Its here! After many delays the final era of Flames of War WW2 is upon us and it launches with the Battle of France and the Low countries in the Blitzkrieg book.

Blitzkrieg contains lists for armoured, recce and infantry forces of Germany, Britain and France and also comes with accompanying Command Cards adding further options, units and formations.

What is Early War?

For those who dont have memories goinmg back to V3 lets lay out what to expect in FOW Early War.

• Covers 1939-1941 and will eventually contain, North Africa/Mediterranean (Battle Axe), Eastern Front (Barbarossa), Low Lands/France (Blitzkrig) and if its like V3, expect to eventually see something on the Far East front for Soviets vs Japanese.
• Armour and AT is a lot lower.
  • Typical FA of a tank is 2 and AT is 6, this is the equivalent of FA6 and AT10 in LW.
• Rare to see Firepower above 4+ so expect more bailed out results (a good Remount rating is much more important in EW).
• Shorter ranges, so little long range dualling.
• Almost no integrated AT for infantry (i.e. No Bazookas or Fausts) making infantry super venerable to armoured attacks and near useless vs TA2.
• Tanks are a lot smaller than LW so are easier to hide. It also means many are overworked (+1 to hit when moving).

These factors present quite a different challenge to LW or even MW and introduces a whole load of other cool vehicles and newish nations (France and later Poland).

Blitzkrieg is the first book in a series of three so far announced and covers the German conquest of the Lowlands and France in 1940, part of the their famous Blitzkrieg across Europe and will pit them against the professional British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and their French allies. Lets breakdown each one.

France

The new kids on the block and their first appearance as a independent nation in V4. Contrary to stereotypes the French forces were highly effective with great kit and troops. Tactically the French did extremely well and this is well represented by the force. Key aspects are:

• Cheap 25mm guns means you can field 8 x Guns for 10pts. Perfect to block tank assaults.
• Great, well priced 75mm artillery with a ‘quick fire’ rule counting the platoon strength as 1 higher than the number of models for Bombardment rules, meaning you get rerolls to hit for having 4 guns in a battery. These also make very capable AT guns.
• Amazing value tanks:
  • Somua with FA4 and SA3 plus a good gun and trained rating for assault.
  • Char B1 bis with FA6(!) and SA4.
  • Hotchkiss tanks with FA/SA3, a pop gun but great for assault.
• The downside slower tanks with 6 or 8 inch Tactical movement.
• Cheap and effective recce with the Panard (always been a favourite of these in V3).
• Ability to create lists at 100pt that can deal with everything and can be optimised for attack or defence.

The French have a lot of great options whether you want to flood the zone with light vehicles, take heavier armoured tanks or field a solid defensive infantry force (or just combine all 3 aspects!).

Here is a good all rounder list at 100pts

Panard Recce Sqn

HQ x 1 Panard 2 pts
4 x Panard 11 pts
4 x Panard 11 pts
4 x Panard 11 pts

Rifle Company

HQ x 2 rifle teams. 1 pts
5 x Rifle/Mg stands and 1 x Rifle Grenade stand 6 pts
5 x Rifle/MG stands and 1 x Rifle Grenade stands 6pts
4 x 81mm mortars 4pts
4 x 25mm guns 5pts

Support

5 x Somua S35 29pts
4 x 75mm artillery 14pts

Thats 2 x templates with smoke, 13 recce vehicles which are basically medium tanks in EW and all have scout and spearhead, 5 x ‘heavy’ ish tanks for assault plus a small infantry company. The 75mm guns are also ROF2 AT9 so a threat to FA6 Matildas in blue on blue match ups.

Germany

German EW forces are a mix of the familiar and new. A lot of equipment matches over to MW however there are some more unique options. the infantry platoons are also a little larger and have a light mortar. Germany has the only Cautious tanks which are Veteran to boot. That means they can survive and fight well but can be easily overwhelmed due to their smaller numbers.

