V4 Tournament Report: Early War GT - Hall of Heroes

Today I share some photos and a summary of the first EW V4 event in Sydney

This report is a little overdue. One thing has lead to another and I have somehow missed writing this post.

The Early War GT was held at the Hall of Heroes Campbelltown on the 10th and 11th June. There was a keen but small group of players. As usual the Hall put on nice looking tables, foot and freshly made coffee.

There was a good range of forces on display with armies from the Eastern Front, Western Front, the Desert and even Japanese. It was good to see some interesting and new forces assembled for the new V4 rules.

This was my first V4 tournament and I frankly had no idea what to use so I went with something familiar. I took Strelkovy. I played against Japanese infantry, French Infantry with British allies, German Grenadiers, A Matilda Company and a DAK infantry force.

The tournament used the then current mission pack. The mission and the attacker was selected by comparing the stances of each army and rolling off on the relevant table. The event was held prior to the new victory condition changes.

In my 5 games, I selected the attack stance each time. I think that the game favors the attacker and I think this is one of the best changes that have been brought about in V4. Defenders cannot win by simply holding the objective.

In 4 of the games, my games finished with result. In the last round, where 2 large infantry forces faced off, we played a dozen turns or more but ended in a draw. One of the criticisms of V4 is that the games can result in stand off draws. This wasn't what I experienced this in this event.

It is still early days for the new V4 rules for the EW and LW period but the event was good fun and I look forward to playing more games.

I hope you enjoyed this report.

Review: Battlefront M3A1 Armoured Car

Today I join the desert armoured recce patrol


So with the new V4 books out, I am enjoying the new V4 MW desert period and have been working on building new armies and upgrading my old ones. My US forces need recce and have previously used the old jeep and half track units. This is not an option in the Fighting First book so time to paint up some Armoured Cars.

Battlefront have released a box with 2 armoured cars and 2 jeeps. Much as I would like to pick up a box, I already have some painted jeeps and I am pretty sure I have some old blisters of M3A1 armoured cars. Looking at the Battlefront store, the new box appears to contain identical models except it comes with the new plastic crew and a unit card. So, into the lead pile I dive...

The US300 blister is an old school lead and resin model. It comes with 4 metal wheels, a metal driver, metal passengers, a 50cal, a 30cal, a front bumper and of course the resin hull. Each blister contains 1 model. I assembled 2 blisters as the unit I want is 2 armoured cars and 2 jeeps.

The pieces came with the usual mould lines and flashing. I had to cut back the nubs to get some of the wheels into the hull groves. Otherwise, a straight forward assembly. I have a history of MGs coming off USA vehicles so I only applied a 50cal and 1 30cal. I glued the 30cal with 2 contact points to try to add some strength.

The model came with no stowage so I hit up the spares box for a few pieces that I had left over from some of the new Battlefront kits. This will help to make them look less like they have just rolled off the production line.

Gluing the plastic stowage down provided a stark contrast between the newer, crisper plastic pieces and the older less defined resin and metal components. It is clear to me that the plastic models are the way forward. Leaving aside the cheaper retail prices, they are also lighter, easier to assembly and look better.

Looking back, I think it was a mistake gluing the crew into the vehicle prior to painting. It was not easy getting the brush into the small spaces to paint the crew or the inside of the vehicle for that matter either. There are bits I missed but I expect that this cannot be seem by anyone but me.

I wanted some way to tell the commander's car from the other vehicle so I glued in a plastic US Tank Commander into the passenger seat. I think this works well. It is hardly noticeable but he is a slightly different size than the metal model.

From the research I have done, the seats were covered with canvas. I have intentionally painted them red leather in order to provide some contrast. The crew are basically painted a canvas colour (Khaki) and I wanted to break this up a little.

The decals are just some left over stars from a Tank Destroyer box set. Sadly neither the original blister I used for these 2 vehicles or the new box set contains decals. I chose white stars over yellow ones in order to use them for both the desert and ETO.

Well that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this review.

AAR - EW V4 Soviet Tankovy and Czech Panzer

Today I report on a V4 EW game and look at the new version. Is it best in show, a dead dog or somewhere in between? Lets find out.

I dropped down to the club for a game. I had been playing a lot of V4 MW so it was nice to play a game of EW 1650 points. The list I packed was:

Lists:
Czech Panzers from Barbarossa (CV)

HQ 2 Panzer 38T

4 Panzer 38T

3 Panzer 38T

1 Beute Panzer T34 (CT)

2 Nebs

1 88 with extra crew

2 8-Rads

6 Stands of Schutzen

Limited Stukas

Czech Panzers

David ran Tankovy (CC)

HQ T26

3 x 8 T26s (there was a total of 5 tanks in the 3 units that were upgraded to T26E but this didn’t really have a big impact on the game)

9 Flame tanks

4 45mm guns (FC)

3 AA Trucks

6 BT6

I153

AAR:
All side or flank reference will be from the point of view of my side of the table. 

