St Louis ASL Tournament - July 2026
- Thread starter Jim Burris
- Start date
Paul John
Elder Member
Congrats Stan!!!
Jacksons
Junior Member
Below is my AAR for the St Louis tournament:
Maurizizio
Senior Member
First of all, congratulations to Jim for another well organized, well structured and well managed tournament. It is always a pleasure to go to Saint Louis, nice people, good players, great atmosphere. Then congratulations to Stan for the win, see below my AAR. St Louis had 33 participants, a very good number of players, with lot of scenarios to pick from. I think last time I was on holiday and I went to bed after 1am for three days in a row was in the past century. Late to bed but happy and excited. Vote: 9/10 - I will be back in 2027!
Thursday - Practice - BFP 137 Death Throes vs Nathan Wegener
Played the attacker German. Nathan put up a stiff defense and was able to stop my pincer maneuver. Nathan surprised me in the first turn MPh with an isolated HS HIP that shot a 4FP flat to a stack with a leader and two MMC in the woods, breaking them and delayed the German attack on the left. The HS was able to resist few fires and move to keep DM the squads, killing the momentum on the left side. In the center I put my -1 leader and two MMGs for suppressing fire. Not a good idea. Nathan shoot back and broke one MMC, the other broke the MMG and the plan did not prove effective. On the right side (the main effort) went better, and try turn 4 the Germans were at the border of the village. The scenario offer a choice for the German reinforcement, either enter on 2nd Turn with 6 MMCs or on the 4th Turn from the East with 5 MMCs. I went for the second option. It went down to the last building. The Polish were able to resist and claim vicotry
Friday Morning - First Round - AP231 Crossing Chaos vs Craig Walters
Played French. The German has only one tactic here: smoke everything and run across the bridge quickly. Germans need to cross the bridge by Turn 3 or they risk to see the bridge being blow up by a set DC detonated by a hero. Luckily for me, Craig run out of smoke with one tank (Pz IVC,s9) and the other was KIAed by the AT Gun HIP in building J9, covering the bridge and the northern part of the bank. The AC was KIAed at the entrance of the bridge, leaving a burning wreck on an Orchard road hex. If the Orchard get blazed, the game is over..... The AT Gun HIP kept rate few times and created Havoc. The bridge did not detonated but the German could not pass over the two French tanks I positioned on the bridge. Fun scenario, but I believe a little bit pro French.
Friday Evening/Night - Second Round - SP290 No Dubno vs Nathan Wegener (again)
This time Nathan was the Russian attacker. We both went for the Russian option, therefore we roll, I got the German, but had the ABS balance: instead of 4 locations the Russian had to get 5. The Russian do have a monster tank for 1941 (KV-1 M39 with AF 8 squared front and AF 8 side against German TK10-14 with A4) and 2 DT-133 FT 24FP). Problem for the Russian: radio less (EXC KV). First roll, sniper for the Russian (SAN 2), recall a German Pz IIIG. A shocking start. The Russian tried a pincer maneuver with main push (the 2 FTs where split, one coming from the East, the other make the pincer from the north) on the south of the map, where the village could have been reached quickly. Few tanks on the north pincer, thorough the forest and then entering the village from the bridge. German tanks in defensive positions (either in buildings or woods). The scenario got a turning point ... or maybe three: 1) the KV attacked from the woods, it did not bog, but when it exited the gully, an underbelly hit destroyed it; 2) the FT enter the village from the north but, after burning a stack of German Infantry got KIAed by a German tank; 3) the FT in the village failed twice the TC to move (it was left alone by its tank partner and could not move in platoon movement). With the two FTs out of the game and the KV wreck in the gully, the Russian were not able to effectively bring the final push to get control of the building. A berserk was created by the Russian that managed to give some "chaos" in the German defense. But was CR during a CC and therefore its threat was lowered.