Lets look at German key points:

• Cautious and Veteran troops. High in cost but survivable.
• All rounder vehicles such as the Panzer 38T.
• Decent amount of FA3 (Panzer II, III and IV).
• Cheapish Panzerjager tank destroyers at AT8.
• Highest AT options with 88s and Bunkerflak. Important vs Char B1 bis and Matildas.
• Options for armoured infantry for rapid assaults and manoeuvre.

The Germans are in a tough place. The excellent stats cause the same issue they faced in MW and LW pre-dynamic points where they just dont get a lot. In EW this translates to some very tough choices especially for an armoured force where key aspects like artillery, recce or infantry will be missing. It also leaves a lack of redundancy so forces can be a bit unforgiving. Hence why I would recommend that someone newer to EW or FOW might want to start with British or French.

There are some very oddly expensive aspects in the German lists which is a shame as it will likely mean they dont see the table much e.g. 2x Stugs (FA4, SA3) with a AT7 gun are 21pts I just cant see someone taking them for AT duty over 4x AT8 tank hunters for only 16pts (inf forces will likely want 8).

Basically Germans are reliable and mobile but fragile once you hit them and they melt away quickly due to relatively small numbers.

Here are a few 100pt lists

Medium Tank Company
2 x Panzer III (3.7cm) 14pts
4 x Panzer II 15pts
3 x Panzer III 21pts
4 x Panzer II 15pts

Support
4 x Panzerjager I 16pts
4 x 105mm artillery 14pts
1 x Luftwaffe 88 gun 5pts

This gives an idea of the good but niche numbers you get and the fact that you cant fit in all the aspects you would want in a normal rounded list (ie Arty, recce and Infantry). The small number of teams is pretty unforgiving and lacks redundancy. The 88 and Panzerjager are also carrying a lot of AT duties as the PZII is AT5. Reserves are also tricky…

For an idea of an Infantry Force:

SS Infantry Company (Fearless Aggressive Trained).
2 x Smg teams 1pts
7x Rifle/MG teams and 1 x 5cm mortar (direct fire only) + 1 x HMG 9pts
7x Rifle/MG teams and 1 x 5cm mortar (direct fire only) 7pts
7x Rifle/MG teams and 1 x 5cm mortar (direct fire only) 7pts
4 x 8cm mortars 4pts
3 x 3.7cm guns 6pts

Support
4 x Panzerjager I 16pts
4 x 3.7cm guns 9pts
3 x Panzer III 21pts
2 x Bunkerflak 20pts

On table you have all the infantry teams plus the guns and 4x Panzerjagers. Thats 3 sets of AT and 3x fearless infantry platoons with mortars to hold the line initially. With more excellent AT and 3x tanks to come as the fire brigade. It will struggle in missions where it has to move to the objective but to be fair that’s the same for all infantry forces. My take is that German players will tend to favour the infantry forces which provide a more rounded force.

British

His Majesty’s finest are back but with small tanks. The British adopt the Cruiser rule allowing some of their vehicles to fire full ROF on the move with +1 to hit (same as stabilisers), and also pack the EW beast, the Matilda, for anti infantry duties. This is all backed up by solid infantry allowing similar flexibility to the French.

Key points;

• Generally FA1 & FA2 tanks (A13, A9 and Mk VI). Combined with being aggressive they are quite vulnerable.
• British tanks rely on speed and the Cruiser rule to maximise fire power. Lots of AT7 potential with A13s.
• FA6 and SA5 Matilda and FA7 SA6 Matilda IIs are beasts especially with TA2. With that AT you can assault French and German guns with pretty much no worries. They are basically auto include.
• Infantry don’t have night attack like LW and MW (Montgomery can allow you to attack at Dusk).
• Cautious Infantry makes attacking easier.
• 18/25 Artillery is their only high AT (and that’s only 9) but you can get 4x guns for 8pts which is really good.

The British are about flexibility and speed, backed up for fantastic infantry tanks and good troops.

List wise lets start with a cheeky one!

