AIW 1750pts Israeli Tank Coy vs Jordanian Tank Coy in FFA

The Table

 



After finally getting my Israeli Tankers painted, I had a chance to get together with Ryan to play a game of Arab-Israeli War era Flames of War against Ryan's Jordanian Tankers. Needless to say, I was extremely excited to get in some post WWII tank on tank action :D.

The Forces

IDF

IC M51 Isherman
2iC M51 Isherman w/Searchlight

x2 M51 Isherman
x2 M51 Isherman
x4 Sho't
x2 Priests

4 Platoons

Jordanians

IC Centurion 5

x3 Centurion 5
x3 Centurion 5
x2 Centurion 5
x2 Centurion 5

x2 M42 (Twin 40mm) AA
Full Mechanized Rifle Platoon
x2 Anti-tank Jeeps
x3 25pdr Guns

8 Platoons


Deployment

We both Deployed our forces out of line of sight of each other to begin the game. Not sure who would go first, and both wanting to fire the first shot, we bot opted to 'wait and see what the other guy does'. With that in mind, I deployed my M51's along with the IC in the town on my right flank, with the plan that they would try and protect their objective from any Jordanian push, while the Sho't try and advance up the left flank with the 2iC.
Ryan deployed the bulk of his force on his left flank (My right) to try and break through my M51's, while leaving a small platoon of Centurions to occupy the Sho't and keep them from firing on his tanks attacking the town.

1st and 2nd Platoon along with the IC occupy the Town

Sho't, Priests and 2iC on the left flank

IDF Turn 1

Not a lot went on for IDF turn 1. Making use of their Veteran status, the majority of the IDF stays gone to ground and waits to see what the Jordanians will do. The Sho't redeploy slightly to focus on the left if the Centurions decide to come out and play.

The Sho't redeploy slightly and wait for the Centurions to reveal themselves

Jordanian Turn 1

With the IDF keeping quiet, Ryan decides to push his numbers advantage and begin his attack. things got off to a rough start with an AT jeep and one of his AA tanks bogging down trying to redeploy.
Ryan pulls a couple Centurions up to a hull down position along the central hill and sweeps hard along the IDF right flank with 6 Centurions and his Mechanized Infantry.
The other 3-tank Centurion platoon pokes out from their position on the left flank, tempting the Sho't to open fire.

AT Jeep Bogs

M42 Bogs

IDF Turn 2

With the Jordanians on full attack, the IDF positions to take the charge. 2nd platoon remains gone to ground in the town, while the Sho't and 1st platoon prepare to make their presence known.

IDF IC redeploys slightly

Sho't take up firing positions

Three of the Sho't open up on the Centurions on the left flank, while the fourth tank fires on the Centurions occupying the central hill. Tank #4 manages a hit, but it is bounced.

Prepare to fire!

1st Platoon opens up on the Centurions on the hill

The M51's however, fare a little better. Because of their expert gunnery, they manage to hit with all 4 shots and one finds its way through. First blood to the IDF!

And knock one out!

Sho't open fire...

The remaining Sho't open up and also manage to take out a Centurion at long range, reducing the Jordanian presence on the left by a third.

...and knock out a Centurian

Not wanting to be exposed to any more fire than necessary, the Sho't takes advantage of a successful 'Few Against Many' move to slink back into the woods.

One Sho't slinks back into the woods

Jordanian Turn 2

Not messing around, Ryan takes advantage of his numbers and swarms the M51's in the town. The Mechanized infantry also double time it right onto the objective on the right flank.

Here come the Lions!

The Centurions on the left flank pop out to fire on the Sho't, while one stays put to fire on the IDF 2iC. The shots at the Sho't all miss their mark.

Centurions manoeuvre for shots 

25pdrs smoke off 1st Platoon

To reduce the incoming fire at the remaining Centurion on the central hill, the 25pdrs smoke off 1st platoon.

In one side and out the other - The 2iC is bailed

The Jordanians score a hit on the IDF 2iC and the shot punches straight through its weak armour, but only manages to bail the crew.

