"Tanksgiving" 2017

Fourteen players of all ages and experience levels gathered at Adventure Games in Oshkosh on Sunday, November 19th for the annual "Tanksgiving" game using Flames of War 4th Edition.  We locked three tables together to create a 12x6' engagement area, liberally sprinkled with Battlefront buildings and trees.

We hoped to top last year's total of 22,000 points engaged and with 14 players each fielding 1,500 points, it was virtually assured.  As it turned out we crushed it with 28,500 points.  Some of us brought extra commands for those who didn't have their own or had a command eliminated and needed another.  I think we had around 40,000 points available.

The Soviet players were trash-talking for weeks before about how much firepower they mustered so we decided to make it a mid-late 1945 game, or "Patton Gets His Way."  So it was Soviets vs. the World.  As it turned out, we initially had five German, one American and one determined Japanese player.  Given the inferiority of the latter in late-war tank to tank combat, it was a valiant decision.

The table and as many of our participants as my camera
could manage.

Axis center section.

View from the German left towards the enemy.

The Japanese(!) prepare to hold the Axis right flank.

First blood to the Soviets.

Jagdpanthers and Jagdtigers exact a toll on the Soviet center.

A pattern begins to emerge.

View from the Soviet left.  Sturmoviks soon to be shot down.

Despite burning Shermans on the right, the center is looking good.

Heavy tanks and self-propelled guns eliminated or soon to be.

Jagdtigers lend support to their American "allies."

The center Germans have few stands left, but are holding well.

Another wave of Americans rolls on table.

Despite losses the German left is holding, though across the
entire table Soviets are getting VPs for objectives.

A Jagdtiger rushes out to contest an objective.

Good luck runs out and the Japanese suffer.

Soviets begin to penetrate the flank.

Still, many remain behind as wrecks.

Panthers and Shermans fighting... uh, side... by... side.

An early look, photo by Dan Wideman. 

Look at them burn!  Photo by Dan Wideman.

Another view of the center.  Photo by Dan Wideman.

Artillery and AA was present, but saw little use.  Photo by
Dan Wideman.

Late in the game as German SPAA goes hunting infantry. 
Photo by Dan Wideman.

Though few in number, such beasts did great work.  Photo by
Dan Wideman.

From all this one might get the idea the Axis forces won easily.  Not to be the case.  In the end the victory point total was Soviets 30 - Axis 28.  Normally I look for a 10% edge to call it a victory of sorts, so technically a draw.  However it was certainly a moral victory for the Soviets.  We conservatively estimate Soviet tank losses to be in excess of 80, against about 30 for the American/German/Japanese coalition.  The Soviet commander on the left reported: "My section alone had 40ish T34 wrecks.  The left flank called in a total of 68 T34, 5 IS-2, 3 IS-122 and 5 SU-100 46 T34/85s 22 T34/76 and 5 IL2 tip 3m Sturmoviks..."  But with many of the German platoons being one or two big vehicles it was easy for the Soviets to get points for platoons destroyed and given the numbers disparity it was easy for the Soviets to rush the objectives for those VPs.

I've rarely heard so much laughing, joking and good-natured ribbing as we had here.  The novice players were helped along, though the game system is such that after a turn or two you can handle your own shooting and movement for the most part.  The nature of the game is that there is little finesse but rather a slug-fest, ideal for the novice and veteran alike.  We started deploying at 12:30 and wrapped at 5:00ish, all satiated by the carnage.  Wait till next year!  Thanks to Teddy and Char at Adventure Games for again hosting our game.