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| The Table |
Back at it again, this time with Carsten, for some Late war action! I've been playing this Panzer Student list from Desperate Measures for a couple months, but decided to swap the Panzersturm I initially had in the list for x4 PzIV's, so I am eager to see how they work out.
Carsten was running the US 3rd Armoured list from Bridge at Remagen with LOTS of Jumbos and 76mm guns... gulp.
The Forces:
Panzer Ausbildungs Verband (CT)
IC Ausbildungs Panther
2iC Ausbildungs Panther
x4 Ausbildungs StuG G w/ x4 Schurzen and Tank Escorts
x4 Ausbildungs Stug G w/ x2 Schurzen
x4 Ausbildungs Panzer IV
x3 Ausbildungs Panzer II
x1 Sd Kfz 234/1 (2cm), x1 Sd Kfz 234/4 (Pak40)
x3 15cm NW41 Nebs
3rd Armoured (RV)
IC 76mm Jumbo Sherman
2iC 75mm Jumbo Sherman
x1 Uparmoured Easy 8, x1 76mm Jumbo, x1 75mm Jumbo
x1 Super Pershing
Full Armoured Rifle Platoon - Drop halftracks, extra bazookas
x2 105mm Shermans
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| Objective Placement |
So, yeah... dem's a lot of jumbos! Oh, and a Super Pershing... Ouch! One thing I do have going for me is numbers Guess I was going to be playing the role of the Soviets and gunning for flank shots this game. I was thinking that I'd also need to use smoke to hopefully change the odd hit to a miss and help my tanks survive long enough to get to the flanks.
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| German Deployment after Recce |
Since Carsten decided to deploy his tank platoon and Super Pershing on the table (Pershing in Ambush) and hold the infantry and 105's in reserve, I just piled my strength on the left flank, looking to push for that green hill in his deployment zone and take the objective in the house back there. I left the PzIV's on the right as a decoy to occupy the two 76mm guns on that flank for as long as they could, and to give them something to think about if they wanted to manoeuvre to support the left. My PzII's and recce would just hang back and look to pick on the reserves when they arrived.
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| US Deployment Left Flank |
US left flank - 2iC 75mm Jumbo, and IC 76mm Jumbo. Who needs cover when you're basically invulnerable to the front!
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| US Deployment Right Flank |
The Tank Platoon holds the right flank.
German Turn 1
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| The Germans rumble forward |
Not much happening on German turn 1. The panthers take a couple hail Mary shots downtown at a jumbo and miss, while the PzIV's move up to tempt the Easy 8 in the woods.
US Turn 1
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| Bacontree! ('ambush!) |
It didn't take long for the Super Pershing to
pop up. As expected, Carsten ambushes the Super Pershing on the Left flank where all the action is.
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| The Pershing fires on the lead StuG platoon |
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| But only bails one out! |
I did present Carsten's IC with shots on my Pak40 puma, but didn't think he'd take them over shooting at the StuG platoons - he did, however, and got a 6 to hit, knocking out the Puma.
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| Sneaky Kraut... |
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| Kaboom! |
The tank platoon on the Right flank opened up on the PzIV's and also only managed a single bail result.
German Turn 2
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| Germans keep pressing |
Feeling lucky that I only lost my Pak40 puma last turn, the Germans keep pressing forward.
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| Panzer IV's move for more shots on the Easy 8 |
The tankers remount and fire back on the Easy 8 - the shots either miss or are bounced.
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| Through the Pass - Schnell! Schnell! |
With no other option, the StuGs and panthers pile through the narrow pass, hoping for support from the nebs.
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| The Super Pershing is smoked |
Luckily, the Pershing is smoked, reducing accuracy, or rate of fire if it moves.
US Turn 2
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| The Beast Emerges from the smoke... |
The Pershing decides he would rather take a single clean shot than two obscured shots and moves out to the edge of the smoke to take a single shot at the IC, but misses.
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| ...and misses! |
The Jumbos fare a bit better this time around and destroy one StuG and bail another. The 76mm Jumbo missed his shots, while the 75mm Jumbo did the damage.
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| Clash of the titans |
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| The US Tank Platoon pops two PzIV's |
On the right flank, the Tank platoon fires much more accurately - destroying 2 PzIV's.