Another shot punches straight through and bails out the crew!

The flanking Centurions on the right also land a hit on the M51's, but only manage to bail the crew as well! That is, until the Centurion occupying the central hill opens up and lands a solid hit on the IDF IC - Boom! Up he goes!

IDF IC Brews up!

IDF Turn 3

The Sho't return fire on the Centurions on the left flank and land several hits, destroying two Centurions!

Return fire!

Targets destroyed!

Under heavy threat on the right, the priest OP calls in a frantic fire mission on the armoured Infantry and blows up one M113!

Arty OP calls in a mission on the Infantry

M51 destroys a Centurion!

2nd Platoon moves to take a shot at the encroaching Centurions and a lucky shot finds its way through!

And slinks back over the hill - contesting the Objective

The M51 then makes a successful 'Few against Many' move to slink back behind the hill, keeping within 4" of the contested objective.
On the Left flank, the final Centurion decides that discretion is the better part of Valour, and retreats, leaving just the M42's guarding the objective.

Remaining Centurion on the left bugs out!

Jordanian Turn 3

The Jordanians have taken big losses, but now it is time for the push-back!
Centurions push up to the edge of the town, while the Infantry unpin, disembark and push on the M51's.

Kaboom! A Super Bazooka bags an M51

The infantry make their mark on the game and blast apart an M51 with their Super Bazooka, clearing the objective of any IDF defenders!
The rest of the Jordanian shooting was largely ineffective.

In goes the assault!

And in comes the assault! The super Bazookas land a hit but the M51 bounces it!

The M51 bounces the assault and Breaks off

Not wanting to push his luck, the M51 breaks off and the Jordanians consolidate back onto the objective, leaving the objective under Jordanian Control.

IDF Turn 4

With the Jordanians in control of the right flank, the IDF are in desperation mode. The remaining M51 from 2nd platoon swings back toward the objective while the arty OP calls in close range fire onto the Jordanian infantry, killing several teams!

Danger Close!

The Sho't reposition to lend fire to the right flank and to fire on the remaining Centurion on the central hill.

Sho't pop out to fire

They knock out 2 more Centurions on the right!

Sho't Knock out 2 more Centurions!

But they continue to bounce shots off the Centurion on the hill

This Centurion continues to bounce Sho't rounds!

So the 2iC takes matters into his own hands and knocks him out with a flank shot!

IDF 2iC nails him!

2nd platoon's remaining M51 opens up on the infantry and causes enough casualties to force a platoon morale check...

Breakthrough gun and MG shots weaken up the Infantry

Which they fail! The Objective has been reclaimed, but the Jordanians are now at Company Morale...

Infantry retreat!

Jordanian Turn 4

Passing his Company Morale check, the Jordanian IC charges over the hill to try and knock out 2nd platoon, but his shot misses, leaving him exposed on the hilltop.

Over the top!

IDF Turn 5

Sensing victory, the Sho't swing their tanks around and knock out the AT jeeps in the Vinyard...

Sho't knock out the AT jeeps in the vineyard






Sho't knock out the last Centurion

While the other two Sho't line up the Jordanian IC


Ka-blam!

And knock him out - Leaving victory to the IDF, 6-1

Victory to the IDF

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Man, AIW is fun!

 

When we decided to buy forces for this era, I just went with the 'Rule of Cool' and bought the tanks I thought looked the coolest and then built my list around that. Likewise, Ryan is a HUGE fan of the Centurion, so he went for as many of those as he could. We saw this era as a tank-fest, and it does not disappoint :D.

 

I am absolutely in love with the Sho't. Their massive gun combined with the fantastic IDF rules, make them absolutely deadly at long range and in cover. The 2+ firepower on the Sho't and M51's made all the difference this game. I passed several of my firepower tests on 2's, while Ryan failed some of his initial firepower rolls on 2's (Centurion 5's have a 3+ firepower gun). Had those initial bails been kills, it would have been a VERY different game.

 

I can't wait for the next one!