VIETNAM 28MM BOLT ACTION BIG GAME

This weekend I was invited to the League of Gentlemen Wargamers big Vietnam bash.

The mighty brown water navy about to depart on operations

The event was held at the base of the Kirriemuir Wargames Club in Kirriemuir Angus.  Peter Nicholson, Colin Jack and others provided the troops and terrain.  On the Saturday we played thru a series of 5 two player mini games that Dave O’Brien had devised to familiarise the 10 players with the Bolt Action rules.  The rules worked well and after the first mini game most of the players were comfortable with the basic rules.  My contribution to the event was to work out the Bolt Action weapon factors for Vietnam and come up with rules for helicopters and the brown water navy warships.  I have posted an excel file with this information on the Bolt Action Yahoo forum.

On the Sunday we played a single massive game on a 30ft by up to 8ft wide table.  Peter Nicholson came up with the scenario.   It proved to be a VC victory with the heavily equipped US side failing to achieve any  of their major objectives.

It was a great event – the terrain and figures were very impressive and everyone enjoyed the gaming.    I really liked the brown water navy and the helicopter fleet.   More photos with descriptions at Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157634161548565/

View down the 30ft long table - at this end firebase with port, then 5 villages, at far end a field hospital and POW camp

US advanced hospital under VC mortar fire

RPG rocket falls short of a Heliship

 

WILD WEST - DEAD MAN'S HAND PLAYTEST

Our game at the SESWC this week was our second test of the Dead Man’s hand rules.  Colin Jack provided the terrain and most of the figures whilst I provided a gang of lawmen.

Given we are just starting with the rules we only managed to play thru two 2 player actions.  In the first my lawmen were defeated by Tim Watson’s desperadoes.    Tim even used the dastardly seize a hostage card!   In the second game Curtis Murff who was visiting Edinburgh from Chicago was defeated by lucky Bart Zynda. 

Good fun – I will have to buy these rules - and not rely on the one set that we have - though I have bought a set of counters.

My lawmen move on the train station – not good gun jammed and 1 hit already

My mad preacher goes for the desperado outside Mr Ray’s emporium – sadly missed with both barrels!

Scantily clad ladies – just what you expect!

 

Partizan 2013

This Sunday I went to Partizan at Newark.

Colin Jack  presented a 28mm Bolt Action Korean War display as  the SESWC contribution.  Dave O’Brien and I supported Colin at the display.  We played the game for real but did not get to a result though it was likely given the North Korean advance that the US/UN forces would have to withdraw to their island bridgehead.  We spent lots of time talking to people about the display - other than the MASH helicopter and the M4 flamethrower tank all the figures and vehicles came from WWII or Back of Beyond collections.

 

MASH hospital

NK infantry assualt an M8 greyhound

 Other highlights of the show was the League of Augsburgs big 17th century game, the VBCW game and the very good Steampunk Victorian Sci-fi PP game.

More photos of the show on flickr at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157633912435114/

The show seemed busier than last year....hopefully again next year.

Steampunk Victorian Sc-fi PP game - impressive buildings and harbour

VBCW game

League of Augsburg - big BTLB game

I will add briefing notes on the Korea game later....

20mm WWII: STOUMONT 19 DECEMBER 1944

Before our friend Mr Ray departs again for the USA I set up a WWII Battle of the Bulge Rapid Fire game at the SESWC.  I supplied the troops, scenario, buildings and the SESWC the scenery.  Mr Ray Neal and Tim Wilson commanded the Germans, Bart Zynda and Campbell Hardie the Germans whilst I umpired.

German armor start on Stoumont road

 The game was a slight variant on the Stoumont scenario in the excellent Rapid Fire Battle of the Bulge scenario book.  I changed the terrain increasing the table to 6ft by 4ft and revised the OB to agree with the models I have available.  In the original scenario the US have a 90mm AA gun and a company of 76mm AT guns – I replaced the 90mm with an immobile M36 TD and the 76mms with 57mm AT guns with a few APDS rounds.  I also made the mist lifting on turn 4 slightly variable.  I allowed the German vehicles to move at full speed on the road in the mist.

