Enginners lead the way on the attack on Bardia Mk V

 If I spent all my time painting that I did redoing my army lists I'd have enough armies to fight both sides of the Battle of Bardia.

I really need to get The Battle of Bardia (Australian Army Campaigns Series Book 9). Too late to get it from Christmas :(

So I thought about it, and it makes more sense for the Engineer platoon to be on foot and the first ones on the field. They need to clear the wire with Bangalore torpedo's, clear lanes through the minefields, fill in the anti-tank ditch and tank traps, and close assault enemy fortifications with explosive charges.

I want 3 squads to give them enough staying power before the reserves arrive, but I can't afford a full 3rd squad. I gave them anti-tank grenades instead so at least someone on the field can try and put a satchel charge on the incoming Tiger I coming over the hill. 

I made this platoon leader a veteran from the first world war, as this platoon may need to hold the line for several turns before the counter attack or reserves arrive.  

From the WW2 Online Stream Guide

I decided I DID want a truck and 30 CWT's were in the TOE (see my last post) so I got one of them. I can't fit a full squad AND the platoon commander but I could rush forward one squad to get some cover or close to the objective with the anti-tank grenades and commander. 

Everyone else always seems to get inexperienced transports but I'd like to see how it goes. Going to a inexperienced 3-ton truck where I CAN carry the Platoon commander and a full squad might be better though.

Also I needed a cheap unit to be on the table so I have 9 units on the ground and 9 in reserve. The engineers, truck, mortars, sniper and FO make 9. Da Plan is for the engineers to hold the line (and maybe send one unit forward in the truck). The mortars lay smoke everywhere. Once the enemy is committed, bring on the reserves in a flank position or from a point I can get flank shots on enemy armour, with the Bren Guns of the carriers and riflemen focusing on destroying one enemy infantry unit a time.

The 2nd platoon is a small rifle unit of only 2 5-man squads to fit in Bren gun carriers, with a platoon commander AND company commander. Seeing as the idea is for the company commander to be next to the platoon commander, and overrides his orders, I've made the Lt inexperienced and the company commander a regular. The CO has a single runner with him.

The FO is a necessity with British/Commonwealth troops. Two artillery barrages might be the only thing I can use to stop a heavy armour assault on my positions.

I wanted a sniper team to be another unit on the table and maybe be able to hunt down enemy FO's and Air Observes (which worry me a lot with my lack of AA guns).

The AT rifle team can either deploy with the engineers or come on in the commanders Bren gun carrier, depending on the armored threat.  I'd much rather bring them on a flank to get a better show at the enemy medium tanks I expect will show up everywhere.

I got 2 light mortar's because they are fluffy and I really liked laying smoke with them in WW2OL. However, apparently you only a have a 1 in 6 chance of a smoke round LANDING ON THE TABLE.  AND the smoke might move?? Why the fuck should it move when it's a smoke round GIVING OFF SMOKE, If the wind blows it somewhere, it's going to blow it away anyway!  And how the hell do you MISS when the entire table is under the range of the round!?! In any case, it might help with static enemy machine guns which is the other use for it, though they are both inexperienced as I understand from battle reports I've seen that mortar's aren't very good anyway. 

Someone get Rick Priestly to play WW2OL and show him how useful and STATIC smoke rounds can be. 

3 Bren Gun carriers carry the rifle platoon from the reserves or to the enemy flank. One has a AT rifle and one an AA pintle mount.  I really want all 3 to have the AA pintle mount but can't afford it. 

Ideally all 3 and the armour will arrive to counter attack or hit the enemy in the flank!

The iconic Matilda II is  my only anti tank gun, is slow, but armored like a mediam tank. Really need a a flank shot to hurt anyone. Also acts a command vehicle for the Bren gun carriers. 

I am very much lacking much anti tank abilities - 1 light AT gun, 2 AT rifles and one small squad with grenades. But the Matilda was the only tank in action I think at Bardia. I COULD get 2 pounder Portee light AT guns on trucks, bit I'd rather have at least one tank that can take a hit.

