Two more games of Burma Bolt Action

Adie deploys for the first game

Yesterday evening, Adie and myself had another couple of games of Bolt Action as Maunsfield Gaming.

I had picked a couple of 1000 point lists based upon the troops I have available as follows.

British Headquarters Units Officer 95pts First Lieutenant Regular Thompson SMG Two additional men Regular SMLE Rifle Forward Observer 10pts Artillery Forward Observer Regular Thompson SMG One additional man Regular SMLE Rifle Infantry Squads and Teams Infantry Section 123pts NCO Regular Thompson SMG 8 Riflemen Regular SMLE Rifle 1 Machine gunner Regular Bren LMG Infantry Section 123pts NCO Regular Thompson SMG 8 Riflemen Regular SMLE Rifle 1 Machine gunner Regular Bren LMG Infantry Section 123pts NCO Regular Sten SMG 8 Riflemen Regular SMLE Rifle 1 Machine gunner Regular Bren LMG Veteran Infantry Section 150pts NCO Veteran Sten SMG 8 Riflemen Veteran SMLE Rifle 1 Machine gunner Veteran Bren LMG Machine Gun Team 50pts Three men Regular Vickers MMG PIAT Team 40pts Two men Regular PIAT Flamethrower Team 50pts Two men Regular Flamethrower Light Mortar Team 35pts Two men Regular 2” Mortar Tanks Sherman V Regular Sherman V 195pts 994pts BOMBARDMENT When rolling for the effects of a Preparatory Bombardment instead of rolling one die on the results chart for each enemy unit (p181) roll two dice and choose the best result  ARTILLERY SUPPORT British armies can include one regular Artillery Forward Observer for free. Japanese Headquarters Units Officer 103pts First Lieutenant Veteran Sword & Pistol (Tough Fighter) Additional man Veteran Type 100 SMG Medic 30pts Medic Veteran Pistol Infantry Squads and Teams IJA Veteran Infantry Squad 163pts NCO Veteran Ariska Rifle 9 Riflemen Veteran Ariska Rifle 1 Machine gunner Veteran Type 99 LMG IJA Veteran Infantry Squad 163pts NCO Veteran Ariska Rifle 9 Riflemen Veteran Ariska Rifle 1 Machine gunner Veteran Type 99 LMG IJA Veteran Infantry Squad 163pts NCO Veteran Ariska Rifle 9 Riflemen Veteran Ariska Rifle 1 Machine gunner Veteran Type 99 LMG IJA Veteran Infantry Squad 124pts NCO Veteran Ariska Rifle 6 Riflemen Veteran Ariska Rifle 1 Machine gunner Veteran Type 99 LMG Machine Gun Team 50pts Three men Veteran Type 92 MMG Light Mortar Team 46pts Two men Veteran Type 89 Grenade Launchers Light Mortar Team 46pts Two men Veteran Type 89 Grenade Launchers Light Mortar Team 46pts Two men Veteran Type 89 Grenade Launchers Sniper Team 65pts Two men Veteran Type 97 Sniper Rifle 999pts DEATH BEFORE DISHONOUR Every unit in this list has the Fanatics special rule, as described on page 70 of the Bolt Action rulebook. In addition, infantry and artillery units automatically pass morale checks for being assaulted by enemy tanks (note that artillery pieces are still destroyed as normal). BANZAI CHARGE If a Japanese infantry unit is ordered to Run towards (or Charge) the closest visible enemy, any Order test for that move is automatically passed, as if the unit had rolled a double one. All models in the unit must then be moved directly towards one of the models in the target unit, and must make contact with the target unit if possible. Note that a unit can be ordered to Run/Charge in another direction, but in that case it will follow the normal rules and the Banzai Charge rule has no effect.

Veteran infantry take the village elders house

Adie elected to use the Japanese, so that we could continue from where we left off last time.

The British list was what I had decided to use at the forthcoming event WAB GT Bolt Action event that was eventually cancelled. The Japanese was more cobbled together from all the stuff I have painted.

Japanese seize the jungle

We rolled up a mission and came up with Maximum Attrition - I must admit, not my favourite of the bunch. On the first urn, my Forward Artillery Observer called in his bombardment and at the start of the second turn I rolled a 6, the artillery was zeroed in. I then rolled a six for the diameter. Under the template was one of Adies infantry squads, two 50mm mortars and his sniper. Well my succession of sixes continued with both the infantry squad and the sniper being wiped out to a man and the two light mortars under a lot of pins. This is a complete reversal of my usual experience with my Artillery Forward Observer.

On turn three, after some excellent British shooting and a failed Banzai charge meant Adie was down to very little so we wrapped up that game and started again.

50mm mortar vs Sherman, not a fair fight

The second game we rolled up Hold Until Relieved and that went a lot better. Adie put me in defence so I put one infantry section and my light mortar in the objective, his initial bombardment missed my Forward Artillery Observer and put some pins onto the infantry section and the 2" Mortar. This time my Forward Artillery Observer was killed quite early on so I was unable to move the bombardment which did very little. Adie soon took the objective, the Rifle section and the 2" mortar being shot up far too easily (we don't give troops in the light buildings a 6+ damage roll as they are not substantial enough) .

HQ section orders a rifle section forwards

The Japs were soon swarming all over the village and the British counter attack went in, mainly consisting of a chap with a flame-thrower hiding behind the Sherman tank until he got into range. The Japanese section hit by the flame thrower suffered no casualties, but suffered four pins and rolled badly on the subsequent moral test and was removed.

At the end of the evening, both sides were contesting the objective so it was a draw with pretty much equal casualties on each side.

The second game went much better, although the Japanese do struggle against the Sherman tank. Historical of course, but not so good for game balance.

 Here are a load more images from the games.