Flames of War MW 75pt Rearguard with identical DAK tank lists

Matt had his airbags go off after hitting a lamp post in a parking lot after a tournament a few years ago in his green jeep.  I ofc made an objective for him!

So after a fun time at Canadian Nationals, one thing was clear: we did not have enough practice games with the new rules or our lists.  Matt and I decided to start fixing that now, only 51 weeks until next event, so why not get into it with 75 points of MW!   I drove up to his new place, we set up a table, and then decided to play identical lists:

75pts DAK Panzer Ko.

Pzr III HQ tank w/ 5cm short:  5pts
Pzr III platoon (4 tanks) w/ 5cm short:   20pts
Pzr IV platoon (4 tanks) w/ 7.5cm short:  24pts
Pzr II platoon (4 tanks):  8 pts
Marder platoon (4 tanks) w/ 7.62cm:   16 pts
8-Rads (2):  2 pts

I wanted to rock a basic mission, but I let myself get co-erced into playing Rearguard.   I rolled a 1 to see who would attack, so I got to defend.   Video as usual is at the end, enjoy!

After deployment, I am on the left, with Pzr IIIs in Ambush.

As the defender of Rearguard, I would have to manage my losses with Strategic Withdrawal, but did get 3 Minefields.  I put 2 past the church, and one on the road, to prevent a 40-inch road dash from his 8-rads.

On my right flank, Marders Concealed and GtG in the trees with Pzr IIs ready to react / contest the open objective.

Matt would put his Marders opposite mine, and add his Pzr IIIs to overwhelm my flank.  Pzr IIs can't handle Pzr IIIs

From the get-go, Matt was aggressive on my left flank, Blitzing up his Pzr IVs around the church to snipe my Pzr IVs in cover, and even the shots that hit, AT7 vs FA 5, they all bounced.   He even road-dashed the 8-Rads down the road, going so fast the mine fuses did not trigger in time (he rolled a 6 for his top armour save!)   His Marders blitzed into the field to take shots, but being concealed and GtG saved me from his initial volley..

My return fire from the Marder firefight results in one of his burning.   His unit leader marder is a Dicker Max !!!

My Pzr IVs, splitting fire vs his Pzr IVs and some against his Pzr II rush up the middle

All his Pzr IVs would save vs my AT7 shots.., his Pzr IIs can be seen using that house to limit return fire while he snipes my 8-rads

Meanwhile, I had to reveal my ambush in the trees in order to save my Marders and the right flank.. while I could make my Fritz-Moves (Blitz-shoot-Shoot'n'Scoot) the failed cross checks meant tanks remained visible for return fire.  In MW, Marder's only cross on a 4+!   As you can see, it was a vicious firefight on the right flank.

Down to a handful of vehicles now, but I had wiped his Pzr IIIs at this point.

His 8-Rad makes his 5+ Last Stand, and kills my last 8-Rad by the abbey.

While the tank battle on my right flank was going my way, Matt was putting on the pressure with his 8-Rad on the open objective, and his Panzer IVs on the Church objective.   I pulled a gamble here and there (best seen in the video to be honest) but was running out of active platoons.   At the end of the day, while I was one tank kill away from putting him into Formation Bad Spirits, he was able to remount a Pzr II on the open objective and take the win.

Surveying the field of wrecked armour, the last Marder stands triumphantly.

So it was a fantastic game, with a tonne of manoeuvre on one side, and a blistering firefight on the other.   I felt my ambush was at the right spot at the right time (after he moved his Pzr IIIs into the open for close-range shots on my Marders) but I think the choice of Pzr IV shorts was not a good one. AT7 FP3 is fine against anything that isn't a tank, but we were bouncing shots all night.   As much as it pains me to, I think I will remove the stubby 7.5cm guns and see if I have any replacement barrels.   The 7.5 longs are a huge expense though, so we shall see.  Maybe go 2 and 2, and play them like a Firefly platoon?   Or ditch the Pzr IVs altogether and sub in 10 Italian M14/41s from that new Wildcard Formation?  

Anyways, I of course did not take as many pics as I would like but the below video is pretty thorough, hope you enjoy it.