WarBanner 2016

This year I have decided to travel to Napier/Hastings for Warbanner which is usually a Warhammer event but this year is offering Flames of war. So when my good friend Warren suggested we go up as he has a place to stay sorted I couldn't say no. So we will traveling up on Friday night for the weekends gaming (I will have to tape the Bathurst 1000). The event is 1625pts late war Ive chosen to go with a list out of the Remagen book which has lots of toys i've wanted to use for a while. Purshings, Sherman crocs and jumbos to name a few.

This is what I went with.

US Tank Company (9th Armored Division) from Bridge at Remagen,

Company HQ - CinC M4A3 Sherman (late) (105 pts)
- Replace M4A3 Sherman (late) with M4A3E2 Jumbo (only one per HQ) (40 pts)

Heavy Tank Platoon - Command T26E4 Super Pershing (275 pts)

Tank Platoon - 1x Command M4A3 Sherman (late), 3x M4A3 Sherman (late) (415 pts)
- 3x Equip Sherman (unless up-armoured or Jumbo) with improvised armor (15 pts)
- Replace M4A3 Sherman (late) with M4A3E2 Jumbo (only one per platoon) (40 pts)
- Replace M4A3 Sherman (late) with M4A3E8 Easy Eight (up to 3 per platoon) (45 pts)
- Replace M4A3 Sherman (late) with M4A3E8 Easy Eight (up to 3 per platoon) (45 pts)
- Replace M4A3 Sherman (late) with M4A3 (105mm) HVSS (only one per company) (-30 pts)

Mine Exploder Tank Platoon - Command M4 Sherman Crocodile, M4 Sherman Crocodile (140 pts)

Rifle Platoon - Command Rifle, 9x Rifle, Bazooka (200 pts)
- 2x Replace Rifle with Bazooka (10 pts)

Cavalry Recon Platoon - Command M8 Armored car, Mortar Jeep, Recon Jeep (90 pts)
- Replace M8 Armored car with a M5A1 Stuart (15 pts)

Armored Artillery Battery - Command Carbine, Staff, M4 Sherman OP, 3x M7 Priest HMC (220 pts)

1625 Points, 6 Platoons

Ready to roll out

My two Sherman Crocs

My C.O and Super Purshing.

Recon and M7 Priest artillery.

Two E8 Sherman's, Jumbo and a 105mm Sherman

And some infantry to sit on an objective or dig out enemy infantry.

Well I hope to be able to Auto attack with my army because of the Crocs so should have my whole army on most of the time. So hopefully I can put the pressure on the defender with being very mobile and dig them out quite quickly before their reserves arrive to counter attack.

Iron Cross campaign part 3 late war

The final two games were 1750 late war where I would have some of the bigest guns at the Soviet disposal the 122mm gun and 152mm bunker buster. Both mounted on the IS chassis.

Game 5 late war
Vs Ken Camel who was using Panzer pioneers backed by 3 Tiger 1's and some heavy hitting 88mm guns and our mission was called Jaegermeister which was a free for all.

My setup

Ken's setup.

First turn for Ken he bailed an ISU.

My first turn my ISU152's killed an 88 FlaK.

Ken moved up the middle with a pioneer platoon taking out a Zis gun. My return fire killed 3 men.

My fight with the Tigers wasn't going well so a redeployment was in order.

After some successful shooting and an assault the center threat was neutralized.

Ken smoking my tanks and killing my rocket artillery he paved the way for an assault.

One of Ken's Pak 88mm guns goes down as I counter attack.

I fend off the assault both of us taking loses but the game ends in a draw. A hard fought battle.

Ken got - 645pts 500pts for the Draw and killing my Zis guns.
I got - 805pts for the draw and killing one pioneer platoon.

Game 6 late war
Vs Warren Hart my good friend I battle on a regular basis so a hard battle lay ahead. Warren was using his Sturm division with 8x Pak40's and 2x 88mm FlaK guns and Panzerfausts up the wazoo.
The Mission was Gotterdammerung a modified no retreat were the German defender got 2 AT booby traps and 4 infantry booby traps.

My forces ready to attack.

The Germans dug in with some of their PaK40's in ambush.

The cautious advance continues no ambush yet.

Warren's heavy artillery knocks out a ISU. In return his 88's come on for reserve and I deal to them with my artillery.

My C.O goes up one flank by himself to try and spot his artillery for mine but Warren uses his ambush to stop him.

My ISU's deal to one StuG and my infantry assault his platoon of infantry. I eventually get pushed back.

With My C.O dead my sappers try and assault the AT guns they do kill one but get driven back. By this time we had run out of time and Warren had defended very well to keep me back.

Another hard battle with my regular gaming partner great banter had and friendly insults exchanged.
Warren got - 1150pts for the win and killing my C.O.
I got - 115pts for killing his 88mm FlaK platoon

So at the end of the event the Soviets had amasses enough point for the win over the Germans no thanks to me with my lack luster performance. Well done to Bede for taking top spot.
A great weekend and a big step up from other events ive been to in terms of theme. I will be back next year which is to be a North Africa theme so I will most likely use my Americans I think.

The Final Tally.
Red - Soviet
Blue - German