Flames of War Firestorm BAGRATION Turn 3 Battle report

Well it was another exiting Club say. During the first two turns the Soviets had won 9 battles and the Germans just 2, so it was important to make a better showing. Hitler must have given one if his sterling talks as the Germans fared much better. Out of the six battles fought the Germans one 4 and the Soviets 2.

This is the coloured map after three turns. The Germans managed to recapture 2 areas, but the Soviets captured another city.

As can be seen the Germans are no longer out of supply. The victory point are 110 in the favour of the Germans, so still an operational victory for the Germans.

The Russians must absolutely capture more cities.

Here are the results.

Battle 1 was John (Soviet) versus Jeff (German). It was suppose to be a city attack. Not sure how the terrain was decided. The Germans had a 20% reduction in force with Engr and STUG as Firestorm and the Soviets had IS-02 and air support. The mission rolled was a Free for all. This was a German victory. No indications of the level of victory, but the game only lasted 30 minutes so probably a 8-1 victory. Here is the map.

Battle 2 was me Serge (Soviet) versus Chris (German). We both brought Infantry forces with tanks and arty in support. The Soviets had a SU-75 and air support as firestorm and the Germans had Engr and a Train. The mission rolled for was No Retreat. The terrain was city, so I actually took buildings.

This was the start state.

The red dice is my spearhead move from my recce. This allowed my troops to be placed 8 inches from the recce team. The two objectives are indicated by the round circles.

Here is my battle plan. My small platoon of 15 teams was going toward the centre to take out some Guns and my larger platoon of 22 teams was moving for the far objectives. My Guns and Arty were mainly to try and take out guns and to do some attrition. My ISU 122 would be doing a slow left attack on the front left objective

The following pictures shows turn 1 complete. I have taken out his reconnaissance vehicles and moved up my infantry. The German rocket launchers open up on the Infantry and kill a couple of stands. The remaining Germans stay gone to ground making them hard to hit.

The second turn sees my left Infantry platoon taking out the Guns and my Right platoon taking out the German infantry in the building. Again the Germans counter attack with rocket launchers and start firing back with Infantry weapons, but all my infantry is in the ruins so with bullet proof cover not very many infantry are killed. The German 8.8 decides to shoot down a plan instead of being used in defensive fire or shooting.

Turn three I finish off the German platoon on the right and take the objective. I also manage to capture the two 8.8 guns as my consolidation moves within 2 inches of them.

Just off the map on the right I have been doing a right flanking with my SU-76 firestorm. The past their blitz move and opened up on the only Enemy close to the objective. With my troops holding the objective the game is over.

The game lasted 4 turns. The Germans had a lot of difficulty killing these large infantry platoons.
Both the German firestorm troops are captured and they have no where to retreat. The outcome was a Soviet stunning victory of 8-1.


Battle 3 saw Mike (Germans) attack Jay (Soviet). The Germans had a Panther and half-track as firestorm troops and the Soviets had a T34/85. Mike mentioned that the game was closer then the result indicated. This battle was fought in plains. The outcome was a German stunning victory 8-1. The Soviet firestorm T34/85 was destroyed.

Here are some pictures

Battle 4 was Martin (German) attacking Duncan M (Soviet). The Germans had a Tiger as firestorm and the Soviets had a T34/85 and Air Support. The terrain was hills. The outcome was a Soviet stunning victory 8-1. Here are a couple of pictures.

Battle 5 was Nick (Germans) with a 20% reduced force attacking Duncan A (Soviets). The Germans had a Tiger and half-track as firestorm and the Soviets had a T34/76. The terrain was plains and was really well done. The outcome was a German 7 - 2 victory. The mission was Rear Guard. Wonder why I give those sheets out. It is worth to mention that Nick won this battle with a reduced force on the attack. Not a small feat. No firestorm troops got destroyed. Here are a couple of pictures.

Battle 6 saw Stan (Soviets) attacking Bernhard (Germans) This was a city attack and it was a Rearguard mission. The terrain was a city and very well done. The German troops in the city were out of supply, but as luck had it there was no effect. The Soviets attacked with a Penal Company with SMG and IS 2 support. The Penal company was reinforced with a unit of SU 76.  The armor was on the left flank and the infantry spread out to the right, 3 massive companies. To defend, the Germans called on Otto Carius and his Kampfgruppe reinforced with a unit of Pioneers and Gepanzerete PzGrenadiers.  The Germans deployed awaiting the soviet attack , Carius on the left flank to counter the IS 2 and SU 76.

First turn, Soviets advanced and the soviets fire on Carius ( miss ) and a German squad in a building (hit and kill). Germans retaliate in their turn killing 1 IS 2 and bailing the other, the crew failed to remount and then decided to return to soviet rear areas.  The soviets advanced again, and Germans withdrew a unit, the SU 76s losing 2 of their number on this turn, the next turn, they lose 2 more and then the unit decided to leave the battle. On the right flank, the Germans were assaulted by hordes of Soviets, beating back the assaults without losing any units (dug in difficult to kill).  The Soviets after 2 turns of trying to assault succeed and kill a few German units but again, the Germans counter attack and push the soviets back (thanks to Windgruber, Assault units hit on a 2+).   As Otto Carius advancedd, he starts to fire on the Soviets pinned in the streets and the eventual fire from all sides causes the Soviets to finally concede. 

The Germans lost only 1 unit ( 6 stands killed out of 8 ) and 2 other stands (killed by HMG fire and IS 2 fire) while the soviets lost the majority to defensive fire.  Stan didn't have luck with saves, which did cause a large number of casualties but killing any troops in buildings is very difficult (Bernhard didn't fire at some times to get the gone to ground bonus, meaning Veterans are hit on a 6 and need a firepower roll of 6 to kill (this was/is very difficult)

In the firestorm roll, the IS 2 was lost and the Germans held the City. Total turns played was 5. 

Here are a couple of pictures.

So after 6 battles these are the locations of the Firestorm troops. There were no possible exploitation moves. An exploitation move happens after an attacking player is victorious and can move in an adjacent enemy area that is not occupied by firestorms. This was not the case.

Was is left to do as set up for Turn 4 is the strategic deployments. I will have a talk with the German General to see what he is planning.

Thanks for everyone that participated today.

Serge