Rather than wait for the weekend I decided to have an evening game playing another solo WWII game using Battlegroup rules. I set up a 4 x 4 foot table for a squad size game, a British platoon supported by a Cromwell would be attacking a German rear guard position held by a Volksgrenadier platoon.
The British had a Battle Rating of 16 and the Germans 13, for those unfamiliar with the rules once this rating is exceeded the force will call off the attack or retreat if defending.
For the German defenders a throw of two D6 would decide the initial number of units that could be deployed, a poor dice roll gave them just three units until turn five when a D6 roll would decide how many units would appear in this and subsequent turns. D3 of the deployed units would start pinned from a preliminary bombardment, a three was rolled eek!
The British would start with three units deployed with two D6 being rolled on turn three and subsequent moves to decide on how many more units would be available that particular turn.
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| The initial set up |
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| Sheltering behind the hedge #1 section advances |
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| The platoon HQ moves forward to direct off table 4.2" mortar fire |
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| The Cromwell moves up in supported followed by #2 section |
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| #1 section is broken by intense German small arms fire |
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| #3 section moves up to continue the attack |
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| A turn of luck for the British, the Pak40 is destroyed by HE fire from the Cromwell |
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| Bad luck for the British, the Germans draw a chit to rally and pull a confusion chit, this can be played on any enemy unit who immediately have to take a morale test, this resulted in the Cromwell being pinned |
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| Tit for tat the next British chit pull results in a confusion chit, queue one pinned German squad |
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| #2 section moves up to support the pinned Cromwell |
Despite a spirited attack the British exceeded their Battle Rating in turn eleven after just under two hours of play, it should be noted that I took out the four and five numbered chits for the game, it was a close run thing with the Germans just three away from exceeding theirs.
TTFN and KBO
Are those the Empress Late War British? They look splendid. Cool looking game, I haven't had Battlegroup out on the table this year as yet.
ReplyDeleteyes they are indeed, splendid figures full of character, with more to come, held up by the current pandemic though.
DeleteThe British see off the evil Reich.
ReplyDeleteCromwell (and his crew) would be proud whatever marker was put on them.
Not this time alas, but I played another game the following day with the Germans attacking with a StugIII in support.
DeleteThis time I left the 4 and 5 chits in, the game ended in turn six with the Germans exceeding their battle rating.
Taking out the 4's & 5's, now there's a thing😉 Nice looking effort there!
ReplyDeleteThank you Comrade B, but don't expect them to be taken for you, where would be the fun in that😂
DeleteLovely sized game and table. The initial set-up dice rolls for the Germans would no doubt have made a British player smile, so nice to see the game tight enough to turn that disadvantage around.
ReplyDeleteGood idea on the 4’s and 5’s for such low battle ratings. It makes me think of other things that could be done with the draw bag, such as placing one or two random events in that would be specific to the battle fought.
Anyway, nice post and even a spammer liked it :-)
Thank you Norm, taking those out certainly lengthened the game, hadn't thought about a scenario specific chit, hadn't thought of that. I do include a black order die in the bag when playing Bolt Action games but again they are pretty general and not scenario specific. Something to mull over.
DeleteSpammer duly dealt with.
DeleteLovely stuff Phil from all perspectives. I managed a sealion game last night and your game has reminded me how great WW2 gaming is...we need more. Ps you can get so much 20mm on a 4x4 table !
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt and good news on the Sea Lion game I particularly like these games.
DeleteGreat stuff Phil,I hope to get my Volksturm out today or tomorrow. I do like those British figures.
ReplyDeleteThank you George, I shall look out for your run down of Col. Bobs latest endeavour. The Brits are great, I think Paul has captured the late war look admirably.
DeleteLook great Phil.
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul.
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