New WW2 books obtained

Bought three books from Amazon (gift card pressie) all on a WW2 theme.

First is 'Arnhem: Black Tuesday' by Al Murray (of Pub Landlord fame) and this is an excellent read thus far (am about halfway through) covering British at Arnhem on key date. 

Have been watching on UTube over recent months the 'Walking The Ground' series (highly recommended) by Al and James Holland and this ties in with their current Arnhem episodes.

Also bought 'The Savage Storm' and 'Cassino '44' both by Mr Holland but not opened as yet. 

I have read his 'Normandy '44' and was impressed so looking forward to reading these be it in bed, chair, bath or on the 'throne' (if needing undisturbed peace).

A part of hobby long neglected - model making

My son bought me a model kit for Christmas (consequence of our Tank Museum jaunt no doubt) it being a Tamiya 1/48th scale King Tiger 'Production Turret'.

Been donkeys ages since I built any scale model but did build several Tamiya vehicle kits (generally 1/35th scale) in my youth before wargaming came to the fore, which then saw a burst of 1/76th and 1/72nd scale kits of the Airfix, Fujima, Hasegawa and suchlike varieties (acquisition of metals in 6mm and 15mm killed this phase).

So opened box and was confronted with usual plastic sprues and instruction sheets.

Managed to build 99% of kit without problems but must confess the multi-part tracks (used to rubber versions) have me stumped at present but hopefully will sort and then can get to painting (another neglected hobby aspect)

Overall a nicely detailed kit and had forgotten how therapeutic building models can be 

The box contents 

A die-cast hull

Wheels assembled

Kit almost completed

The multi-part track puzzle 

How its supposed to end up ! 

Rapid Fire Re-loaded - Push on Capriquet Airfield scenario played

Played 'The Push On Capriquet Airfield' scenario with my son using Rapid Fore Reloaded (for which it is designed) as it is pretty easy to play and teach.

Steven took the 12th SS bunch and I was Canadians.

Pretty tough for Cannucks with objective at far end of table and lots of Panzers on your flanks but good fun game as lots of Tanks on both sides.

I set up a screen just outside Buron as well aware a KG would 'appear' (inactive until turn 3) on my left and pushed Bren carrier units and later a Tank Squadron down road into Authie.

We both took losses in initial exchanges of fire (my M10 Wolverine and Achilles first to brew) and the Hun artillery really punished any infantry targets their FOO could see (lack of allied artillery is unusual - but historically they out distanced their support).

My Typhoon support was singularly unimpressive throughout only causing a single damage to a PzIV and either failing to appear or being aborted by 20mm AA gun and eventually shot down by same (not clear if this ends all air support but we played that it did).

Eventually however Cannuck numbers began to tell and once all Panzers dealt with I was able to advance onto objective at Franqueville mostly unmolested although both my Battlegroups were very close to taking morale tests. 

SS being Elite in game are unlikely to fail morale especially if in hard cover and their remnants ended game in Abbey Ardenne being pummeled by my remaining tanks until I forced multiple morale checks which they eventually failed giving Canadians the victory.

Great fun with a straightforward simple and highly playable set of rules.

Loads of burning tanks at end (the tank vs tank system is very basic but it works in fast play setting and at scale of engagement represented).

Large church standing in for Ardenne Abbey being invested by arriving 12th SS units 

The 'northern group' set up ready for action later

Canadian armour deploys from Buron to protect road

SS attempt to interdict road from Authie to objective

Tank losses mounting for both sides

Authie under Cannuck control but also under fire

Canadian armour suffering

Panzers taking hits as well

Panzer IV near Abbey under constant fire (Fireflies very potent)

Mid-game view

Typhoon (Tempest model standing in) on yet another ineffective attack run

'Panzer Meyer' contemplates is mounting losses as Cannucks threaten 

Rapid Fire - Advance on Capriquet scenario set up

My big lad Steven due home on Wednesday for a week (hurrah) so decided to set up a Rapid Fire game for us and used the 'Advance On Capriquet' scenario from the Re-Loaded Canadian supplement.

