Shifting out of Neutral Part 1: I’m not into Neutrality, I’m into Survival

By Ian Birdwell

Firestorm Stripes Campaign Map

Team Yankee has told the story of two powerful sides arrayed against one another, on the one side US-aligned forces and on the other USSR-aligned forces.

Yet, between those two powers blocs are a host of neutral states attempting to navigate the whims of the two superpowers, one of my personal favorites being Austria who is in the current Team Yankee timeline and is already dealing with some problems.

If you look at the bottom right corner of the Firestorm: Stripes map, there are two little red territories including Salzburg on the Southeastern corner of the map.

However, the Austrian Army (Bundesheer) is one of the forces another being the Danish military, that has yet to be released and that we have expressly been shown has been invaded.

Et Sans Résultat – Napoleonics at a grand scale

By Tom Gall

The Napoleonic era is a wonderful period to war-game, that covers roughly 1803-1815. As Napoleon rose to power in France after the chaotic revolution he stabilized the country, established a powerful army, and in many ways alarmed the noble houses of Europe. French Liberty? Not here! The era is defined by a series of coalitions generally pitting the United Kingdom and her allies vs the French and theirs that culminated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 with Napoleon’s final defeat.

The tactics of the times would set the way battles would be fought all the way through the US Civil War. US General Winfield Scott, for instance, would largely copy the French field manuals for the US army to use. Grand tactical maneuvers and heroic deeds would win the day and let’s not forget the pretty uniforms.

Es ist Tigerzeit! German Tank Formations D-Day Book

It is indeed Tiger time. The D-Day book for the Germans is out and we look at the armoured formations you can run out of this new release for Late War. No other commander during WW2 made such an impact in a tank as Michael Wittmann.

As a true Panzer Ace, his Tiger took its fight to the allies and he fought until he was finally KIA in August of 1944. Stopping by his final resting place in 2007 in a small cemetery in France was a small highlight of a trip that took me from Arras to Vimy and everything in between.

Before we look at the Heavy Tank formation from the D-Day book, why don’t we start a little ‘lighter’. Let’s have a good look at the Panzer IV Tank Coy, this list will likely be very popular to German tank purists.

German D-Day Bat Rep

By Benny Christiansen

With the new German D-Day book available, I made an effort to hurry and try to make a game with the two D-Day books. That means there will be some proxy units in the US list. Sorry for that and the poor quality of the photos. Blitz wasn’t working that day for the US or for the American player (me).

My friend is a veteran German player, so we decided to have a go at it. 80 points, as there will be a tournament later this year with 80 points D-Day books. My list was as follows:

German D-Day Command Cards – Going Off Book

By Tom Gall

Battlefront’s German D-Day Command cards fall into line with what continues to be a newly established V4 tradition, release a book of new lists for a particular time and theatre of the war and at the same time, release a deck of command cards that complement the book with more force options and bits of flavor to add to your force.

I’ll cover a good number of the cards. My goal is to give you a feel for what is found in the card pack not review each and every card, though I do certainly cover the majority of them. If you have any questions, please reply to the article and I’ll happily answer.

Stats

There are 46 command cards for the German D-Day book.  They span the range of named heroes (6), Tiger ace and accompanying cards, force or unit ability buffs, special modifications tied to a historical unit, new companies (2), and last swap outs (ex: Nebelwerfers in place of 10.5cm artillery).

Learning the Lehr: Panzergrenadiers in D-Day German Forces in Normandy, 1944

 

By Tom Burgess

The Panzer Lehr Panzer Division has been brought into the realm of Version 4 Flames of War with the new D-Day German Forces in Normandy, 1944 army book. The elite Lehr has always been a FoW favorite with its Panzergrenadier platoons beefed up with extra Panzerschreck teams. Now there is, even more, to look forward to for veteran and beginning Panzer Lehr players. As the Panzer Lehr’s Panzer Regiment was a fairly standard German  Panzer formation, this article will focus on the infantry of the Lehr Division where it was far more unique.

List Building for Beach Defense and FJ Kompanies

By NDNG Dane

Battlefront announced the release of the new  book. The new book allows the German players some exciting options to oppose the allies in Normandy.

In this article, we will look at some of the options available for the Beach Defense Companies. Returning to late-war in V4 is the 352nd and 716th Infantry Divisions. The base motivation for the Beach Defense Grenadier Company is Confident (4+), skill rating of Green (5+), and is rated as Aggressive (hit on a 3+).

The Beach Defense Companies start off looking like traditional Late War Grenadier Company. The basic building block of two (Beach Defense) Grenadier Platoons is the same, as are support options of an HMG34 platoon, 7.5CM Infantry Gun Platoon, 15CM Gun Platoon, 8CM Mortar Platoons, 12CM Mortar Platoon, 5CM Anti-Tank Platoon, and 7.5CM Anti-Tank Platoon.

Awake the Fuhrer, The German D-Day book is Spoiled

By Mitch Reed

What a summer for the Late War fans of Flames of War. First, the Fortress Europe book moves all of the Mid-War forces into the LW period then the US D-Day book hit the shelves and now those Yanks have an opponent, the has arrived.

Having seen the book in the proofreading stage I knew that this title would be one that German players like myself would just love. I know a lot of questions have been floating around online so let me answer those first. Yes, the Sd Kfz 250 half-track is back and is in the new Recce list and sorry, No the 21st Panzer is not in the book or represented in the cards.

The other thing to keep in mind that this book is the first of two books on the Germans in June of 1944, the second book will be a volume that focuses on just the Waffen-SS.