Lion's Den I Tournament Report (completed!)

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**spmusubi**

Hey all,

New to the Flames of War scene and testing out different batrep software, so hopefully this
one will turn out okay. This should be the first of three games played for Lions Den I in
Southern California. Many thanks to Tim Knapp for putting this tournament together!

I don't actually know most of the armies and units out there, so please forgive any errors
in unit listings or names.

First game is against Bob playing a Jagdpanther company with a lot of heavy armour moving my
way. I catch a break early on by being the defender and getting to stick him with a rather
ugly deployment zone for an armoured force. We'll see if it's enough.

American Nisei Rifle Company vs. German Jagdpanther Company
===========================================================

Overview
--------
Location: The Realm, Brea CA
Date played: Saturday, April 3, 2010
Hold the Line
Game One

American Nisei Rifle Company
----------------------------

HQ, 2IC and 2 Bazooka

Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka
Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka
Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka

2 81mm Mortar

4 105mm Artillery
4 155mm Artillery

4 Recon Jeeps with Machine Guns

4 M10 Tank Destroyer

German Jagdpanther Company
--------------------------

Jagdpanther HQ + 2IC

Jagdpanther Hero (dunno what his name is)

2 Jagdpanther

3 StuG

Full PanzerGrenadier Platoon

Full PanzerGrenadier Platoon

4 Mortars

Deployment
----------

American - Rifle Platoon dug in on forward objective with TDs in Ambush.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn 1 - German Jagdpanther Company
-----------------------------------

General German advance across the board. One StuG bogs in the forest while the Jadgpanthers
move up the road.

Turn 1 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Rifle Platoon enters from reserve near the US objective. Both artillery batteries range in
TOT and kill both lead Jagdpanthers.

Turn 2 - German Jagdpanther Company
-----------------------------------

German advance continues. The Jagdpanther Hero (name???) bogs down in the wood.

Turn 2 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Artillery rains down again, killing a StuG and nearly half the southern Panzergrenadier
platoon. The American recon platoon zooms onto the board and hides in the village.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn 3 - German Jagdpanther Company
-----------------------------------

The German Hero remains bogged and the Panzergrenadiers remain pinned. Mortars begin laying
down smoke to block LOS from the observers.

Turn 3 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

3rd American Rifle Platoon arrives from Reserve. Artillery crashes down on the Jagdpanther
HQ, but doesn't manage a kill.

Turn 4 - German Jagdpanther Company
-----------------------------------

Jagdpanther Hero is STILL bogged! The two HQs move forward away from the ranged in markers
and fire into the Americans guarding the objective for no results. Smoke continues to drop
on the American positions, reducing visibility.

Turn 4 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Like clockwork, the last remaining American platoon comes on the board and begins to set up
their mortars. Also like clockwork, the American artillery claims the Jagdpanther 2IC. On
the south, American recon and infantry move forward, heading for the battered
Panzergrenadier platoon.

Turn 5 - German Jagdpanther Company
-----------------------------------

The Jagdpanther Hero finally gets himself unstuck and begins to move up towards the fight.
StuGs stick their noses out of the forest and begin bombarding the American forward
position. Mortars continue to smoke and the German HQ Jagdpanther moves to engage the
American recon who promptly run out of view before he can fire.

Turn 5 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

As soon as the StuGs begin to open fire, the American 155s track in on their muzzle flashes
and take out both assault guns. On the south, the advancing GIs snipe at the
Panzergrenadiers with long range rifle fire, kill a base, and watch as the German infantry
flee the field. With his force under half strength, the German commander orders his force
into retreat.

Built with Battle Chronicler.
http://www.battlechronicler.com/

My artillery was really really hot for this round and Bob getting his Jagdpanther Hero stuck
in the woods for most of the game really didn't help him out too much. Off to Round Two.

**Balance**

How many points are these forces?

**duncana**

That looks like fun.

What software do you use for the maps?

**spmusubi**

Balance: Oops, forgot to put that down. Games were at 1750.

duncana: Battle Chronicler is the program. It's a really neat program with a lot of options. I typically use Vassal for my 40k games, but I might try this one instead.

