Tournament Report - Flames of War - Early War Fun!

This weekend saw the next Flames of War Tournament in the Arizona Desert.  Working with the Local Game stores we have been trying to host a tournament every other month, rotating time periods and Game stores across the Greater Phoenix valley. This tournament was held at Imperial Outpost in Glendale, a lengthy drive but well worth it.

The Tournament itself would an Early War event with a 1625 points level. My Early War army of choice is the French and this time I would mix it up a little by bringing a French Infantry Company.

My List was a Compagnie de Fusiliers-Voltigeurs from the Blitzkrieg source book. My son, Jake also played, bringing a Panzer 38(t) list.

HQ with attached 25mm AT guns, 81 and 60mm mortars and a supply section

2 x Fusilier (Infantry) Platoons
3 x Char B heavy tanks
5 x Laffly 47mm AT trucks
5 x Panhard Armored Cars
AA Platoon (25mm AA)
Mortar Platoon (81mm Mortars)

7 platoons however the 2iC could lead some of the HQ Weapons as a ad hoc 8th platoon if needed.

We had some great tables, almost all of them provided by Imperial Outpost. For the first time, in a long time, Jake and I did not need to set up our terrain.


As Usual click for a larger Image!

Round 1:
Mission: Encounter
Opponent: Tony playing a Honey Stuart Company.

With half my company in play I took Char's, Infantry, Panhards and Laffys.
Tony took a risky move and started with his 2 25lb Artillery batteries, leaving all is tanks in reserve.

My Infantry platoon with attached AT gun would hold my right flank all by it's lonesome while I pounced on the objective on my left, hopefully before any reserves arrive.

The French hold the right flank

The Whole Table

with heavy woods If I rushed I would only have to face one 25lb platoon. my Panhard Armored Cars, using their Recon move, get into it quickly, assaulting on turn 2

Swinging Left

Panhards Assault

End Game - Brits can not contest

This was a good example of losing a game in deployment. With no mobile platoons Tony couldn't re-deploy his units to counter my attack. I got in quick with Recon and won before he could make a successful reserve roll.

6-1 to the French.



Round 2
Mission: Dust-Up
Opponent: Jeff with a French Armored Company


I was paired up with the only other French player for a battle of Dust Up. This is one of the worst match ups for Allies as he was totting 6! Char-Bs in his list. I only had 1 unit that had even a chance of hurting them, and that was the Laffly 47mm AT guns.

My plan was to hold out as long as possible and go for a breaking his company by killing the squishy bits or a draw

 My defensive line

 Jeff's Chars take up a good firing position

I lose my Laffy and company commander to some bad Morale rolls. Oh well. I could no longer hurt his Chars I would have to Break is company in order to win.

I manage to take out both r-35 platoons and Jeff's Laffy platoon. I also sacrifice my Panhards to kill Jeff's Charles DeGaulle

Char's Mix it up


.With Degaulle gone the last R-35 Platoon fails it's moral test and then on the next turn Jeff fails company moral. I don't kill any of Jeff's Chars and I lose my Laffy and Panhard Platoons but I manage to nab a 4-3 win.

Round 3
Mission: Hasty Attack!
Opponent: Art with a Italian Infantry Company (He would win Best Painted for this army)

I've got to say I don't find Hasty Attack to be balanced. At least not in this match up. I won the dice off for attacker and that may have been the most important roll of the game.

Art had 10 platoons so he can start with 5, the rest in delayed reserves. He places Infantry, AT guns, Tanks and 105 Artillery out, keeping some massive Truck mounted Coastal Guns in Immediate Ambush.

I employ the old rush the left flank trick that served me well in Round 1. My target objective was covered by a platoon of Reluctant Trained M13 tanks. My biggest fear were the coastal guns and as a result started with my 81mm Mortar platoon on the table.

I mean, look at them, they are terrifying!

The Coastal Guns are similar to German 88s. I start with my Mortars specifically with the task of smoking these bad boys.

My French Starting Line

The whole board. My plan was to strike up the left flank, similar to game 1.

Defending my target objective was a platoon of Italian Reluctant Trained Tanks

They French Army moves out.

Char B and Laffys deal with the Italian tanks.

Between the Italian tanks, Air attack and 105mm Arty bombardment

French Infantry advance cautiously through the woods as the coastal guns loom

Char's grab the objective. Art fails to get any reserves and the game is over

6-1 to me in a game that was pretty rough on my opponent. Had I lost the roll off for attacker at the beginning of the mission the results would have probably been reversed.

Overall I finished with 16 points and won the tournament. I received some great buildings from Outrider Hobbies and a store credit!

For those of you who are wondering, Jake did well also, finishing with 13 points , going 1-1, 6-1, 6-1


Overall it was a great time. I played against three great players and fun guys.