GAJO Games

GAJO Happenings and Ramblings Blog

2012 - Number 7

Flames of War:
Bagration Campaign Action

The NUTS group's ongoing Firestorm Bagration campaign hit a high point this month, as the commanders rolled up 12 actual battles (based on a 2d6 roll), and the Russians won 11 of the 12 initiatives. This allowed Gary, the crafty Russian CiC, to initiate a wave of attacks across the entirety of the campaign area.

This past weekend the group got together to fight out the first 3 battles that were generated. With the recent arrival of the FOW version 3 rules books, the group took the opportunity to fight these out trialing the new rules.

The first engagement featured a Russian Engineer Sapper Battalion assaulting a German Sperrverband Company at Berezino. The Soviets allocated 2 Firestorm troops to the assault, adding a free Sapper Company and IS-2 Platoon to their forces. The Germans countered with their only Firestorm troop available, adding a panzergrenadier platoon to their forces. The Russian assault was ferocious, but Aaron's rolling of saves was almost statistically impossible (as in bad). When the dust cleared, the Soviets were clearly defeated 6-1.

The next action featured a Soviet Heavy Tank Battalion assaulting a German Panzer Company at Dobryna. The Soviets allocated 2 Firestorm troops to the assault, adding a free IS-2 Platoon plus air support to their forces. The Germans countered with their only Firestorm troop available, adding a Panther platoon to their forces. The Russian assault focused on the German left, pushing through a defended woods and hoping to turn the flank of their Panther line. Despite a very aggressive and coordinated assault by light tanks and armored cars, the Germans were able to hold, while their Panthers got the better of a gun duel with the IS-2s in the center. A hard fought 5-2 victory for the Germans in a very close battle.

The final engagement featured a Soviet Guards T-34/85 Battalion taking on a German Tiger Company at Stolpce. As this area abuts and offers access into Minsk from the rear, it was a particularly critical battle for both sides, with the respective CiCs facing off.

With little cover other than snowswept craters and large ice crystals, the long range walkers on both sides were very powerful. The Axis relief forces had brought a large number of infantry units, which struggled to cross the table toward the base under heavy fire.

The Soviets allocated 2 Firestorm troops to the assault, adding a free T-34/85 Company plus air support to their forces. The Germans countered with (again) their only Firestorm troop available, adding a Tiger platoon to their forces. The Russians launched a mass assault focused on the German right on a fairly open table, with only a few gentle hills to break up the action. The Germans tried to fall back gradually, forcing the Soviet armor to constantly move up and lose fire effectiveness. The sheer number of Soviet tanks, coupled with fairly poor die rolling by the Tigers, proved to be too much and the Soviets took a hard earned 4-3 victory.

All in all a really exciting night of battling. Everyone seemed to like the changes in the FOW v3 rules, and the games were quite fast paced and exciting. With 9 more battles to fight this turn, we look forward to a lot more Eastern Front action acoming up!