**spmusubi**

American Nisei Rifle Company vs. German Fallschimjaeger Company
===============================================================

Overview
--------
Scenario: Fighting Withdrawal
Location: The Realm, Brea CA
Date played: Saturday, April 03, 2010

Game Two
Fighting Withdrawal

Playing Jose with a Fallschimjaeger company. I "win" the infantry on infantry roll and get to play on the defense. He's got some crazy character that allows him to reroll motivation on 2+ so I don't think it's going to be all that easy to keep his infantry pinned down.

American Nisei Rifle Company
----------------------------
HQ + 2IC + 2 Bazookas

Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka

Full Rifle Platoon

Full Rifle Platoon

2 81mm Mortar

4 105mm Artillery

4 155mm Artillery

4 Recon Jeeps with machine guns

4 M10 Tank Destroyers

German Fallschimjaeger Company
------------------------------
Von Der Heyte

Full Fallschimjaeger Platoon

Full Fallschimjaeger Platoon

Full Fallschimpioneer Platoon

4 120mm Mortar

3 Jagdpanzer IV

2 FlaK 36 AA

Deployment
----------

American Rifle Platoon in Ambush.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn 1 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

German Infantry advances on the west side through the ruined city. Bad placement on my part allows the 88 to draw a bead on the 155s and take out a gun. The Jagdpanzers open fire and kill a M10.

Turn 1 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

M10s move forward and kill a Jagdpanzer in return. The Recon Platoon dismounts their Jeeps, taking the machine guns with them to set up a firebase. Artillery hits the German Pioneers, killing a few.

Turn 2 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

Heavy mortar fire drops on the recon unit inflcting heavy casualties, and the survivors run from the field. On the right, the 88s kill 2 more guns, reducing the battery to a single weapon. Infantry continues to advance. On the right, another M10 gets taken down and even with the Captain urging them to stay, the unit disengages behind the trees.

Turn 2 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Artillery fire bails a Jagdpanzer and kills a few infantry stands while the tank destroyers reorganize.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn 3 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

Infantry advance continues, as the Germans approach the left objective.

Turn 3 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

The damaged 155mm battery withdraws from the fight as the first platoon out. Both American Rifle Platoons move to the right, shoot and assault the Fallschimjaegers there back. The M10s return to the fight and pick off another Jagdpanzer, while artillery continues to pound the closing Germans on the left.

Turn 4 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

On the left, the Fallshimjaegers set up for a next-turn charge onto the objective. With Rifle Platoons blocking their way, both German platoons in the center begin whittling them down with MG fire and mortar support.

Turn 4 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Mortars withdraw as the second platoon out. Both American Rifle Platoons charge and both are driven back on 5 and 6 dice defensive fire! One fails to motivate to recharge (Nisei special rule), the other one charges again and is stopped a second time!

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn 5 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

The left Fallschimjaeger platoon kills the observer in close combat and consolidates onto the objective. On the right, the Fallschimjaegers charge and wipe out the American Rifle Platoon there.

Turn 5 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Americans pick up a delay counter since they're under 5 platoons on the board. The last American rifle platoon appears out of a ruined building next to the objective. They charge into the German infantry defending the objective, only to be thrown back by defensive fire again and they fail their recharge roll!

Turn 6 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

On the left, the German infantry fails to unpin from last turn. In the center, the Pioneers break through and force the blocking rifle platoon back. A mortar round takes out the last M10 and the surviving carbine teams disengage towards the objective.

Turn 6 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

The 105mm battery is withdrawn as the third platoon out. On the left, the 1st objective is removed and the rifle platoon charges and drives the German infantry back.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn 7 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

The left German infantry forms up to block the American rifle platoon from reinforcing the objective while the right Fallschimjaeger and Jagdpanzer pound on the rifle platoon guarding the objective.

Turn 7 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Americans hold their ground desperately trying to keep the German infantry back. Second objective is removed.

Turn 8 - German Fallschimjaeger Company
---------------------------------------

Fallschimjaegers charge and destroy the rifle platoon, but the remnants of the M10 platoon are still contesting the objective! Americans are under strength and must make a company morale check at the start of their turn!

AND

they make it.

Whew. Tough game there and it really did come down to just the last company motivation check to stay in the game. Off to Round Three.

