NorCal D-Day Firestom Event- pt. 3

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.  Anyone who donated Firestorm troops, brought terrain, helped set up tables and helped promote this.  A big thanks to Nick for helping me run my first Flames of War event.  We gave away over $600 of minis!  This was also a free event!  Some of the Firestorm Units we gave away:

The Prizes.  The tanks are magnetized and removable for play.

Dave Ripperda, Best German General, received Michael Wittmann's Tiger IE.

Russ Moore, Best British General, received Joe Ekins' Firefly Vc.

Damon Di Denti, Best US General, received Oddball's Sherman from Kelly's Heroes.

Pablo Meron, Best Sportsmanship, received this Kubelwagon Objective.

Sarah Welsh, Dunkirk 'winner', received this Cromwell Objective.

Josh Kegerreis, Best Presentation, received a $25 Gift Certificate from Secret Weapon and will also receive a vignette from Saving Private Ryan that I'm still working on.  Josh's 1. SS Panzergrenadiers were awesome.

NorCal D-Day Firestorm Event- pt. 2

Some pics of tables and games:

Naval artillery spotter supporting USS Frankford covering Omaha Beach.

1st Infantry Division moving into Cagny.

2nd Armored Division assaulting the 352. Infanteriedivision's defensive line.

2nd Armored Division deep behind the defenses of Juno Beach and 21. Panzerdivision.

Panzer Lehr attempting to reclaim Pegasus bridge from 4th Armoured Division (Canada).

9. Panzerdivision holds Colombelles versus 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division.

7th Armoured Division assaults Omaha Beach while 9. Panzerdivision defends.

Damon's 2nd Armored Division defending Mortain from Pablo's 9. Panzerdivision.

P-51's from 339th Fighter Group line up for an attack on Panzergrenadiers from 9. Panzerdivision.

Beutepanzers of 100. Panzer Abt. reach the landing beaches, rampaging among the rear artillery of 2nd Armored.

Beutestugs of 21. Panzerdivision supported by Königstigers attack Mortain against 7th Armoured Division. 

Crocodiles of 6th Guards Tank Brigade move through the suburbs of Cherbourg.

NorCal D-Day Firestorm Event- pt. 1

I flew back to California last weekend to host a Flames of War event for my old crew at Gamescape North in San Rafael.  It was a strict Red v Blue event that drew 22 players from all over the area.  We played three rounds at 1500 points with lists only from the D-Day period but each table was themed around a specific battle and both sides received unique bonus troops tied historically to that battlefield.  Balance was a major consideration as was historical accuracy.  Prizes were awarded for Best US, Best British, and Best German Generals, as well as Sportsmanship and Presentation.  All of the Firestorm units were also raffled off at the end of the event!  We played Hold the Line, Counterattack and Free For All.  Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen!

Pegasus Bridge- John's Panzer Lehr Panzergrenadiers counterattacking Dai's 4th Armoured Canadians.

Utah Beach- Mike's 7th Armoured Cromwells attacking John's 17. SS Panzergrenadiers.

Omaha Beach- Russ' 6th Guards Churchills assaulting Richard's 711. Infanterie Grenadiers.

Juno Beach- Bill's 2nd Armored Stuarts assaulting Brad's 21. Panzerdivision Beutestugs.

Carentan- Dave's Task Force A attacking Luke's 9. Panzerdivision Panzerspäh.

Escaping the Noose- Damon's 2nd Armored Shermans attacking Dave's 352. Infanterie Grenadiers. 

Cherbourg- Kevin's 2nd Armored Division Armored Rifles attacking Josh's 1. SS Panzergrenadiers.

Haute Vents- Sarah's 7th Armoured Cromwells attacking Nick's 9. Panzerdivision Panzers.

Operation Stack- Martin's 50th Infantry Division attacking Wyn's 9. Panzerdivision Panzergrenadiers.

Cagny- Marco's 1st Infantry Rifles attacking Pablo's 9. Panzerdivision Panzergrenadiers.

Mortain- Sam's 100. Panzer Abt. Beutepanzers counterattacking Reno's 1st Infantry Rifles.

Battlefront Early War Sale

I'm a sucker for a good deal, especially on Flames of War stuff so I went ahead and grabbed a pile of new minis.  I'm not a huge fan of Early War and the local group won't even consider playing it until an American list comes out (maybe in a year or two?) but I couldn't pass on the sale.  I've wanted to build a Japanese force since they were announced but couldn't logically buy into it until now.  For just over $200 I bought every blister and box I might ever need for any list I'd want to run. This will be the first non-German army I own, mostly because it's too large an investment to own more than one, but luckily these troops will be usable in any future Japanese list as well.

Late War Tournament in ABQ

Made a drive up to Albuquerque last weekend for a quick two-round event hosted by Active Imagination.  The group up there has been rebuilding after experiencing a drop-off in FoW players recently but the guys that do play are great.  It was Late War 1650 with a June-October 1944 restriction.  All of the tables were themed bridge-crossings.  I had no idea what to take so I just threw a 26. Panzerdivision list together from Fortress Italy.  My list had: Panzer IV Hs in the HQ and a platoon of four more, three Panther As, four StuG M42s (semoventes) four 8-rads in two patrols and a platoon of Grenadiers.

My first game was against Jeff and an Irish Guards list with Cromwells and Challengers in Surrounded.  I won the roll to attack.

Weak-side deployment.  Grenadiers and the 2iC.  This would at least keep some of the tanks on this side of the river, which was Impassable for the tournament.

The rest of my force deployed on this side since all of Jeff's tanks were on the other side of the river.  His Immediate Ambush dropped next to the bridge but my Panzer IVs rushed him Turn One and killed both.  Panthers would work up the left side taking long-range shots at the tanks on the far side of the river.  M42s would engage the Stuart platoon while my Recon worked through the trees to close with the Infantry dug in by the bridge.

Working up the flank!

M42s are more than a match for the Stuarts but my 1iC left himself exposed!

The Challenger bagged a Panther but my Panzer IVs were able to assault the infantry, clearing this side of the river of Allies.  With the only way accross the river blocked, nothing could get close enough to contest.  6-1 victory for me.

My second game was against Derrick and a King Tiger company in Dust Up and I barely came away with a victory there.  A failed Stormtrooper prevented his 1iC King Tiger from rotating his turret and my Panthers arrived that turn from reserve and snuck a round into his rear.  The M42s blasted a trained 88 platoon out of it's foxholes and my Panzer IVs killed some infantry before dying during a brutal assault.  5-2 win for me but it was much closer.  Phone died so no pics!

Had a great time and Active Imagination provided at least a blister to all five players, plus gift cards to the top three.  Thanks again to Keith for running it!