Normandy Para Encounter

Situation:  Only a few days after D-Day a US parachute platoon from the 101st Airborne finds itself at the center of an attack by the 6th Fallschirmjager Regiment.  Using the Flames of War Ruleset the US list was taken from D-1 US Parachute Company list.  The army (1750 points) consisted of 3 Parachute rifle platoons, one mortar platoon, field artiller battery (CT), and 3 Sherman tanks (CV).  The Fallschrimjager list (1740  points) was taken from the website list for Normandy FJ.  The FJ list consisted of 3x FJ platoons, one mortar platoon, a light gun platoon, field artillery battery, and three StuG Gs. 

My son choose the location and the armies to fight.  I wanted to test out my newly painted FJ company based for North West Europe.  This gave me the best opportunity.  Soon, I will try out an Irish Guards vs. Fallschirmjager battle to test their mettle against an armoured foe. 

The Map was set up to have First platoon of the US para in the Town toward the Axis side of the table.  The US second and third platoon were on the far side of the table with the objective of saving the first platoon.  The Germand initially started with the first and second platoon on the map as not to overwhelm the US Paras holding the town. 

Flames of War Miniatures Storage

Storage is always an issue since we want to keep our toys away from any and all danger!

I have a couple methods of storage….

Primary storage for infantry

Carboard Box

• 12″ x 9 ” x 2″ cardboard mail box from Walmart
• sheet of duct metal from Lowes or Home Depot, Cut to size, and placed in bottom of box
• magnetic tape for photographs from Walmart placed on the bottom of each team. 

I can get a full US, German, and UK company with some extra room into these boxes.  I use the same boxes for my artillery and based vehicles. 

Assault on Kapitanovka

Assault on Kaptianovka is the second battle for the pocket forces in the Korsun Campaign series.   The battle which was fought in the February 1944 pitted the 389th Infantry Division against elements of the Soviet 53rd Army. The 389th was able to hold out long enough, so that reinforcements were able to arrive.  However, the overwhelming strength of the Soviet offensive won the town over and ultimately forced the Germans back.

Strike at Tinovka

This battle follows the Korsun Pocket campaign series, except this is the first battle for the relieving forces.  The relieving forces is an element from Schwere Panzer Regiment Bake.  The Soviets in this case are a Motorstrelkovy that has settled down for the night in the small village of Tinovka. 

Breakthrough to Minsk

With the recent release of the Flames of War book Hammer and Sickle, I wanted to try out some of the new formations.  My son (6 years old) agreed to be the Soviet commander while I helped out on both sides.  I tried out the new Sperrverband Company (Reluctant veteran) and the Guards Tankovy  with T34/85s and decoy Panzer IVs.  The Sperrverband units were used to slow down the Soviet advance during the Bagration Offensive in Summer 1944.

The Battle for Burtki

This is the first battle in a campaign set concerning the Korsun Pocket operations during February 1944 between the Soviets and Germans.  It is based off the campaign series on the Flames of War website http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=1063

The Battlefield consisted of a semi wooded landscape, a small river, and German trechworks on the western edge.  The battlefield was under a blanket of snow which made the terrain difficult going.    The Big Push scenario from the Flames of War book was used to recreate this battle.  There were some modifications to the defenses, because i prefer the defenses outlined in Stalins Onslaught.

Third Battle for Cassino

After reading the books “Day of Battle” by Rick Atkinson, the Osprey book on Cassino, and “Monte Cassino” by Matthew Parker, I wanted to develop and play a series of battles based loosely around the series of battles on the Gustav Line.   The first battle I wanted to playtest was based on the Third Battle of Monte Cassino where the II New Zealand Corps came close to taking their objectives, but stout German defensives and counter attacks stalled the offensive plus a myriad of planning and operational issues the Allies had.