Bolt Action Third Edition

With the end of our Operation Market Garden Campaign comes the opportunity to try out the new third edition rules. We played our first Third Edition rules last night and got to pull out the hard cover rulebook that my friend bought me for Christmas.

 

Not a fan of the art on the book
(Is he waving hello at the person he is shooting at one handed with a rifle?)

We played two lists of ~650 points with 3 platoons each - US vs Germans in an engagement set somewhere in Eastern France using the lists in the back of the rule book.

US Forces

Rifle Platoon

Platoon Commander    40

Rifle Squad   7 men    70
                NCO SMG
                BAR

Rifle Squad   7 men    70
                NCO SMG
                BAR

Bazooka Anti Tank Team 60

Heavy Weapons Platoon

                Platoon Commander  40

                Mortar Team + Spotter   60

                Heavy Machine gun Team 70

Armoured Platoon

                Stuart Light Tank 145 

                M13 Halftrack 70

Total:  625 Points

 

 

German Forces

Rifle Platoon

Platoon Commander    40

Rifle Squad   6  men    79
                NCO SMG
                MG34

Grenadier Squad   6 men    76
                NCO SMG
                2 Assault Riffles

Panzer Shrek Anti Tank Team 80

Heavy Weapons Platoon

                Platoon Commander  40

                Medium Machine Gun Team 50

                Medium Machine Gun Team 50

               

Armoured Platoon

                Sdkfz 234/2 155 

                Hanomag  62

Total:  632 Points

 

We rolled up the scenario (Seek and Destroy) and got to playing! A few things I noticed from our first game:

    - It's much easier to kill small teams now that there's no -1 to hit them. Bazooka teams, officers + man etc really have to watch out as they are easily being hit on 5's with a 5+ cover save.

The bazooka team were cut down moments after this photo!

 

    - The increased amount of officers on the table (which I don't really like) at any time meant a lot of snap-to-actions which results in lot of activations and overall a faster game (which I think is a good thing!).

    - The US fire and maneuver rule (+1 shot for ever 3 guys shooting) is lame and I don't think captures the semi automatic nature of their guns or the fire-and-manouver doctrine well. I'd like to see them bring back the no penalty to shooting or perhaps something like being able to shoot and then move extra towards the unit they are shooting at on an advance.

Germans firing from their position in the farm

 

    - The point blank rule is fun and deadly and close combat just feels far too risky now to ever justify (defenders go at the same time but can still shoot as a reaction to the charge) and defenders in cover go FIRST (which I don't like thematically as surely the attackers will be throwing grenades, firing off to keep the defenders heads down no?), I think in 2nd edition combat was too much feast-or-famine situation so I'm overall happy with this.

The Stuart enjoyed some point blank shooting

    - Pinning out a unit seems less important/probable given that they get a flat -1 to hit for any number of pins and the +2 morale to all officers gives a good chance to pass orders. Not sure if this is good or not we'll have to play more games.

 

Overall I thinkV3 is a good game with simple rules and still very true to the 'beer and pretzels' game play of Bolt Action. After playing a fair bit of kill team recently it was very refreshing to have some simple rules to get around! The game was full of awesome moments and the dice were not in my favour giving my opponent a convincing win of 9 points to 4! Looking forward to our next game as we get into it more and trying out some of the new rules on other units (snipers, flamethrowers, fanatics etc). As we are casual players we will ultimately house rule what we like and don't like to ensure that we are having the most FUN which is what bolt action is all about.

Signing off,

Chewie

 

 

Battle Report: The Airborne Retreat

Monday 25th September 1944. British Airborne forces make their final stand and desperate retreat across the Rhine as Operation Market Garden unravels.  

The PIAT team sneaking up on the Puma.

The battle opened with a crack of resolve from the battered British Airborne. A sleek German Puma rumbled forward into the outskirts of Arnhem, its turret scanning for targets—too late.
From the ruins of a collapsed pharmacy, a PIAT team fired at point-blank range. The shaped charge struck home, ripping through the side armor and sending the vehicle up in a column of smoke and flame. Cheers erupted from the British foxholes. Moments later, a German flamethrower team sprinted across an open field toward the woodland near the church. But the fields had eyes—their movement triggered an ambush from a Vickers MG team. Caught in the open, the flame troopers never made it. The opening turns were a masterclass in British defensive tactics. But it wouldn’t last.

