Bolt Action Four Army Battle Report! Polish Inaugural Fight!

Our latest Bolt Action Battle involved 4 armies and the Polish Army's inaugural battle. On this grand Soviet hamlet table our fictitious battle involved the German and Japanese armies confronting the Polish and Soviet forces. The game was to control the four objectives seen as the yellow stars. Each army received 750 points.

This was an early war action which involved plenty of infantry. The armor on the table consisted of a Panzer III for the Germans, a CHi-Ha with the light howitzer and tankette for Japan. The Russians brought a T34 and the Poles fielded an Ursus Armored car and a twin turreted 7TP. The Germans also had an AT Gun and the Polish Army brought a medium howitzer.

All armies had to designate who would be in on the first wave. The only reserves were the Poles who kept a truck and unit of 10 infantry off the table.

As things began, the Polish sniper and 7TP moved in on the left side along with the Soviet mortar team and a couple units of infantry.

On the right side the T34 moved in to oppose the CHi-Ha and tankette. He fired and missed. The Polish transport truck raced in across the center of the board stopping next to the far right objective. He was promptly hit by a slurry of machine gun fire and was knocked out disgorging the 12 infantry inside. 2 men died but the Poles were on the first objective. Two Soviet infantry squads and the Ursus armored car moved in to support them.

On the opposing side of the table the Japanese piled all of their units along with a couple German units against the Polish on the objective. The Germans deployed a unit of infantry to the center and a 6 man squad on their far right.

On turn two the Germans brought the Panzer III on to support the infantry squad on their right flank. It promptly fired at the T34 and missed. The T34 returned the favor by also missing. Snipers all missed and a few pin markers were exchanged on both sides.

On turn 3 the Panzer III was able to fire first, missing again. The T34 did not miss this time scoring a hit, penetrating the armor and destroying the German tank!

With the Panzer gone, the only trouble the T34 could possibly have were the Japanese suicide anti-tank team with lunge mines! The Poles on the objective continued to hold out taking tons of fire. The supporting Soviet infantry was also being whittled down. The Polish army brought in their reserve transport and infantry for additional support on the right, hoping to hold the objective. With the last die pulled being Japanese, the suicide team moved within striking distance of the T34!

Turn 4 started with two dice each for the Germans and the Poles. The Polish units tried but could not kill the Japanese suicide team. The next die fell to the Japanese who lunged at the T34 and destroyed it!! The Ursus advanced in support of the right flank but the Poles on the objective were finally wiped out due to having to many pins! The supporting two Russian infantry units fell too, leaving just two men from one of the squads hunkered down behind the destroyed T34. Only the newly arrived Polish infantry squad remained, close enough to contend the objective.

On turn 5 the Chi-Ha was able to crush the remaining Polish infantry. In doing so, its flank was open to the Polish artillery who scored a hit destroying the Japanese armor. Sadly it was to late to help the deceased infantry on the right flank. The Ursus was able to add pins and kill a few opposing infantry but the center and right were now in the hands of the Axis forces while the left two were unoccupied. At the close of turn 5 the German infantry squad, alone on our far left, made a run for the objective nearest them.

Turn six started with a furious exchange of mortar and MMG fire from both sides. The soviets had a 12 man rifle squad hiding in the farmhouse since turn 1. They dislodged themselves, moved into the swampy area, fired on the Germans heading for the left most objective and killed all but one. The twin turreted 7TP with 10 dice was able to kill the last German on the left flank. This allowed the Polish sniper team to run down the hill and capture the left objective.

With four dice left (1 German, 1 Polish and 2 Russian) the Allies had 1 objective and the Axis 2. The Polish die was pulled and their HQ squad ran across the road to contest the center right objective. The Germans fired on the Russian HQ unit but missed. With the last 2 order dice, the Soviet HQ unit ran to occupy the center left objective and ran the last 2 man infantry squad to contest the far right objective.

There the game ended in a victory for the Allied Team holding two objectives and contesting the other two. It wound up being a very close game where most of the action centered on the right objective till the last turn.

The Polish trucks got the infantry into action right away. Having a 12 man squad kept them in the game, taking fire and attracting a lot of attention, till the end of turn 4. There was a great moment of elation on the Allied side when the T34 stood victorious with very little to threaten it. Then a great moment of elation on the Axis side when a stick mine destroyed the T34!

At the end of a close game, on a great table, the Polish sniper team watches over the left objective as the Soviets emerge from the swamp!

Hope You Have A Great Battle!!

Bolt Action Battle Report: Market Garden Crossroads, British and US vs Germans

This Market Garden Crossroads scenario represents the Allied push into Holland roughly in the manner of Operation Market Garden.  We didn't have any allied Airborne forces, so that element is not represented.  However we attempted to recreate the British Commandos and armored forces which were a critical part of the allied liberation of the Netherlands.  The United States Army here is meant to represent some of the non-airborne forces involved and balance out the armor-heavy British army as well as provide Air support.

