After an eternity, we finally got a game of Battlegroup on the table last Monday.
My Panzergrenadiers faced off against Bernhard's Brits, 300 points each (Squad-Level), using force lists from the Operation Torch supplement.
During operations in northern Tunisia, advancing Wehrmacht patrols clash with a British advance element, sparking a engagement to secure the best positions for the following main forces (Scenario: Recce Screen).
The battlefield, located somewhere in northern Tunisia, its name not found on any standard map.
A British Reconnaissance Squad comes under fire from my SdKfz. 222, its autocannon forcing them to get their heads down immediately.
While my 222 lays down suppressing fire, reinforcements roll up in the background - a Panzer IV F1, accompanied by two Panzer IV F2s and supporting infantry.
The Churchills advance and seem utterly unstoppable. My gunners seem paralyzed and couldn't hit the door of a barn from 10 meters away, all their shots missing the target by miles.
One of my squads occupies the houses to avoid being overrun by the Churchills - equipped only with Anti-Tank Grenades, nobody wants to face these monsters in the open street.
Another Churchill advances alongside its troop mate when a German aircraft suddenly appears overhead. It forces the following infantry to take cover after one platoon loses over 50% of its strength. However, the bomb intended for the lead Churchill misses its mark by a mile...
At least we finally hit the target, thought my Kampfgruppen commander - even if the armor-piercing shell bounced off the thick front armor of the Churchill and disappeared harmlessly into the sky.
The sad remnants of the British squad after air attacks and several accurate artillery strikes.
While my Panzer IV F1 manages to hold the town center despite inferior firepower, another Churchill rolls through the date palm plantation into our rear area, which is covered only by a lone PG squad ...
HE and machine gun fire from the Churchill decimate the infantry team, forcing them to scramble for any cover they can find.
The MG team tries to save the situation, primes their Anti-Tank Grenades, charges the Churchill... and falls to the last man in the monster's defensive fire.
The British prepare to storm the olive grove held by my HQ artillery observer and a infantry squad, aiming to put an end to the extremely effective German artillery fire.
But at the decisive moment, my Panzer IV F2 securing the far right flank scores a lucky hit on the oncoming Churchill, causing its ammo storage to detonate in a spectacular fireball.
Their Battle Rating reduced to 0, the British begin their retreat, leaving the field to their opponents for today.
Conclusion
BG is just plain fun, though it represents a different level compared to Chain of Command. Our squad-level game featuring an infantry platoon, reconnaissance units, support, and a tank section would easily qualify as Big CoC in Chain of Command terms.
BG also lets you react during your opponent's turn provided you planned ahead with the right Orders. The BR system ensures you do not take foolish risks (much like Force Morale in CoC), and you never have enough Orders to move every single unit.
Playing Germans puts you at an even greater disadvantage here, as unlike the British, you cannot order a full squad with a single Order; German squads are split into two separately commanded teams, each requiring its own Order.
We certainly need more practice—Bernhard hadn't played BG in nearly a year either—yet we managed to wrap up the game within our 3-hour window, which speaks volumes for the ruleset.
We both agree: a rematch is needed very soon!