Major Ellis is cut down in the street.

The Germans struck back, advancing through the bombed-out streets of Arnhem. Houses filled with British paratroopers exchanged fire with Heer Grenadiers, the walls shaking with each burst of gunfire.

From a ruined farm house, a German sniper team pinned the men of the 2nd Platoon in their hiding place. To break their shock, Major Ellis ran across the open street, shouting at them to rally—
—but the paratroopers stayed frozen, and the hesitation proved fatal German grenadiers stormed the house, killing the machine gunners on the upper floor. Trapped and exposed in the open, Major Ellis turned to run—but it was too late. A Hanomag screeched to a halt, and German troops leapt out, their rifles finding their mark. The Major fell in the street. The British were now leaderless. 

Crackling over the field radios came the order to retreat - Operation market Garden was a failure! A British artillery barrage, called in by a spotter, came crashing down on the Germans. One entire Grenadier squad was vaporized, their position now a scorched crater. But not all the British would make it. In a house close to the river, 2nd Platoon was further pinned by the very barrage meant to save them. No way to reach the river—they were stranded.

The airborne scramble to retreat

The retreat began under fire. British squads fell back in good order, leapfrogging from cover to cover but the Germans pursued with unrelenting speed. A British jeep, packed with wounded, attempted to reach the crossing—but a Kubelwagen’s MG42 stitched across the road, shattering its wheels. The jeep skidded into a wall, immobilized. Sensing opportunity, Von Schnitzel, the German commander, mounted his Hanomag and thundered down the road in hot pursuit. The Germans surged forward, pressing the crumbling flank and securing a winning position.

 

 

 In the final moments of the battle small groups of paratroopers slipped away from the battle lines and began their retreat across the Rhine into safe territory. However, some troops were left behind with no choice but to surrender to the Germans... Operation Market Garden had come to a conclusion.

 

An absolute cracker game of bolt action to finish off our campaign. The scenario was actually very fun and there was some really swingy moments that looked like either side was about to steal the win, however, in the end the final points were a draw! This concludes the operation market Garden Campaign and our final game of 2nd edition. It's been an excellent campaign and an absolute blast to play through, very much looking forward to our next one!

Signing out,

Chewie

 

Scenario 7: The Airborne Retreat

Monday 25th September 1944. It is clear that the British 1st Airborne Division can no longer hold out at Oosterbeek. After over a week of brutal fighting, the paratroopers are exhausted—low on ammunition, food, and medical supplies, with many wounded left behind in makeshift aid stations. Despite their courage and determination, XXX Corps had failed to break through to Arnhem in time, and the division had been reduced to a fraction of its original strength. The British Airborne have no choice but to try and stage a retreat back over the Rhine River to meet up with the allied forces awaiting them. However, the Germans will not let them leave quietly and are gearing up for a final assault to crush the final hold out of paratroopers and bring an end to Operation Market Garden.

A group of survivors from the Arnhem Operation arriving at Nijmegen after the evacuation and having their first drink.

Scenario- Rearguard Action: The German player must try to pin the enemy and destroy him before he can make a withdrawal to a more favourable location, and also needs to push his troops on as quickly as possible to prevent the enemy regrouping. The British player scores 1 point for each enemy unit
destroyed, and for each unit that retreats off the board, but loses 1 point for each unit that is Down at the end of the game. The German force scores 1 point for each enemy unit destroyed and 1 for every unit that is within 6” of the opposing edge of the table. The British player cannot move units off the board until turn 4.

Forces:

British 1st Airborne:

Captain + Man (Veteran)

Artillery Observer (Veteran)

Paratroop Section:
5 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran).

Paratroop Section:
5 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran)

Paratroop Section:
5 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran)

Paratroop Section:
5 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran)

Medium Machine Gun Team (Veteran).

PIAT team (Veteran)

Sniper Team (Veteran) 

British Airborne Jeep (Veteran)

363rd Infantry Division:

2nd Leutnant + Man (Regular)

Heer Grenadier Squad:
6 infantry, 1 panzer faust + Seargent with SMG (Regular)

Heer Grenadier Squad:
6 infantry, 1 panzer faust + Seargent with SMG (Regular)

Heer Grenadier Squad:
6 infantry, 1 LMG + Seargent with SMG (Regular)

Medium Machine Gun Team (Regular)

Sniper Team (Regular)

Flamethrower Team (Regular)

Kubelwagen (Regular) 

Sdkfz 251/1 Half-track (Regular)

SdKfz 234/2 Puma (Regular)

Special Rules: 

Ready for action: The British know full well that the Germans will be here any moment to drive them out. In anticipation the British force can start with 2 units in Ambush.

