Flames in the Fort Results

Well, back from Flames in the Fort. There was a great turnout and Dean did a great job running the tournament. I placed 9th overall, tying for 12 in Generalship, and, surprisingly, won Best Sport. Thanks to all of my opponents who voted for me.

I had an interesting day on the table. Although I went 4-3, 5-2, 1-6, I didn't destroy a single platoon all day.

My list for the day was 2. SS-Panzergrenadiers
Company HQ (2x PF)
2x Panzergrenadier (3 squads, 2 PF)
Infantry Gun Platoon (2 sections)
Infantry Gun Platoon (1 section)
Anti-tank Gun Platoon (3 sections)
Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon (2cm 3 sections)
2x Marder III M
5x Panzer IV H

My first match (Breakthrough) was against Clyde Norris who was fielding a US Tank Company out of FE. His list looked something like:

Company HQ w/ Dozer Blade
5x Shermans
4x Shermans
4x 76mm Sherman
Armoured Mortar Platoon
2x Cavalry Recon Platoon

I picked my deployment zones to leave Clyde the choice of either attacking a swamp or attacking a forest. He chose to attack the swamp. In the end the biggest factor in this game ended up being the forests. Clyde lost 4 tanks out of the 5 tank platoon trying to assault the AA guns which were on edge of a forest by bogging out either on the way in, assaulting or breaking off. This then made him more cautious than he had time to be since my PGs had found places to defend the objects but stay in Difficult Going.

In the end, Clyde ran out of time. But before he did he had taken out my Panzers with his Hellcats and 76s as well as the AA Platoon when the commander tried to leave under the Sole Survivor rule.

Lesson learned: Gun teams bog . . . a lot!

My second round (Fighting Withdraw) was against Mitch Markey who was also fielding a US Tank Company. Mitch is a young player relearning the game.

Company HQ w/ 105mm Sherman
4x 76mm Sherman
5x Sherman
3x 105mm Sherman
2x Cavalry Recon.

The three objects (with mine in a field in the center) were spread fairly evenly across the table. I KGed a squad out of each of the PG as well as a leIG to give me 3 infantry platoons with a little AT punch as my basis for defense. I placed the PaK40s in a tree line just behind my objective with the command team on the objective to allow them to DF if the PGs got assaulted. The Panzer IVs went into ambush and the Marders were forward behind a forest that I mistakenly though would give them cover.

The Marders got blown away on the first turn by the 76s, while the Shermans advanced down a road through a forest to fire on the PGs on the center objective. The 105s, in the first of many, ranged in on the center objective. (Eventually, the 105s would take out almost an entire PG Platoon on that objective).

I popped the Panzer IVs out of ambush by using the hedges and forests near the center objective to get 10 shots on the lead tanks of the column coming through the woods. In what was probably Mitch's biggest tactical error, he withdrew this tanks from the fight for 4 or 5 turns, pressing instead with only his 76s and the continual pouding of the 105 bombardments.

In the end it came down to turn 8 with the center objective still contested and Mitch needing to kill two platoons to force a Company Moral check. While he was positioned to do it, one of the platoons he had to assault was the 3 gun strong PaK Platoon, which managed to kill the assaulting tanks giving me the game.


My third round (Encounter) was against Simon who was field British Rifle. I'm not sure now what his entire list was but he had 4 25-pdrs, 4 6-pdrs, 2 or 3 rifle platoons, a HMG platoon, 3 Crocs, 3 Wasps, and some more UCs.

I foolishly put my objective on one flank leaving my forces split and then compounded the error by going for the Crocs with my Panzer IVs. I think I killed one Croc. At any rate, Simon eventually overpowered my left flank handing me a 1-6 loss.

All things considered I had a blast and can't wait for next year.

Quick Note of Flames in the Fort

Flames in the Fort was a blast. I did about as good as I could have hoped with a new list. I will post more thoughts on it later.

Preparing for Flames in the Fort

Flames in the Fort is Saturday, and I cut my preparations a little closer than I would have liked. I will be taking my 2. SS-Panzergrenadierkompanie to its first tournament. I had an Infantry Gun Platoon that I had to assemble and paint this week to round out the force. The list is not my first choice for the tournament, but since I just started collecting it about 6 weeks ago I can't complain too much.

Flames in the Fort is shaping up to look like a good competition. There are about 20 players preregistered for this 3 round tournament. We will be playing Encounter, Breakthrough, and Fighting Withdrawal.

This will be my first tournament with an infantry company. It will be interesting to see if I can adjust to defending (or attacking with infantry!).

US Tank Company

My first company in Flames of War was a US Tank Company from Festung Europa. This picture is the version I took Spring Recruits 2007.

The list was:

Company HQ
Tank Platoon (3x 76mm)
Tank Platoon (3x)
Tank Platoon (3x)
Armored Rifle Platoon (Full)
Armored Field Artillery Battery (6x Priests, half-track)

I did fairly well with this list placing in the top half in generalship. The biggest weakness is the three tank platoons. I've played around with various lists that up the tank platoons to four tanks but I haven't found one yet that I like as well.

Who I Am and What I'm Doing Here

Welcome to NW Ohio Gamer. I am what I call an all-around gamer in that I enjoy many different aspects of gaming. In the past, I have played CCGs such as Legends of the Five Rings, Magic: The Gathering, Initial D. I also enjoy a wide variety of board games. Currently, I spend most of my time playing Flames of War (a World War II miniatures game) and World of Warcraft.

This two games will be the focus of this blog for the time being and I hope you can enjoy it.