Panzerschreck 2018 Bolt Action

After missing Panzerschreck last year due to Flames of war moving onto V4 rules which I haven't liked, Panzerschreck this year had Bolt action on offer. It was 1000pts single reinforced platoon armies I finally had a chance to use my Soviets for the first time but more importantly my T-35.

Just 5 days out from the event the organizer and his 2ic helping him pulled out dew to personal reasons and the event was to be scrubbed. Not having ever ran an event I decided to take on the running of the event. With two people now pulled out that left just 6 of us so this seemed like a good chance to see how running a tournament was. As the person running Flames of war side of the event had already organized the hall and other bits all I had to do was sort prizes for our small comp.

Some laser cut trophies had already been done for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, best painted and best sport. I would like to thank Scott Bowman who runs the Paraparaumu Beach pharmacy. He was kind enough to give some prize support for our little comp. So I gave him the honor of choosing the best painted army. I Also want to thank my brother Shane for the use of his 3D printer so I could make some bolt action blast templates with Panzerschreck 2018 on them.

As there was only 6 of us we played 5 games. Each player played each other once there was 3 games on Saturday and 2 on Sunday.

Game 1 - No mans land.
Game 2 - Key positions.
Game 3 - Meeting engagement.
Game 4 - Sectors.
Game 5 - Demolition.

There was a good mix of armies being used

Myself - Early war soviets - ( Hordes of SMG infantry and a T-35 )
Craig - US Airborne - ( With no armor but lots of AT )
Mark - Early war Finns - ( Sissi ski troops, Vickers 6 ton and BA10 )
Warren - Late war US - ( M26 Pershing and vet Paratroopers  )
Ken - Japanese - ( Lots of infantry)
Andrew - Winter Germans - ( Nasty nebelwerfer and Panther )

Games in progress.

Warren and Craig fighting over the V2 facility.

Warren and Andrews heavy armor clash.

Mark and Ken thinking over their next moves.

Warrens forces adopt a defensive posture.

My 45mm At gun is in a bit of trouble.

Hello say hello to my mass machine gun fire.

The Japanese ready to launch their banzai attack.

Try as he might the Bazookas eventually got the panther.

Airborne troops fight in the rail yard.

The Finns massed armor. ( If you can call it that ).

3inch At gun in over watch.

M26 Pershing looking for trouble.

The two horde armies face off Japs and Russians.

Finnish Artillery controlling the open ground.

Snipers take the high ground.

Charge!!!

Fire again !!!

Recon in force.

Everyone had a great weekend even though it was a small field of players. Everyone said they would be keen for next year and with a bit more time I should be able to get more people entered.

1st - Andrew
2nd - Mark
3rd - Warren
Best painted - Andrew
Best Sport - Ken

I look forward to running another event it was a fun and different experience and very satisfying to of pulled it together in short time. 

Valleycon 2018 day 2

Day two kicked off at 930 am already very warm and with 2 games to play

Game 3 was vs Paul Goldstone he was using the army he ran last year a German reserves (old men on bicycles) army backed up by a Tiger 1. last year the tiger walked all over me this time I was determined for it to be different.

As order dice were drawn for deployment luckily I got the last dice so my Sherman could avoid the tiger and cause havoc on the left flank.

The rest of the army kept the Tiger 1 busy the half track was first to die. My AT gun put round after round into it doing no more then just pinning it.

My Vet squad of infantry WITHOUT any antitank equipment at all pass the tank terror test to assault. They scored 4 hits so I needed a 6 followed by a second 6 and for Paul to fail a morale check. Well we were both stunned by what had happened. Right before the assault my exact words were oh what the hell ill assault.

Although the tiger was dead Paul's mortar killed off my Vet infantry in revenge and there were still panzerfausts lurking around.

The game ended with Paul conceding as he had very little left and I had 3 of the 4 objectives secured.

As usual with Paul a good game was had very laid back and relaxed.

Game 4 was vs Reg Newell. I hadn't played him before its good to meet a new face at the table. He was running British infantry backed by a Churchill VII.

Most of our forces where at this side of the table.

The Churchill, mortar and forward artillery observer wait for a Juicy target to present itself.

My men advanced under fire from sniper, MG and mortar fire but pressed on.

On the left flank my sniper, hafltrack and vet infantry squad advanced vs one of Reg's vet infantry squads dispatching it very quickly. Then these 3 were able to move off the table for 9pts. 3pts for each squad moved off table.

Meanwhile my men hold their ground killing off his observer. And my Sherman finally managed to kill something.

The Churchill was dead even though I had an immobilized tank with a jammed turret I still got it.

The game ended on turn 6 with me winning with 13pts to Reg's 3pts. Getting squads off the table is defiantly worth it in this mission. Reg was good to play agents for a relaxed quite game no stress.

I was surprised to get best painted army something I had never accomplished at all before so was happy with that. I won an IS2 which will go well with my soon to be started soviets and a $10 mighty ape voucher.

I was also browsing all of Scott Bowman's fine wares of his Paraparaumu Beach Pharmacy Hobby corner which he had set up for the weekend at the hall. So got myself a M26 Pershing heavy tank for my Yanks so they have a bit more punch. I managed to sell quite a bit on the bring and buy table as well so a good weekend all round.

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