Saturday Morning - Third Round - BFP 191: Brotell.... vs Randy Shurtz
Randy got the Russian. His tactic was to clean the village and then run for the "exit VPs" (two VCs in this scenario). I set the HIP AT behind the village and waited for the Russian AFVs to pass the first line of defense. The Russian cleared the village and then tried "the run". I thought the MA malfunction on one of my Stug would have sealed the game, but the AT was able to hit the Russian AFVs from the side and with a couple of lucky shot it reduced the AFVs VPs available for the Russian. Randy attacked the AT with the infantry, but a couple of lucky shots from the last strongpoint (6-4-8 with LMG and hero) on the west of the map slow down the Russian advance. I think it is a difficult scenario for the Russian, and while I would have used the same tactic ("clean the village with the tank than run for the exit and hope in the dice"), winning the scenario comes to the Finnish having AP and some luck on the dice. Probably the Russian needs to quickly clean the village, then advance to challenge the Stugs and look for silence the AT GUN. Nice game, I think this was the first time I played Randy, and I really enjoyed.
Saturday Evening/Night - Fourth Round - DTF22 One Last Mighty Hew vs Wes Vaughn
I set up the Russian (see below in the picture) to ambush the attacking Germans with 2 Pz II(FI) and a PzIVE (s9). I set up my Gun (107 ART) hip on the hill and I bought an ATR that I set up hip in CC4, the two hipsters where suppose to cover the two sides of the defense. What can I say? It will take me one hour to AAR this scenario. So many things happened, so exceptional events. At the end Wes was not happy for his bad luck (or my good luck) and I have been thinking the same for me! Just a quick summary of the most unusual things: A) One German Pz FT broke the MA pretty soon; B) the German 9-2 leader staked with MGs fail a moral, in the rally phase went Berserk, and brought with him in the charge over the hill, through the gully, a HS and a full squad that abandoned the MGs in the rear of the front. The Berserk charged the ART GUN, resisted a 16FP -2 and a 12FP -2 and eventually cleaned the position, but I have never seen a 9-2 charging Berserk and more important the "killer stack" was out of the game at Turn 4; C) the second Pz FT was caught in the ATR trap, got a shot in the rear Adjacent and... I rolled snakes; D) when I thought the game was over, with my tank on the hill defending the building, my 45L tank Malf the MA, the last PZ was able to go through the woods, Bogged beside the last victory building and it was able to resist the shot of my KV. In AFPh the tank shot in the building with concealed unit and broke them. Then shot to my KV for a DI (looking for bailing out the crew) and roll a 4 on the hull! E) the last German 5-4-8 AE Adjacent to the victory building was ready to resist few shots from the Russian (8FP +1; 12FP +1; To Hit from 76) and then advance in the location for the victory BUT the Russian sniper was called into action. The first small sniper I decided to use it for re-locate the counter. The second small sniper pinned the 5-4-8 and secure the Russian win. Unbelievable game. Now, Wes idea is that the luck was not with him, on my side I believe I was unlucky at the beginning with all my troops failing Morales and ELR, then I got lucky in the middle of the scenario (Berserk, ATR snake) then Wes got some luck again in the approach and firing to last victory location. Overall an incredible game. I will not forget.
Sunday Morning - Fifth Round "for the Championship" - J268 Independence Day va Stan Jackson (see Stan AAR above)
I got the attacking Brits. I pick to enter from the side judging the scenario is too short and the German Alamo in the northern building would have given the attacker from the south too little time to clear the buildings. I felt the advance at start was ok in term of movement (East main effort with a platoon and best Brit leader coming from the north). However I did break only one HS on the German until Turn 3 while
the German broke several Brits with any fire (from a 2FP +1 to 8FP +3). My 12FP +2 did nothing and my attack stuck in the north when a 4-4-7 refused to give space and move away only for VB (with the 9-2 leader the German recovered quickly).The Brits never gave the German the possibility to roll for PFs and smoked the PSK. But at the end, I think I have been too cautious with he tanks, I end up with both of them still alive, but not getting the VCs. At the beginning all the 3s and 4s rolled by the German stuck the Brit advance, so I ask kindly Stan to change the dice. Not for mistrust, but for superstition. I have got 5 sniper rolls (I believe if instead of SAN 4 I had SAN 3 I would have gotten more rolls....