Last stand of the GIs at burning Roua

The Germans made an impressive start moving quickly splitting their forces with the tank coy and an infantry unit going straight for Stoumont whilst the rest of their initial force moved cross country towards Roua.  At the edge of Stoumont the leading Panther was heavily damaged by the string on mines and then knocked out by opportunity fire from a 57mm ATG. 

This held up the attack on Stoumont.  The German reserves appeared on turn 3. The infantry unit moved to reinforce the advance on Stoumont and the other units moved to join the attack on Roua.  The attack on Roua went well for the Germans and the engineer’s flamethrower set fire to both the buildings and the defenders were wiped out as they emerged from the blazing buildings.   The Panther trying to maneauvre on the road from Roua was heavily damaged by the concealed M36 which was heavily damaged in return but managed to expend all its ammunition.

The German armour supporting the attack on Stoumont suffered an ignominious fate – the Sd251/9 and the Wirbelwind were both destroyed by direct hits by mortar bombs and the Panzer IV was destroyed by Joe from da Bronx who made a heroic action and hit the tank with his bazooka.  However the German infantry managed to storm 2 of the buildings in the town.

Joe from da Bronx gets the Panzer IV!

Wirbelwind hit by mortar fire

At that point we had to end the game.  It was a draw with the Germans holding 4 of the buildings.  The US still had both their Shermans in action with the Germans reliant on their remaining seriously damaged Panther.

More photos and descriptions on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157633656417420/

 

Here is the OBs and briefings for the players.

The game is based on Kampfgruppe Peiper’s attack on the village of Stoumont on 19^th December.  The game lasts 15 turns.

German objectives

To win:  capture Stoumont and drive all US forces from the buildings.
To draw: occupy and hold a minimum of of 4 buildings in Stoumont and/or Roua.

US Objectives

To win:  prevent the German force from achieving its objectives above.
To draw: prevent the German force from holding more than 4 buildings at the end of the game.

Small Arms Fire
German infantry firing groups add +1 to their fire effect rolls.

Observation

The first 3 turns are played in mist which reduces visibility to 12 inches.  Roll from turn 4 for the mist to lift on a D6 score of 3-6.

Movement

The ground is muddy.  Reduce all of road vehicle movement by 1/3^rd. 

US Order of Battle 

All troops REGULAR

3rd Btn, 1119^th RCT, 30^th Inf Div  - test @ 20 casualties

HQ:      CO + 5 figs inc  60mm mortar, lt truck
Coy A:  10 figs inc  Bazooka
Coy B:  10 figs inc  Bazooka
Coy C:  10 figs inc  Bazooka
Wpns Coy: 11 figs with HMG, MMG, 81mm mortar, 57mm ATG, 3 jeeps, truck

Support

Coy B 743^rd Tank Btn:  2 M4 75mm
Coy A 823^rd Tank Destroyer Btn:  2 57mm ATG, 6 crew, 2 M3 ½ TR 
(ea 57mm has 3 rounds of APDS - AT 2 at short and medium range)
C Coy 110^th Tank Destroyer Btn:  M36 TD (Note - immobile with only 4 shots!)

Deployment

US troops must deploy west of the line US-US except for 1 coy of infantry which must be deployed within 8” of Roua for the first 8 moves.   

Note

Support coys are independent units.

Daisy chain of mines

The US battalion has a single daisy chain of mines to use only on roads.  One figure must reach the roadside to deploy the mines.  Test only for the first vehicle to cross.

