Ulster Wargames Society - Khalkhin Gol with Chain of Command 2 and Little Big Horn

Monthly club meeting today and took part in a Big Battle Chain of Command 2 game set in 1939 in Manchuria with Japanese against Russians.

Game set up and run by Jeremy D and Dave M with several figures from Chris.

Terrain was mix of hills, knolls, rough ground, depressions and couple of light buildings.

Five Nippon players: Jeremy D (CinC), Dave T, Tim, Chris and yours truly against four Ivans: Dave M (CinC), Dave B, Ian and Stevie C.

Nips were the attackers fielding 4 Infantry Platoons (12 man sections) with 3 Chi Ha tanks (under my illustrious command) with numerous support assets (including ATGs, ATRs, Chi Go, a Ruse, Mortar Platoon)

Reds had I think 3 Infantry Platoons (10 man sections) with 3 BT5 tanks and various support assets (not sure what except for a Mortar Barrage)

After Patrol phase Japs had quite favourable Jump Off points especially as their Ruse allowed a Jump Off point to be moved a very flexible option. 

Ivans mainly confined to their set up zone but with 2 (of the 4) Objectives looking vulnerable on either flank.

I kept my Tank Platoon off-table at start to see how things developed before committing.

Jeremy D was on Jap right with Dave T on center-right Tim center-left and Chris on left.

Right to left Ivans had Dave M, Ian, Dave B and Stevie C.

Several Jap sections were deployed early (to threaten those attainable) and in response Ivans done same and indeed their Tanks appeared right way in center-right area but separated into isolated areas.

Use of a ruse allowed Japs to occupy one enclosed field objective right away

So when able I then deployed on right to support Platoons under Jeremy and Dave T.

Chris on our left launched Banzai charges from get go against a farm objective but after a flurry of dice rolling seemed to be stymied (I was not fully aware of proceedings on left half of table throughout)

Seemingly inspired (and encouraged from sidelines) Dave T launched 2 full sections in another Banzai attack against another enclosed field Objective.

A furious melee (so many dice !) 36 halved to 18 vs 14 in first round but a draw with 2 kills each and some shock, second round it was 24 dice vs 11 and Dave rolled 4 kills and 4 shock but Stevie C rolled 6 kills and 1 Shock to actually win the melee !

This forced Daves sections back with additional Shock but due to losses and Shock Stevies section was Broken and also fell back.

Infantry action on this flank sort of stalemated for awhile with both sides exchanging lead but with Stevie C having his Force Morale and Command Dice steadily reduced (ended up on 1 Morale).

Whilst this was occurring one of Dave B tanks was being assailed by my 3 Tanks, 2 Anti-Tank Guns and a Anti-Tank Rifle over several phases but seemed impervious taking only a couple of Shock and dealing out same.

Eventually the poor bugger was forced back, was immobilized, had its Optic damaged and ultimately was abandoned but it felt more like a KV1 than a BT5 !!

Chris had by this time occupied the Objective of left and things looked bad for Ivans, but suddenly a ranging shot for a mortar barrage appeared amidst a mass of Jap infantry which luckily failed to see the barrage fall immediately.

The infantry scattered as best the could but the barrage then arrived Pinning 3 sections and causing lots of Shock.      

Unfortunately time had to be called before game completed and whilst Japanese seemed to be in ascendancy (2 Objectives occupied just about to be declared captured with a Jump Off point nullified) hard to say how things would have ended.

Amazingly my Chi Ha units survived (decent enough in this period)

Great stuff and much kudos to Jeremy D for being able to both play and field the numerous rules questions.

Russia's finest

Japanese right wing with my Chi Ha fleet in action (the wannabe KV1 just visible beside rules to right rear)

Nip infantry occupy central hill from which they launched Banzai charge

Some of Chris lot on left (and lots of dice......so many dice........)

