"Hellfire and Back Fortified Platoons" Topic

I have a question about fortified platoons, bunkers and deployment from Hellfire and Back (please note, I am only interested in Hellfire and Back, not what it might say in the new Red Bear/Grey Wolf books).

Lets take a hypothetical situation where I have a 4 platoon force of a Tobruk Strongpoint, a Tobruk Rifle Platoon (fortified platoon of rifle bases in trenches), a Tobruk Perimeter post (fortified platoon of nest, which count as bunkers), an AT platoon with attached gun pits (fortified platoon of 3 guns (from the portee platoon, but I plan to dismount them) in 4 gun pits) and a 25 pounder battery with attached gun pits (fortified platoon of 4 guns in 4 gun pits).

I am playing a game where half of my platoons are in reserve, so 2 of these are in reserve. For simplicity I will deploy my HQ with a platoon to avoid complicating matter further.

Now the questions:

1) (Fortified Platoons, p170 & Fortified Companies and Reserves, p170) – I deploy my fortifications before objectives are placed, which is usually before you decide what is placed in reserve, so do I place all my fortifications even though I place 2 platoons in reserve, and then remove some when I decide what force is going in reserve, or only place the fortifications of the platoons that will start on the table?

2) (Gun Pit Deployment – p170) – I deploy my AT platoon on the table and decide to place the HQ in a nearby building rather than its trench-line. Now tat extra gun pit which is not used is removed at the end of deployment. What about the trench-line for the command team, although it is not occupied does it remain on the table?

3) (Bunker placement, p170) It says that the bunkers in a force count as a platoon deployed on the table for determining reserves. Does that mean in my sample platoon I actually count as having 5 platoons (4 + 1 because I have bunkers in the perimeter post), so actually have to keep 3 in reserve?

4) Size of fortifications. These should be 8" x 2". Is this the foot print or the length, so could I split a 8" trench line into two 4" lengths? Could I deploy a minefield in an L shape, 4" along each side?

Thanks

I'll take a shot at it …though I've got to say I've not played with/against these myself yet….but….

1) (Fortified Platoons, p170 & Fortified Companies and Reserves, p170) – I deploy my fortifications before objectives are placed, which is usually before you decide what is placed in reserve, so do I place all my fortifications even though I place 2 platoons in reserve, and then remove some when I decide what force is going in reserve, or only place the fortifications of the platoons that will start on the table?

You place your fortifications at on the table before objectives are placed. They do not get removed.
If you choose to place a fortified platoon in reserve…then they "cannot deploy their fortifications"…so I guess you need to decide who is in reserve before you place down your fortifications.

2) (Gun Pit Deployment – p170) – I deploy my AT platoon on the table and decide to place the HQ in a nearby building rather than its trench-line. Now tat extra gun pit which is not used is removed at the end of deployment. What about the trench-line for the command team, although it is not occupied does it remain on the table?

Teams from a Fortified platoon "must be deployed in the fortifications that they come with their platoons." No option to start "in the building" with the AT Platoon Command Team.

3) (Bunker placement, p170) It says that the bunkers in a force count as a platoon deployed on the table for determining reserves. Does that mean in my sample platoon I actually count as having 5 platoons (4 + 1 because I have bunkers in the perimeter post), so actually have to keep 3 in reserve?

Yes. You actually have 5 platoons "for deployment." You could though add more Bunkers and you'd still be at "5" as all bunkers collectively count as one platoon at deployment.

4) Size of fortifications. These should be 8" x 2". Is this the foot print or the length, so could I split a 8" trench line into two 4" lengths? Could I deploy a minefield in an L shape, 4" along each side?

No. It's 8" across. No option for "bending"…should be IMO…but it's not.

There were three Stutzpunkts and one Tobruk strongpoint at Wolfkrieg 2012. It was pretty cool to see them in action and it compelled me to pick up some nest/bunker bits to be able to field my DAK Shutzen guys as a Stutzpunkt on occasion.

VonBurge pretty much nailed it all.

Question 4 is a *bit* more subjective. Mines and wire are definitely fixed sizes, but trenches are often more angled. We allow trenches to be any combination of lengths, while wire, mines, and tanks traps are always 8x2!

VonBurge pretty much nailed it all.

He shoots…he scores!!!! :)

In V3 it will be less "subjective" I bet. I expect that, trenches will be able to be "bent/curved" as idierockclimber states. Obstacles I'd expect to remain in "straight" 8" sections with the only option being able to shorten them to fit between terrain they cannot be placed over. We'll see.

Thanks guys. I posted this on the FOW forum about a week ago and had no responses.

Less than 5 hours on TMP and multiple answers

+1 TMP!

And slightly OT, do you think using the Tobruk Strongpoint as Poles rather than Ausies would work ok?

As long as not tourey gaming how would you tweak the special rules. I know in Italy they get for your freedom and ours,

"Less than 5 hours on TMP and multiple answers"

And so far no trolling in this thread! Paging Derek H…