Battle Weary – US Rifles in Bulge American

By Tom Burgess

The new Bulge American Book gives us a new take on US Rifles in Version 4 Flames of War.  This new list represent the forces that had been heavily engaged in combat throughout much of 1944. These units had been relocated to the “quiet” Ardennes area for a chance to rest and recuperate. They had no idea that they were about to be at the front facing off against Hitler’s last major offensive to try to turn back the tide in the west.

Expecting easy duty, but ending up in the most intense sector, combined with the higher HQ confusion about what was going on, negatively affected these troops’ enthusiasm for the renewed battle against the German divisions. Thus the 2^nd, 4^th, and 28^th Divisions have been offered in Bulge American as examples of “Battle Weary” units.

The distinguishing characteristic that these Battle Weary units have is that they are reluctant with a 5+ Motivation. That is harsh, but when it comes to a Last Stand, my opinion has generally been that the infantry unit has already done its job by the point it gets to just two teams left in a unit. In addition to that, these Battle Weary platoons still have “Blood and Guts” which bumps their rally pack up to a 4+ roll. Where that 5+ motivation ion is going to hurt is on counterattacks rolls.

The Battle Weary rifles also have Yankee Ingenuity. Though they overall are rated as Trained with a 4+ skill, Yankee Ingenuity will help them to give orders like Dig on a better 3+. Blitz and Shoot & Scoot will also be on a 3+ and you may find that to be occasionally be useful. These units will not want easily stay in prolonged melees, so special consideration to placement of your formation commander will be essential.  But what they do gain is going from hit on a 3+ up to hit on a 4+. A trade off that I think is quite worth it. As the saying goes; “The best armor is not being hit in the first place!”

One Battle Weary Rifle Platoon can circumvent that 5+ Counterattack by taking the Audie Murphy Command Card for four points.  This card gives the unit an improved 3+ counter attack rating. Additionally, it gives the unit leader Anti-tank rating of 3 and a 3+ roll to hit. A platoon with the Audie Murphy Command Card can be a great choice for your main effort.

I really miss the old Version 3 Audie Murphy special objective, but the new Command Card for him does have some utility. Audie Murphy’s unit was not in the Battle of the Bulge, but when playing heroes in Version 4 Flames of War I have no problem visualizing the upgraded leader as being a “model” of the named leader rather than that actual leader.

If you did think you were playing with the actual named leader in your force it often would not make a lot of sense. For example, General George Patton, Rommel, etc. just would not be tangled up in a company level fight trying to direct soldiers.  If they were they would be doing so at the expense of them higher level command responsibilities. So when I use the Patton Command card, to me it’s not actually Patton but rather a commander at the appropriate rank for a company level fight that exhibits the characteristics and traits of Patton. “Pattonesque” if you will.

Organizationally, the Battle Weary Rifle platoon is identical to the late war US Rifle Platoon from the D-Day US Book.  Cost wise, the Battle Weary Rifle units come in between the D-Day American Rifle Company and the D-Day American Veteran Rifle Company. Just slightly more expensive than the regular D-Day American Rifle Company, the Bulge American Battle Weary Rifle Company. The below chart shows how full size Rifle units from Bulge American compare to the cost of the Rifle and Veteran Rifle Company in D-Day American.

A force I am considering running with this new book is:

Battle Weary Rifle Co HQ – 2 x Thompson SMG teams – 2 pts

Audie Murphy Command Card – 4 pts

Rifle Weary Rifle Platoon – 10 x M1 Grand Rifle Teams, 2 x M1 Bazooka Teams, 2 x M1919 LMG teams – 12 pts

Rifle Weary Rifle Platoon – 10 x M1 Grand Rifle Teams, 2 x M1 Bazooka Teams, 2 x M1919 LMG teams – 12 pts

Battle Weary Mortar Platoon – 4 x 81mm Mortar Teams – 4 pts

Battle Weary Mortar Platoon – 4 x 81mm Mortar Teams – 4 pts

Battle Weary 57mm Anti-Tank Platoon – 3 x 57mm gun – 5 pts

Battle Weary 57mm Anti-Tank Platoon – 3 x 57mm gun – 5 pts

M24 Chaffee Tank Platoon – 4 x M24 Chaffee (75mm) – 12 pts

Veteran M4 Sherman (Late) Tank Platoon – 1 x M4 Jumbo, 2 x M4 Easy Eight (w/ HVAP), 2 x M4 Sherman Late – 32 pts

M8 Greyhound Cavalry Patrol – 1 x M8 Greyhound, 1 x Jeep (MG), 1 x Jeep (60mm Mortar) – 3pts

M8 Greyhound Cavalry Patrol – 1 x M8 Greyhound, 1 x Jeep (MG), 1 x Jeep (60mm Mortar) – 3pts

Two LVT-4 AMTRAC Transport Command Card – 2 pts

This would be a very versatile force, really strong at defending, with Audie Murphy platoon covering the most at risk objective. There are a lot of formation units that will make a formation break very difficult for your opponent to achieve. On the attack, the formation has enough Spearhead units, smoke, suppression artillery templates, and armored transports to close quickly. I really like the Bulge American Veteran US Sherman Platoons with the ability to add in Jumbos and Easy Eights. I think the 57mm Anti-Tank guns very cheap compared to what they can do. In the current “Armored Car Meta” I see a lot of these days, I think they will give good service.  The Chaffee Light Tanks would be my main ambush unit. They would come out of ambos and try to get on the flanks or in to the rear area of attacking opponents,

In version 3 of Flames of War, the “Reluctant Veteran” rating was something that good players could employ to great effect.  These Battle Worn troops with their 5+ Motivation and 4+ Hit on allow one to try that concept again in Version 4 Flame of War. The Bulge American Battle Weary Rifle Company is just the formation to try it with. All and all I am excited to break out my old US 2nd Infantry Division from Version 3 of Flames of War and give them a go with this new book. I’m pretty sure I have yet to play US Rifles in Version 4 of Flames of War so I’d say it’s about time. And now I am excited to do so.