Panzer Grenadier Deluxe - Villers Bocage

Game of the ever excellent Panzer Grenadier Deluxe rules with Stephen today utilising the Villers Bocage scenario from the western scenarios booklet.

Great game with Stephen as Wittman & co against my floundering 22nd Armoured Brigade.

Tigers are really tough (only the Firefly really has a chance) and despite outflanking Wittman once or twice he managed to survive unscathed, only going low on ammo (no bloody wonder with all the shooting he conducted !).
I did get some artillery support (3 x 25pdr missions) from turn 5 but the British radios failed to make contact (is this Arnhem !?) and when they did the bleeding gunners questioned orders (ie throw of 3 equalling "Say again over ?).
The arrival of a further Tiger and PzIV unit along with more Grenadiers spelt the end as my hiding transports soon suffered giving Germans the win.

I really like these rules as they are an excellent balance of playability and flavour and at a nice level of simulation.








Pre German deployment with 22nd Armoured spread along the road to Hill 213

Wittman (on right) and friends deploy on dominating ridge south of Villers Bocage

Cromwells move to engage (Firefly already brewing)

Units on Hill 213 suffer as well

Despite ouflanking the Tigers 2 more Cromwells brewed up

Further losses in town

British reserves arrive from west

Even the Firefly failed to hit Tigers (long range)

Infantry deploys

German reserves appear on Hill 213 to seal the deal

I also managed a game of Combat Commander Pacific against John last week but forgot to take photos !

We played the first scenario in book which my Yanks managed to win mainly due to John erring in his Jap deployment leaving a key victory location unprotected.

Battle For Stalingrad first play

Tried latest game acquisition 'Battle For Stalingrad' from DVG Games.
An entirely card based game with a very low rules overhead.
Accordingly it was very easy to get into the game.
Had two full play throughs of the game both ending in full Russian wins (one wins by capturing all 5 of the starting locations).
The Russian ability to generate units and 'Rations' (sort of Petrol, Oil,Lubricants and Defences) seemed rather tough mountain for Germans to climb.
No doubt further plays will reveal more adept German tactics.
Good quick game and easy to pick up.

We also managed to play the first scenario from Combat Commander: Pacific but I forgot to take any pics.
Dad took the Japanese and eacked out a win !
We did however get Time event wrong as we advance Time and Decks on all double sixes drawn (as this is the Time trigger in Europe version) when in fact this is not case in Pacific (seems to be on double ones).
Great system with high drama as always.

Couple Of Combat Commander goodies arrive

Got these in post today: Pacific from Hexasim (French supplier with keen prices) and Paratrooper expansion from eBay (nice price on a rather hard to find item)

Sadly arrived just before heading to work :-(

Combat Commander: Fall Of The West four scenarios tried

Had a session of Combat Commander (first in awhile) at my Dads using scenarios from the latest Battlepack 'Fall Of The West'.
Don't recall the scn titles but three had British vs Germans and one French vs Huns. Only one used new 'AFV' rules in the form of a Bren Carrier (represented by a moving foxhole, a Leader and an HMG).
As always four great games with usual drama, excitement and uncertainity in spades.
We had forgotten just how engrossing and sheer fun this game system is !!














A selection of pic from the games (as I cant remember which scn is which and think I missed taking pics from a couple entirely-----old age is a bitch !)

We had so much fun I decided to order the Pacific version !!