Fighting First Battle Report

Fighting First 

Fighting First Battle Report
The US Office Throws Down

With Fighting First bringing the US forces in to Mid War who else would be better to roll out the first Battle Report but the team from our US Office. So Blair and Lonnie built a pair of tank heavy lists and got down to the business of blowing each other up!

M3 Lee Tank Company Panzer III Company 
2 M3 Lee Tanks: 10 pts 2 Panzer III (short 5cm) tanks: 10 pts
3 M3 Lee Tanks with 3 Long Barrel 75mm: 18 pts 3 Panzer III (Uparmored) tanks: 24 pts
5 M4 Shermans: 40 pts 2 Panzer III (Up) and 1 Panzer III (7.5cm) tanks: 20 pts
4 M10 Tank Destroyers: 32 pts 2 Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) tanks: 12 pts
  3 Panzer IV (long7.5cm): 30 pts
Setup  
Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report
Turn 1
 
Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report
US Turn 1: The Shermans moved at breakneck speed to the North around a rocky hill. The Lees advanced ahead of the M10 Tank Destroyers to screen for enemy fire, they take a few long range shots at an exposed Panzer III with no effect.

German Turn 1: The Panzer IIIs in the South cut through the palm trees to reach their pre-planned firing positions, their experience should allow them to make short work of the green American tanks. Their first round of shots fall short, but one 5cm shell finds its mark in the sponson of an M3 Lee.

The Panzer IIIs in the middle reposition to acquire better targets, but are unable to get the range properly. The Panzer IVs on the Northern flank spot the Shermans moving behind the hill, and reposition accordingly, prepared to ambush the unsuspecting tankers.

Turn 2
 
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US Turn 2: Keeping the pressure on, the M3 Lees get into close range, but cannot keep their guns on target. The M10s maintain their firing positions and score a killing blow on the more lightly armored Panzer III 5cm (short).The Sherman platoon impetuously presses forward eager to lend their weight to the fight, but their rounds fly high over the Panzer IIIs in the open.

German Turn 2: The Panzer IVs move forward to catch the Shermans as they come around the corner of the hill. The Panzer IIIs in the open are too focused on firing to notice the Shermans on their flank, and fail to reposition. The fire from all three Panzer III platoons claims a Lee and a M10 Tank Destroyer.

Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report
Turn 3
 
Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report
US Turn 3: The Shermans push into the gap between two hills and find themselves within short range of the Panzer IVs, but they’re ready for a knife fight! Fire from the Shermans knocks out two of the Panzer IV 7.5cm (long)s.
The Company Commander co-ordinates the fire from his remaining troops in the South and silences three more Panzer III tanks.

German Turn 3: Find their weapons ineffective against the front armor of the Shermans, the Panzer IVs with the short gun move out of the woods behind the Shermans and fire for little effect.

The remaining long barrel Panzer IV fires wildly as it reverses behind his burning comrades, luckily scoring a kill against a Sherman. In the South the Panzer IIIs begin to panic and run, leaving only two tanks to stand in the way of the Lees and M10s.

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Turn 4
 
Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report

US Turn 4: The turrets of the Shermans begin to feel like an oven as they fire round after round, but their efforts pay off, killing two Panzer IVs and two Panzer IIIs.

Rather than give up their firing positions the Lees and M10s continue to fire as rapidly as possible into the palm trees, killing one more Panzer III.

German Turn 4: Finding the situation untenable, and with the Company Commander killed, the remaining German tanks withdraw from the field.

Fighting First Battle Report Fighting First Battle Report
 Fighting First Battle Report


Last Updated On Thursday, August 31, 2017