FOW Battle Report - EW 1625, German versus French

This weekend Jake and I were able to get a game of Flames of War in. The Wife was nice enough to let us take over the dining room table for the evening and we got down to it.

We would be playing Early War at the new US Nationals point level, 1625.  My son also wanted to try out some new building he acquired from Outrider Hobbies. He did not paint them before the battle but to be honest they didn't look bad in raw wood. We will be doing a full review of this building line in a future post.

The entire Battlefield (as always click for larger image)

Different Sized factory buildings

Some modular 2 level houses

Down the main road.

The Battle would be No Retreat, and I, as the French, would be Defending.

Jake would be taking his venerable Czech Panzer Co.

Rommel, backed up by a couple of platoons of Pz-38(t) tanks, Panzer IIs and some Luftwaffe 88s. He would have to proxy a couple of PZ-38(t)s with other tanks.

The Germans in their  glory... wait... something is amiss.

I would be taking a French Infantry Company.

2 Infantry platoons, 75mm Arty, Panhard Armored Cars, Char-Bs and my ace in the hole, the Laffly 47mm AT gun.

The French would deploy in the Factory side of the table, but to keep things fair I didn't deploy my objective in a Factory. I Deployed 1 Infantry platoon and the Char-B's. Keeping the Laffly AT gun in Ambush.

French position, looking east towards the German starting line.

The Race was on, German Troops raced forward, launching their Blitzkrieg on the French. German Panzer II tanks waste no time assaulting and killing the lead elements of the defending French troops...

Into the woods and over the French, to Grandmother's house we go!

After a mere two turns the Germans hold the forward objective. To contest one of my masive Char-Bs trundles forward. I've already lost a Char to long range 88 fire and have to be careful and not expose them needlessly.

Char barely holding the objective. 

I also decide to pop my Laffly ambush, 15 AT 9 Shots would surely destroy the German offense . I mean, look at those Laffly's, pure style, no way they can fail...

cute buggers

A kill! one lousy kill!

Well they let me down, most fire at short range, with clear targets but I still manage only 4 hits, destroying 1 tank! Ack, with Rommel and protected Ammo German tanks just don't stay bailed out. This could get ugly.

German return fire is predicably brutal, since he can't really harm my Char's all his return fir concentrates on the Lafflys. After two turns of shooting they are routed!

Not all is going the German's way. The Panzer II's continue their assault but Defensive fire from the Char-Bs stop the Assault cold.

Tank Assault repelled!

The German hope relies upon the 88's getting close enough to pick the Char-b off the objective. However moving the 88's that close will put them in danger, Trained Gun Teams with no Gunshield are juicy targets.

Meanwhile, to the west, French reserves arrive! 

Panhard Armored Cars move up to support the beleaguered French Troops

The French Char's are tethered to the objective as the Panzers dance around them. German tanks are being destroyed but far too slowly.

I double move the Armored Cars, trying to get behind the 88s but Jake's moves out to intercept.

Armored Cars and Panzers trade blows

In a rare fit of bad luck Jake only destroys 1 Armored Car, return fire the next turn bails out some 38(t)s. 

in a rare turn around the Armored Cars win

With reinforcements pouring in things are not looking good for the Germans.

Like these guys.

German armor burns as losses increase! The Germans gamble all.

In the last round of the game the last remaining 88 manages to pick off one of the Char's taking them under half strength. The only German hope is that the Char's will fail moral, leaving the Germans in possession of the Objective.

The roll come up....

a six, the French stay!

5-2

It was a close battle but the Char's confounded the German armor long enough to hold out for the win. German 88s were dangerous, killing two Chars over the course of the game but he couldn't move with with impunity as even an infantry rifle shot can easily kill them!

Enjoy!