A Drop Too Far?

This week saw a further outing with the recent No Easy Ground rules. The scenario I devised would see British paratroopers dropped behind German lines to nullify two bunkers guarding the approach to Kleine Bikkelheim.

The bunkers were only manned by low grade troops their morale would be set at 3 not the usual 5. The drop would be at night for the first two turns limiting visibility, to win the paratroopers would have to capture and hold the bunkers until at least the end of turn seven against the inevitable German counter attack. Extra turns would be diced for after turn seven to represent the British relief troops bring delayed. The German counter attack would begin on turn four.

The drop would be conducted with the good old paper squares off a rule method.

This is how they landed.

Red Dot - Platoon

Pink Dot - Platoon lands of target, dice for arrival and table edge entry on turn three.

Orange - Heavy weapons crew who must move into contact with the weapon.

Green - Company Command.

Blue - Piat can be collected by any platoon or the company command.

Yellow - Single dot = Vickers MG, Double dot = Mortar.

Onto how it all transpired.

Time being of the essence the command group immediately launched a bold assault on the bunker they landed near. Although taken by surprise the garrison were able to repel the assault.

The team in the machine gun dug out hear the sound of gunfire and explosions.

The defenders reactions are determined by an AI spreadsheet used in my solo game back in 2024.

They redeploy into the cover of a fallen tree and cover the approach road to the rear.

The paratroopers are already dashing down the road taking advantage of the poor light.

Meanwhile Lt. Bickleigh leads his troops on another assault on the bunker. This time they are successful, one objective secured.

Over on the other flank the second bunker is being assaulted successfully. Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of this, running the game and playing stretches my multi tasking skills it seems.

The road now being covered by the German

 MMGs the paratroopers approach under cover of the hedge. It is now daylight and are taking fire.

With two objectives secured the paratroopers now take up position to defend them from an inevitable German response 

Paratroopers now flank the German MMGs.

The MMGs are over run.

The Germans are here. Steady lads, give them hell!

The Germans weather the hail of fire keeping the British centre and left occupied.

While their comrades attempt to retake one of the bunkers.

They succeed!

With the Stug in support is the tide turning against the brave paratroopers?

Turn seven is the British relief force here? No a further turn is to be played.

With their force depleted by heavy fire and despite the armour support they are unable to retake the other bunker. No turn nine the relief arrives and the Germans withdraw.

A splendid close fought action on our second outing with the rules so a thumbs up from us both. Knowing when and how to use your command tokens and when to pass the initiative back to your opponent adds a certain dynamic. Some of the abstractions can grate but you can usually work out why the author has done it, though some design notes would be useful. Oddly five figures are a platoon but one vehicle is one vehicle? This doesn't worry us Rapid Fire veterans, which we always played as though one figure was one man in our heads. We will certainly play again, but before then Dave intimated that he would like to play Chain of Command again. Yes you read that right!

Until next time take care and KBO

It's Not All WWII

A little something to pull the Paraguayan guns.

Figures from the Perry range together with an ox team from the Medieval range with a plastic ACW limber from the acessories range.

Not all WWII, OK so perhaps it is🙂

 German rifle and LMG teams for the Italian theatre. AB Figures and bases from Warbases of course.

Finally more Germans for Kampfgruppe Arnheim from Empress Miniatures.

Another WWII bash tomorrow with a further run out with No Easy Ground Rules.

Have a care and KBO.

Iron Cross Revisited

I recently acquired the "new" No Easy Ground rule set for World War II. This is really an updated version of Iron Cross, a set I have that somehow got bypassed by Bolt Action and Chain of Command here in OHQ, I discovered that the last time I played was a solo game way back in 2024 (clicky)

Last week we gave the rules an outing, has I was relearning and checking any changes to the rules I did not really keep track of how the game played out but here are the few photos I did take together with a caption.

The British advance using the cover of the hedgerows.

The Germans advance, they go off road as there is little cover on their approach road. They take up position behind low walls to cover the advance on their right of a flanking move.

Anticipating this British have sent a platoon to cover the flank, they call in mortar fire. The barrage combined with small arms fire halts the German flanking attack.

Well positioned in the centre and opposite flank the British negate any attempt by the Germans to secure the crossroads. A win for Dave and the British.

As can be expected I got a couple of things wrong but it prejudiced neither side. We both enjoyed the game and we will play another game next week.

Rather than run through the rules I would direct you to this YouTube video if you think they may be a set you may like to try. The one thing I particularly like though is that you can attempt to react to your enemy in their turn without having to put your units in overwatch this doing nothing in your turn. So for instance if you see the enemy moving in you do not have to sit there doing nothing until your turn, if fired on you can fire back or indeed fall back.

There is also a batch of rule run throughs on the NEG webpage here

Until next time take care and KBO.

T'other Partizan Pics II

Yorkshire Gamer, Franco-Prussian War

Barely Legal Wargamers, Sicily 1943. What makes you think I am doing a Italy project🙂

Shrewsbury Wargames, 100 Years War siege.

Old Pike's, lwo Jima

Derby Wargames, Battle of Reading 1688

Martin Gordon, Norman Conquest.

Finally the obligatory show swag shot.

Trees and vines for Italy from The Last Valley.

Paint and grass tufts from Great Escape Games

A piece of wall and a Polsten Cannon for the British paratroopers from Empress Miniatures.

More 20mm AB Figures Germans for the Italy project from Eureka.

Bases for stock for forthcoming project from Warbases.

Here's to Partizan 2027!

Until next time take care and KBO

T'other Partizan 26 Pics.

Another splendid Partizan visit today with Dave and grandson Will.

Here are a selection of the games that caught my eye, you may see a period bias here. So many other games equally worthy of being photographed of course, pure sensory overload.

First up a small table showcasing the new No Easy Ground WWII rules, an expanded and updated version of Iron Cross. More on these in another post.

Another WWII game put on by the Chesterfield Old Boys, Eastern Front.

Hastings 960 with Peter Dennis's paperboys!

League of Augsberg, battle of Malplaquet.

Chum Kevin's AKA The Iron Brigade, Juno Beach 1944 game.

Fieldcraft UK, Operation Exporter 1941.

First Corps, Arras 1940

To be continued,................