With John Lee
With the launch of the Bagration: Axis Allies release, I thought I would look at how a new player, or someone on a budget, can get a Hungarian force on the table that would be semi-competitive or at least hold its own with the focus on the new Zrinyi Assault-gun. For the new player, it opens the door to playing Flames of War without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker.
So, if we look at what we get in the excellent value starter set (Zrinyi Assault-Gun Battery), that will help decide what formations to run. The starter set contains the following:
- Complete A5 Rulebook
- Hungarian “Start Here” booklet
- 4 x Zrinyi Assault-guns
- 3 x Hetzer Assault-guns
- 3 x StuG Assault-guns
- 3 x Panther Tanks
- 4 x 10.5cm Howitzers
- 2 x Decal Sheets
- 7 x Unit Cards
The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away. Now if we look at what formations are in the Bagration: Axis Allies book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box. The most obvious formation is the Zrinyi Assault-gun Battery but we will also explore the Stug and Hetzer Assault-gun Batteries. We will look at options for 105pts.
Looking at the Zrinyi Assault-gun Battery first, let us look at what units comprise this formation:
Looking at the formation and what we get in the starter box, we can maximise all the assault guns. The Panthers could be used as formation support with the 10.5cm Howitzers in support. The thing I really like about the Zrinyi is that has a ROF 2 AT10 dual purpose weapon.
We are using everything from the box and adding an infantry platoon and armoured cars for spearhead. Maxed out the formation of four units. Upgraded the command Zrinyi to a 75mm gun with AT11 as we already have two artillery templates in the force with Zrinyi battery and 105mm artillery battery. Panthers provide the heavy AT, and the infantry platoon can screen your assault guns or dig in on an objective.
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $211:
1 x HUAB01 Hungarian Starter Force: Zrinyi Assault Gun Battery (Plastic) | 110 |
1 x HU702 Rifle Platoon | 27 |
3 x HU300 Csaba Armoured Car | 39 |
1 x FW269HC Bagration: Hungarian Command Cards | 10 |
1 x FW269 Bagration: Axis Allies | 25 |
TOTAL | $211 |
We can change this up a bit by buying an extra box of Zrinyi’s to provide two core platoons and use the Assault Artillery Rifle Platoon command card to replace the third core platoon slot with infantry. This helps anchor the formation for one additional point. We can drop the 105mm artillery and use the Hetzer and Stug platoons as formation support.
Now the only things not used from the starter are the Hetzers and 105mm guns. You still have two artillery templates and now a scout platoon which can either spearhead, dig in on the other objective or screen the assault guns. Nice balanced force (well for my playstyle anyway).
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $249:
1 x HUAB01 Hungarian Starter Force: Zrinyi Assault Gun Battery (Plastic) | 110 |
1 x HBX03 Zrinyi Assault Gun Platoon (Plastic) | 50 |
2 x HU702 Rifle Platoon | 54 |
1 x FW269HC Bagration: Hungarian Command Cards | 10 |
1 x FW269 Bagration: Axis Allies | 25 |
TOTAL | $249 |
You could also swap out the Scout Platoon with a platoon of four Csaba (4pts) and Heavy AA battery (6pts) if you still wanted some more mobility and additional AT14 goodness.
Looking at the Stug Assault Gun Battery now, it is a similar configuration to the Zrinyi with the following units comprising the formation:
We can take the two compulsory platoons and let us take the 7.5cm Anti-tank Platoon as the third platoon. Gives us some flexibility in the list by having an ambush unit and that extra pip of AT could be useful.
Only the 105mm guns, Hetzers and one Zrinyi not used from the starter box. Still has one template and ability to handle enemy armour with AT14 from the Panthers.
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $248:
1 x HUAB01 Hungarian Starter Force: Zrinyi Assault Gun Battery (Plastic) | 110 |
1 x GBX143 Fallschirmjäger StuG Assault Gun Platoon | 50 |
1 x HU702 Rifle Platoon | 27 |
3 x GSO209 Plastic PaK40 Sprue | 18 |
1 x HSO104 Anti-tank Gun and AA Crew | 18 |
1 x FW269 Bagration: Axis Allies | 25 |
TOTAL | $248 |
If you want some spearhead, you could replace the Zrinyi platoon with a 105mm artillery battery (12pts) and Csaba armoured cars (4pts).
With the Hetzer Assault Gun Battery, it has a similar configuration to the assault gun batteries above. The units that comprise the formation are:
The main difference with the Hetzer platoons is that you can take up to five in the platoon instead of just three. We can take advantage of that and take tank platoons of four instead by investing in two additional boxes to make thirteen tanks to max out the formation.
Using everything except the Stugs, 105mm guns and one Zrinyi from the starter box. The combat platoons are more resistant with four tanks rather than three. Still has one template and high-end AT with infantry to screen the Hetzers.
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $262:
1 x HUAB01 Hungarian Starter Force: Zrinyi Assault Gun Battery (Plastic) | 110 |
2 x GBX167 Hetzer Tank-Hunter Platoon (Plastic) | 100 |
1 x HU702 Rifle Platoon | 27 |
1 x FW269 Bagration: Axis Allies | 25 |
TOTAL | $262 |
If you want a spearhead option, you could either replace the Rifle platoon with a Scout platoon (no panzerfaust or smaller one with panzerfaust), or as above with the Stugs, replace the Zrinyi platoon with Csaba armoured cars and 105mm guns.
There are a lot more options to take with a Hungarian force as you will see in other articles for this launch. I would suggest combining this starter box with one of the three German starter boxes if you want to run a Panther company or provide more options to your force. Each box provides more options, whether it is Hungarian (Panthers, Tigers, Hetzers, Stugs, Panzer IVs, 88mm AA Guns, Neberwerfers) or a German allied unit of Panzer IV/70s, Reconnaissance Platoon or Armoured Panzergrenadier Platoon. You can also take a German allied formation as well or if you already have a German force, you can now take Hungarian units or formations now as allies. Take a Zrinyi Assault Gun Platoon with your German forces for flavour.
Having German Allies provides future proofed support options for the Hungarians as the release timeline progresses. With Kingtigers, Jagdpanthers and Jagdtigers still to come, you will be able to provide AT17 support for your Hungarian force!
There you have it – some options to ponder for getting started with different formations with the starter box(es). Enjoy!