Tropic LighTning - Flames of War

Body CountArmored CavalryPlatoonHQ SectionTank SectionMARK’S TR ACK OF THE MATCHThat was so close!!!If I had destroyed that gun command team, I would have won! Sure, five victorypoints in the red, but at least it’s a propaganda victory—it would have shownthose Commies they can’t stop the US Army, no matter what the cost.Even though I got to the objective and had killed a pile of Kyran’s troops, I failedto score any victory points as I could never quite wipe out a platoon before Kyranmanaged to slink the survivors off the battlefield and out of harm’s way.Man of the match? That’s a hard choice. It has to be the cavalry’s M113 armouredpersonnel carrier. The armoured cavalry platoon did a magnificent job. Theywere ambushed before the game even began and were still there at the end. M113number 13 was first hit in the ambush. It drove over booby traps that wiped outits rifle team (they should have stayed in the track!), took considerable fire as itmoved to the head of the column, and knocked out one anti-aircraft gun beforefinally succumbing to another in Kyran’s last turn.After several games, I’m a thorough convert to armoured cavalry. Their ability totake punishment, then dish out even more in return is unsurpassed.Scout SectionTank PlatoonAviation Platoon(Airmobile)Aeroweapons PlatoonBody CountInfantry Companywith B-41B-41 B-41 B-41Infantry Companywith B-40B-40 B-40KYRAN’S GUNNERS OF THE MATCHA stunning victory! Hooray for RPG’s! If it wasn’t for all my infantry’s B-40and B-41 rocket launchers, I don’t know how I could ever have stopped all thosetanks, but the real heroes were the anti-aircraft gunners. In test games the Cobrashad devastated my infantry every time they tried to attack, and did the same tomy ambushing company this game. This time I decided to do something different.Instead of bringing on another infantry company as my reserves, I took a punt andput my anti-aircraft guns around the LZ where the Cobras would have to comeand get them before the Slicks arrived. Mark took the bait, and I sprung the trapnext turn with the second anti-aircraft platoon. Goodbye Cobras!Booby traps-talk about a must have. Mark was too scared to move his troopcommander after the Sheridan blew up! I wasn’t able to take out the ACAV’s thistime, unlike earlier games, but the destruction of the Pattons more than made upfor it. Taking out them and the Cobras won the game for me, and I didn’t even usemy whole force. The mortars and sappers were queued up ready to arrive next turn!Guerilla reserves was great. I love the element of surprise it brings. This timefortunately, all on Mark’s side, as everyone except my battalion commanderturned up where I needed them.Divisional Anti-airPlatoonAnti-air PlatoonDivisional RecoillessGun CompanyThanksEquipment supplied for photos by theMilitary Re-enactment Society of NewZealand. For more information visit:www.ww2reenactors.co.nz39BattleReport.indd 16 11/2/11 13:59:42