German Turn 3
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| The PzIV's continue to sell their lives |
With tanks now starting to go up in flames, the push for the flank must continue! The Panzer IV's continue to duel with the tank platoon.
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| Get to the flank! |
One panther moves to the flank of the 2iC 75mm Jumbo, while seeing the opportunity, the StuG's position for some flank shots on the Tank platoon's Jumbo and Easy 8.
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| 76mm Jumbo and Pershing are smoked |
With our own flanks exposed (for all the difference it makes against the American's big guns, lol), the Nebs drop a smoke screen to try and mitigate the return fire.
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| Both shots miss |
With the opportunity to take out a jumbo in their sights, the panthers open up but miss the mark.
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| Shots miss here as well |
The StuGs all miss their shots as well. With my flanks exposed all over the place, this next turn is gonna hurt.
US Turn 3
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| The IC and Pershing leave the smoke and prepare to fire back |
To get clear shots, the Pershing and IC drive out of the smoke and take shots at the Panthers, but incredibly, their shots all miss! Now who is left out to dry!?
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| 2iC backs up and knocks out another StuG |
The 2iC has no problems killing StuGs though, and knocks out another one.
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| IC 76mm Jumbo misses both shots! |
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| Lots more misses - only a single bail again |
The tank platoon decides to ignore the PzIV's this turn and swing around to fire on the StuGs. The bad dice continue, however, and only a single StuG is bailed!
German Turn 4
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| Move to the flanks! |
The Germans got lucky again last turn and didn't take many losses, so now it's time to make the Yanks pay!
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| The PzIV's pounce! |
The PzIV's take the opportunity to flank around the tank platoon now that their attention has turned to the StuGs. They score a rear hit on the 76mm Jumbo, but it bounces.
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| StuGs line up flank shots, protected by smoke. |
The StuG platoon fares much better and lines up 4 flank shots into the IC Jumbo. One shot makes it past the armour and BOOM! Up he goes.
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| Got the IC 76mm Jumbo! |
One less 76mm gun to worry about.
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| Roh row raggy... |
The Panthers finally get flank shots on their rather unlucky counterpart, but fail to take advantage of the situation by rolling snake eyes to hit. These 3 tanks just can't seem to hit anything!
The StuG with the rear shot on the 2iC also misses.
US Turn 4
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| The dance continues... |
Given another shot to take out the panthers, the Pershing backs onto the hill and fires away, but once more, misses! Clearly the crew aren't used to the tank yet.
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| The tank platoon pulls back to deal with the PzIVs |
With smoke in their way to get clean shots on the StuGs, the tank platoon moves back to finish off the Panzer IV platoon. Finally Carsten gets some good dice and the Panzers are destroyed.
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| Panzer IV platoon is destroyed |
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| 2iC bails a StuG, causing an Enjoy the War check |
Taking it upon himself to get something done on the left flank, the 2iC continues to fire on the StuG platoon and gets another bail - causing them to make 'Enjoy the War' checks, which both tanks fail; destroying one of the StuG platoons.
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| Both StuGs fail and are destroyed |
German Turn 5
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| I'm not so sure the best gunners were assigned to the panthers... |
Well, the panthers survived for another turn against that best of a tank, surely this time we'll get a hit on the flank... Nope, two misses again!
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| StuG's line up flank shots on the Tank platoon |
The central StuG platoon moves to get on the objective and take flank shots on the tank platoon. A lucky shot gets through and is gun-tanked onto the 76mm Jumbo, knocking out the command tank of the platoon; preventing them from moving.
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| The 76mm command Jumbo is knocked out! |
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| Panthers Stormtrooper closer to the objective |
The Panthers stormtrooper toward the objective and await the return fire from the Pershing.
US Turn 5
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| Reserves finally arrive! |
Finally, Reserves arrive for the US! Both platoons arrive this turn and move toward the objective held by the StuGs.
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| The beast scores a hit! |
With its flanks protected by the newly arrived armoured rifle platoon, the Super Pershing takes aim and finally, after 5 turns, scores a hit; knocking out the 2iC Panther!
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| and knocks out the 2iC! |
The 2iC Jumbo moves to contest the objective and gets a bail on one of the StuGs.
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| Tank platoon's jumbo misses both shots! |
The remaining Jumbo in the tank platoon fires at the StuGs, but both shots miss!
