Hey folks, SinSynn here.
Since I've decided to take a break from running Infantry lists for a lil' while, I've had my head buried in Grey Wolf. Gotta tell ya, I've become quite enamored of the generic Panzerkompanie list featured in the book.
As I mentioned here, the list has a lot of potential, some great options, and the ability to add the Warrior Dietrich Van Saucken. I know the new Grenadiers are nifty, too, and neat lists from the Finns, Stug Batteries with tankriders and other cool things definitely bear more looking at.
For sheer, sword-like cutting power, though, it's tough to beat 12 Stugs, and 6 Panzer IV's, led by Van Saucken at 1750 points. That list will be turning heads at Tournaments around my way soon, for sure.
The addition of Van Saucken to what was the bog-standard Fortress Europe list makes for big fun.
The Panzer IV took a back seat to the Stug prior to the point decrease in Grey Wolf, and the new Turret rules in Version 3. Now, however, it's time to take another look at the Panther's kid brother.
 |
| *Panzer IV sez 'Shhhh! You don't see me. I'm a bush.' |
I will say this however, the model from either Battlefront or the Plastic Soldier Company is pretty cool lookin.'
:)
I won't put an ugly tank on the tabletop, no matter how good it is, stats-wise. That's why you'll never see me running British or Russian armor.
;)
Besides, half of their stuffs is American anyway.
:P
So, how does is the Panzer IV lookin,' nowadays? Pretty darn good, I must say.
Grey Wolf and Version 3 put a new shine on this venerable machine.
 |
| *No, I wasn't staring at her Shurzen, I swear!* |
The 5 point drop in price, courtesy of Grey Wolf, makes Panzer IV's 20 points cheaper in teams of 4 than the Stug. Spread out over several platoons, this means you can toss Van Saucken in as a gimme.
Not just that, but lists that came in an awkward handful of points over budget in the older books are now possible. Anyone who has spent any time trying to coddle together a FoW list will know what a boon that is.
You'll be seeing a lot less Bergepanthers in Grey Wolf tank lists, that's for sure. Heh.
FoW makes comparing the Medium Tanks in Late War a tough job, as they all have their perks.
It's main competition will be the Allied Sherman, the Russian T-34, and maybe the British Cromwell.
Stormtrooper may be the best National Special Rule in the game, though. It's a powerful defensive ability, especially since it occurs in the Assault phase, after the unit has done it's shooting.
 |
| *We shoot, and run away. Like the French, just with shooting :P* |
The Panzer IV comes stock with Protected Ammo, Shurzen, Co-Ax and Hull Mounted MG's.
Protected ammo is hard to come by in it's price range.
Shurzen is handy, since it provides a 4+ save against flank shots from things like bazookas (or anything else with a Firepower rating of 5 or 6). Bazookas are AT10, so you wouldn't get a save otherwise, being that Panzer IV's are Side Armor 3 and all.
Shurzen are entirely situational (you'll probably get assaulted anyhow, and Bazookas are Tank Assault 4), but hey, they're built onto the tank, right?
The Sherman has an AA MG in addition to Co-Ax and Hull MG, and comes with good ol' American Stabilizers.
The T-34 has Wide Tracks, and generally runs around in platoons of...entirely too many.
British Cromwells are Light Tanks, and generally bring along a buddy, like the Firefly or Challenger.
What separates the Panzer IV from the pack is it's main gun, which is AT 11. All of the Medium Tanks we're discussing have Front Armor 6, and their various perks, but only the Panzer IV has an AT11 main gun.
This means enemy Mediums need 5's to save at long range, and 6's otherwise, while you don't have to fear their AT 9 and 10 guns quite so much. Combined with the ability to scamper away via Stormtrooper following a round of shooting, this makes the Panzer IV a more effective armor killer than the other tanks in it's class, and likely to win a shootout against an equal number of it's peers in most cases.
Historically, the Stug is responsible for more tank kills than Tigers, Panthers and their ilk, but is ironically classed as an Assault Gun, not a Tank Destroyer.
For our purposes, however, that matters not, and Stugs are hella cool.
 |
| *Our disguise is foolproof!* |
In FoW, the Stug has an additional pip of Front Armor, but the Panzer IV is a more flexible tank, overall.
Less likely to end up in awkward positions when in a swirling melee due to the lack of a turret (which makes maneuvering Stugs tricky), and packing and additional MG for dealing with infantry, the 5 point per vehicle price difference gives the Panzer IV a slight edge when it comes to list-building considerations.
Simply put, you can pack in more stuffs by choosing Panzer IV's in your Grey Wolf lists.
This especially benefits Grenadiers, who can combine this with the savings on things like MG Weapons Platoons, AA halftracks and PaK Guns to really bulk up.
Now that the Panzer IV is the same price as an American Sherman at Confident Vet, this tank is an exceptional unit in Late War FoW. It was good before, now it's that much better. I'm sure the forthcoming Battle of the Bulge will pile on the Late War tank madness when it arrives. Jagdpanthers aren't available in Grey Wolf, y'know. Everything is better with Jagdpanthers.
Hopefully, the arrival of the Easy Eight will placate the Ultimate Rival, who's screaming that Panzer IV's, and Grey Wolf lists in general, are OP.
Don't even mention Van Saucken within earshot, because then the cursing kicks into overdrive.
I'm gonna be hearing a lot of cursing in the coming months. It makes me happy. I don't sweat the Easy Eights...because JAGZ PWN ALL.
:P
Until next time, folks- Exit with catchphrase!
-SinSynn
No comments:
Post a Comment