), the sniper counter was adjacent to the 9-2, but nothing happened. And I think this is the scenario main "issue": if the 9-2 breaks or get caught by the sniper (even just wounded), the scenario could be quickly turn in strong favor of the Brit. But with the 9-2 alive and kicking, I think it is very very hard for the Brits to win. Compared to the previous game with Wes, this scenario was much more standard in term of "strange events". And yes, Stan recall a 20FP +3 ineffective shot, he forgot to mention that this shot was possible because one of the 4-4-7 refused to break under fire (honest wish) and in the previous CC 1vs1 rolled a snake, created a hero, killed my MMC but more importantly delayed again my advance and sealed the win. Two CCs only in the game, both won by the German (a 1vs2 whereas a HS was KIAed, and a 1vs1 with leader creation and infiltration for the German). In short, a fair scenario, well played by both players, with no particular turning points. I decided not to give a shot to the German against my AFVs, but this tactic did not pay out. Next time maybe let the AFVs burn and move more aggressively?
Left the tournament exhausted but satisfied. I got the second place in the player tournament, but I believe I could definitely got the Whining Championship! If anyone wants to practice some Italian, coming to St Louis is a good choice. We might not play together, but you will definitely hear a lot of Italian loud language in the hall....
Thanks Jim again.
Thursday - Practice - BFP 137 Death Throes vs Nathan Wegener
Played the attacker German. Nathan put up a stiff defense and was able to stop my pincer maneuver. Nathan surprised me in the first turn MPh with an isolated HS HIP that shot a 4FP flat to a stack with a leader and two MMC in the woods, breaking them and delayed the German attack on the left. The HS was able to resist few fires and move to keep DM the squads, killing the momentum on the left side. In the center I put my -1 leader and two MMGs for suppressing fire. Not a good idea. Nathan shoot back and broke one MMC, the other broke the MMG and the plan did not prove effective. On the right side (the main effort) went better, and try turn 4 the Germans were at the border of the village. The scenario offer a choice for the German reinforcement, either enter on 2nd Turn with 6 MMCs or on the 4th Turn from the East with 5 MMCs. I went for the second option. It went down to the last building. The Polish were able to resist and claim vicotry
Friday Morning - First Round - AP231 Crossing Chaos vs Craig Walters
Played French. The German has only one tactic here: smoke everything and run across the bridge quickly. Germans need to cross the bridge by Turn 3 or they risk to see the bridge being blow up by a set DC detonated by a hero. Luckily for me, Craig run out of smoke with one tank (Pz IVC,s9) and the other was KIAed by the AT Gun HIP in building J9, covering the bridge and the northern part of the bank. The AC was KIAed at the entrance of the bridge, leaving a burning wreck on an Orchard road hex. If the Orchard get blazed, the game is over..... The AT Gun HIP kept rate few times and created Havoc. The bridge did not detonated but the German could not pass over the two French tanks I positioned on the bridge. Fun scenario, but I believe a little bit pro French.