The final installment for our campaign - Will the Brits make it out? Very keen to play out the final event of Operation Market Garden and conclude our Operation Market Garden Campaign!

Signing out,

Chewie.

Battle Report: German attack on the Oosterbreek Perimeter

Bolt Action Battle Report: German attack on the Oosterbreek Perimeter

A Stug III leads the assault into the perimeter.

The British 1st Airborne Division had been holding the Oosterbeek perimeter for days, battered, hungry, and desperately low on ammunition. Captain McGregor, a veteran leader, moved between the makeshift strongpoints, inspiring his men to hold firm against the coming storm. Across the fields, the men of the SS Panzer Corps prepared for another push, knowing that time was running out—XXX Corps would arrive soon, and if they failed to crush the paratroopers now, they might lose their chance forever.

Caught alone in the street - McGreggor is cut down!

 

The attack started with an earth-shattering roar as tank shells crashed into the buildings, sending debris and dust cascading down onto the dug-in British defenders. As the Germans advanced, the paratroopers fired wildly from windows and foxholes, cutting down the first wave of attackers. But the sheer weight of fire was overwhelming, and the defenders knew they couldn’t hold out forever.

From a half-collapsed rooftop, a British sniper took careful aim and fired, pinning down a squad of SS fanatics. Meanwhile, Polish artillery from across the Arnhem River let loose, hammering the advancing Germans. However, with the battle so close, some British soldiers were shaken by the near-friendly fire. Captain McGregor dashed across the broken street, shouting orders and urging his men to stand fast. Just as he reached the cover of another house, an SS Leutnant von Schnitzel leveled his StG44 and fired a merciless burst. McGregor staggered as bullets tore through him, crumpling to the ground. His men, already on the brink, felt the loss like a hammer blow—but they gritted their teeth and fought on.

Partisans charge the SS Leutnant!

Elsewhere, a squad of paratroopers rushed into a building, seeking cover—only to find themselves face-to-face with a group of exhausted but hardened German grenadiers. The room exploded in a wicked burst of gunfire, and within seconds, the British troopers lay dead, their bodies slumped against the walls.

Suddenly, from the basement of a ruined house, a small group of Dutch partisans emerged, wielding old rifles and makeshift weapons. Their eyes burned with vengeance as they charged straight for the SS Leutnant, dragging him into a brutal melee. The fight was short and vicious—the officer was beaten down, his body left in the street. But the partisans' victory was fleeting, as a nearby MG42 squad cut them down moments later.

At the height of the fighting, a German mortar team dialed in on the British machine gun nest, which had been stubbornly holding a garden on the outskirts of town. A single shell screamed down from the sky and landed dead-on—when the dust settled, nothing remained of the MG team. The British line wavered; they were on the brink.

A direct hit on the MG team in the garden!

Both sides were exhausted, their ranks thinned, their ammunition running dangerously low. Though the Germans had failed to break through completely, they had inflicted a mortal wound on the British defense. With Captain McGregor dead and the machine gun positions neutralized, the paratroopers knew their time in Oosterbeek was running out.

As night fell, the SS forces pulled back to regroup, preparing for another attack. But the British knew they wouldn’t last much longer. The battle had ended in a draw—but for the British paratroopers, it was a battle they could not afford to fight again.

---

An absolutely cracking game of bolt action! The end result was 6 points each side and our first draw in a game. It literally came down to the last few dice rolls from the German side to see if they could kill the last few paratroopers holding one of the houses. Much like real life, it was a brutal, hard-fought engagement, and though the British held the perimeter for now, the writing was on the wall. Operation Market Garden was nearing its bitter end!
Signing off

Chewie

Scenario 6: German attack on the Oosterbreek Perimeter

 Thursday 21st of September 1944. After the British 1st Airborne Division had established a defensive perimeter around the village of Oosterbeek, just west of Arnhem, they faced relentless assaults from German forces attempting to dislodge them. The perimeter was crucial as it provided the British with a fallback position and a chance to link up with the advancing XXX Corps.