German panzergrenadiers and paras move on Roua

German order of battle

All troops ELITE

Initial Force

Btn HQ:  CO + 5 figs, Sd251/3 Cmd

9^th Coy:  8 figs, panzerfaust, Sd251, Sd251/9 75mm*
9^th Eng Coy:  8 figs, panzerfaust, flamethrower, demo, Sd251/7 Eng
Para Coy: 11 figs, mmg, panzerfaust
Tank Coy:  Panther, Panzer IV

Reinforcements

Tank Coy:  Panther, Wirbelwind SP AA

11^th Coy:    10 figs, panzerfaust, 2 Sd251
12^th Coy:    120mm Mtr, 3 crew, Sd251, Sd250/9 75mm *

* count as 3 figs for morale

Note

Tank coys are independent units.  All others test as a single unit on 20 casualties

Deployment

All German troops enter on the south road to Stoumont.  No German AFVs can operate south of the Stoumont road.
Reinforcements can be diced for from turn 1 – needing a D6 score of 3-6 to succeed – and appear 2 turns later.

World Wars Experience Day at East Fortune

It was busy weekend for demos as well as helping with the SESWC demo at the Carronade show at Falkirk on Saturday on Sunday I helped put on the club demo at the National Museum of  Flight at East Fortune in East Lothian.  The museum is part of the National Museums of Scotland.  The demo wargames were a small part of their annual World Wars Experience day. 



Our demo was a 28mm game set in the closing days of the Normandy Campaign in 1944.  We used Bolt Action rules and ran it as a demo game but got members of the public involved to roll the firing, morale and command dice.  There was lots of interest in Colin Jack's militaria collection - especially the helmets.  As well as our game Falkirk Wargames club put on a WWI Aerial PP game and a WWI naval game.

Noramndy 1944 game - Colin's helmet collection in background

Our games were in the hangar beside the Museums Concorde.  Very impressive....but sorry no photos...



German re-enactors watching approaching rain

Outside there  were WWII re-enactors in British German and US uniforms with their equipment and WWI re-enactors in Gordon Highlanders uniforms.   In the Concorde hanger there were also dress up stalls for children to try on WWII clothing, design your own boardgame, Miss Dixie Belle’s Parlour for WWII hair dos and even social dancing.

More photos of the event by Derek Hodge at the SESC website
http://seswc.co.uk/2013/05/16/the-wartime-experience/

Jeep at RAF encampment

Interesting event....if invited we will be back again next year.   Here is the link to the museum website
http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_flight.aspx

Carronade 2013 at Falkirk

This Saturday I went to the Falkirk Wargames Club's show Carronade 2013.  Gerry Henry presented his superb 10mm Nachod 1866 display as  the SESWC contribution.  I supported Gerry at the display.  I did not know so many people knew about the Seven Weeks War of 1866.

Nachod 1866 - Gerry surveying his terrain

Prussians pour thru the main street of Nachod

Other highlights of the show were the League of Augsburgs 17^th century skirmish game, THEM from Bathgate Wargames club, The Wild Geese from Border Reivers – the latter 2 both being PP games. 

League of Augsburg - really nice terrain for their skirmish demo game



Wild Geese - airfield and DC3 in distance

 The outstanding PP game for me was the 1944 Pacific Carrier attack game by RAF Leuchars.  I really liked it.  The public got to play the attacking Japanese pilots...complete with ceremonial headbands.

RAF Leuchars attack on CV9 PP game and yes those are cherry blossoms.....

US Carrier awaits attack

 The show was busy.....I will be back again next year.

More photos at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157633484219864/

20mm WWII: MTSENSK 6th October 1941

As it was Victory Day in Russia today – 9^th May - I set up a WWII Eastern Front  Rapidfire game at the SESWC.  I supplied the troops and the scenario, Colin Jack and the SESWC the scenery.

German centre armour vanguard under Mr Ray deploys on the highway

The game was a slight variant on the Kamenewo scenario in the Rapidfire Eastern Front scenario book.  I simplified the terrain by omitting the river in the original map – moving it of table and revised the German OB to agree with the models I had available.  Mr Ray Neal, Campbell Hardie and Steaurt Endicott commanded the Germans, Bart Zynda and Colin Jack the Soviets whilst I umpired.

