The Book of Lists (2013)

Every year I must make hundreds of lists for Flames of War. Each depends on my whims, aspirations (dreamed-up or actualized), and some I've made just for fun.

I'm old school when it comes to the physical act of list building. Being a writer by trade, I'm a pen and paper sort of guy, so all of my lists are actually put down on paper and added up without even using a calculator (though I always run them through a calculator before committing a list to a game). I find this process of writing a list down one of my favorite aspects of the wargaming hobby. It's something to do with the interaction between lists, paper, pen, and brain.

Before this year I put these on scraps of paper and slipped them into the relevant book I was noodling a list from. These had a habit of falling out and making a mess, or worse, getting lost just before a game. So this year I decided to keep them all together in a small notebook of lists. I found it quite fun to add new lists to this book in much the same way one would keep a journal or something similar.

Now at the end of the year I've looked back at the book's 81 army lists, I can see where my head was at throughout the year. Its full of EW, MW, and LW lists, and many sub-variants are side-noted in the margins. I've used it extensively and plan to carry on with the habit next year.

I have selected a few of the lists from this year's book to feature here. I chose the ones I remember the most, the motivation behind it, and what became of it. Some are still wishlists waiting for the right moment or event to become a reality, others have become legitimate projects with painting progress and games to their credit.

Let's have a look back at 2013's book of miniature armaments...




Excerpts from the Book Of Lists, 2013

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Beute StuG Batterie (Confident Veteran) HQ 25 Beute StuG Platoon 205 Beute StuG Platoon 205 Beute StuH Platoon 255 Gepanzerte Panzerpionier Platoon 260 add Panzerfaust 10 add 3x half-tracks 30 Gepanzerte Panzerpionier Platoon 260 add Panzerfaust 10 add 3x half-tracks 30 R-Vielfachwerfer 110 Heavy Panzerspah Platoon (2x 8-rad) 70 Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon (2x 2cm 10/5) 80 Total 1550

List 1: Beute StuGs! From: Atlantik Wall Period: Late War Notes: Beute StuGs are all the rage. They have low armour and powerful guns, making them a cheap and well-rounded force to field. The PaK40 makes the basic Beute StuG a deadly weapon against medium tanks. However, my pick for the best unit in the force is the Beute StuH platoon, armed with 10.5cm guns. These break-through guns will wipe out nests of infantry and put down bombardments to support the StuGs. It's an excellent unit. The other support units are weirdly wonderful, from the odd R-Vielfachwerfer to the awkward looking Pioneer half-tracks. That's a lot of interesting kit, but sadly it is a long-term project and this list suffered to my magpie attention span! It's on my to-do list, so one day I'll get to it!

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List 2: SNLF - Rikusentai From: Rising Sun Period: Early War Notes: I was excited when I heard the Japanese would be in the new EW book. I've always kept the Pacific theatre in the backlight, focusing more on Europe. A few years ago I got some excellent books on Tarawa and immediately dug deep into the Pacific. I look forward to the day that Battlefront covers the US Marines and Army in the PTO, but until then I'll get started on my Tarawa defender force: the SNLF. Using the Hohei Chutai as a template, I'll start working on the SNLF force straight away in 2014.

Hohei Chutai (Fearless Veteran) HQ 50 add Regimental Standard 75 Hohei Platoon 335 add Banners 25 Hohei Platoon 335 add Banners 25 Hohei Machine-gun Platoon 160 Light Sensha Company (2x Platoons) 490 Total 1495

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Tank Company Veteran Trained HQ 165 130 upgrade Jumbo 60 50 upgrade M4A3 Late x1 20 15 Tank Platoon (4x Sherman) 335 335 upgrade M4A3 Late x2 40 30 upgrade M4A3 76mm x2 110 90 Tank Platoon (4x Sherman) 335 335 upgrade M4A3 Late x2 40 40 upgrade M4A3 76mm x2 110 110 Armored Mortar Platoon 110 85 Armored Rifle Platoon 295 225 Cavalry Platoon (1x Patrol) 90 70 Total 1710 1515

List 3: To Bastogne! From: Blood, Guts, and Glory Period: Late War Notes: The 4th Armored Division's drive to Bastogne is pretty interesting and action-packed. I wanted to build a force based on this assault and this list is something of a take on it. For a kick I pointed it out as Trained, just to see where it comes in at. I've got the force mostly painted and done, but I still need to do Abrams (who should be added to the list in place of the 2iC).

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List 4: l'Charge! From: Blitzkrieg Period: Early War Notes: I've already got a Panhard company and I'd like to expand it into a cavalry force. Essentially all I would need to do is the H-35s and the 25mm guns. However, I am tempted to replace my current French figures with Syrian ones sans greatcoat because the mechanised infantry typically left their coats in their vehicles unless it was actually bitter cold. I really like French cavalry tanks. They are fast and hit hard with large platoons. This is high on my list, provided I can get to an EW event next year!