The German attacks were spearheaded by elements of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps, including tanks, artillery, and infantry. These forces, supported by heavy firepower, launched repeated assaults on the British positions, hoping to crush the resistance and eliminate the bridgehead on the north side of the Rhine. The British defenders, outnumbered, undersupplied, and exhausted,hold on desperately waiting for XXX corps to arrive. Will they make it?

British Airborne hunker down and await relief from XXX corps.

Scenario: The German player needs to drive the British out of the buildings and the defender needs to prevent that from happening. The British player gets 2VP for each building held at the end of turn 6. The German player gets 1VP for each British unit destroyed.

Forces:

British 1st Airborne:

Captain + Man (Veteran)

Artillery Observer (Veteran)

Paratroop Section:
6 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran).

Paratroop Section:
6 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran)

Paratroop Section:
6 Infantry LMG and loader  + Seargent with SMG (Veteran)

Medium Machine Gun Team (Veteran).

PIAT team (Veteran)

Sniper Team (Veteran)

Dutch Resistance Squad (Inexperienced)  

2nd Panzer Corps:

2nd Leutnant + Man (Regular)

Waffen SS squad:
6 infantry, 2 assault rifles 1 panzer faust (Fanatics)

Heer Grenadier Squad:
5 infantry, 1 panzer faust + Seargent with SMG (Regular)

Heer Grenadier Squad:
5 infantry, 1 panzer faust + Seargent with SMG (Regular)

Medium Machine Gun Team (Regular)

Medium Mortar Team + Spotter (Regular) 

20mm Flak Gun (Regular)

Stug III (Regular)

 

Special Rules: 

Local Support: The British receive a free dutch resistance squad which must be held in reserve.

The next installment for our campaign! Very keen to play out the final days of Operation Market Garden and see what the dice have in store for us!

Signing out,

Chewie.

Battle Report: 107th Panzer Division Assault on the Son Bridge

 

Bolt Action Battle Report: The 107th Panzer Division Assault on Son Bridge
September 20th, 1944

The fields and roads surrounding the Son Bridge were eerily quiet as dawn broke. Dug into defensive positions on the northern side of the bridge, the American paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division braced for the inevitable assault. Across the canal, the rumble of engines and clatter of tank tracks echoed ominously—elements of the 107th Panzer Brigade were on the move. This would be a fierce contest for control of this crucial crossing in Operation Market Garden.

The German Panzers assault

The German armor surged forward, a mix of Panzer IVs and StuG IIIs leading the charge, flanked by halftracks brimming with Panzergrenadiers. Shells and bullets rained down on the American positions, but the paratroopers held firm in their dugouts, trenches, and bunkers. Thanks to their prepared defenses, the withering German fire proved ineffective, with ricochets and explosions sending dirt and debris flying but failing to dislodge the defenders.

The Americans responded with disciplined small-arms fire and sporadic bazooka shots, keeping the advancing German forces at bay.

As the pressure mounted, a US radio operator frantically called for air support. Minutes later, the distant roar of engines grew louder, and a P-47 Thunderbolt swooped down through the clouds. The fighter-bomber released its payload directly onto a Panzer IV attempting to cross the riverbank. The explosion disabled the tank’s tracks, leaving it immobilized on the water’s edge. Despite being a sitting duck, the Panzer IV’s turret continued to rotate, spitting shells at the Americans in the trenches.

The Americans under fire in their positions

Seizing their moment, a squad of Panzergrenadiers charged the newly constructed Bailey bridge, braving torrents of gunfire from the Americans and even a strafing run from the P-47. Reaching the far side, the Germans stormed into a trench occupied by a US bazooka team. A young private, armed only with his bazooka and raw determination, fought off the charging grenadiers in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Swinging the empty tube like a club, he dispatched one soldier after another, forcing the surviving Germans to flee in disarray. Bloodied but unbowed, the private held his ground, his actions likened to a rock standing unbroken against a crashing wave.

The Stug is knocked out by XXX corps armor.

Meanwhile, a German flamethrower team miraculously survived waves of American fire. Dodging machine gun bursts, tank shells, and rifle fire, they managed to find cover just short of a critical bunker housing several American paratroopers. The German commander barked the order to light the flame and eliminate the defenders inside. But as the operator raised the flamethrower, his courage failed. The sight of the gun barrels trained on his position, coupled with the horrors of war, proved too much. The young soldier froze, refusing to carry out the attack. The German officer shouted in frustration, but it was too late—the opportunity had passed.