Friday Evening/Night - Second Round - SP290 No Dubno vs Nathan Wegener (again)
This time Nathan was the Russian attacker. We both went for the Russian option, therefore we roll, I got the German, but had the ABS balance: instead of 4 locations the Russian had to get 5. The Russian do have a monster tank for 1941 (KV-1 M39 with AF 8 squared front and AF 8 side against German TK10-14 with A4) and 2 DT-133 FT 24FP). Problem for the Russian: radio less (EXC KV). First roll, sniper for the Russian (SAN 2), recall a German Pz IIIG. A shocking start. The Russian tried a pincer maneuver with main push (the 2 FTs where split, one coming from the East, the other make the pincer from the north) on the south of the map, where the village could have been reached quickly. Few tanks on the north pincer, thorough the forest and then entering the village from the bridge. German tanks in defensive positions (either in buildings or woods). The scenario got a turning point ... or maybe three: 1) the KV attacked from the woods, it did not bog, but when it exited the gully, an underbelly hit destroyed it; 2) the FT enter the village from the north but, after burning a stack of German Infantry got KIAed by a German tank; 3) the FT in the village failed twice the TC to move (it was left alone by its tank partner and could not move in platoon movement). With the two FTs out of the game and the KV wreck in the gully, the Russian were not able to effectively bring the final push to get control of the building. A berserk was created by the Russian that managed to give some "chaos" in the German defense. But was CR during a CC and therefore its threat was lowered.
Saturday Morning - Third Round - BFP 191: Brotell.... vs Randy Shurtz
Randy got the Russian. His tactic was to clean the village and then run for the "exit VPs" (two VCs in this scenario). I set the HIP AT behind the village and waited for the Russian AFVs to pass the first line of defense. The Russian cleared the village and then tried "the run". I thought the MA malfunction on one of my Stug would have sealed the game, but the AT was able to hit the Russian AFVs from the side and with a couple of lucky shot it reduced the AFVs VPs available for the Russian. Randy attacked the AT with the infantry, but a couple of lucky shots from the last strongpoint (6-4-8 with LMG and hero) on the west of the map slow down the Russian advance. I think it is a difficult scenario for the Russian, and while I would have used the same tactic ("clean the village with the tank than run for the exit and hope in the dice"), winning the scenario comes to the Finnish having AP and some luck on the dice. Probably the Russian needs to quickly clean the village, then advance to challenge the Stugs and look for silence the AT GUN. Nice game, I think this was the first time I played Randy, and I really enjoyed.
Saturday Evening/Night - Fourth Round - DTF22 One Last Mighty Hew vs Wes Vaughn
I set up the Russian (see below in the picture) to ambush the attacking Germans with 2 Pz II(FI) and a PzIVE (s9). I set up my Gun (107 ART) hip on the hill and I bought an ATR that I set up hip in CC4, the two hipsters where suppose to cover the two sides of the defense. What can I say? It will take me one hour to AAR this scenario. So many things happened, so exceptional events. At the end Wes was not happy for his bad luck (or my good luck) and I have been thinking the same for me! Just a quick summary of the most unusual things: A) One German Pz FT broke the MA pretty soon; B) the German 9-2 leader staked with MGs fail a moral, in the rally phase went Berserk, and brought with him in the charge over the hill, through the gully, a HS and a full squad that abandoned the MGs in the rear of the front. The Berserk charged the ART GUN, resisted a 16FP -2 and a 12FP -2 and eventually cleaned the position, but I have never seen a 9-2 charging Berserk and more important the "killer stack" was out of the game at Turn 4; C) the second Pz FT was caught in the ATR trap, got a shot in the rear Adjacent and... I rolled snakes; D) when I thought the game was over, with my tank on the hill defending the building, my 45L tank Malf the MA, the last PZ was able to go through the woods, Bogged beside the last victory building and it was able to resist the shot of my KV. In AFPh the tank shot in the building with concealed unit and broke them. Then shot to my KV for a DI (looking for bailing out the crew) and roll a 4 on the hull! E) the last German 5-4-8 AE Adjacent to the victory building was ready to resist few shots from the Russian (8FP +1; 12FP +1; To Hit from 76) and then advance in the location for the victory BUT the Russian sniper was called into action. The first small sniper I decided to use it for re-locate the counter. The second small sniper pinned the 5-4-8 and secure the Russian win. Unbelievable game. Now, Wes idea is that the luck was not with him, on my side I believe I was unlucky at the beginning with all my troops failing Morales and ELR, then I got lucky in the middle of the scenario (Berserk, ATR snake) then Wes got some luck again in the approach and firing to last victory location. Overall an incredible game. I will not forget.