Fallschirmjäger forces were present in the German defense including the 6^th Fallschirmjäger Regiment which also fought at Carentan in France.  The Fallschirmjäger lacked a lot of really heavy weapons to counter allied armor and so here they have only a light squeeze-bore AT weapon.  Interestingly enough, Oberst Von der Hydte, the commander of FJR 6, did manage to commandeer a halftrack-mounted flak gun on his way to the battle.  The second German army represents what heavy armor and equipment was available to the German counter-attack.  We'll see if the lone Tiger I supported by a Hetzer can break up the numerically superior allied armor.  

     

The map represents the Dutch countryside approaching key allied strategic goals.  One heavily damaged building resides at the raised crossroad which is objective number one. There is a small supply depot on the left flank and a German communication hut on the right.  

The game will be slightly over 4000 points (1000 British, 1000 USA, 1000 German Fallschirmjäger and 1000 German Army) and will be Point Defense with the Germans defending.

An Approximate Army List will be included after the battle report.

Turn One:
The opening barrage from the British Artillery kills the German sniper team and adds pins on almost all German units on the table. Most of the large German units were held in reserve.

The British commander and US Sniper team move on to the board first along with the US half track which fire fires it mortar and misses. The Sherman advances but has no target. The Stuart arrives and fires a smoke round which successfully lands in front of the Hetzer and blocks its view.

The Cromwell moves on to the right side of the board, fires at the German Machine Gun Team and causes a pin. German mortar team fails their morale test. German Machine Gun Team and Panzerbüchse advance.

Additional US and British forces pour onto the board.German Vespa moves onto board and fires at US half track but misses.

German half-track advances and Fires at the Sherman it also misses but the German rifle Squad disembarks and heads for the ruins in the center of the board. The German SDKFZ 7 Flak Half-Track enters, fires on the British rifle Squad, hits and kills two commandos

US Infantry, US Air Observer and British Artillery Observer all enter the battle on the left side of the board.

Final German forces enter. US and British both had an infantry squad in reserve for flanking. The German Tiger and British Firefly both remain off the board.

Turn Two: 
The US smoke screen dissipated at the start of turn two. The German Flak Half-Track fires at the British Rifle Squad again, this time killing three. US Infantry Squad that disembarked the truck takes the ruins in the center of the table, fires at German rifle Squad and killed three. German MG hits US Rifle Squad and the US lose one man.

German armored car advances and Fires at rifle Squad killing two including the NCO the US rifle team had taken a pounding but stand fast.

Cromwell advances fires at the Panzerbüchse and kills one of its crew and the US Rifle Squad take additional hits.

German Wespe heads across German side for a better view and the British Rifle Squad advances to the fence line near the ruins.

The Sherman advances on the left flank and fires MG rounds at the German Panzergrenadier unit holding the crossroads. The German Half-Track retreats to pick up the Lt near the depot and the Artillery Observer calls in a barrage (represented by the bottle).

The US truck advances to provide cover for the British Rifle Squad. German Artillery Observer calls in a barrage (represented by the bottle).

The Tiger finally enters the game and fires at the Cromwell!!

Thankfully for the British, the shot missed!

The US advance on the left.

Both artillery Observers and the US Air Observer all call in fire to end turn two.

Turn Three:
Three begins with artillery. The British cause pins to four German units...

the German artillery pins 5 units and kills the British captain!

The US air strike arrives and the fighter bomber fires and destroys the German Wespe.

German machine-gun Nest fires and kills two more of the US Rifle Squad in the ruined building. German armored car moves and fires killing two British Commandos

The German Fallschirmjäger advance and fire both Panzerfaust at the Cromwell unfortunately for the Germans, both miss. The US Rifle Squad takes another hit. Then the German officer fired and killed one additional US Rifleman in the building leaving only four.

The Sherman tank advances and hits the German Grenadiers killing two and adding additional pins up to five total. The Stuart once again adds a smoke round to cover the Sherman. The US rifle squad on the left advance across the field and fire at the Grenadiers. They hit but failed to wound.

The Tiger, knowing the Sherman is there, fires at US armor but due to the additional cover, misses its mark. The Cromwell Fires at the German MG again and kill one more. British rifle Squad Fires at the German officer but miss. The Hetzer misses the Sherman, German Squad advances and fires on British but no wounds and the German Lieutenant gets in the half-track which then advances and fires on the Sherman immobilizing it.

Turn Four:
It's any armies game at this point as we enter Turn 4. Sherman fire is its machine guns at the German Rifleman killing one and fires its main gun at the German armored car which uses its recce move to back into the smoke.

German half-track fired its rear machine gun at US Infantry Squad killing two.

The Commandos assault German infantry at the ruins, killing two including the NCO they lose one commando in return and route the Germans which allows them to move into the ruins.

US half-track advances Fires at German Fallschirmjäger killing one and adding another pin. In return, the Fallschirmjäger assault the half-track but fail and regroup on the other side.

