US Tank Destroyer Company Versus British 11th Division Armoured.
With all the debate on the FOW forums concerning Tank Destroyers I wanted to give it a test myself. (And give me an excuse to use the new Patton model I painted).
My Son, Jake, is a big British fan and is really enjoying the new Market Garden books. He put together a massive Cromwell horde that he wanted to try out.
We played at 1780.
I took
HQ: 2 M-20
Plt 1: 4 Hellcats
Plt 2: 4 Hellcats
Plt 3: 4 3" AT Guns, 1 Zook Team
Plt 4: Armored Rifle Platoon
Plt: 5: Cavalry Recon Patrol ( M8, 2 Jeeps)
Plt: 6: Calvary Recon Patrol ( M8, 2 Jeeps)
AOP
Patton in M-20
Jake's List
11th Armoured Division (Confident Trained) from Market Garden.
HQ: 2 Cromwells
Plt 1: 3 Cromwells, 1 Challenger
Plt 2: 3 Cromwells, 1 Challenger
Plt 3: 3 Cromwells, 1 Challenger
Plt 4: 3 Cromwells
Plt: 5: Luttrell w/ 6 x Cromwell CS
Plt: 6: 3 x Universal Carriers
We Rolled up No Retreat as the mission.
Here is the layout of the table before setup.
The Table was set up with hedgerows (No Bocage rules) for lots of linear LOS blocking terrain.
Wheat fields that offered Concealment shooting over them.
As the Attacker I have two big decisions that can determine the outcome of the game before the dice are even rolled. Objective placement and Deployment. Jake placed his objective well, behind a couple of hedges. I had wanted to place my objective in the southern part of the board but could not as it would allow Jake to consolidate his defenders in one area.
So I placed my objective north, on the large road.
After Jake picked his side and Objectives were down he deployed. He strung out 2 Cromwell platoons against the main hedgerow and kept his 6 strong CS platoon in Ambush.
So I placed my objective north, on the large road.
After Jake picked his side and Objectives were down he deployed. He strung out 2 Cromwell platoons against the main hedgerow and kept his 6 strong CS platoon in Ambush.
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| The British defending line. |
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| Looking across the field at the US Forces |
In retrospect I probably should have still gone for the southern objective but "Objective" fever struck me and I lined up across from the closer objective that I placed.
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| After US Spearhead |
Turn 1:
One of the big advantages of running a TD list with Patton is that he makes this list Auto Attack gives everyone a Spearhead Move.
The minute I started moving my miniatures I realized I probably should have gone for the southern Objective... oh well! It was going to get ugly.
.
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| 1 hellcat platoon gone the other goes on the attack. |
On Turn 1 I pop my TTD Ambush. All 3 platoons going out as well as the Armored Rifles hopping out of their Tracks.
My fire was somewhat successful. Killing three Cromwells. Not enough to dampen the return fire and I lost a hellcat Platoon in return fire.
My fire was somewhat successful. Killing three Cromwells. Not enough to dampen the return fire and I lost a hellcat Platoon in return fire.
Even with the AOP buzzing around to deter the ambush Jake deploys his CS Tanks and races them out.
The destruction of 1 of the Hellcat Platoons emboldened him and he wanted to try and take out the Armored Rifles now advancing on his line.
his fire also whittles down a Recon platoon but they are still in the game.
Turn 1 analysis:
Well, that didn't go to well for the Americans. I killed three Cromwells and in return lost 4 hellcats and a 3" gun. My Infantry survived the fire sent at them though and would be in a good position to counter attack.
Turn 2:
My surviving Hellcats race forward to contest the objective and try and kill the Cromwell platoon that is defending it.
Accompanying them are the Bazooka men of the Towed Tank Destroyer Platoon. The Armored Rifles make for the CS Platoon
The hellcats and TTD Bazookas make short work of the remaining Cromwells around the Objective.
Between the Bazookas of the Armored rifles, an M-8 Greyhound (bailed 1 CS Tank) and and the remaining Towed Tank destroyers the CS tanks are hit hard, 4 Destroyed and 2 bailed.
they Fail moral and Jake does not attack for the re-roll. (good thing as they would probably be captured by the Armored rifles in assault anyways.
Defender turn 2:
No reserves this turn, sadly.... but the Company commander does make his Company moral Check. Unfortunately there is no way the British can get a Cromwell into range to contest. The Wheat fields, wreckage cluttered road and plowed fields prevent them from getting anywhere near it.
Jake has to content himself with trying to get another American Platoon destroyed. His remaining 4 tanks cut lose on the Hellcats (killing 1) and the Cav Recon Platoon (Jeep makes it's 2 saves)
Not enough and the British lose to the unstoppable US Tank Destroyers 5-2.
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| End of Battle! |
Conclusion:
The speed of the Tank Destroyer Company is amazing. Silly deployment on my part cost me 1 hellcat Platoon but it was the Bazookas and the 3" guns that did most of the Damage.
US Losses:
5 Hellcats
1 3" Gun
1 mortar Jeep
British Losses
6 CS Tanks
4 Cromwells
1 Challenger
The look of a player facing American Tank Destroyers...
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| "I hate hellcats" |
It was a pretty harsh loss for the British but Jake and I both agreed it wasn't hopeless. Just 1 successful reserve roll would have allowed another Cromwell platoon to race on board and contest and/or try to kill another American platoon.
Jake could have also been more conservative in his Ambush. Rather than risking them in the open against Infantry and Anti-Tank guns. Luttrell and his tanks could have been a reactionary force to push the Hellcats off the objective.
I could have pushed my Security sections closer and put off the AT Ambush until turn 2 but with the firepower facing me I don't think the security sections would have survived.
While I don't think the Tank Destroyers are broken per say they do seem pretty powerful and I do recommend the use of the Modified Tank Destroyer rules suggestions found on the Battlefront forums.
-Jon
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