German centre column engages T26

The Germans made an impressive start to the game sweeping onto the table and quickly knocking out the rearguards T26 which was dug in on the highway and wiping out most of the infantry beyond the ridge line.  The Germans PZIIs and PZIVs were making good going beyond the ridge when on turn 6 the soviet BT7s arrived and dealt with a PZII.  Next turn the T34s and KV1 appeared engaging the PZIIIs.  The game was all over in 2 more moves with the German players conceding at the of turn 9 by which time only 1 of their tanks was not knocked out or heavily damaged.  The T26 remained the only Soviet tank loss at the end of the game.  The BT7s proving remarkably effective and lucky not suffering a single hit whilst dealing with 4 German tanks.

The Hero BT7s surrounded by burning wrecks of their enemies

More full size photos and descriptions of the action on flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157633443600811/

Here is the OBs and briefings for the players.

Soviet Forces

Rearguard

HQ:  CO + 3 figures including 50mm Mtr, car
Rifle Coy:  8 figures
Rifle Coy:  8 figures
Rifle Coy:  8 figures
Supp Coy:  82mm Mtr, 45mm ATG, 6 figures, truck
Att Coy:  T26

Reinforcements

4^TH Tank Brigade HQ  - turn 6

T34/76 , T60

1^st Tank Battalion – turn 7

4 T34/76, KV1

2^nd Tank Battalion – turn 6

4 BT7

4^th Motor Rifle Btn: - turn 8

HQ:  CO + 3 figures including 50mm Mtr, car
Rifle Coy:  8 figures, truck
Rifle Coy:  8 figures, truck
Rifle Coy:  8 figures, truck
Supp Coy:  MMG, 82mm Mtr, 6 figures, truck

Support – turn 9

Gds Mortar Bty:  1 SP BM13 Katyusha, FO team, car   

Morale.  Test per battalion.  4^th Brigade tanks are ELITE!

Objective

The German objective is to cross the table and advance to Woin.  The Soviet objective is to stop the German advance and drive them back to within 2ft of the fascist entry side. Urraah!

Notes

The Soviet rearguard including the T26 can be dug in any point 2ft north of the south table edge.

Reinforcements enter anywhere along the north table edge.

Woods are impassable to tanks.

The Germans will enter along the road or on their wide left flank due to them crossing the river running along the south table edge.

German left flank armour under Steaurt now shattered by T34s and KV1

German Forces - elements of the 4^th Panzer Division

35th PANZER REGT

HQ: PZIII

1^st Coy: 2 PZIII
2^nd Coy:2 PZIII
3^rd Coy: 2 PZIV
4^th Coy: 2 PZ38T
5^th Coy: 2 PZII

34^th MC Battalion

HQ: CO + 5 Figs incl ATR, 50mm Mtr, car
1^st MC Coy:  9 Figs on 3 MC combinations
2^nd MC Coy: 9 Figs on 3 MC combinations
3^rd MC Coy:  9 Figs on 3 MC combinations
4^th MG Coy: 2 MMG, 81mm Mtr, 9 Figs, truck
5^th Hvy Coy:  50mm ATG, 75mm IG, 6 Figs, 2 trucks
Att
Armd Inf Coy: 10 Figs, Sd251

Support

AA Bty:  88mm AA, 5 crew, tow
103^rd PZ Art Regt:  2 105mm How, 8 crew, 2 tows Plus FO, Car

Morale – Regular.  Infantry test as 1 unit. 

Tanks are ELITE.  Tanks test per company.

Objective

The German objective is to cross the table and advance to Woin.  The Soviet objective is to stop the German advance and drive them back to within 2ft of their entry side.

Notes

The German units must enter in a 1 vehicle wide column along the road and in a 1 vehicle wide column on their left flank.  This simulates them crossing the river Lisiza along the south table edge.

The Panzer Regt must all be on table before any other German units can enter.

Woods are impassable to tanks.