We rolled up Free for all. We were not sure how to treat the plane as it isn’t listed on the new LFTF plane listing. Given that it was rocket armed and every rocket armed plane is listed as AT5, FP 3+, we went with that. Please shout out if we missed something here.

At the end of deployment I had my HQ section deployed centrally. My left objective was held by an 88 on a hill, Nebs behind the hill and the T34 loitering with intent. My right flank had the Schutzen platoon on the objective and my 2 units of 38Ts nearby. The 8 rads spearheaded to behind the central wood, ready to go either way as required.

David deployed with his flame tanks, AA trucks and 8 T26s on the right objective. The 45mm guns and 2 units of T26s with the HQ were on the left objective.

David seized the initiative and rolled high for first turn. All the T26s rumbled forward. The T26Es lagging slightly behind. Despite needing an 8 to hit, they scored a single hit on my 88 who saved.

Center Left T26s

Flame Tanks (L) and T26s (R) on the Right Flank.

Turn 1
The Stukas arrived first turn and settled on a nice clumped bunch of T26s. This was actually most of both platoons on that flank. The result from hitting 13 tanks was 2 bails. The 2 units of Czech Panzers moved up and destroyed another T26. My T34 moved up to the hill for a shot. The 1IC took a long range shot bagging a T26 from the platoon on the right of the Church. The 88 hit and destroyed a vehicle from the same platoon.

Right Flank Panzers engaging T26s and Flame Tanks

Turns 2 and 3
The next two turns followed a very similar pattern. The 4 units of tanks moved forward but could only knock out my 88 on the left hand side and a single 38T on the right. In exchange, the 38ts dished up 3 T26s on the right and 3 on the left.

Turn 4

Things started to change. The BT6s rumbled forward looking to add their weight to the fight but did no damage. The AA trucks moved forward hugging the village on my right. The T26 platoon on my far left flank had managed to move up virtually unmolested to striking distance of the objective. It was firing on the way but with concealed vets and Hens and Chicks, there was much happening. The 45mm gun crews dragged their guns out of their foxholes and forward. The central left unit of T26s was by now in a reasonable position to shoot but were suffering from poor remount dice and were not doing much. All the action was happening on the right. The flame tanks had moved up and 5 vehicles opened fire on a single unfortunate Schutzen squad. 11 dice of flame throwers was just enough to eliminate the stand!  J The unit of 4 38s were now down to just 2 hulls. The air arrived but wasn’t able to brew up a T34 or an HQ panzer.

Center Left T26s in trouble

Soviet forces probing the right flank.

The Stukas were back and lined up again on the 2 units on the RH side. The panzers were joined by the 8 rads who moved up to try to add some weight to the fight. The 2 remaining Panzers from the Zug of 4 moved over to contest the objective knowing that the Schuzen were under extreme pressure. After the smoke cleared, the T26s on the right were down to 5 and the flame tanks were down to 3. On the far left the T26s were down to 8 with just 2 tanks alive and 3 bailed on the central left. The nebs finally managed to do some damage taking out a 45mm gun. The Schutzen mowed down 2 AA trucks. They would be testing next turn. The Soviets were doing just what they needed to, they were bearing down on both objectives ready to deliver a killing blow.

Central Left T26s

8 Rads join the fray.

Left Objective

Turn 5.

Would the T26s wipe out the Germans? Could the panzers hold out?

On the far left, the T26s pushed just outside of 4 inches from the objective and launched an assault wiping out the nebs. The central left T26s were still suffering all sorts of command and control issues and were not able to remount anything. On the right, the flame tanks were now in a great position to flame the Schutzen and managed to destroy another team. The T26s ran to the flanks of the panzers but could only bail one. The I153s arrived again but did no damage.

Right Objective

T26s on the Left Objective

At this point we called it. We had spent quite a bit of time knocking off the rust and looking up rules. It had been a good game, but slow. No question the Soviet tanks had the better of the conditions and would likely have taken out the win on either of the flanks.

Learnings:

Yep, V4 is a very different game. We intentionally set out for this to be a learning game and we were more worried about the rules than the game. It still was fun though. I think armour on armour games are like that.

The air was wildly different. The I153 was a real potential threat with AT5 and FP3+. Contrast this with the Stuka which is only AT3 and FP 2+. The Stuka is just completely underpowered when compared to the biplane. I am not sure if the biplane has been missed or there is another update coming but this one needs a tweak.

Big platoons of tanks are tough to kill. I had my chances but couldn’t manage to get any T26 units to test. Likewise they couldn’t do any real damage to the panzers at long range concealed.

