Further tactical thoughts about my Bolt Action army

I've given some thought to yet more theory-crafting for my Bolt Action army.

Everything I've learnt about the desert, historical warfare and wargaming is you need to be mobile. Not the entire army, but enough you can advance to cover, take objectives and flank the enemy.  You still need someone to get the enemies attention, but movement and flanking win battles.

Unlike Glory is Fleeting, in Bolt Action you can bring on reserves ANYWHERE along your deployment zone and flank ANYWHERE on one side or the other. To me, using this is priceless. Being able to being on a reserve where I need it is very powerful, even if it's delayed for 1-2 turns. And I suspect most games your opponent won't have a clue what you're bringing on, or where. 

And I can keep an element of surprise (which is VITAL) because the enemy won't know if it's coming on my deployment zone OR the flanks outside theirs. Granted it can't be till turn 3 or  , but they can still come on from my reserve instead of the flank if needed. 

But I don't think I have the manpower to put my entire carrier platoon on a flank march. But I have three of them. So one squad would deploy as my reserve. Either to come in from an unexpected angle, support the main units or be a counter attack. The other two (including the Platoon commander) would come on in a flank - ideally behind a smoke barrage as cover so they can spend a turn moving FAST before dropping of their infantry for close enough assaults. If the 1st one is still around, it can also move up to support the other two, so should ideally come on near where the flank units will. 

The anti-tank equipment squad of engineers would move with the platoon commander, company commander and anti-tank rifle team. Having the Co Coy means both carriers can be snapped too to get on the same turn AND deploy their infantry if needed. The AT rifle is going to need flank and rear shots to hurt any tanks too.

I have thought of making the Engineer Carrier platoon a Recce platoon instead. Not so good at building assaults, but more survivable and would make more thematic sense. And I can get a very powerful SECOND Artillery spotter, which I really should have as British. However, it means I need to lose a Matilda II and the company commander (and get a light tank VIC instead). Being able to call in a 3rd or 4th artillery barrage as the infantry go in sounds very very nice. I would probably use the Rifle Platoon Artillery spotter to drop smoke for where the flanking carriers would come in with the light tank. I will need to test it out in some solo games.

The 1st list would have the two Matilda's working with the Rifle Platoon to hold the line and engage enemy tanks.  The 2nd would have just one Matilda II, but both have one carrier with a squad to reinforce the rifle platoon.

Both army lists below the line.

Total Points: 1100

Order Dice: 16

Platoon #1

*Version 3 - British - Armoured Platoon 1100 Conquest 2025 enginners assaulting Bardia

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

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

Platoon #2

*Version 3 - British - Rifle Platoon 1100 Cancon enginners 2 matties

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) 95Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 6 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1 Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 36" 4 n/a

Infantry Section (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) 95Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 6 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1 Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 36" 4 n/a

Company Commander

Company Commander (Version 3 Rulebook page 234) 60Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Company Commander  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) 30Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Light Mortar team 12-36" 1 HE Team (2 men), Indirect fire, HE (1")

Platoon #3

*Version 3 - British - Engineer 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

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

Infantry Section (Engineers) (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) 55Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 4 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a Engineers Engineers

Transports

Bren Carrier (Version 3 Rulebook page 248) 75Regular 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     Pintle-mounted LMG 36" 4 n/a Flak, 360 degree arc

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) 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   Total Points: 1100 Order Dice: 17 Platoon #1 *Version 3 - British - Recce Infantry Platoon 1100 Conquest Recce platoon 14 order dice Platoon Commander Platoon Commander (Version 3 Rulebook page 234) 30Regular 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 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 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) Recce Vehicles rule Recce Vehicles rule (v3) (Version 3 Rulebook page 189) 30 Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 3 Transport Vehicles with Recce special rule Recce Infantry Platoon Transports Bren Carrier (Version 3 Rulebook page 248) 75Regular 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     Pintle-mounted LMG 36" 4 n/a Flak, 360 degree arc 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) 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 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) 95Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 6 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1 Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 36" 4 n/a Infantry Section (Version 3 Rulebook page 235) 95Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 NCO with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 6 Infantry with Rifle 24" 1 n/a 1 Infantry with Light Machine gun (requires loader) 36" 4 n/a 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) 30Regular Qty Weapons Range Shots Pen Special 1 Light Mortar team 12-36" 1 HE Team (2 men), Indirect fire, HE (1") 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 Vehicle Light Tank (Version 3 Rulebook page 240) 85Regular Qty Vehicle   Weapons Type Range Trans Shots DV Pen Special 1 Light Tank Mk VI C Tracked - 7+     Turret-mounted light automatic cannon 48" 2 +2 HE (1")     Co-axial MMG 36" 6 n/a