Not decided if I will use Rapid Fire Re-loaded (most likely) or maybe Rapid Fire 2 but nice simple system either way to play and teach.

L'Art De La Guerre - Sogdian vs Thematic Byzantine

Quick (very) game today with LADG as Stephen heading down south again at end of January for Munster (Cork) Competition and so looking some practice games.

Competition has a sort of Dark Ages theme (with several outliers) and Stephen wanted to try his Thematic Byzantines and I selected a Sogdian force to oppose them. 

Really quick game decided in two melee phases !

At first clash we had nine melees of which five were at even factors and of course I managed to not win a single one (two draws my best effort) suffering numerous hits and then being obliterated in second melee phase with 2 Generals dying !! truly awful dice rolls, Stephens were not stellar but did not need to be.

Ah well it was at least practice for him and likely our next batch of games (post Christmas) will be LADG outings.

 

Field of Battle 3 - Guldengossa scenario at Ulster Wargames Society

Club meeting today (delayed from last month) and I set up a Napoleonic scenario (adapted from Leipzig scenario book) of Action at Guldengossa 16th October 1813 with French (Mr B) attacking a Russo/Prussian defence (Dave T and Dave B).

Action covers afternoon period (1400 onwards) after French Grand Battery on Galgenburg Heights (off-table in this scn) has pummeled Allied artillery and a massed cavalry advance by 1st Reserve Cavalry Corps is forming supported by Infantry from V Corps.

Only one Cuirassier Division starts on table with rest of French arriving on successive Move cards with two light Batteries from Grand Battery able to join if desired.

Facing them are two Russian Infantry Brigades (from 1st and 2nd Corps) and two Prussian Brigades (9th and 10th) with four Brigades in reserve (high quality Russian Guard foot and mounted along with Cuirassier and Grenadiers) also on following Move cards (but with slight delay).

A light Cavalry Brigade sat as on table reserve on Allied right.

Great game as ever with FOB with French Cuirassier (I gave them an UP1 on initial charge in game to simulate Elan shown on day) managing to annihilate a Russian brigade but being stymied by Prussians (sensibly in square).

Only real check on French was the vaunted Saxon Cuirassier being Routed although they recovered almost immediately, but the Allies suffered several morale losses and Routed units (by comparison any losing French only fell back).

Allies not helped by two Brigadiers becoming Hors D'Combat (underlings Disordered) and initial two Reserves being delayed (dreaded 1 on D10) although the Russian Guard Cavalry and later their Cuirassier managed to get directly involved.

The Russian Guard Jager Infantry (best foot in game) and Grenadiers did eventually arrive but alas too late to effect outcome.

Russian morale losses mounted steadily and of course they ran out and failed the first ARmy Morale test taken so giving French the field.

Initial moves sees bulk of French force arrive. Grand Battery off table in center.

Cuirassier surging forward 

Riding down a unit of skirmishing Russian Jager that bravely/foolishly tried to delay them

French infantry in center

Allies defend Guldengossa

Russian Brigade about to fold between village and ponds

Prussian on Allied left wisely form square as Guard cavalry moves up in support

French exerting pressure all along line (couple of Allied units Routed)

Saxons have just rallied (in near center) after ignominious Rout. French Cavalry numerous on this flank (they all appear on right)

French and Russian cavalry clashed on right, with French losing a unit of Dragoons whilst Russians lost a Cuirassier and Guard Dragoons, but shore up a crumbling flank.

View from French right across the field

Square stand firm but losses elsewhere forced their ultimate retreat.

Also at club were couple of other games.

A Battlegroup game in 20mm with Adam against Andy umpired by Dave P set in Hungary 1945. 

Some really excellent paint jobs on display here and nicely 'animated' units and cool (groan) winter terrain bits. 

Believe Germans won this.

The two Jeremys with Dave S and Dave M (yes yet more Daves !) played a 28mm game using Dux Britannium (I think) with Saxons versus ? no idea how this turned out but more nice kit on display.