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| Sherman 105's rumble forward |
The Sherman 105's take aim at the StuGs as well, but the shots go wide.
German Turn 6
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| Panzer IIs jump on the infantry |
With the US reserves finally arrived, the Panzer IIs and the Puma make their move and jump on the Infantry.
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| Nebs drop HE on the US bloodbags |
The Nebs add some fire as well, dropping a barrage that kills a stand.
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| Getting thinned out |
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| Not quite a platoon check |
Between the arty and the MGs, 4 teams are taken out of action.
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| IC panther finally gets a hit of his own! |
After what seemed like an eternity, the IC Panther FINALLY hits something and blows up the US 2iC.
US Turn 6
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| Infantry remains pinned - Pershing moves to contest |
With the infantry remaining pinned, it's up to the Pershing to contest the objective.
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| Shot goes wide! |
He takes a shot at the IC panther, but true to form, his shot misses its target.
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| 75mm Jumbo bails another StuG |
Still leaderless and unable to move, the 75mm Jumbo fires and bails yet another StuG.
German Turn 7
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| Panzer IIs prep for the assault |
Sensing defeat in the Americans, the Panzer IIs press the attack and prepare to assault the Infantry.
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| StuGs flank the Super Pershing |
While the StuGs swing around the flank of the Super Pershing, looking for the kill shot.
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| IC Panther moves to fire on the Jumbo |
The IC panther decides to leave the Pershing to the StuGs and moves to take close range shots on the Tank platoon's 75mm Jumbo.
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| The Beast is dead! |
The StuGs show the IC how it's done and knock out the Super Pershing!
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| The IC Panther Bails the Jumbo |
Momentum carries over to the IC and he bails the Jumbo.
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| Panzer IIs roll over this poor team... |
In the assault, the panzers make short work of the lone infantry team.
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| ...and prep for the final push next turn |
US Turn 7
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| Sherman 105's move to contest |
In a last ditch effort to drive the StuGs off the objective, the Sherman 105's move up to contest and open fire - but their shots both miss.
The 75mm Jumbo stays bailed.
German Turn 8
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| StuGs flank the Sherman 105's |
Having survived just about everything the Americans have thrown at them and probably feeling invincible, the StuGs again move for flank shots - this time on the 105 Shermans.
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| Panzer IIs open up on the Infantry |
The Panzer IIs move to open up on more Infantry.
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| Killing both LMGs! |
Between the Panzers and the Nebs, both LMG's are taken out - Putting the Americans at a platoon Morale check.
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| IC Panther finally hits the hull and knocks out the Jumbo |
The IC also manages a shot that hits the hull of the 75mm Jumbo and finally takes the beast down - putting the Tank platoon on a Morale check as well.
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| StuGs knock out both Sherman 105's |
The StuGs continue their fine work and knock out both Sherman 105's.
Both the Infantry and Tank platoons take Morale checks and the infantry fail, while the lone easy 8 passes, but with no IC or 2iC left, the Americans fail company morale and leave the field in the hands of the Germans.
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| Victory to Germany 4-3 |
Conclusion
Wow, what a terrible display of die-rolling on both our parts (Carsten had the worst of it I'd say though!), haha. We both found it hilarious how long it took the Pershing and panthers to hit anything. With so many 76mm guns and just about every tank Carsten had invulnerable to my guns from the front, I was unsure how this game would play out. I feel I got very lucky early on and didn't start taking important losses until around turn 3, which left me with enough tanks to really start to threaten the flanks of his Jumbos and Pershing - keeping them on the move and reducing their accuracy a little (which, combined with Carsten's poor luck with the dice, kept a lot more tanks alive than what probably should have happened).
The Panzer IV's did about as much as I could expect given the terrain. If I had brought them with the rest of the force, I feel like they would have been forced to move at a snail's pace while they waited their turn to go through the pass. I also can only stormtrooper with platoons that my IC or 2iC join, so they would have been left behind rather quickly. As it was, they gave up a point by dying, but I think they caused enough of a distraction and bought me enough time to deal with the rest of the US force by doing so.
I'm really enjoying the Panzer Student list. It has a lot of firepower and is fairly resilient. Playing trained tanks is a bit new to me, so it's taking some getting used to. I'll just keep playing with them and try to build off what I learned from them today.