 

Total Points: 1100

Order Dice: 18

Platoon #1

*Version 3 - British - Engineer Platoon Assault on Bardia lead by enginners

Platoon Commander

Platoon Commander (Version 3 Rulebook page 234) 39Veteran Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Platoon Commander  with Pistol 6" 1 n/a    with Rifle 24" 1 n/a  with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault

Engineers

Infantry Section (Engineers) (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) full strength125Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 8 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1 Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 36" 4 n/a Engineers Engineers

Infantry Section (Engineers) (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) full strength110Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 9 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a Engineers Engineers

Infantry Section (Engineers) (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) 65Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 4 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a Engineers Engineers Entire squad equipped with anti-tank grenades Tank hunters

Transports

Trucks/Lorries (Version 3 Rulebook page 248) 25Regular Qty Vehicle   Weapons Type Range Trans Shots DV Pen Special 1 30 CWT Truck Wheeled 10 6+ Tow: Light howitzer, light or medium anti-tank gun, light or heavy anti-aircraft gun

Platoon #2

*Version 3 - British - Rifle Platoon

Platoon Commander

Platoon Commander (Version 3 Rulebook page 234) 21Inexperienced Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Platoon Commander  with Pistol 6" 1 n/a    with Rifle 24" 1 n/a  with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault

Infantry

Infantry Section (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) 50Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 4 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a

Infantry Section (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) 50Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 4 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a

Company Commander

Company Commander (Version 3 Rulebook page 234) 70Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Company Commander 1 Infantry (equipped as modeled) - -  with Pistol 6" 1 n/a    with Rifle 24" 1 n/a  with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault

Forward Observer

Forward Observer (Artillery) (Version 3 Rulebook page 234) 86Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Forward Observer (Artillery) Infiltrator 1 Infantry (equipped as modeled) - -  with Rifle 24" 1 n/a  with Pistol 6" 1 n/a    with Submachine gun 12" 2 n/a Assault

Sniper

Sniper Team (Version 3 Rulebook page 238) 52Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Sniper Team 36" 1 n/a Team (2 men), Sniper, Infiltrator, (Sniper has a rifle and a pistol, spotter has a pistol)

Anti-tank

Anti-Tank Team (Version 3 Rulebook page 237) 25Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Anti-tank rifle team 48" 1 +2 Team (2 men)

Light mortar

Light Mortar Team (Version 3 Rulebook page 238) 21Inexperienced Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Light Mortar team 12-36" 1 HE Team (2 men), Indirect fire, HE (1")

Light Mortar Team (Version 3 Rulebook page 238) 21Inexperienced Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Light Mortar team 12-36" 1 HE Team (2 men), Indirect fire, HE (1")

Transports

Bren Carrier (Version 3 Rulebook page 248) 50Regular Qty Vehicle   Weapons Type Range Trans Shots DV Pen Special 1 Bren Carrier Tracked 5 7+ Open-topped, Turn on the spot Tow: Light or medium anti-tank gun     Forward-facing LMG 36" 4 n/a Front arc

Bren Carrier (Version 3 Rulebook page 248) 60Regular Qty Vehicle   Weapons Type Range Trans Shots DV Pen Special 1 Bren Carrier (Boys AT) Tracked 5 7+ Open-topped, Turn on the spot Tow: Light or medium anti-tank gun     Forward-facing Boys anti-tank rifle 48" 1 +2 Front arc

Bren Carrier (Version 3 Rulebook page 248) 65Regular Qty Vehicle   Weapons Type Range Trans Shots DV Pen Special 1 Bren Carrier Tracked 5 7+ Open-topped, Turn on the spot Tow: Light or medium anti-tank gun     Forward-facing LMG 36" 4 n/a Front arc     Pintle-mounted LMG 36" 4 n/a Flak, 360 degree arc

Platoon #3

*Version 3 - British - Armoured Platoon

Command Vehicle

Matilda & Valentine Infantry Tank (Version 3 Rulebook page 241) 155Regular Qty Vehicle   Weapons Type Range Trans Shots DV Pen Special 1 Infantry Tank Mk II Matilda Mk II Tracked - 9+ Slow     Turret-mounted light anti-tank gun 48" 1 +4 HE (1")     Co-axial MMG 36" 6 n/a

Cmd Vehicle Options

Command Vehicle rule (v3) (Version 3 Rulebook page 188) 10 Command Vehicle special rule