At Last Its the (Bolt Action v Great War) 2013 Show

Thanks to the kind weather we finally got to play our Great War game using Bolt Action rules today. Very well it went too I thought, I was certainly able to get into the game more than I do when using Through the Blood and the Mud for the reasons stated previously. The objective of the British raiding force was to take out a German bunker, which being on high ground was a good vantage point for the Germans to observe the build up for the next "Big Push".

 The attacking British force consisted of two 9 man sections each with a Lewis gun (veterans), one 9 man section with four rifle grenadiers (veterans), two 9 man sections of riflemen (one regular, one veteran) and one 9 man section of bombers (veteran) these were also designated as tough fighters to reflect their proficiency with grenades at close quarters.

 The defending German force  consisted of three 9 man rifle sections, one with a captured Lewis gun (regular), one Granatenwerfer team and in the bunker a MG08 team and a sniper. There was also a reserve of a 9 man assault section (veteran), which could attempt to enter the table on the turn designated by a D6 throw, in this case it was turn 4 of a 6 turn game.

The amendments for the rules were from here GAJO Games Blog, I also lifted the spotting rules from Kamfgruppe Normandy has I don't like the Bolt Action method of sticking your head on the table and seeing if you can see a head or torso, a man could have his eye out.

 A preliminary bombardment by the British saw the Germans with one casualty and three units with pin markers, the first turn saw the Germans testing to get rid of these whilst the British made their move onto the table. Initially the Germans caused a fair few casualties, except the myopic sniper who only managed to take out one NCO, as the British got nearer the Germans firing when you thought it would get better actually got worse, whilst the reverse was true of the British, Dave asked before the game do the British get a plus for 15 rounds rapid, this is 1918 not 1914 I said, you have the Lewis for that, it appears I was wrong. The German reserves were not able to enter on turn four not appearing till turn 5 when it was to late, the British had already stormed and taken the bunker and the rest of the Germans routed, dead or captured. We will certainly give Bolt Action another try for this period. 

A Little Photo Montage

 The British Advance

 The Germans Give Fire

 The British Rush The German Trench Line

 And Storm The Bunker

German Reserves Arrive Too Late

TTFN



World War Two In A Different light

With the weather forecast being typically ambiguous we decided to go with plan B again, so I dropped my wife at work and continued round to GHQ. Dave had set up a 1940 game, Castle Blandings was there in all its glory. But what was this on the roof? turns out it was a top secret weapon awaiting to be tested upon the arrival of Mr. Churchill

Most Secret Weapon The D-Ray

Some fifth columnist had obviously been at work for the Germans were aware of this experiment and managed to drop paratroops to try and capture the weapons inventor and paperwork. Blandings however was stoutly defended by British army regulars, the Home Guard together with the staff and workers of the Blandings estate and even the guests were armed and put into the fray.

  Home Guard Smith Gun Defends Blandings Bridge

The irregular defenders put up a splendid defence, although their inexperience resulted in high casualties but still the held their ground and held up the advance of the paratroopers, enabling the regulars to fight off a even more nefarious foe.

Is there no depths that the Narzies will not plumb to meet their nefarious ends? However even these abominations were no match for His Majesties troops and the new D-Ray. The enemy attack was grinding to a halt but then a lucky 80mm mortar round destroyed the D-Ray, with time getting on and no clear result in sight a draw was declared. There you have it a totally bonkers but fun game, using Bolt Action rules with add ons for the mad bits. No game next week as we are heading for the wilds of North Yorkshire for the weekend and Vapnartak, I will not say weather permitting has 8" of snow in North Dalton didn't stop us last year.

More pics over on Dave's blog, Tales From GHQ, link on my blog list.

TTFN