escalation league complete

We completed our escalation league yesterday. I had originally wanted to run some AAR's from the league but found it difficult to keep tabs on what happened in the games, at some point I will make a point of playing a game for an AAR just to see how well I can do it. The real news from the league is that the majority of lists in the league were Armor lists, there were 2 Infantry lists both of which struggled at low points. The league was predominantly new players or players who had played in the past (mostly version 1 I believe). Early on at low points the armor lists were running right over the infantry lists, but as the infantry was able to add A/T assets the tanks began having a rough time. British 17pdr guns were pounding tanks left and right! At one point I did bring the cheese supporting my Panzergrens with brumbars and the last couple of games I brought out my rarely used Panther platoon, this gave the armor players a difficult time. The 2 infantry lists, my Panzergrenadiers, and a company of British rifles, came out in first and second place.

I would like to thank Randy for the time and effort he put into the league, without him this would have not happened and Syracuse, NY Would still be a FOW dead zone, I would also like to congratulate him on Taking First place and without a doubt showing that Infantry can win the day!

there is no kill like overkill

Our league here is coming down to the last couple of games. Running German infantry against mostly armor lists I have been hurting for AT support at the low point levels, now the points are in my favor and the question is which variety of overkill shall I take? 3 panthers and 3 Brumbars or 2 jagdpanthers and 3 stugs? yes it might be a bit overkill but who doesn't enjoy just a hair of overkill now and again. so I put it to you all out there to help me decide, tell me what you would take and why.

This thought also gave me an excuse to finish up the last bits on my Jagdpanthers, photos shall be up soon.

another t-34 update

After finishing up the t-34's I remembered something else I had planned on doing. While going through the Russian armor For this list I realized I was short 1/2 a tank, I had a hull for a t-34 but couldn't find the turret. I really didn't want to buy another tank when all I needed was a turret. While browsing through Battlefronts Russian offerings I found this blister SU883 Komissar Mikhail Dedov, this comes with a complete t-34 with both the 85 and 76 turrets, both of which are individually sculpted and would make excellent command tanks.

            

T-34's

the T-34's for my 600point list are almost complete, the only thing left for me to do is weather the tracks a little. I painted these in a brown and green Camouflage scheme and i really like the way they look. I am contemplating making this a winter army and have a method in mind for vehicle white wash that should work right over what I have already done. I think this might be interesting having tanks in a summer type camouflage that have been whitewashed over for the winter.

the current battalion commander

escalation league.

Task Force Orange, Syracuse Flames of war is starting a Flames of War Escalation league beginning this coming March. Beginning in  March we will be playing at 600 points and adding points each month until August when we will hit a full 1750 points and hold a Nationals Qualifier tournament. Although I could Simply use army's I already own and add a few new units each month I decided I would use this as an excuse to build up my Russian Tankovy list.

 At 600 Points I will have a whole 2 units on the Table, its gonna be hard to attack and defend for awhile. My 600 point list will comprise of a Battalion Commander Mounted in a T-34/76 and one company of 8 more T-34/76, Supporting the Tanks will be a motostrekovy Company of one Platoon and a single Maxim HMG and a Commissar team to keep them all in Check. I have almost completed the motostrekovy platoon and the T-34's are close to being completed.

In true Russian Fashion the command and Commissar teams lead from the rear

I Played a Game with them this Past Sunday that taught me just how difficult a time German armor can give these guys. I ran against a German Panzer Company with 4 PanzerIV and a PanzerIII along with a platoon of Panzer Pioneers. The Panzers tore me up and simply absorbed most of my return fire.

A thorough Thrashing was had on both sides

Eventually I managed to destroy all 5 of his Panzers at the cost of 7 T-34's. It was a quite the fight and looked bad for me for awhile. once all his Panzers were gone My infantry got up and brought the fight to the Fascist invaders. At this point my larger infantry force poured over the pioneers and took the objective winning the battle for the glory of the Russian people.

Now of course I have to point out that this was only the 3rd or 4th time my opponent had played the game and he is still learning what does and does not work. Though he did put up a good fight and I learned just how nasty German armor can be when all you have is some all but outdated tanks to face him with.

The battle is won, Vodka For all!