The Winner’s Circle: Joe Lint’s US List for Bolt Action
By Aaron Kamakawiwoole
Hey Reader!
I had a chance to sit down with Joe Lint (the 2025 Bolt Action Maryland State Champion) to discuss the unique army he took. Having chatted with Joe in advance of the tournament on lists, Joe mentioned that he wanted to challenge himself and run with no tanks, which is a big loss for the US since they have a really good suite of tanks and tank destroyers.
So he went full swing into the 2nd Ranger Battalion for D-Day, complete with a display board with grappling hooks for ascending the cliffs, landing craft to showcase the men (they were not part of the army), and a painted fighter for his Air Observer to call in:
Seeing this army in-person was a real treat: it looks even better in-person, as the battle patches on their arms pop more, and the highlighting job in particular was very, very good.
But the list also performed well, so to guide that discussion, I had a few questions for him. Take it away, Joe!
A: Conventional wisdom says Rifle Platoon + Armored Platoon + Heavy Weapons Platoon is the way to go in Bolt Action: you decided to skip on the Armored Platoon. Did you ever feel like, “Man, I wish I had an armored thrust to accompany my squads”? Did you ever feel like you lacked some of the heavy weapon support that armored vehicles often offer?
J: To be honest, I’m a firm skeptic when it comes to an all-infantry build, and I have several reasons for this. Firstly, I believe that bazookas or shaped charge weapons aren’t the most effective means of tackling armored units. In my opinion, anti-tank (AT) guns are the superior choice for dealing with tanks, providing the best overall option and flexibility. Additionally, an all-infantry build faces the challenge of machine guns being ubiquitous, which means you’re likely to come under fire and suffer unit losses.
I would agree that a combination of a rifle platoon, a heavy weapons platoon, and a tank platoon represents the most robust build in the game. This setup offers an ideal balance.
My biggest concern with the U.S. armored platoon is that their units are significantly more expensive compared to those of other armies. When you start comparing their tanks to those of other factions, the point cost is just too high.
I can’t recall a time when I felt the need for heavy weapon support; I felt adequately equipped with three bazookas, an air observer, and double heavy mortars. Heavy mortars can effectively engage lighter tanks.
A: Congratulations on First Place! Did you find that there were specific matches that were tough for you because of the primary objectives, secondary objectives, and/or opposing force?
J: During the first mission with the objectives, I realized that with my rangers, I could secure all three objectives on the first turn. This would make it quite challenging for my opponent to reclaim them since they are sticky objectives. Therefore, I proceeded to advance on the objectives with my three larger ranger squads, utilizing cover to shield my rangers.
After capturing the objectives, I positioned myself in cover or close to them. Additionally, I was aware that in the 2nd mission, an all-infantry build would serve me well, as infantry is essential for scoring.
If you can dominate your opponent’s infantry, victory becomes much more attainable. The 3rd mission was the only one that raised my concerns, as it focused solely on kill points, and certain builds can overpower an all-infantry setup.
A: Bazookas: a lot of people debate how useful they are, and while I think you and I both agree that AT Guns on vehicles are better than bazookas on balance, did they do good work for you? Any tips on how to get the most out of them?
J: The bazookas performed exceptionally well for me throughout the day. To be fair, by the time I brought them into the battle, I was already ahead. I can’t say I missed a single bazooka shot, which I’ll admit is a stroke of luck.
I only fired two bazooka shots that weren’t at point-blank range, and one of those was aimed at an infantry squad because I had no other targets. I made it a point to be patient, approaching my opponent and saving my shots for one of the last activations.
My advice for using bazookas is to get as close as possible, ideally within point-blank range, where you have a 67% chance of hitting. Attempting to move and shoot from a distance is not advisable, as it only gives you a 33% chance to hit. However, if you can take a shot safely without putting your bazooka team at risk, you should definitely go for it.
A: Air Observers! Did you find that people had sufficient air defense to drive off a plane? Did you ever choose to hold back the air strike to deal with enemy air defense before calling in a strike?
J: In my opinion, if you’re going to be playing USA, it’s crucial to leverage their strengths, particularly their ability to execute double airstrikes. If you can successfully call in two airstrikes you can elevate your chances of winning from 50% to 75%.
These airstrikes cover a vast area on the battlefield and can inflict a significant number of pins. Additionally, the pins from airstrikes themselves can stack on the targeted unit. While officers can help reduce the number of pins, they can still severely hinder your opponent for a turn or two, which could be pivotal in turning the game in your favor.
I’ve noticed that in most games, players often neglect to bring Flak weapons. Although auto-cannons are quite popular, I find pintle-mounted machine guns more concerning since they have an easier time of getting a 5 or 6 to hit. You’re statistically more likely to miss with an auto-cannon than with a machine gun. Perhaps I was just incredibly fortunate, but the air observer managed to destroy one tank in each game.
In my first game, I successfully called in two strikes; the first eliminated a tank, while the second was repelled by a single flak machine gun. In the second game, I again called in two airstrikes, taking out a tank and decimating an infantry squad. During the third game, I managed to call in the first strike, which destroyed a tank, but when I attempted to call in the second, my observer was pinned and FUBARed the order test, resulting in him running away.
I’d say if you don’t anticipate facing many Flak weapons, you can afford to take one; however, if you expect a heavy presence of flak, it might not be the best choice. I would wager that in about two-thirds of the games, the observer will prove to be quite effective.
A: The army and its display board looked awesome! Anything that you did for either of them that you’re particularly proud of? And any tips for the readers on how to go about reproducing that?
J: I had the idea to do a Pointe Du Hoc 2nd Rangers force because my brother served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and I also wanted to share the history of the 2nd Rangers on D-Day.
I took several pictures of the process with the display board and why I did it the way I did it. I plan to do a video explaining the display board. This is my second time trying to do a display board and I think it turned out pretty good overall.
A: Any MVP units for you from the day? Units that performed particularly well in your games?
J: My MVP would have to be the air observer as it was reliable in killing a tank each game that more than covered its total points cost. Next I would have to say the heavy mortars were my 2nd best unit because in every game they hit a target and removed it. Sometimes getting that clutch six.
In my first game, I experienced a couple of unforgettable moments. My opponent maneuvered his truck right next to one of my inexperienced LTs, jumped out, and unleashed eight veterans at point-blank range. He rolled four ones to hit, and then rolled another four ones and twos on the to-wound roll while my LT was exposed. Miraculously, he survived.
Fast forward to my third game, where my jeep was struck by an AT rifle, resulting in an explosion. The same inexperienced LT inside the destroyed jeep only suffered one hit, and when the opponent attempted to wound him, he rolled yet another one, and somehow, he survived again. In the following turn, that same officer fired his SMG at point-blank range at the AT rifle squad, hitting both targets and taking them out in the open, being a boss and a true hero.
Thanks for joining us, Joe! I for one not only appreciate seeing a different take on an army, but also seeing players intentionally challenge themselves to see if they can make something work that others might struggle with. When the next tournament comes around, I look forward to seeing you again!
Until next time,
Aaron Kamakawiwoole
YT: @ZurnCentral