Finding A Gap

This week saw the turn of the 28mm World War II toys on the table.

It is early 1945, Lt. Justin Thyme's platoon has been tasked with finding a gap in the German outpost line which is being tenaciously held by a platoon of Volksgrenadiers. 

To win the game the British must get a squad to the German base line, although I stole the Patrol Phase from Chain of Command the British only got one jump off point out of three further in from the base line. This made the task in hand mighty difficult to put it mildly, nonetheless the British stiffed their upper lip and set too.

The Germans who have made their way through the British barrage (needing to pass an order test to deploy on table) await their adversary.

The British advance cautiously.

A German squad armed with Stg44's deploy forward to slow the British advance.

The British bring up their armour to support the infantry advance.

The German PAK40 hopes to stop the British armour in their tracks.

The British pour fire into the wood to clear out the Volksgrenadiers.

A Sherman Firefly is deployed on the other flank to support the advance there.

A random event brings a stray artillery round that does no damage to either side.

After a long dual between it and the British Sherman's the German PzIV is knocked out.

Meanwhile the British close in.

On turn five of six the second PzIV finally arrived.

The British are getting closer but time runs out.

A Pyrrhic victory for the Volksgrenadiers which will cost them dearly in future games.

Until next time KBO.

Surely Some Mistake?

The place Spain early 1937, objective seize and hold the bridge. Nationalist forces approaching the bridge are four squads of Foreign Legion including two 50mm mortars and a HMG with support of a squad of Regulares.

Also heading to occupy the bridge is the following Republican force consisting of five squads of EPR with HMG and 50mm mortar support.

The opposing forces converge on the bridge.

A squad of SFL wait for their comrades to nullify the threat from the the flanks.

The Republicans have the same plan it appears?

The Nationalists consolidate on their left flank engaging the Republicans on the other side of the river.

The Republicans advance to counter, but there is some confusion (a FUBAR roll) and one squad advances to the rear.

On the Nationalist right a squad and heavy weapons teams in support prepare to give the Republicans on that flank a hot reception.

The Republicans come under heavy and accurate fire, a hot reception indeed 

The Republican platoon commander moves up to encourage the faltering troops on the other flank who are missing the support of the retreating squads less than enthusiastic return to the fray.

A random event draw saw the Republican Assaultos miss an order to advance and support their left where the Republican heavy weapons teams were all but eliminated so that the Nationalist could concentrate their fire on them alone.

Up to turn three it looked as though the encounter would peter out into a draw, however as happens a lot after the break for lunch the balance switched dramatically to the Nationalists the draw of the order dice favouring them. The Republicans suffered from some devastating fire blunting their ability to reply. Turn four and the Nationalists took advantage of this storming over the bridge causing further mayhem.

Turn six and the Republican platoon commander ordered a withdrawal.

A rare victory for the Nationalists, surely some mistake?

As an aside several years ago I made a periscope that seldom gets used, too old school? With the use of measuring sticks in our recent games I thought this ought to get used too especially as Bolt Action uses true line of sight. We are both getting on to keep crouching down if needed and risk not being able to rise again😂 so out it came.

The periscope cunningly disguised as a house front.

Until next time..............

KBO

Continúe Transportando.

You may recall I picked up a Hispano-Suiza truck from Empress Miniatures at the recent Partizan for the Spanish Civil War collection.

Again I didn't want it lanquish in the pile of potential so quickly got it underway and here it is.

Gaming returned to OHQ this week with Dave been mobile once more. I arranged a WW2 game using Bolt Action III, a force of German Volksgrenadiers with tank support would be trying to breakout from an Allied encirclement.

Unfortunately I neglected to take any photos after the first turn, not as it really mattered my Volksgrenadiers didn't advance much after that. Constant pinning by British fire virtually halted the German advance after turn two. The breakout ground to a halt completely in turn five, pinning and poor planning on my part led to failure. It was good to see pinning being the order of the day in third rather than killing everything in sight in the previous incarnations. This like the game over at GHQ recently was certainly more WW2 than 1940K.

Until next time, here are the pics.

TOODLE PIP & KBO

Republican T26

I picked up another T26 from Empress Miniatures while I was at Partizan for the Republicans, not as though they need it with the current run of victories ably commanded by Senor Bickley.

Rather than let it lanquish in the to do pile I have set to and completed it.

Also under the brush is a Hispano-Suiza truck I picked up at the same time.

I have also amended my Bolt Action House Rules and added a target acquisition test rule for anyone who likes a less god like vision of the table top.

Toodle pip for now and as always KBO.

Clash At The Crossroads

A Spanish Civil War game using Bolt Action rules with 3rd edition changes gleaned from Warlords posts and recent UTube games.

A resounding victory for the Republican forces.

                    

                        The field of Mars

                                The Battle.

Until next time ..................

Toodle Pip and KBO 

Assault On Haseldorf

Games resumed at OHQ yesterday, Dave duly arrived with grandson Will to play a late World War II game. We would be using Bolt Action rules utilizing the changes revealed from the forthcoming 3rd edition.

In a change from the norm Dave took command of the defending Volksgrenadier platoon, Will and I would command the attacking British platoon.

Prior to the attack the Germans removed a certain priceless piece of art for "safe" keeping.

The German Pak40 covers the road into the village.

The British advance cautiously.

They have armoured support to their left.

The Germans lie in wait to give the attackers a hot reception.

The first section take cover behind the fence, a previously knocked out Sherman in the background does not bode well for this attack.

A second section move out on the right to attempt to flank the German position.

On the left the tank support moves forward.

The Germans bring up a StugIII to counter and support the infantry occupying the ruined buildings.

The section behind the fence receive accurate and deadly MG and mortar fire.

The German left is well protected the British flanking force will have a tough task.

The 75mm armed Sherman is set on fire, the crew unable to douse the flames abandon the vehicle.

Meanwhile the section in the centre is taking ever increasing casualties and will soon be forced to retire.

The German panzerschreck team fire on the Firefly, with combined fire from the Pak40 it is immobilized.

The British bring up the 6Pdr but it is too little too late with only one full section on the left flank and no mobile armour the attack is called off.

We thought that the new bits of the rules worked well particularly the revised effects for hits on armour. There is no exceptional damage roll in the new edition, this was used amongst other things to determine if a squad NCO became a casualty. As there is no indication how this will be determined now we added our own. If a section received three possible casualties, we would roll a D6, a score of one to three would mean that the NCO could be casualty and would have to make a cover save.

Until next time ............

Toodle Pip & KBO