Saturday 31 December 2022
Doing Things By Half
Monday 19 December 2022
That's All Folks..........
Saturday 10 December 2022
Bikkelheim Rathaus
Sunday 4 December 2022
Rollender Sarg Ost
Wednesday 30 November 2022
Radio Ura! Ura!
Saturday 26 November 2022
Down But Not Out
Thursday 24 November 2022
At Range - Ancient and Modern
Tuesday 8 November 2022
The Fall of Seelow
For this week's game I chose a scenario from the Battlegroup "Fall of the Reich" supplement, a platoon level action with a ragtag formation of German Volksgrenadiers, Kriegsmarine and Volksturm attempting to stem the Soviet advance.
Seelow awaits.Second Lieutenant Tams has constructed an anti-tank barricade across the road and covered it with two dug in Pak40s.Dug in Volksturm protect the northern outskirts.Meanwhile Kriegsmarine troops dug in on the eastern approaches.Jabos! A timed Soviet airstrike.One of the Pak40s is pinned down.
Soviet forces converge on Seelow.Panzerfaust fire causes the T34 crew to abandon the tank, accompanying tank riders dismount pinned.A supporting T34 is also hit and brews up.Meanwhile in Seelow the Soviets clear out the PAK40s.The Soviets bring up an ISU152 and clear the Volksturm defend the northern approaches.
Despite a spirited defence, in turn eleven the battered German survivors withdrew ( one above their battle rating of 30). However they certainly had put up a fight with the Soviets only being five away from exceeding theirs.
Until next time.......
TTFN & KBO
Sunday 6 November 2022
Markers Ancient and Modern
Wednesday 2 November 2022
More for Bikkelheim
Saturday 29 October 2022
Praetorians Plus
Tuesday 25 October 2022
Crossing the Berezina
Saturday 22 October 2022
Bikkelheim Brewery
Wednesday 12 October 2022
Assault On Rawnstadt
For this week's game I decided that my 20mm WWII American platoon would get their baptism of fire, they would be given the task of clearing the industrial area of the city.
They would have in support a medium tank platoon of three M4 Shermans with 76mm guns, reconnaissance would be provided by a M8 armoured car. Anti-tank capability would be provided by its own bazooka, a towed 57mm A/T gun and a M36 tank destroyer, they could also count on off table fire from a battery of 105mm howitzers and a M16 for anti-aircraft support.
Facing the onslaught would be a Volksgrenadier platoon, although low on panzerfausts they would have the anti-tank support of a panzerschrek and a PAK40 together with a MG42 in the heavy machine gun role and have off table support from a battery of 120mm mortars. Reinforcements have been promised consisting of a Panzer IV platoon and a Jagdpanzer IV armed with the L70 gun.
Rawnstadt industrial area.Volksgrenadiers take up positions.Several of the Germans units were pinned down by the furious preliminary bombardment however due to the initial slow advance by the Americans, orders were just not getting through, they were able to be rallied by their NCOs ready to receive the attack.
The American advance gets underway.Further communication problems delayed any off table fire from both sides initially, after the lunch break things began to hot up.
There it was gone.Despite this and the loss of the Pak40 German resolved stiffened, a battle counter draw gave the Germans an extra four Battle Rating this put them on a par with the Americans, game on.
A Sherman takes advantage of the German barricade as cover from where it took out the Pak40. Drat!Retribution is however not long coming, German reinforcement arrives the Jagdpanzer IV takes revenge.The Americans step up their attack on the German right, the Germans are cleared from their foxholes.The Germans in the factory prepare to withdraw.Panzer IVs move to shore up the right.Only ending in the lead tank being taken out by a lucky long range shot from the M36.Turn ten and it is all up for the Germans, fire from the M16 causes another Battle Counter to be drawn taking the Germans over their now 31 Battle Rating. It was however a close call the Americans were only five away from exceeding theirs.
Until next time......
TTFN and KBO