DAK Attack!

Hey everybody, welcome back to this week’s blog, and to my first attempt at a battle report.

This evening my friend David (of https://drdavesmodels.blogspot.com) and I took a trip to our awesome local gaming store, Entoyment, to run out our first go at Flames of War – Mid War. Although we are both new to mid war (1941-1943), I have had a good few games of late war (1944-1945), meaning I should have a better fundamental grasp on the core mechanics… should.

Having picked our forces, we selected our mission, which I have promptly forgotten the name of in a totally professional way, and came to the decision that I, with German DAK list, would be the attacker, and Dave’s Americans would be defending. My list comprised of a 2x HQ Pz III, 3x Pz III, 4x Pz III, 3x Pz IV, 4x Marder SPG and 2x Stuka Divebombers. This army looked like this:

At this point we had to split our forces, putting at least 40% in to reserves off the table, and the rest got deployed as per the scenario. Dave deployed first with an aggressive push towards his objective goal, using a recce unit to spearhead some T-30 half tracks right in my face, whilst leaving his Sherman Command HQ and M3 Lee units defending my objective goals.

Seeing this, I focused my deployable force to my hard right, covering both the objective and threatening the US advance party. This set up had my command unit, the smaller of the two Pz III squad and the Pz IV squad ready to strike, keeping my Marders and larger Pz III squad in reserve ready to take or push the advantage when they arrived.

With turn 1 starting in my hands I rolled for reserves… no luck, must have been a dodgy radio, however the Stukas knew their presence was needed, and made a glorious entry screaming full pelt at the M3’s.

Knowing they’d need to plough on regardless, I gave my Command Pz III and squad of Pz III the order to Blitz forward to hopefully make short work of the US vanguard, which, along with the fire from the Pz IV squad, was very nearly achieved. However some atrocious dice rolling from me, and a few cheeky saves from a jeep, left deep concerns for the Yankees, but didn’t get the full destruction I was hoping for. Two dead T-30s, with one bailed out and one dead jeep and his half track friend wasn’t a terrible start to the game.

The Stukas didn’t have so much luck! On their final approach, the US .50 cal AA machine guns lit up the desert sky, bringing one of them crashing to earth in an eruption of munitions and fuel. The remaining Stuka, clearly avoiding incoming fire, still managed to drop a bomb close enough to force one M3 crew to bail out, before he peeled off to regain some altitude.

That was the end of my first turn, no closer to my objectives, but a good few neutralised targets to keep the tank crews motivated.

This led to Dave’s first turn of the game; however as his reserves were delayed and scattered he had to endure another few turns before the rest of his force could think of showing up. With the characteristic vigour of the US tank companies, they blazed forward, breaking cover to give Fritz a good stomping. Alongside the rumble of engines, a unit of 105mm artillery guns threw off their ambush cover facing straight at the advancing panzers!

Although heavily threatening the Germans, unfortunately the speed of their advance, or possibly the sun shining in their eyes, meant that much of the American gun fire strayed off target or failed to hit all but one weakspot. However a close call forced one of my command Pz III crews to bail out, when all of a sudden, in a ginormous gout of flames, one of the leading Pz IIIs was knocked out by a direct hit from a 105mm gun.

With this excitement over, Dave finished his turn, passing the baton back to me for round two, with the battlefield looking like this.

German turn two began much like turn one, no reserves! And this time even the Stuka wasn’t interested. Maybe there was something in the local water…

Nevermind, thought the Germans, these Americans won’t stop us. So they ploughed forward, with the two remaining lead Pz III tanks moving forward in to the burning remains of the T-30s and recce platoon. From here they fired at the Shermans, only to watch their rounds bounce harmlessly off their frontal armour!

The Pz IV group lobbed their 75mm shells up and in amongst the 105mm artillery unit, blowing two of them to pieces, and pinning the remaining two gun teams. But, on the left flank, the Command Pz III tanks failed to do any real damage to the M3s storming their way, only forcing the already shaken crew to bail out yet again.

Dave capitalised on my failings and advanced positions. On to US turn 2.

Rolling ever forward, the Americans threw caution to the wind, sending the surviving elements of the recce team screaming towards the objective, whilst attempting to flank the German command with the M3 unit. The Shermans rolled forward, turned their turrets, and opened fire on the Pz III squad.

At this point disaster struck! Sand had fouled the Sherman tank guns, leaving the Americans in despair as they frantically tried to get their guns operational again. The M3 squad again forced a Pz III tank crew to bail out, but this was it for US turn 2.

In all of this excitement I forgot to take any photos of this turn, but it looked great in person! Sorry.

Now back to the Germans with turn 3! Finally some reserves turn up, following the remaining Stuka, the squad of Marders rolled in on the left flank of the M3s. Seeing the Americans rush the objective, the Pz IV squad revved their engines and readied the machine guns. With the artillery undefended, the Stuka dives down on top of them, dropping his final bomb before pulling up again at the last minute. At the end of the movement this is his the battlefield looked.

The Stukas bomb lands bang on target with a thud… no, a dud! Never mind, the Panzer crews knew what to do; the machine guns of the Pz IVs rip the jeep apart and causing the half track crew to hunker down. The lead Pz III squad find the weakspot on the flank of the Shermans, cooking off it’s ammunition in an almighty explosion. The newly arrived Marders make short work of the M3s, destroying two and bailling out another!

Suffering such a battering, the Americans start their turn 3, with moral at a devastating low. Failing to remount one of the M3s, the remaining tank decides to turn and flee. Seeing this rout, the US commander gives the order to retreat en masse, leaving the Germans to roll forward to victory!

What a game! With great revelations, such as how a Sherman should be feared in Mid War games, and some disastrous dice rolls, this was a real cracker of a scenario and a wonderful experience. Both David and I learned a lot about our forces, but most importantly were able to walk away smiling and willing for more.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this, my first battle report, but I’m always happy to hear any comments you may have. So let me know if you liked this, what could I do differently, what did you like.

Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you next week.

Tom