Help needed to build my first Bolt Action Army

[Fred Cartwright]

Have you read the Bolt Action rules yet? The activation is based on pulling dice from a bag. Each side puts one dice in the bag for each infantry squad, heavy weapon, tank etc. Different colours for each side. Dice are pulled one at a time from the bag and the player whose colour the dice is gets to activate one unit. This continues until all the dice have been pulled. You don’t need the dice of course you could use a deck of cards with red for one side, black the other. This means that one player could get a run of units activated before his opponent gets to do anything. The challenge is to make the most of such opportunities, because you know the other player will get a run of dice too before the bag is empty.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

I have just received in the post today the hardcover second edition rules, I have begun to read them tonight I have a basic understanding of the game mechanics just a little hard to find where I would be limited by the rules to use all my units as I have been constantly told by people across the internet.

What I have so far to play the game (aside from the miniatures)

33xUS order dice
33xGerman order dice
105xmini white D6
1xArmy Painter Target Lock Laser Line (for the line of sight)
1xHardcover set of rules
1xtape measure
1xwargaming table 12ftx8ft.

Once I get the models built and painted I will start worrying about terrain etc.

[Fred Cartwright]

In terms of playing in tournaments they are correct. You would not be able to use all your models as they are limited in points to 1,000 or 1,500 points. If you are playing scenarios then use as much as you want. People have played large Arnhem games with Bolt Action. This was a big, all day, multiplayer game. If you have the space to set up your game and leave it out no reason why you couldn’t take your time playing a big game solo.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

What do you play? can you post your army list just to give me an idea on what I can include in my sections?

[Fred Cartwright]

I play Bolt Action and Iron Cross for bigger games. I don’t play tournaments. For a Bolt Action game of 2-2.5 hours I would play a platoon with support weapons and tank or assault gun support against a couple of squads with MMG and AT gun support. For longer games would play an infantry company with tank platoon in support and some heavy weapons like a Stummel against a dug in infantry platoon with AT guns and mortars in support and maybe a tank or assault gun. I will put some detailed organisations on later.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

Thanks, Fred, the more detailed information I can get my hands on the better I am able to build my armies and create scenarios.
I am in the process of writing a scenario now, the general idea of the scenario will be for the 101st (being a smaller company) to try and take the town of Mont-Du-Mont which is being defended by the forward elements of the 12th SS-Panzer division. at around turn three the allies can roll for reinforcements(including Airstrikes) as well as the Germans. I have made it so that there will be three objectives, the allies must hold two or more objectives at the end of the game to secure victory same for the Germans.
I was wondering if you could link scenarios and create your own campaign?

[Fred Cartwright]

Sorry for the delay. Been a bit busy. Here is my German Panzergrenadier list.
Company HQ
Company commander
Medic
2 runners
Kubelwagen and driver
Kettenkrad
SdKfz 251/3
SdKfz 251/17

Heavy platoon
2 SdKfz 251/2
2 SdKfz 251/9
2 8cm mortars and crews

3 Infantry platoons each with
Platoon commander
Panzerschreck team
2 runners
Radio team
SdKfz 251/10 or 17

3 Infantry squads
2 LMG Teams
4 riflemen
NCO with SMG

I will post up some more later.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

Thank you that’s awesome, also do you use movement trays for your units?
How are they based?

[Tom Mecredy]

For linked games, I would recommend taking a look at the campaign rules in the back of the new(ish) Battle of France book.

Frontline Report: Bolt Action Campaign Rules

This gives you the option to link your games together, and watch your units evolve as you play more games.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

@Tom Mecredy

Awesome, thank you so much for the link. I will endeavour to get my forces painted very soon so I can start a game, at the moment I have all my forces and a table, nothing is painted and I have no terrain or a flocked table as you can see I am a little behind in my hobby.

[Fred Cartwright]

I base my infantry singly and crew served weapons on a single base with the crew. I don’t base vehicles.
Here is my US Armoured infantry company.
Company HQ
Jeep
M3 half track
Officer
NCO with SMG
Bazooka team
3 riflemen

AT platoon
Jeep
Officer
NCO with SMG
1 rifleman
2 M3 half tracks
2 57mm AT guns and crews

3 platoons each with
Officer
2 NCO’s with SMG
BAR team
4 riflemen
M3 half Track

2 squads with
NCO with SMG
BAR team
7 riflemen
M3 half Track

1 squad with
NCO
60mm Mortar team
50 cal HMG
M3 half Track.

