VBCW - BATTLE OF WIGTON GAP

This weeks gaming has been dominated by the VBCW. On Thursday night at the SESWC we tried out a game of Brigadier 38 as a preparation for a big VBCW game that Simon from Solway Miniatures had arranged for the Saturday/Sunday at Carlisle. Four of us from the SESC went to the Saturday of the big game.

This game was a follow up to his big game of last year which saw a massive Albertine invasion fleetfrom Canada landing on the Solway coast of Cumberland. In that game my plucky West Cumberland Royalists held the beaches and art deco cinema at Siloth for a few moves before being driven inland to defend the approaches to Carlisle.

WEST CUMBERLAND BATTERY IN ACTION...

Here is Simon's scene setting for the latest game.....
In the pitch dark the slow, steady mechanical chatter of an army on the move can be heard in the facility of Wigton. Dawn tomorrow is likely to bring an accelerated tempo of activity as forces go about their preperations for an inevitable clash.
The Royalists of Cumberland and Westmoreland have been reinforced from both the east and south, accents from Yorkshire and even the Black Country mix with geordies and cumbrians
Carlisle has been threatened, supplies from the south periodically disrupted, and still the entrance of the solway is in rebel hands. As shortages take a grip the Royalist commanders decide bold action is required before things get completely out of hand.
Beyond Wigton are the camps of the Albertine and allied brigades. They too know a battle is coming. With the sea at their back they have been able to bring in reinforcements from Cheshire and volunteers from Scotland. Periodicaly they have ranged through the royalist lines cutting their communication , building steady pressure on the county capital. There is a rising confidence, that this is their time, a clear victory tomorrow could put Carlisle in their grasp

MY MASSED ARMOUR EXPLODING...

On the Saturday we had 11 players plus Simon acting as the umpire. We had 4 tables representing north to south Abbey Town, Wigton, the A595 and Calbeck. The Albertines deployed one brigade in Wigton and one in Calbeck and awaited support. We the Royalists committed a brigade to attack on each of the tables whilst also hoping for reinforcements from Northumberland.

My Royalist Brigade attacking the bridges at Calbeck were annihilated very quickly. I expected an encounter action but found the Albertine's deployed in all the housesof Calbeck - I lost 12 figures in the first turn to their priority fire! After much struggle all of 3 figures got to the first bridge but with no ammo.

MY LUCKY SAVING THROW - 5 ONES

A reinforcing battalion of BUF provided by Simon lasted 3 turns before they broke. Abysmal dicing - 5 saving throws needing 4,5,6 - threw 5 ones. Next 5 saving throws - 3 ones and 2 twos! Photo of my saving dice for troops behind the wall.
Final ignominy - artillery fire on my BUF battery misses and blows up my brigade supply truck.

MORE FORTUNE - AMMO TRUCK EXPLODES

The BUF Brigade advancing to take the road junctions on the A595 also met with defeat when they were assailed by 2 mixed Albertine Anglican Brigades including gamekeepers, postmen and AA recovery men.  Only at Wigton did we have nay success were our initial Brigade supported by the reinforcemnt sfrom Northumberland were close to securing Wigton at the close of the day.

BUF BRIGADE COMMAND WATCHING UNFOLDING DISASTER AT A595

The game continued on the Sunday at a reduced level with 6 players and the Royalists had some success in finally securing Wigton.

My thanks to Simon for organising everything and to the other players who made it a great day.......despite my appalling luck!

Link to FlickR photoset with more photos and descriptions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157629079541571//