The British Are Coming: British Bulge Reviewed

By Mitch Reed

My first Flames of War army, which I swore would only be the only one I would ever use, was my late war British (painted as Canadians). While I did collect other nations, I always built and created British or Commonwealth lists as my collection grew. As the game went into V4, I had a lot of later war kit that did not have a new list, now with the British Bulge book, I can now get my Challengers and Comets back on the table. This book has over 100 pages and brings back lists from V3 books such as Market Garden and NachtJager along with some new lists that finish off the British army in the Late War period of the game.

The first thing you will notice is the new British Special Rules that really expand what your forces can do. With the rule Close Assault, infantry in Ram Kangaroo’s can dismount and attack in the Assault Step. Also added is the use of body armor and old favorites like Night Attack are back.

Comets, Challengers, and Rams

When the Comet tank came out for V3, I immediately built a list to play with these great tanks. They were pricey in V3 and never really matched my play style, however in British Bulge you have some options in fitting them in your force with some economy. A minimum Comet list will have five tanks at 7-points each (two in the HQ, three in a platoon) with the second mandatory platoon being cheaper Stuart or Chaffee tanks (yes, the M-24 in UK use). Between this force structure and the Black Box option, I think many Commonwealth players will end up using these tanks from time to time. While the Comet has better FA (7 vice 6) than the Sherman and Cromwell, the gun has an AT of 14 instead of the 15 that the Firefly has.

The other interesting list is the Hussars armored formation, which allows you to field two platoons of Challengers which are back in the game. They cost the same as the Comet however they have an AT of 15, but no HE. In previous books, this tank was either mixed in with a platoon of Cromwell’s or you could field a single platoon of them. I am still looking for a historical reference for this and as of writing, I am unable to find anything definitive that this type of formation was used in combat.

The last tank I plan to highlight here is the Ram tank. The book explains that due to a shortage of Sherman tanks the Canadians COULD have used the Ram tank which they used for training. They also COULD have used Leopard 2A7 tanks as well, if they would have been created in 1945. They are 4-points each and come in small three-tank platoons.

One point I would like to make here, and this is based on my opinion only, is that I fell in love with this game for the historicity, accurate lists, and books for each faction that were the counterparts for one another. This allowed tournaments, clubs, and friendly play to focus on a specific campaign to play.

The new version deviated from this, and I understood why. This move opened the game up to new players who did not like the historical aspect of FoW. Players could make any list they wanted basically and while that expanded list creation and playing styles it diverged from one of the aspects that attracted me to the game. The addition of the Ram tank now takes that one step further and gives players an option that never was even a consideration during the war.

I do get the fact that this new book gives players an option when they buy the Ram Troop box (you can make Sexton tanks too in this kit) however for me this is a departure into fantasy gaming which may be great for some.

One other example of the historical inaccuracy in the book is the card that lets you field Polish Airborne, it is called Black Berets, when the unit wore dove grey berets (I was given one from 1944 by a veteran of the unit) and they never had that nickname. Sloppy research work which I have never seen from Battlefront before.

Poor Bloody Infantry (Mechanized)
The mix of infantry in British Bulge is very well done and for most dedicated Commonwealth players who know this is their strength, you have a lot of options. All the infantry formations can be mounted in Kangaroo’s or half-tracks and can field Wasp flamethrower carrier patrol and the Land Mattress battery which now does not have the roll for ammo resupply.

The infantry list I was most excited about is Frost’s Parachute company which is Fearless/Trained like the D-Day British airborne lists we saw previously. Joining them is the Glider Pilot Regiment force which is Fearless/Veterans. This is one I know I will play. The airborne forces come with all the support they need with the inclusion of units such as engineers, jeep patrols, and all the AT and artillery that I have been looking to get back on the table.

What Else

Units such as Bofors AA guns (both as gun units and mounted) and the Typhoon round out your support options.  The British are also known for the oddly designed Archer also gives you another hard kill AT option to include in your force.

As with previous books, British Bulge comes with some great narrative scenarios that add some great rules to bring out the flavor of the campaigns they portray.
Overall Thoughts

Aside from my personal thoughts on the ahistorical units in the game, I think this is a book I have been waiting for. It brings back the models I have collected and have been collecting dust for the last few years. British forces now have some amazing options and now have great options to add mobility to what many see as their strength, their great infantry.

We here at NDNG plan to bring you more on this British Bugle book over the next few weeks so stay tuned.