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3/14/2015

Albion Triumphant

So last evening I got my second game of Bolt Action in against Bob and his Germans.  We stretched it a bit and played a 1000 point game which let us try out some of the rules that we haven't used yet at 500 points such as Air Strikes, Mortars, Sniper Team, and there was even an infantry close combat.  The mission was maximum attrition with 10 units on his side and 11 units on my side.
The battlefield before deployment
I lost a total of 3 units which included both 5 man squads representing the two halves of Section C of 11th Platoon and the recce jeep.  Bob lost his light tank, 2 of 3 infantry squads, his Pioneer squad (with flamethrowers, thank goodness they didn't get used), his forward observer, his officer, and his mortar team.  In true blogger fashion, after taking the board set up picture, I got so involved in the game that I never took another picture.

We both had mixed luck on the dice.  I had a section of infantry with just one pin marker that didn't activate twice due to being unable to pass leadership of the modified 9.  Then there was the small assault squad that paused to rally and dropped 5 pin markers of the 6 they had picked up.  C Section has taken the most casualties in the two battles by far but they've taken out a light tank in each battle.  I think assaulting with anti-tank grenades is definitely the way to go, though as my opponents adapt to that, it's likely to change.

I'm a fan of mortars now.  The spotter making it a lot easier to hit was a big boost and they really could pile the pin markers on a unit.  My medium mortar kept his pioneers pinned in place while slowly whittling them away.  My sniper team was completely useless.  He took 4 shots and got a total of 1 hit which didn't wound.  I'm in no hurry to take this unit again.  The Medium Machine gun team did ok, but I think I like units that are more mobile.
2nd Lt. Marlowe again did very well leading his troops in battle.  At one point late in the game, 4 remaining members of a German squad assaulting him and his one remaining aide.  The first round of combat saw no injuries taken which lead to a second round where the aide and a German soldier were laid low.  The Lt. then finished off one more German soldier which scattered the other two.  An infantry assault being fought until it's decided is interesting, but I can see losing most of a squad because one man was killed to lose the combat could be annoying.  I'll have to see how it works more in the future.  A bit on the fence on this one.  Going back to the Lt. though, 2nd Lt. Vincent Marlowe was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry as I feel he earned a bit more than another mentioned in dispatches for his performance.  He's also being looked at for promotion to 1st Lt.

The ineffective sniper has been assigned field punishment and is busy digging new latrines and foxholes.  Hopefully he'll learn his lesson.

That's all for now and feel free to leave some input.  I like how my paras are evolving and as soon as I finish moving this month, I'll be ordering the last of my miniatures to get them put together properly and retire the borrowed Naval Infantry from my 40K range.

3/10/2015

A Second Bolt Action Skirmish Upcoming

So this coming Friday, 2nd Lt Vincent Marlowe will once more be leading his 11th Platoon of C Company, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Airborne Regiment into battle.  After proving his abilities in the skirmish against the Wylsh rebels (for which he received the minor decoration of Mentioned in Dispatches), he's been intrusted with a larger force this time while probing the German lines.
Our Distinguished Hero, 2nd Lt Vincent Marlowe
2nd Lt Marlowe will  be accompanied once more by his two personal aides and runners with all three having Sten SMGs.  He'll have his A and B Sections led by Sgts Oliver Crowe and Andrew Jamieson, all armed with Enfield rifles and a Bren LMG.  C Section will be divided into two 5 man elements lead by Sgt Paul Halstead and Corporel Neville Barton, each armed fully with Sten SMGs and Anti-tank grenades.
Mortar Team with Spotter and the Machine Gun Team
1st Lt Willard Stowe will be present with two assistants as a Forward Observer for the Royal Artillery of the BEF.  Lt Andrew Candless of the RAF will also be along as a Forward Observation Officer with a pair of paratrooper bodyguards.  A Medium Mortar Team and Medium Machine Gun team will be attached from 2nd Platoon as well as a Sniper Team from the Intelligence Section of the Battalion.  Last of all a Recce Jeep will be sent along from the 3rd Platoon.
It needs a repaint to fit the army, but I love this model
I'll be using this nice model from Dust Tactics to represent my Air Support.  I really like the look of the model and will need to see about getting it into RAF colors at some point to continue supporting my Airborne troopers.
That's all for now and I'll see about getting a batrep up this weekend after the game on Friday.