Getting Started with FOW Early-War: The Dunkirk Box
By Richard Steer
Flames of War has returned to the early period of the Second World War, with the publication of Blitzkrieg, covering the Invasion of France in May and June 1940. A new period is an exciting time for the game, with new nations, new miniatures, and new challenges.
My focus for Early-War in previous editions was the Mediterranean theatre, and I have never played anything from the campaign in France. To get back into playing Early-War while we wait for the North Africa book, I have picked up a copy of the new “Dunkirk” two-player starter set. Over the next few weeks, I’ll use it to assemble, paint, and start playing a new army. First, though, let’s have a look at what’s in the box.
The “Dunkirk” Box
The box is packed with plastic sprues. On the British side, it includes five A13 tanks, three Light Mk VI tanks, a pair of 2-pounder anti-tank guns, and two infantry sprues. The Germans get two StuGs and four infantry sprues. There’s also a big bag of infantry bases and a bag of tank commander figures.
The new hard plastic infantry is superb. They are well-detailed, and look like they have a nice balance between realism and durability.
In addition to all that plastic, the Dunkirk box contains an A5 rulebook, a quick start guide, 10 dice, and assembly instructions and unit cards for the included models.
Rounding out the items needed to play the game, the sides of the box have images of game tokens that can be cut out: a very useful inclusion for brand-new players.
The British Half
The British kits in the box build a small A13 Armoured Squadron, with support from a full Rifle Platoon and a small 2pdr anti-tank gun platoon. Assembling the kits as recommended in the instructions creates a 47-point list.
The A13 cruiser tank sprue has options to build the A13 and A13 Mk II versions. The difference between the two is the turret, but many of the parts are shared between the two turret options. This means it is not possible to build the kit in such a way that allows you to swap between the versions. The instructions recommend that you build the basic A13 version, and the box only contains unit cards for that.
The Light Mk VI tank can be built as either the Mk VI B (0.5-inch gun) or the Mk VI C (15mm gun) versions. In this case, it is possible to build both and swap the turrets to switch between the two types as required, as the two turret options do not share any parts.
The two infantry sprues make up a full Rifle Platoon. The sprue also contains figures for one 3-inch mortar team and one Vickers MMG team, plus a Company Commander figure. These extra figures aren’t able to be used in the list provided, but adding a Rifle Platoon box would give you just enough figures to use them as part of a small Rifle Company.
The last British unit in the box is a small anti-tank gun platoon with two 2-pounder anti-tank guns. This is another new plastic kit.
Finally, the box has one sprue of hard plastic gun crew figures. This includes figures specifically for the 2pdrs, some that will be used for the 18/25pdr field gun kit, some generic crew that can be used for either weapon, and an observer.
The German Half
The German half is very infantry-focused. It builds a small Motorised Rifle Company with a Company HQ and two full Motorised Rifle Platoons, with support from a pair of StuG assault guns. Assembling the kits as recommended in the instructions creates a 45-point list.
The core of the German force is the infantry. There are four infantry sprues, providing sufficient figures to build a Company HQ and two Motorised Rifle Platoons with six MG34 light machine-guns, a 5cm light mortar, and an anti-tank rifle. Unlike the British infantry, there are no additional support weapons included. According to the Blitzkrieg catalogue, these will instead be in a separate box containing Machine-gun and Mortar Platoons.
The StuG is a brand new kit. It includes parts both for the early StuG and an early Panzer III with a 3.7cm gun. The two vehicles share the same chassis components, but it might be possible to make the hull tops swappable. Interestingly, the sprue also appears to have parts to make a Panzer III observer tank, which will be useful for Late-War players.
My Plans
I have just finished reading “Victory to Defeat”, a book that tells the story of the British Army from the last 100 days of the First World War in 1918 through to the evacuation from France in 1940. Inspired by this, I plan to build up the British half of the box first.
By building the A13s as Mark IIs, using the digital unit cards from the Forces list-building website, my first list will total 50-points. This should be a good size for getting the hang of the new period. From there, I will be able to decide how best to grow my force into a full 100-point list. Stay tuned for the next article, where I will provide an update on progress with getting these new models onto the tabletop.
I’m going to do the same, but I’m leaning infantry with Matildas and 18/25# guns. British infantry is hard to shift and the Matilda I’s can easily bully infantry. I want Matilda II’s, but it’s almost silly how expensive they are. Fielding a troop of three is like fielding a platoon of M-1s in Team Yankee and 2-3 tank platoons.. ugh. But I really want to do it because I love the idea of building an Arras DLI/RTR force.
Matilda IIs will be really hard to balance in Early War. They need to be expensive enough that it’s possible to win against them without 88s, but cheap enough that they have a chance when their opponent does have 88s. It might be okay for now, but I expect dynamic points will be needed to bring their price down as we get into the 1941 books and AT11+ becomes more common.
Very nice, detailed and revealing presentation, however recalling history, the Germans tanks had surrounded the British infantry in Dunkirk. This starter set looks like the opposite.
Well, at this price and being all plastic, papercut tokens?
Thanks, yes the set is misnamed as there was an entire German army group parked between the British cruiser tank units and Dunkirk, and as a set in isolation it doesn’t appear to be particularly well-balanced: Germans without many AT options, and British without much in the way of anti-infantry weapons. But it should be a good start for building a larger British force.
Thanks your reply, very targeted. Unfortunately the same applies also for the French heavy tank units. Only 88s provide the Germans with a decent AT in comparison with the number of armor to be faced making by default a German army player to defend only. Quite the opposite of what had happened. German armor is pricy, with low AT and fragile. In the previous version, there have been also pioneer units able to knockout heavy armor. It could be a support option unit.
Just hopping that Germans will be upgraded in Barbarossa otherwise KVs will be reaching Berlin very early….
Very nice, detailed and revealing presentation, however it looks that the German infantry was running after the British tanks in Dunkirk!!!! Personally I am wondering if Blitzkrieg has been play tested.
At this price and being all plastic, papercut tokens?
I built my german platoons as MG/Rifle teams and added a 8.8 in to balance it a bit more. Board im going to be playing on will be farm and train track oriented so fair share of hinderance to vehichles and infantry.