Hi all, it’s been a while but we’re back with a late war AAR, having finally moved into the new chateau, it was time to try out the gaming room (though my wife refuses to use this moniker) and our good friend Army Dave was down for a visit. I’ve wanted to try out the Münchberg list for a while, and Dave rocked up with his U.S list – adapted from Corrivalry.
I will apologise for the giant stream of light over the table but that’s the new house not completely ready yet!
Anyway onto the lists
| PANZERKOMPANIEPANZERDIVISION MÜNCHBERG |
And for the allies U.S 3rd Armoured (CT) |
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| Platoon | Qty | Unit | Points | ||
| Headquarters | |||||
|
2 | M4 or M4A1 Sherman | 130 | ||
| Combat Platoons | |||||
|
4 | M4A1 (76mm) Sherman | 375 | ||
|
3 | M4 or M4A1 Sherman | 190 | ||
| Warriors | |||||
|
Staff Sergeant Lafayette Pool | 25 | |||
| Weapons Platoons | |||||
|
6 | M4 (105mm) Sherman | 310 | ||
|
5 | M5A1 Stuart | 200 | ||
|
1 1 1 1 1 |
Cmd Rifle team M2 half-track with .50 cal AA MG Rifle team Jeep Bazooka team |
65 | ||
| Support Platoons | |||||
|
1 1 1 3 |
Cmd Carbine team Staff team M4 Sherman OP M7 Priest HMC |
170 | ||
|
1 1 1 1 4 |
Cmd Carbine team Staff team Observer Carbine team Jeep M2A1 105mm howitzer |
140 | ||
|
1 | L4 Grasshopper AOP | 40 | ||
| Company Points: | 1645 | ||||
Set up
So with the board set up, we rolled off to attack (as both were AA armies) Dave won the roll, so I, picked the side which could best protect my Panthers flanks. Dave adopted the typical objective split for the mission, I decided to deploy all the panthers and the nebs on the board, hoping the AOP would roll badly when spotting… I place one panther platoon in immediate ambush, the nebs centrally, and the panthers in cover near them, able to react either way.
Dave deployed all his arty, and 105’s – he was lucky with his static arty getting a far away corner, his priests had their choice (which he agonised over) and the 105’s got the same quarter as the arty, he tried to hide as much as possible, knowing my ambush + first turn could be devastating!
Turn 1
With the immediate ambush deployed opposite the priests, they took some long range pot shots at them, managing to remove one of them (and their effectiveness I hoped), the Nebs didn’t have a great amount to smoke, so I went for the 105 sherman near the 105’s hoping for a pin, which I got! Likewise the panther moved to ward off/engage the 105 shermans – managing a single bail.
Thankfully Dave had some rubbish luck, with no reserves arriving – he then couldn’t role better than average, with the 105’s not unpinning, and neither the Priest or 105 Sherman remounting either! His luck didn’t improve, the priests used the AoP to try and range in, but only ranged in on the third reroll – failing to hit the target. The 105’s moved up to target the nebs, a pair tried to smoke the IC panther but missed, whilst those targeting the nebs got a hit, but rolled a 1 on the firepower
Turn 2
With a lot of 105 shermans nearby I decided to reduce those that could hurt me, by smoking the rear ones (they then need to move to target the nebs (or get round my flanks) thankfully there were a few left in the open to target, and 4 of my panthers (three around the IC) and one from the right objective opened up on them, killing 4 105 shermans and the 1IC! The last panther took a long shot at the Priests taking out another one.
Dave seemed to be losing tanks fast, and none were coming from reserve. He unpinned the 105 arty, but even with the AOP they failed to range in on all 4 attempts, whilst he combined the 105 shermans and Priests, and again failed to injure any of my force.
Turn 3
With two of Daves platoons close to testing I tried to capitalise, but luck was against me, the Nebs failed to range in on his artillery in the open. The panthers missed the priests, but managed to kill and bail the remaining 105 shermans – but they refused to run away.
Finally Dave got a reserve, with his Stuarts sneaking around the woods at the rear of my deployment area, once again his artillery + AOP combo was lacking and failed to cause any damage, (he ranged in first turn, and missed with both rolls) but the 105 sherman was able to smoke my IC
Turn 4
Well my StuHs arrived to the party, promptly facing the 105 artillery, but only killed two guns and the staff team (and one gun was from a MG shot) thankfully that was enough damage cumulatively (with my IC) to pin the platoon . On the right the panthers managed to kill the last priest forcing them to run too, whilst the panther in the centre moved to protect the Nebs from the stuarts (and take out Daves 2IC at the same time)
Dave got his 76mm Shermans and Pool on at this time, they opened up on the StuH’s killing 1 and bailing two, his arty and normal shermans (who also arrived from reserve) added their firepower but to no effect. On the far side Dave’s recce supported by his Ninja Sherman advanced towards my poorly protected right objective. The Stuarts also circled from behind the wood, killing one neb, but the other passed all 5 5+ saves!
Turn 5
The Recce came on from reserve, whilst the pak 40 puma missed the ninja Sherman, the other managed to kill 2 of Daves three infantry stands, breaking the platoon. The Panthers and IC killed the remaining 76mm shermans, and the platoon evaporated, whilst the StuH took out another 105 artillery piece breaking the platoon – with that Dave was below half strength and with no IC/2IC the Germans claimed victory.
Conclusion
So a big old 6-1 win! Dave had atrocious dice, considering he needed a 4+ on his turn one to unpin/remount/range in, he just rolled 1’s, 2’s and 3’s! being able to keep my units functioning meant I could hold on until reinforcements arrived – very early on I wished I’d deployed the AA over the nebs, but it paid off. Once all the arty went I had so much more movement, and survivability I knew I just needed to have enough withstand the 76mm shermans and then return fire, I had to stay close and centrally with some careful positioning to avoid my panthers being flanked – we all know what stuarts do on the flanks of Panthers!
Anyway a great game even with the one sided result.
Nice battle report.
One question, regarding this
‘so I went for the 105 sherman near the 105’s hoping for a pin, which I got!’
Maybe I am missing something but you can not pin a 105 Sherman tank correct?
Cheers
Ben