The Americans hold the bridge!

As the battle reached its crescendo, the roar of British engines signaled the arrival of XXX Corps. A Sherman tank platoon emerged behind the German lines, having broken through to reinforce the Americans. The Sherman, led by an ace crew, made quick work of the German armor. The StuG III erupted in flames, its crew scrambling for safety. The immobilized Panzer IV on the riverbank was finally silenced by a well-placed round. The German halftracks, caught in the open, were shredded by the tanks withering fire.

With their armor destroyed and reinforcements overwhelmed, the German assault faltered. Colonel Von Schnitzel, realizing the day was lost, reluctantly gave the order to retreat. His troops scattered back across the fields, leaving the battered but victorious paratroopers to emerge from their bunkers and trenches.

The Americans regrouped on the Bailey bridge, their battered uniforms caked in mud and soot. As the last of the German forces retreated into the distance, a cheer erupted among the paratroopers. They had held the bridge against overwhelming odds, ensuring the advance of Allied forces deeper into
occupied Holland!

Another great game of bolt action with a convincing allied win! The game played out much like the historical events of the Son Bridge assault. The 107th Panzer Brigade made a valiant attempt to seize the crossing, but the arrival of British XXX Corps turned the tide. The combination of American grit and British firepower proved too much for the German attackers. There's something fun about playing a historical battle out and having it resolve much the way that it did on the actual day in history!

Looking forward to our next game of this campaign where the British paratroopers in Arnhem must hold on against all odds.

Signing out,

Chewie

Scenario 5: 107th Panzer Assault on the Son Bridge

Background: September 20st 1944, after the initial destruction of the Son bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal and the Allied success in constructing a Bailey bridge to allow XXX Corps to continue their advance, the Germans mount another concentrated effort to disrupt the Allied supply lines and delay their progress toward Nijmegen and Arnhem. German infantry and tanks advanced toward the bridge under the cover of smoke and suppressing fire while the 101st Airborne Division, who had been tasked with defending the bridge and its approaches, quickly sprang into action to repel the assault. Will the Americans be able to hold on until reinforcements arrive or will the Germans capture the bridge and halt the entire operation?

Baily bridges allowed the allies to rapidly pass rivers and canals.

Scenario: 

Forces:

107th Panzer Division:

2nd Lieutenant + man (Regular)

Heer Grenadier Squad (Regular)
NCO with SMG + 5 rifles (1 Panzer Faust)

Heer Grenadier Squad (Regular)
NCO with SMG + 5 rifles (1 Panzer Faust)

Sturmpioniere Squad (Regular)
NCO with SMG + Flamethrower & loader + 3 rifles.

Heer Grenadier Squad (Regular)
NCO with SMG + 2 assault rifles (1 Panzer Faust)

Panzerschreck Team (Regular)

Motorcyle with Machine-gun side car (Regular)

Panzer IV Ausf H

StuG III 

Sdkfz 251/1 Half-track

101st Airborne Division:

2nd Lieutenant + man (Veterans)

US Paratrooper Squad (Veterans)
NCO with SMG + 3 rifles + LMG and loader.

US Paratrooper Squad (Veterans)
NCO with SMG + 3 rifles + LMG and loader.

US Paratrooper Squad (Veterans)
NCO with SMG + 3 SMGS + 2 rifles.

US Air Observer (Veteran)

British Infantry Section (Regular)
NCO with SMG + 7 rifles 

British Infantry Section (Regular)
NCO with SMG + 7 rifles

Bazooka Team (Veterans)

Heavy Machine Gun Team (Veterans)

M3 37mm Anti-Tank gun Team (Veterans)

M3A3 Stuart Tank (Regular)

M4A1 Sherman Tank (Regular)

Mission Objectives: 

The German forces must seize the Baily bridge over the Wilhelmina canal. The German player gets 1 VP for every US Unit destroyed and 5 VP if they control the bridge at the end of the game. The US player gets 2 VP for every German unit destroyed.

Special Rules: 

Wait for XXX Corps!: The Guards Armoured Division and supporting units from XXX Corps moved to reinforce the 101st Airborne during the battle but it took them a while to get there! The British Infantry and tanks must be held in reserve and can only begin to enter the field from turn 3. 

Looking forward to playing out this armor heavy scenario in a cracking game of bolt action!


Signing out,

Chewie.