Built with Battle Chronicler.
http://www.battlechronicler.com/

**spmusubi**

American Nisei Rifle Company vs. Soviet Infantry Company
========================================================

Overview
--------
Scenario: Encounter
Location: The Realm, Brea CA
Date played: Saturday, April 03, 2010

American Nisei Rifle Company
----------------------------
General: Me

HQ + 2IC + 2 Bazooka

Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka
Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka
Full Rifle Platoon w/ Bazooka

2 81mm Mortar

4 105mm Artillery

4 155mm Artillery

4 Recon Jeeps with machine guns

4 M10 Tank Destroyer

Soviet Infantry Company
-----------------------
General: Pete
20 Infantry Platoon

20 Infantry Platoon

5 ISU-152

8 God of War

2 more platoons which never made it on board which is a bad sign

Deployment
----------

Turn 1 - Soviet Infantry Company
--------------------------------

Soviet infantry doubles forward on the right. A ISU-152 gets bogged in the center and more infantry moves forward on the left. No fire.

Turn 1 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

M10s move forward and mow down a few visible stands of infantry.

No picture taken for some reason

Turn 2 - Soviet Infantry Company
--------------------------------

The ISUs move forward and one of them blows up a M10 which disengages behind the hill. Machine gun fire from the other 3 kill 5 stands from the center Rifle Platoon (!!!). Left infantry continues to advance, while the right infantry falls back a bit.

Turn 2 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

M10s creep along behind the hill while staying out of LOS. In the center the mauled rifle platoon hunkers down on the objective. Artillery kills an ISU.

Turn 3 - Soviet Infantry Company
--------------------------------

God of War waltzes onto the battlefield. ISUs miss the gone to ground American infantry and the left platoon continues to close.

Turn 3 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

Infantry platoon shows up from reserve, but appears on the wrong side of the board. M10s move to a hull down position on the ridge and actually manage to kill a ISU from the front. On the left, the Rifle Platoon backs up to try to buy some more time.

Turn 4 - Soviet Infantry Company
--------------------------------

No reserves show up. Left infantry platoon sets up for a charge next turn onto the objective.

Turn 4 - American Nisei Rifle Company
-------------------------------------

No reserves. Americans pray for a miracle and blaze into the approaching Soviets for little gain.

Turn 5 - Soviet Infantry Company
--------------------------------

Soviets charge and destroy the American Rifle Platoon to secure the objective. American turn, no reserves show up and the game ends.

Built with Battle Chronicler.
http://www.battlechronicler.com/

Post-Game Thoughts

My list I thought was okay. No glaring weaknesses that I saw (although others may differ). I didn't play it as well as it could have been done, though. Many mistakes in deployment and manuever, so there's definitely room for improvement! A main reason why I write battle reports (besides hopefully amusing the audience) is to identify errors in my own game play, especially as I'm rather new to the game.

Game One vs. Bob

This game went about as well as I could have hoped. The terrain channeled his armour down a fairly open path and the artillery punished his tanks for it. Reserves came in every single turn and my dice were on fire.

Game Two vs. Jose

As others have noted, I was way too aggressive with my Rifle Platoons. For some reason, I was fixated on assaulting and driving back the approaching Germans instead of letting them advance on me. I also wasted time using the M10s against Jose's Jagdpanzers, which was useless. His idea of keeping them in ambush in the main line is pretty good, though I'm not sure how I can get three ambushes instead of two (something I'm missing in the rules?) Over-aggressive play also cost me the Recon Platoon, which would probably have been better off dug in a back building with their machine guns. Losing platoons early on along with forced withdrawals really hurts. Obviously the exposed 155s and M10s were dumb moves. Very lucky for me to get away with a win on this game.

Game Three vs. Pete

Uhhh, have a better plan next time? The terrain to the left was perfect for infantry advance, since it was completely out of LOS and without a spotter plane, there was no way I was getting artillery down on the advancing Soviet infantry. I should have stacked both rifle platoons AND the 155s in that area with the M10s on the right side to try for flank shots on the ISUs if they moved forward for support fire. Absolutely terrible deployment and even good reserve rolls wouldn't have saved me in this game.

Hope you enjoyed the read. Thanks again to Tim Knapp and Bill Wilcox (sp?) for bringing all sorts of terrain to make some really great looking boards!