There should be a half track each for 60mm Mortar and 50 cal, and I will probably do that when I get around to painting some more.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

Hi there,
This is the historical 4th US infantry Division platoon organization when it was attached to the 2nd armoured in Normandy 1944 based on my own research.
1st Mechanised Platoon

Platoon HQ
1x 1st Lieutenant w/Carbine
1x Staff Sergeant
1xMedic
1xRadio Operator
2x Runners

1st Squad
1xStaff Sergeant
1xCorporal
2xScouts
2xB.A.R
6xRifeman

2nd Squad
1x Staff Sergeant
1xCorporal
2xScouts
1xB.AR
1xBazooka
4xRiflemen

3rd Squad
1x Staff Sergeant
1xCorporal
2xScouts
1xB.AR
7xRiflemen

4th Squad
1x Staff Sergeant
1xCorporal
2xScouts
2xB.A.R
6xRifeman

Platoon Transport
M3A1 Half-Track with .50cal MG
M3A1 Half-Track with .50cal MG
M3A1 Half-Track with .50cal MG

Anyone thoughts would be appreciated.

[Fred Cartwright]

The basic list is fine. A couple of observations. You have platoon HQ and 4 squads, but only 3 half tracks, which means 2 squads have to walk or hitch a ride on the tanks. Also if 4th is an infantry division it wouldn’t have armoured half tracks. Only the armoured infantry battalions in US armoured divisions had those and units like the Cavalry recon. US like all countries leg infantry walked or were trucked to where they needed to be, afterwards the trucks went off to do something else. The US and the British were fortunate to have sufficient trucks to be able to do that when they wanted, which gave them an edge in strategic mobility, unlike the Germans who used trains for such moves.

[Captain James Robert Matherson – 1st Coy – 1st Batt- 66th Armored Regiment-US 2nd Armored.]

Hi Fred,

Thanks for you’re response to my post. The half-tracks according to Bolt Action army building are able to carry 12 men, I guess I didn’t allow for driver and gunner so that’s roughly 10 men per half-track, I have plenty of trucks which could hold roughly a platoon each so I could add maybe two trucks per platoon.

I have roughly 3 platoons in my Company of HQ with 4 squads each with supporting elements, I am considering the possibility of adding a 4th platoon to boost the Company.

The 4th US Infantry Division became part of the 2nd armoured division in July or August 1941 after the Kentucky manoeuvers that same month, the 4th division came ashore on D-Day but the armoured division didn’t come ashore until D-Day+3. The Half-tacks where added to each platoon to give them the speed to keep up with the armour, but if I understand US Armour doctrine, the Armoured Divisions Infantry was the main asset and the Armour Tank Brigades would give support to infantry a little different to German doctrine I think.
Having considered your post I think I might just add 3 trucks per platoon and maybe give a half-track with a .50 MG to the Hq of each platoon.

Here is my “Easy” Company platoon (Work in Progress):
1st Platoon

Group HQ

Men/Officers
1xOfficer With TSMG
1xSergeant with TSMG
1xCorporal with Rifle
1xMedic
1xRadio Operator
3xRiflemen
US Airborne Hand Carts

1) Section Command
1xSergeant with M1 .30-Cal. or M1A1. 30-Cal. Carbines
1xCorporal with M1 .30-Cal. or M1A1. 30-Cal. Carbines
1xRifleman
1xMedic

Men
2xLMG with loader
6xRiflemen

2) Section Command
1xSergeant with M1 .30-Cal. or M1A1. 30-Cal. Carbines
1xCorporal with M1 .30-Cal. or M1A1. 30-Cal. Carbines
1xRifleman
1xMedic

Men
2xBazooka
1xBAR
5xRiflemen

3) Section Command
1xSergeant with M1 .30-Cal. or M1A1. 30-Cal. Carbines
1xCorporal with M1 .30-Cal. or M1A1. 30-Cal. Carbines
1xRifleman
1xMedic

Men
2xBazooka
1xBAR
5xRiflemen

Transport
US 21/2 ton 6×6 Cargo Truck
US 21/2 ton 6×6 Cargo Truck
US 21/2 ton 6×6 Cargo Truck

[Fred Cartwright]

I think things are a bit confused there. From what I have read 2nd Armoured and 4th Infantry were in the 1st Armoured Corps in 1941 when 4th was a motorised division so had intergral transport for the infantry, probably standard trucks. 4th was reorganised as a standard infantry division in 1943 and wasn’t part of 2nd Armoured. The infantry component of 2nd Armoured was the 41st Armoured Infantry regiment. They had M3 half tracks for the infantry to ride in.
US Armoured doctrine was to use the Armoured divisions as a deep strike and pursuit force after the enemy line had been ruptured. They were combined arms units usually divided into combat commands each of a tank battalion an infantry battalion and an armoured artillery battalion. Whether the tanks supported the infantry or the infantry the tanks would depend on the mission.
Your Easy Company platoon is ok, but is full strength. In Normandy none of the Airborne divisions were at full strength due to scattering of the drop and losses sustained in the landing and subsequently. Also they had no 2.5 ton trucks. When the division needed to be moved some distance trucks were provided from the US transport pool, otherwise they walked.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 10 months ago by Fred Cartwright.

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