Sunday Morning - Fifth Round "for the Championship" - J268 Independence Day va Stan Jackson (see Stan AAR above)
I got the attacking Brits. I pick to enter from the side judging the scenario is too short and the German Alamo in the northern building would have given the attacker from the south too little time to clear the buildings. I felt the advance at start was ok in term of movement (East main effort with a platoon and best Brit leader coming from the north). However I did break only one HS on the German until Turn 3 while
the German broke several Brits with any fire (from a 2FP +1 to 8FP +3). My 12FP +2 did nothing and my attack stuck in the north when a 4-4-7 refused to give space and move away only for VB (with the 9-2 leader the German recovered quickly).The Brits never gave the German the possibility to roll for PFs and smoked the PSK. But at the end, I think I have been too cautious with he tanks, I end up with both of them still alive, but not getting the VCs. At the beginning all the 3s and 4s rolled by the German stuck the Brit advance, so I ask kindly Stan to change the dice. Not for mistrust, but for superstition. I have got 5 sniper rolls (I believe if instead of SAN 4 I had SAN 3 I would have gotten more rolls....
), the sniper counter was adjacent to the 9-2, but nothing happened. And I think this is the scenario main "issue": if the 9-2 breaks or get caught by the sniper (even just wounded), the scenario could be quickly turn in strong favor of the Brit. But with the 9-2 alive and kicking, I think it is very very hard for the Brits to win. Compared to the previous game with Wes, this scenario was much more standard in term of "strange events". And yes, Stan recall a 20FP +3 ineffective shot, he forgot to mention that this shot was possible because one of the 4-4-7 refused to break under fire (honest wish) and in the previous CC 1vs1 rolled a snake, created a hero, killed my MMC but more importantly delayed again my advance and sealed the win. Two CCs only in the game, both won by the German (a 1vs2 whereas a HS was KIAed, and a 1vs1 with leader creation and infiltration for the German). In short, a fair scenario, well played by both players, with no particular turning points. I decided not to give a shot to the German against my AFVs, but this tactic did not pay out. Next time maybe let the AFVs burn and move more aggressively?Left the tournament exhausted but satisfied. I got the second place in the player tournament, but I believe I could definitely got the Whining Championship! If anyone wants to practice some Italian, coming to St Louis is a good choice. We might not play together, but you will definitely hear a lot of Italian loud language in the hall....
Thanks Jim again.
Maurizizio
Senior Member
This is the set up with the Gun and the ATR HIP
Jim Burris
Junior Member
The 2026 St Louis Tournament is in the books Congratulations to Stan Jackson, this year's winner. He defeated Maurizio Grassi in the final round.
I want to send out a huge Thank You! to all who attended. It was another great turnout and successful tournament.
Mark your calendar for 2027 (July 23-25) our 30th annual tournament.
Here are the top 10 finishers from this year's tournament.
1 Stan Jackson
2 Maurizio Grassi
3 Paul Works
4 Mike Reed
5 Bob Bendis
6 Randy Shurtz
7 Wes Vaughn
8 Rich Summers
9 Dave Goldman
10 Rich Domovic
Jim
I want to send out a huge Thank You! to all who attended. It was another great turnout and successful tournament.
Mark your calendar for 2027 (July 23-25) our 30th annual tournament.
Here are the top 10 finishers from this year's tournament.
1 Stan Jackson
2 Maurizio Grassi
3 Paul Works
4 Mike Reed
5 Bob Bendis
6 Randy Shurtz
7 Wes Vaughn
8 Rich Summers
9 Dave Goldman
10 Rich Domovic
Jim
Alessandro D.
Blind Sniper
The best way to catch these Flammpanzers!