More Bolt Action In The Green Fields Of The Great War

I have not had much spare recently for blogging so sorry for the gap in posting and not passing any comments on the blogs I follow, but I have looked and I am suitably impressed with what I have seen.

 Here in OHQ we recently played another Great War game using Bolt Action rules, the scenario was based on one in the "Through The Mud And The Blood" rules supplement "Stout Hearts And Iron Troopers". This saw a British platoon tasked with clearing a small hamlet, christened "Rawnslie Les Bains" by Dave, of any remaining German troops so that the British advance could continue.

 To make the game a little different I decided to add a separate dice to the order dice, drawing this would trigger drawing a card, the dice would then be returned to the pool so that several cards could be drawn per turn, alternately the die can be left out and put back in at the start of the next turn. Rather than make special cards I decided to utilise the ones for  "Through The Mud And The Blood"

The cards used for this were:

Command Initiative

Levels 1 and 2 for the Germans and 1,2 and 3 for the British, these could be retained and used by any units not activated if the Time For a Snifter card was drawn and the turn ended. The level 3 card could only be used by units within 6" of the platoon HQ. Once used these were then added back to the deck for the next turn.

Up And At Em!

This card could be retained and used by the British to move a unit 6" whether it had already been activated or not. Once used it was not added back to the deck.

Forward Observer

This card allowed a German SOS artillery strike on any visible British target. Once used it was not added back to the deck.

Air Support

This allowed a strafing run by a British aircraft, this is an unplanned attack by a returning recon pilot having a little sport on his way back to base.  Once used it was not added back to the deck.

Blank Card

Just a randomising aid

Time For A Snifter

The turn ends, units not activated can go "DOWN" or can be activated using a Command Initiative Card.

Amendments to the scenario and rules were that all units would need to be spotted before they could be fired on, for this I stole the table from "Kampfgruppe Normandy", the Germans would have twice as many dice than units in the pot, these would be placed in designated positions on the table when drawn out of the pot and placed on ambush orders in the first turn, if spotted and fired upon in the turn or when the alarm is raised a dice would decide if they were an actual unit (4,5 or 6) or a dummy, except for the first one which would be the German sentry, when the first British unit comes within 12" of him, dice, if it is real he can then fire or if a dummy it is assumed that he slips away without firing in either case the alarm is raised. Un-spotted German units can be fired on but count has hidden has per page 117 of the rules.

British Force

HQ - 2nd Lieutenant +1 and two scouts with rifles, regular

Lewis Gun Section - Lewis LMG 2 men, six riflemen and a NCO, regular

Rifle Section - Eight men with rifles and a NCO, regular

Bomber Section - Eight men with rifles and a NCO, regular. To reflect their bombing proficiency they were given the tough fighter rule.

Rifle Grenade Section - Four men with rifle grenade launchers, four loaders with rifles and a NCO, regular. Range 6 - 18", two shots if loader present, one if not. Penetration +1, indirect fire, HE (D2) may fire as rifle.

German Force

HQ - Feldwebel +1, regular and two clerks (to burn documents) with rifles, inexperienced

Three gruppen of eight riflemen and NCO each, regular

The game would last for six turns with a D6 been thrown at the end of turn six to determine the number of extra turns

How It Played Out

Due earlier German artillery fire in the sector the British were obliged to enter the table in artillery formation once on table they could deploy as seen fit by Dave their commander. Dave sent two sections along the right flank using the natural cover provided whilst another section drew the enemies fire, this was his bomber section which went boldly forward driving in the German sentry.

They then assaulted the German infantry in the first house, although depleted by fire from the defenders they carried the position through their superior bombing skills, meanwhile the Lewis section was bought up to engage the Germans in the second house adjacent to the first one 

Meanwhile the bomber section consolidated its position in the captured building and also fired on the Germans in the other building.

The third German gruppe was position in the field next to the house where they were unable to give proper support so they were moved out to protect the other flank, unfortunately when they  reached the road they had already been flanked by the British rifle grenade section, in the following turn they also came under fire from the rifle section and were put to flight.

 In turn six this left the stalwart defenders in house two holding out against the two British sections, they were helped by the arrival of a SOS artillery strike against the Lewis section which although it caused no casualties it seriously weakened the fire coming from it due to several pin markers at the same time the Brits in the adjacent building threw some shocking fire dice.