Matilda I Tank Company

Hq 1 x Matilda 1 and 1 x Light MK VIB 8pts
3 x Matildas 15pts
3 x Matildas 15pts

4 x Territorial 18pdrs 8Pts
4 x Territorial 18pdrs 8Pts
3 x Dingo 6pts
2 x Matilda II 34pts
3 x 25mm Portees
Observer

Okay this is only half serious as the Matilda 1s only have a MG so your whole force is relying on your artillery guns however vs infantry force this could be almost unstoppable. Think a KT force in LW but better in assault with no Gun!

Lets get serious,

A13 Armoured Sqn
2 x A9 CS (can fire 2 x smoke bombardments but no HE bombardment) 9pts
3 x A13 MKII 15pts
3 x A13 MKII 15pts
3 x A13 MKII 15pts

Support

4 x Territorial 18pdrs 8pts
4 x Territorial 18Pdrs 8pts
3 x Matilda I 15pts (pick these first then build a list around them!)
Rifle Platoon, 7 x Rifle/MG teams, Boys AT rifle and light mortar 10pts
2 x Dingo 4pts
Observer 1pt

This is another tough force to field and shows that outside the French that proper ‘medium’ armour has issues (unless fighting each other). The A13 is capable but with FA2 and aggressive has to avoid those AT6 AT Guns. It also has to be rather clever versus other armour and flank.

That means there is a lot of weight on those artillery guns as they need to get rid of any 88s and/or pin those Pak36s. Vs Infantry those Matildas will run rough shod and they will soak up huge volumes of fire power as well, disrupting enemy plans. Vs armour they can still rush for an obj (Mark is speaking figuratively there Matildas aren’t quick) or babysit yours.

The infantry is capable and has a AT4 shot with its AT rifle so isn’t completely helpless, while the Dingos babysit your obj, gone to ground, or spearhead allowing you to exploit your speed and get those Matildas closer to the enemy.

If we go Infantry company we can get imaginative with the French.

Territorial Rifle Company

Territorial Hq 2 x rifle teams 1pts
Territorial Rifle Platoon, 5x Rifle/Mg, Boys AT rifle and light mortar 5pts
Territorial Rifle Platoon, 5x Rifle/Mg, Boys AT rifle and light mortar 5pts
Territorial Rifle Platoon, 5x Rifle/Mg, Boys AT rifle and light mortar 5pts
Territorial 25mm guns x3 4pts
Territorial Scout Carrier x3 5pts

Support
3x Matilda 1 15pts
4x Somua S35 23pts
4x Territorial 18pdr 8pts
4x Territorial 18pdr 8pts
4x Territorial 18pdr 8pts
3x 25mm AT Guns 5pts
3x 25mm AT Guns 5pts
Deep Recce 3pts

The idea here is that the list is a defence beast. 3 Platoons of infantry each with their own AT guns (2 lots are careful) giving respectable AT6 (but FP5). backed up by 12, AT9 guns that can bombard and have smoke. That’s nasty! It also has recce to stop enemy spearheads. Reserves are 2 drop with Matildas to push back and assault infantry and excellent Somuas for survivable mobile AT.

Its also great in attack. With 3 templates it will easily knock out enemy 88s . The guns can cover the obj from enemy armour as well as the Matildas push in and inf mop up. I can also use my Deep Recce card to move any obj 4 inches after all are deployed that helps keep things away from cover or buildings to help my Matilda assault.

Summing up

EW is an exciting new way to play FOW and I am already plotting many fun lists. It take a bit of getting used to if you play LW because everything looks so fragile but you just have to remember AT and FP is less. I do worry about how good the French are (Germans and British balance better) and also about how much TA2 vehicles may cause issues for infantry especially the cheaper Matilda I. In essence if you lose your 88s or Panzerjagers as a German infantry company there is little you can do to stop them. On the flip side there is less artillery templates than LW and MW so that makes guns more survivable.

Remember this is only the first book and the Eastern Front book later this year will add a whole new dimension. Trust me there is some really cool stuff to come! Mark G.