Finally, the British Firefly moves on to the board and fires a long shot at the German Flak Half-Track which destroys it. US truck moves to block line of sight from the tiger to the Cromwell.

Stuart again lays down another smoke round ending turn four.

Turn Five:
The turn commenced with the German Fallschirmjäger moving, firing and killing the British sniper team. The US assault the German half-track, they also fail and regroup on the far side. Sherman tank fires MGs and hits unit at the crossroads killing one German then fires main gun at half track causing it to be stunned.

Commandos in building move and fire at German Panzerbüchse, they hit but caused no wounds.

US half-track advances, fires and hits Fallschirmjäger adding a pin but no kills. US Mortar Team fires at Panzerbüchse hits and kills one leaving only one crewman.

The Tiger prowls forward looking to make a difference, fires and destroys US half track. US sniper team fires at German unit in Crossroads. He fails to score a kill but hits, adding up to ten pins they fail their morale check break and run.

British flanking Commandos enter left side of the board and take the Supply Depot objective. US flanking rifle squad enters on the right and take the German communication post. The US also fire and kill the German artillery Observer. This is a key moment in the game, gaining two objectives, the game swings too the Allied side.

Turn Six:
This could be the final turn unless a roll adds a seventh turn. It opens with the British artillery Observer retaliating and firing at the German lieutenant but fails to cause a wound. British Firefly advances and uses his machine gun to attack the officer covering the crossroads and they kill him.

Sherman fires and misses Hetzer...

the Hetzer advances and kills the Sherman! British Commandos finally kill the Panzerbüchse unit. German mortar team in a final flurry, kills US mortar team and German half track attempts to fire at Commandos on Supply Depot but the lieutenant had gotten out of the vehicle so there is no one manning the gun! The Stewart fires an HE round and destroys the half-track.

The Commandos assault the German armored car they do take one casualty from fire on the way in but they destroy the vehicle.

The large US Rifle Squad takes the central crossroads thus the Allies secure all three objectives. The roll to see if the game continued failed and the game was over.

On the allied side, the Sherman tank did a great job at holding up the entire center of the board including the Hetzer, the large Panzergrenadier Squad, German half-track, armored car and even distracting the Tiger tank. On the German side, the Tiger failed to cause an impact but the SDKFZ 7 Flak Half-Track with quadruple light auto cannon posed a much larger threat to the infantry and the entire right flank. The US flanking unit could have been thrashed if the German vehicle remained. As it had posed the largest threat, the Firefly chose it versus the Tiger for its first shot. The game was fun for all involved, despite the failed German rolls, and for the first time in several games the attacker was the victor. We welcome any comments or questions and check the approximate army list below.

Have A Great Battle,
The Old Crow

Allies 2,203 points and 17 Order Dice

U.S. 1,103 points and 10 Order Dice

Captain Regular 110 points

Air Force Forward Observer Regular75

2 ½ Ton Truck with HMG Regular 64 points (Transporting one Squad)

Jeep with HMG Regular 46 points (Note, not recce)

M 21 Mortar Carrier Half-Track Veteran 114

Squad 1 Regular (NCO with SubMG + 11 men with 2 BAR) 133 points

Squad 2 Regular (NCO with SubMG + 11 men with 2 BAR) 133 points

Sniper Team Veteran 65 points

M 4 Sherman 75MM with Pintle HMG Veteran 195

M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage Veteran 168 points

British 1,100 points and 7 Order Dice

Captain Veteran 125 points

Cromwell Veteran 234 points

Sherman Firefly Veteran 366

Commando Team 1 Veteran (NCO with SubMG + 9 men with SubMGs ) 145 Points

Commando Team 2 Veteran (NCO + 8 men with rifles and 1 with LMG) 165 points

Sniper Team Veteran 65 points

Artillery Observer Regular free

Axis 2,183 points and 16 Order Dice

Fallschirmjäger 1,118 points and 9 Order Dice

First Lieutenant Veteran 90 points

Forward Artillery Observer Veteran 115

SDKFZ 251/10 Regular 156 (Note: Command Vehicle)

Squad 1 Veteran (NCO with SubMG + 9 men + 8 assault rifles + 1 panzerfaust) 178 points

Squad 2 Veteran (NCO with SubMG + 7 men + 2 panzerfaust + 2 LMG) 157 points

Panzerbüchse 41 Veteran 60

Machine Gun Team (MMG) Veteran 65

Wespe Regular 145

SDKFZ 7 Flak Half-Track with quadruple light autocannon Veteran 152

Panzergrenadier 1,065 points and 7 Order Dice

First Lieutenant Veteran 90 points

Tiger Regular 395 points

Marder Regular 165

Sniper Team Veteran 65 points

Medium Mortar Team Regular 50 points

Panzergrenadier Squad Veteran approx. 150 points

Panzergrenadier Squad Veteran approx. 150 points