Over at the German HQ building the rifle grenade section were just gearing up to assault it when they were strafed by there own aircraft. We threw for the additional turns, a one! this did not give enough time for the British to finish the job. A worthy draw was declared.

More pics taken by Dave can be found on LAF http://www.lead-adventure.de/index.php?topic=54749.0

The buildings are 4Ground MDF, I found that they looked a tad pristine for bombed out buildings so I added various Games Workshop washes which I then dry brushed, the grey building is scratch built the farm is a Rapid Fire piece from Colin Rumford, trees and hedges by Last Valley and the figures Great War Miniatures.

TTFN

Salute to the Back of Beyond

Well Salute as been and gone for another year, souless and noisy as usual, but this is compensated for by some rather splendid games and displays and a veritable cornucopia of war gaming goodies to buy. It was great to finally meet up and chat to Sidney, whose rather wonderful blog has inspired and enthused me at various times, it was also good to watch the demo/participation game of the forthcoming WWII rules "Chain of Command" from the Too Fat Lardies stable, Richard and Nick did brilliantly to get themselves heard over the noise of the place, I feel these break new ground in a crowded market, definitely on my to buy list. Speaking of buying I picked up some Dark Age enclosures and another Spanish building from Grand Manner, some more bases from Warbases, an excellent book of scenarios for the First Carlist War "All Honour is Lost", another semi-damaged building from 4Ground and a piece of hedge from The Last Valley. I will not dwell on the show any longer there has already been plenty of photo's and narrative on the various fora and blogosphere, so off to the Back of Beyond.

Dave came over to OHQ recently to assume his guise as Comrade General Byklizki and capitalise on his recent victory over the forces of local warlord Wan Ung-Lo, and attack the strategic town of Sher-Li with a surprise dawn attack. He gathered his forces a little hurriedly, leaving his artillery behind, he also sent his cavalry on a flanking manoeuvre, he could also count on the air support of ace pilot Ivan Juztukov.



Sher-Li And Environs

The Chinese garrison at Sher-Li were very slow to become aware that they were about to be attacked, luckily for them the Red's advance was slower, the exception being the armoured car of Robynski which thundered down the road unsupported hoping to catch the garrison unawares, a bold move which he was later to regret.



Bylizski's Red Horde Slowly (very) Advance Upon Sher-Li 

The armoured car quickly engaged the then roused Chinese with a hail of machine gun fire but the Chinese troops protected by the buildings of Sher-Li suffered little from this, meanwhile troops from Ung-Lo's encampment moved up and also engaged the armoured car with fire, with no Red infantry near the Chinese were able to concentrate their fire and a lucky hit ignited the petrol tank. 



Bolshevik Armoured Car Makes An Impetuous Advance

And Pays The Price Whilst Belated Infantry Support Arrives 

The Red cavalry arrived but appear to have been unable to find a route through to attack Sher-Li from its weakly defended flank, to work their way around there now would mean weathering a storm of machine gun and artillery fire. Their commander saw an opportunity to turn the battle, the White Russian troops were tied up valiantly defending Sher-Li temple against a mass attack of Red infantry, leaving Wan Ung-Lo with only a small group of his assault troops. The Red cavalry launched an all or nothing charge, unfortunately they were unable to surprise their target and were decimated by close range sub-machine gun fire.

Red Cavalry Charge Towards Ung-Lo's Encampment

Meanwhile Ung-Lo And His Bodyguard Await To Exact Revenge For The Previous Encounter

Ace fighter pilot Ivan Juztukov also arrived late in day, blamed on the cloud apparently, but to Comrade Byklizski's dismay the bomb and staffing runs had little effect, rumour has it that the only effect of clouds were the effects of vodka clouding Ivans head.



Ivan Juztukov Makes One of Several Fruitless Straffing Runs

The Reds one success was the annihilation of Ung-Lo's White Russian troops who sold themselves dearly protecting the honour of Sher-Li temple.



Ung-Lo's White Russians Defend The Honour Of Sher-Li Temple 

Having now lost over 60% of his attacking force Comrade Byklizski called off the attack and retired from the field, leaving the jubilant Ung-Lo still in possession of the strategic town of Sher-Li.



Comrade Bykliziski Quits The Field With His Shattered Force

Mean While Ung-Lo Reviews His Victorious Troops

Another jolly good game using "Setting The East Ablaze" rules, available from Caliver Books.

TTFN