Battle Report: Axis vs Allies

BATTLE REPORT CARD 

Date: February 28, 2025

Game: Bolt Action

Size: 1500pt Doubles (750/750)

Mission: Key Positions

 
🟥Red Player: Alex & Steven

🟥Faction: Axis (Germany)

🟥List: Blitzkrieg Germans (8 OD) & Spanish Blue Division (10 OD)

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🟦Blue Player: Matt & Jeff

🟦Faction: Allies (France & United States)

🟦List: French Foreign Legion (12 OD) & US Marines (10 OD)

Prologue

 

 This game was part of a new monthly meet-up at a local game store. As part of this event, the event organizer asked players to bring early war armies (1939-1942). This pretty much narrowed me down into a Blitzkrieg Germans list. As part of the build up, I 3D printed and painted a pair of Panzer II tanks (see my last project diary).

 

 

 

At the event, I was paired up with Steven, another German player who brought his Spanish Blue Division (click the link to learn more about the 250th Infantry Division aka Spanish Blue Division). Matt and Jeff brought Allied forces and were paired together for a 1500pt battle.

 

The battle would use the double activation rules from the Bolt Action Third Edition core rulebook. What that means is only one player from each side will put their orders dice into the dice bag. When your teams order die is pulled, both teammates will be able to activate a unit! If one player doesn't have enough orders dice in their list, they have some opportunities to pass.

 

The mission played was Key Positions with 6 objectives randomly determined. The team who controls the most objectives at the end of the battle wins! 

Round 1

Round 1 started with a first wave advance onto the table. Worried about an alpha strike from the bazooka team stuffed into a Jeep, I deployed my halftracks on the opposite side of the board, which forced my units to cluster up a bit. The US player counter deployed with his halftracks on the same side while I countered the Jeep with my pair of Panzer IIs. Unfortunately, In the pell-mell of deployment, some of my infantry blocked my teammate's Howitzers from firing direct on some units.

Score: 🟥1 - 🟦2

 

Round 2

 Turn 2 started off well for the Axis. My Panzer II was able to strike the worrying Jeep and KO it and all it's occupants. The French Howitzers opened up with good effect, pinning down some of my infantry while also knocking out a Hanomag. Another 10 man Heer squad was able to hole up in some ruins, pinning down some Foreign Legion and tanking some shots from the 10 brick of Marines. 

Score: 🟥3 - 🟦3

 

Round 3

The Axis take a beating during Round 3, but were able to advance and capture more ground. Panzer IIs and Halftracks were pulled forward to hang onto these points and did a good job of keeping those objectives secured. Playing towards the objectives, I let some of my infantry take the brunt of the attacks to allow for the Spanish Blue Division to remain in good strength to counter attack. During this turn, both my tanks take good hits, immobilizing one and causing the other to have a turret jam.

Score: 🟥0 - 🟦0

 

Round 4

Round 4 was a bit of a turtling turn for the Axis while they attempted to protect their gained ground. Unfortunately, my teammate's officer I was hoping to benefit from had a moment of blood lust and charged after some Senegalese prepared in some ruins. Without the officer in place, my hopes of contesting the barn objective was diminishing. The Spanish Blue Division heavy guns did some work pinning down the marines advancing towards the point, but a lone officer was left in prime position to take it.

Score: 🟥4 - 🟦2

  

Round 5

 Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of Round 5 as the table was quickly cleaned up after the end of the turn. The major points from this turn revolve around the barn mentioned in Round 4. Without the officer in place, my remaining infantry failed to activate, allowing the solo French officer to stroll onto the point and capture it. Without anyone available to retake that point in the area, and all the other points firmly in one team's control, the game was called. With 3 points to 3 points, the game was a draw! During the fight, I had lost half my army, but put in a good blitz to capture and hold some of those middle objectives. Being stuck in front of my teammate's guns wasn't ideal, but the work the guns did helped to pin down some of the major threats.

Score: 🟥3 - 🟦3