets these guys serve a dual purpose and that 48" range can be ridiculous on the right board.
Either way, both of these platoons stack a giant cannon on top of nigh-impenetrable front armor, making them perfect options for my Anvil platoon.
AA
Panzer Anti-Aircraft Gun Platoon - Finally! Ostwinds in a list I like and RV to boot! Buying 2 of these guys mitigates the Reluctant rating on them, and the Veteran rating lets them shoot down all the planes they want. Bonus: they're .50cal-proof from the front, so I don't have to worry about them being gunned down by errant Universal Carriers or Recon Jeeps.
Smoke/Pin Template
Volks Rocket Launcher Battery - The old standby. You can't beat 3 tubes of smoke with a 64" range for 70 points. Just remember that they're RT and couldn't survive an aggressive pillow fight if they tried.
Volks Light Artillery Battery - These guys are another steal in the Westfalen list - three Veteran 10.5cm howitzers for 135 points. Beautiful. If you have the points to spare over the Nebs, I highly recommend these guys.
Example Lists
1750
HQ - CiC, 2iC + 4x Panzerfaust Trap Teams + 3x Panzershrek Teams
C1 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
C2 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
W1 - Ersatz SS-Machinegun Platoon - 2x HMG's (attached out)
S1 - Ersatz SS-Panzer Platoon - 2x Panzer III L/Ms, 2x Panzer IV G/Hs
S2 - 507. Schwere Panzer Platoon - 2x King Tigers
S3 - Panzer Anti-Aircraft Gun Platoon - 2x Ostwinds
S4 - Volks Light Artillery Battery - Vet - 3x 10.5cm leFH18/40s
1650
HQ - CiC, 2iC + 4x Panzerfaust Trap Teams + 3x Panzershrek Teams
C1 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
C2 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
W1 - Ersatz SS-Machinegun Platoon - 2x HMG's (attached out)
S1 - Ersatz SS-Panzer Platoon - 4x Panzer III L/Ms
S2 - 507. Schwere Panzer Platoon - 2x King Tigers
S3 - Panzer Anti-Aircraft Gun Platoon - 2x Ostwinds
S4 - Volks Rocket Launcher Battery - 3x 15cm NW41
1500
HQ - CiC, 2iC + 4x Panzerfaust Trap Teams + 2x Panzershrek Teams
C1 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
C2 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
S1 - Ersatz SS-Panzer Platoon - 3x Panzer III L/Ms, 1x Panzer IV G/H
S2 - 508. Schwere Panzer Platoon - 4x Panther Gs
S3 - Panzer Anti-Aircraft Gun Platoon - 2x Ostwinds
S4 - Volks Rocket Launcher Battery - 3x 15cm NW41
1250
HQ - CiC, 2iC + 4x Panzerfaust Trap Teams + 2x Panzershrek Teams
C1 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - Full Strength
C2 - Ersatz SS-Aufklaerungs Platoon - 2 Squads
S1 - Ersatz SS-Panzer Platoon - 3x Panzer III L/Ms
S2 - 508. Schwere Panzer Platoon - 3x Panther Gs
S3 - Panzer Anti-Aircraft Gun Platoon - 2x Ostwinds
S4 - Volks Rocket Launcher Battery - 3x 15cm NW41
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