With John Lee
With the launch of the Bulge: American release, I thought I would look at how a new player, or someone on a budget, can get an American force on the table that would be semi-competitive or at least hold its own with the focus on the new shiny M4 Easy Eights, Pershing’s, and Chaffee’s. 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 (Spearhead Command), that will help decide what formations to run. The starter set contains the following:
- Complete A5 Rulebook
- American “Start Here” booklet
- 1 x M4 Jumbo Tank (75mm or 76mm)
- 4 x M4 Easy Eight Tanks (76mm)
- 2 x M26 Pershing (90mm) or Super Pershing (90mm) Tanks
- 4 x M24 Chaffee (75mm) Tanks
- 3 x M4 Sherman (Calliope) Launchers
- 2 x M8 Greyhound (37mm) Armoured Cars or M20 (.50 Cal) Utility Cars
- 2 x Jeep (MG) or Jeep (60mm)
- 1 x Full strength Parachute Rifle Platoon
- 2 x Decal Sheets
- 11 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 Bulge: American book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box. The most obvious formation is the Veteran M4 Sherman (Late) Tank Company, but we will also explore the M4 Sherman (Late) Tank Company, Veteran M24 Chaffee Tank Company, and the M24 Chaffee Cavalry Company. We will look at options for 105pts.
Looking at the Veteran M4 Sherman (Late) Tank Company first, let us look at what units comprise this formation:
Looking at the formation and what we get in the starter box, we can use all the box!
We are using everything from the box and applying a couple of command cards to round up the points. So, five units (out of a possible seven) for the formation break. Armoured Cars and Jeeps for spearheading your force into a position to go after the objective(s). With the addition of an upgrade command card, some of your M4 Easy Eights now have AT13 instead of AT12. That one pip can make all the difference! The Jumbo to absorb all those possible incoming shots from your opponent. The Pershing’s provide long range AT14 sniping shots. Chaffee’s and M4 Easy Eights to use their speed to get around your opponent’s flanks with ROF2 shots (using stabilizer). The Calliope Shermans provide the artillery template you will need. Being armoured means they cannot be pinned by enemy counterbattery fire. Finally, infantry in the form of a full-strength Parachute Rifle Platoon (2+ Last Stand!) with sticky bombs in addition to the two Bazookas. Assists with dealing with tanks in assaults. As you can see, you put an army on the table straight from the starter box. If you wanted the Super Pershing, you could change out theM26 Pershing Platoon and remove one M1919 LMG team to get it for 16pts.
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $150:
| 1 x USAB11 Bulge: American Spearhead Company Starter Force | $110 |
| 1 x FW270C Bulge: American Command Cards | $15 |
| 1 x FW270 Bulge American Book | $25 |
| Total: | $150 |
If we look at changing it up a bit, we could get a couple of boxes to supplement the core starter box that gives you some options depending on points and what your preference is. The first thing we could add is a box is a box of M26 Pershing’s for an additional $30. Three in a box and adding in the two we get from the starter box allows us to add in the Super Pershing and double our standard Pershing’s. Let see how a potential list would look by adding in this box:
As you can see, you have a Sherman list with almost NO Shermans! Still have five units for the formation break and have a very useful Super Pershing with FA13 and a gun that is AT18 with a 48” range! You have three standard Pershing’s with their AT14 and Chaffee’s to race around the flanks and cause some havoc. Recon, Paras, and an artillery template to round out your force. If you still want your Easy Eights in this list, change out the Chaffee’s and Calliopes and add a Greyhound to the Recon Patrol.
Onto the M4 Sherman (Late) Tank Company now and it’s made up of the following units:
So, we can use some of the Starter Box, but will need to supplement it with more Shermans:
By adding one box of M4 Sherman (Late) you effectively can run this formation where the only thing you are not using are the two Pershing’s from the starter box. You could run them as formation support by either replacing the Parachute Rifle Platoon or removing the Chaffee’s and Recon Patrol. Standard five units for the formation break and the support as per the previous lists but running an interesting mix of different Sherman types!
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $200:
| 1 x USAB11 Bulge: American Spearhead Company Starter Force | $110 |
| 1x USBX88 M4 Sherman (Late) Tank Platoon | $50 |
| 1 x FW270C Bulge: American Command Cards | $15 |
| 1 x FW270 Bulge American Book | $25 |
| Total: | $200 |
The next formations to look at are based around M24 Chaffee’s. The first is the Veteran M24 Chaffee Formation and is made up of the following units:
So, we can use most of our starter box for this formation, but we will need one or two more boxes of Chaffee’s to round out the formation:
Five units again for the formation break. We introduce the armoured mortars for our artillery template to make sure we have at lease five units for the break. The usual support and we bring in the Pershing’s for that AT14 goodness. We have used almost everything in the starter box except one Easy Eight and the Calliopes. This is achieved by buying an extra box of Chaffee’s and Armoured Mortars. I would suggest getting two boxes of Chaffee’s to make the formation all Chaffee’s and use the other options in the Starter Box as formation support. Let’s have a look at how that could work:
Five platoons for the formation break. One artillery template and recon to spearhead your speedy 14 Chaffee’s into strike range! Shermans with a Jumbo leading the way alongside two Pershing’s to provide the anvil to the Chaffee’s hammer! Note that as the Calliopes are M4 Sherman (Late) sprues, you could just assemble the three tanks without putting the launchers on which is reflected in this list. The only items not being used in the force are the M4 Easy Eights and Parachute Rifle Platoon. You could substitute these in for either the Pershing’s or Shermans.
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $272:
| 1 x USAB11 Bulge: American Spearhead Company Starter Force | $110 |
| 2x USBX94 M24 Chaffee Platoon | $100 |
| 1 x USBX7881mm Armored Mortar Platoon | $37 |
| 1 x FW270 Bulge American Book | $25 |
| Total: | $272 |
The last formation is the M24 Chaffee Cavalry Tank Company found in the Command Cards and is made up of the following units:
This is a similar formation to the M24 Chaffee Tank Company but has different grey box options optional components. Still need a couple of boxes of the Chaffee’s and a box of Stuarts (to assemble M8 Scotts):
Seven units for the formation break and can allow a double or wider spearhead. Pershing’s to provide long range AT while the recon and Chaffee’s go for the objectives supported by the Scotts and Para’s. Change out the options as you see fit as you still have some tanks in your starter box.
To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $320:
| 1 x USAB11 Bulge: American Spearhead Company Starter Force | $110 |
| 2 x USBX94 M24 Chaffee Platoon | $100 |
| 1 x USBX70 M5 Stuart Light Tank Platoon | $50 |
| 1 x USBX79 M8 Cavalry Recon Platoon | $30 |
| 1 x FW270 Bulge American Book | $25 |
| Total: | $272 |
If you plan on running other formations or already have existing formations that you want to flesh out, the starter box has some useful options to help do that along with a couple of other useful boxes such as the Pershing Box.
There you have it – some options to ponder for getting started with different formations with the starter box. Enjoy!