My list wasn’t ideal against the green swarm. I wanted to take a fun and varied list. However I would have been better off spending my points on more 38Ts rather than a T34 and the 88. I suspect I could have had roughly 4 or 5 more which might have made a difference.

David manoeuvred in the early turns looking for hits on my 88. In fairness, he was able to knock it out. I think it might have been interesting if he had dashed for the first 2 turns and made up the maximum possible ground early on.

Summary:
V4 provided a good game. The air wasn’t quite right but this didn’t play a big part in our game. Flamethrower tanks shot more than once. Again this didn’t heavily impact our game. What did impact the game was the tests for last stand. If this was V3, I would have had to test my unit of 4 panzers and Dave would have tested 3 of his T26 units. As it was, there were no last man tests at all. Others have found games finishing after just a few turns. I think this could have conceivably gone for a few more turns without a result. More games needed before I am comfortable with V4 EW but I suspect what is actually needed is a change of tactics and list design, not a change of rules.

Well that's it. I hope you enjoyed this AAR.

MOAB 2017

Today I look back at a great MOAB. 

MOAB 2017:

View of the main hall from the FOW area

Another great MOAB has been and gone. I played in the V4 MW ‘Baptism of Fire’ event. Here is some of what went down.

Flames of... well... War

MOAB is the biggest event on the wargaming event in NSW. The event runs for 3 days and features demo games, participation games, tournaments, stalls and a well-attended Bring and Buy. According to organizers, it is the biggest one yet and from the queue at the Bring and Buy on Saturday, I believe it.

US Forces

The FOW was split into 3 one day events. Day 1 and 2 would be 80 points. Day 3 would be 100 points. Anyone crazy brave enough to play all 3 days would compete for the Grand Champion prize. Players could field any force from the 3 new MW books – Afrika Korps, Desert Rats or Fighting First. Build cards could also be used to create formations. Finally, the TO organised with Battlefront to share the new M14/41 cards for the event that could be used as allies in a German force.

DAK defence

 The event was well supported by Battlefront, War and Peace Games, Hall of Heroes and Aetherworks. Thanks to those organisation for their ongoing support. Every player left with a prize! Great stuff.

Marders on Patrol.

List:

I signed up for all 3 days and submitted the following:

My 80 point force

Panzer III Company

HQ –

1 x Panzer III Short 5cm.

Core –

3 x Panzer III Short 5cm.

3 x Panzer III Short 5cm.

4 x Panzer II.

Support

4 x M14/41

4 x Marders

4 x Schleppers

80 Points

The big man

Panzer III Company

HQ –

1 x Panzer III Short 5cm.

Core –

3 x Panzer III Short 5cm.

3 x Panzer III Short 5cm.

4 x Panzer II.

Support

4 x Marders

4 x Schleppers

1 x 88

Italian Carri Company

HQ –

1 x M14/41

Core –

4 x M14/41

5 x M14/41

100 Points

Aerial Recce

Event:

Going into the event, I had only played a handful of v4 games and like everyone else, wasn’t really sure what to expect. I did know that with a small, elite force, I would need to use cover and range well to make sure I would be hard to hit. I would also look to let my Schleppers - who are probably the best artillery in the game at the moment - work on gun lines and infantry by using their repeat bombardments and 2+ FP to dig out the enemy.

Achtung Panzer

The plan worked pretty well. In the few games I played against infantry and guns, the Schleppers did their job. Even with 3+ saves, Anti-tank guns under a repeat bombardment will eventually fail their saves and the Schleppers will convert this 5 from 6 times. The tanks and Marders were the real stars of the list though. Being able to pop up to hull-down on hills with a blitz move at long range and then mostly needing 4 or 5 to hit means they are going to destroy enemy vehicles. Even if they fail their shoot and scout, they are then likely 6 to hit on return fire and will mostly have the better of gun duels.

Crossroads defense

The toughest opponents by far were the Stuart and Crusader formations. The PzIII force just isn’t big enough to hold them off. Defending with 40% in reserve makes it particularly tough. If there is a dominant force at the moment, I think it is the Brit tank horde. However as players play more games and the new forces are introduced (Italians), this will likely change again. Players will find new ways to defeat this big scary threats.

The event most importantly was great fun. I am really enjoying my MW V4 games. V4 is certainly different to V3. The changes to missions means that the defender is every bit as motivated as the attack for a result to occur and the game is therefore much more engaging and exciting. The rules are very simple to read but still retain the tactical nuance that has kept me playing FOW for the last 5 or more year.

Well that’s it. Enjoy the photos. I am off to work out what new list I can run for some of the other upcoming events.

Tank graveyard

Defend the landing strip.

Stuart assault blunted.

Crusaders

More Schleppers

Brit tanks.

More Brit tanks.

Tank carpark.

Advanced laser weaponry.

German assault on US positions.

One of many lovely desert tables.

Grants on higher ground.

US Horde