Escadron de Combat (Confident Trained) HQ (1x Somua S-35) 105 Medium Combat Platoon (5x S-35) 520 Light Combat Platoon (5x H-35) 250 Light Combat Platoon (5x H-35) 250 Fuciliers Portés Platoon 165 Deep Reconnaissance Platoon (4x Panhard AMD) 135 Cavalry 25mm AT Gun Platoon (4x 25mm SA34 guns + transports) 75 Total 1500

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Rangers (Fearless Trained) HQ 10 Ranger Company (2x Ranger Platoons) 330 Ranger Company (2x Ranger Platoons) 330 Ranger Mortar Platoon (4x 81mm) 95 Ranger Cannon Platoon (2x M3 75mm GMC) 95 Tank Destroyer Platoon (4x M10) 285 Tank Destroyer Platoon (4x M10) 285 Cavalry Patrol 70 Total 1500

List 5: Rangers in Brittany From: Overlord Period: Late War Notes: Being a special force, I find it odd that I've don't fielded Ranger battalions more often. They are a world of fun and the new changes in Overlord make them a little more potent. The great thing about this force is that I can use my normal GIs for Rangers, and I've got everything needed to field this force, including the rare M4 75mm GMC half-tracks. The only hang up is that I'd like to field one FFI unit, so that would be an interesting addition to the collection!

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List 6: Beyond Pegasus  From: Overlord Period: Late War Notes: Many years ago I read Ambrose's Pegasus Bridge. It tells the story of the Ox & Bucks' assault on the bridge and the subsequent defensive battles. It's a great story. It combines airplanes (yuss!) with elite assault troops (sweet!). I've got most of this list painted, but I still need to do the Cromwells, which I included because I really like the idea of four Fearless Veteran Cromwells!

Airlanding Company (Fearless Veteran) HQ 60 add 2x PIAT 40 Airlanding Platoon 220 Airlanding Platoon 220 Airlanding Mortar Platoon (6x 3"mortars) 200 Airlanding Anti-tank Platoon (4x 6 pdr, late) 160 add Jeeps 5 Seaborne Armoured Recce Platoon (4x Cromwell tanks) 460 Belgian Armoured Car Platoon 135 Total 1500

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DAK Schützen Kompanie (Confident Veteran) HQ 45 add Panzerknackers 10 add HMGs 60 Afrika Schützen Platoon 190 add Panzerknacker 5 add Mortar 20 add 2x PaK38 80 add 1x Anti-tank rifle 20 Afrika Schützen Platoon (above) 315 SP Infantry Gun (2x 15cm Bison) 180 Light Panzerspäh Patrol (1x Sd Kfz 223, 2x Sd Kfz 222) 110 Panzer Platoon (4x Pz IIIJ, late) 420 Total 1455

List 7: DAK Attack! From: North Africa Period: Mid War Notes: This force was a part of my 2013 New Years resolution to get started on a force I began nearly a decade ago. I've got a lot of the miniatures cleaned up and ready, but I still have yet to put paint to model. I've got plans to get started on this force to double as Sonderkommando Dora, a Brandenburger reconnaissance force stationed in the deep southwest of the Libyan desert. I get closer and closer to starting this project every day!

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List 8: Desperate Panzers From: Desperate Measures Period: Late War Notes: I really, really, like the idea of escorts on Panzer IVJs. Using the protection of side skirts to guard against bazookas, these small platoons should be able to sweep aside enemy infantry, provided I went in smartly and decisively. The Panthers are there to support the Panzer IVs only, they are not to close with the enemy. Well, I've got all of the miniatures lined up, but I'll need to find time to squeeze them into the painting queue!

1945 Panzerkompanie (Confident Veteran) HQ (2x Panzer IVJ) 175 add Escorts 30 Panzer Platoon (4x Panzer IVJ) 350 add Escorts 60 Panzer Platoon (4x Panzer IVJ) 350 add Escorts 60 Panzer Platoon (2x Panther G) 375 Panzerspäh Patrol (3x Panzer II Luchs) 115 Total 1515

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Strelkovy Batalon (Confident Conscript) HQ 20 Strelkovy Company 315 add Lt. Mortars 15 add HMGs 40 Strelkovy Company (above) 370 Artillery Batalon (8x 76mm obr 1936, 4x 122 obr 1938) 680 Heavy Tankovy Platoon (5x T-28 obr 1933) 270 Total 1710

List 9: Wave Attack From: Rising Sun Period: Early War Notes: I've been using T-28s with my Finnish army for many years and I know just how lethal of a weapons platform it is. It only gets better in EW, with reasonable armour (especially top armor 2!), a rear-firing machine-guns and lots of machine-guns and a good main gun. So I've added five to my Strelkovy horde as a mobile assault force. I also really like the 76mm obr 1936 gun. It has an excellent anti-tank value (10) and the 122s are good at killing things in bombardments. A quick tactical tip: Having a staff team is essential for Conscript artillery!

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List 10: Trouble at Kasserine From: North Africa Period: Mid War Notes: This is loosly based on a list that my brother used many years ago. I really liked it and have always wanted to give it a try. This year I collected the necessary models and I look forward to painting the riveted M3 Lees!

Tank Company (Confident Trained) HQ (2x M3 Lee, long guns) 200 Tank Platoon (4x M3 Lee, long guns) 400 Tank Platoon (4x M3 Lee, long guns) 400 Tank Platoon (4x M3 Stuart, with stabilizers) 230 Armored Rifle Platoon 175 add 4x bazookas 80 Total 1485

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The last several lists in the book are part of my FOW New Years Resolution: to play one game with each US Infantry Division Normandy/Brittany variant. But more on those lists next year!

So that's my year of army lists in review! What have been your favorite lists to play this year? Drop yours in the comments below; I'd love to hear from you!