The enclosed field taken by Chris (after a fierce struggle I believe)

Fearsome Chi Ha......hear us roar !!............ok whimper

Tims Platoon in center

Another BT5 behind the broken Russian section 

Nip adversaries have fallen back onto hill (a Senior Commander was lost in this charge action !!) 

Jeremys Sections flank the large hill and occupy an Objective with 37mm ATG in support

Central Jap positioning before the Banzai

Ruse ability allowed this Jump Off point to be moved to enable capture ground well into Russian area

Left half of table seemed so far away and someone has dropped smoke

Also at club Phil and son put on a very nice Battle of the Little Big Horn game with the other Jeremy, Billy, Tom and Leslie.

No idea how this went but some very nice 7th Cavalry and Indian figures with nice terrain and I think Men Who Would Be Kings rules (?)

Only got a couple of pics (it deserved better)

Yellow Hair himself on foot

Some very nice mounted Indian Braves (no idea as to figure range)

Chain Of Command 2 - A Christmas British vs German bash at Mikes

Invited for a Big COC2 game at Mikes with Bryn and Simon using 28mm kit and a late war British attackers (Bryn and I) vs Germans in defence (Mike and Simon).  

I was facing Mike with a Platoon of Infantry and an extra Motor Rifle Section, with Bryn facing Simon with another Platoon and an Airborne section. 

We had support in form of 3 Shermans, a Staghound, an M5 Stuart and couple of 2" Mortar Teams and an HMG.

Germans had 2 Reduced Platoons of foot sloggers supported by a PzIVH, a Stug/105mm, an Sd222, an Sd250, a couple of PzShrecks teams and a Sniper.

Mike rolled low for his individual Force Morale starting with 8 and this was to be his undoing as a steady stream of 2 point losses occurred for each of his 'Bad Things Happen' incidents (his Leaders seemed to attract wounds like flies !).

His Stug had a firefight with a Sherman on my side with the M4 thankfully only suffering engine damage whilst the Stug took a couple of Shock points and after several exchanges of fire (both obscured) the Stug was brewed and exploded.

His Sd222 proved bothersome however with its 6 HE dice for its 20mm auto-cannon and a PzShreck team ambushed and destroyed my Staghound.

He was rather unlucky firing on an advancing British section and once revealed his sections took a deluge of fire losing several figures and leaders to break his morale.

Bryn on my left pushed against Simon (who was much more reticent to deploy his infantry) losing the M5 to the PzIV but keeping his infantry fairly intact.

When Mike lost his last Morale we called it a day as half the German force was routed.

Great game with plenty of action and I prefer COC2 to the original version.

Ulster Wargames Society - Big Chain of Command Normandy bash and other games

Club Saturday and I participated in a 28mm game of COC2 set up by Jeremy D and being a big battle type game (Jeremys house rules) set in Normandy with 5 British and 3 German players.

Really nice terrain from Jeremys collection immersed us in Normandy style surroundings.

British under Jeremys overall command (and some Bttn assets) with Andy controlling our armoured contingent (2 M4, a Firefly, a Humber AC, 2 Churchills and a Recce section in Bren Carriers) and with Bryn, Dave M and my own wee self commanding an Infantry Platoon each.

Germans under Simon with Mark and Stephen controlled 2 PzGr Platoons, several support units (MGs, Flamwerfer and 2 Stugs) with some barbed wire, minefields and booby trapped/mined road verges.

Both sides had Mortar support.

British had an initial phase line to capture which would release a fresh set of Infantry Platoons to replace the initial Company and its losses before pushing on to try to capture a couple of bridges and a farm complex.  

I controlled our right flank, Bryn our left with Dave and Andy in center.

After Patrol/Jump Off phase the British were slowed by an accurate Hun mortar barrage catching a section and supports in a wood in center. 

On my flank I managed to capture a phase line objective in church whilst thankfully being mostly unscathed from an ambushing MG42 team which was dispatched quickly by supporting Sherman fire.

Bryn captured an objective on his flank and then boldly charged onto the central objective again luckily surviving after running the gauntlet of an ambushing MG42.

This ended initial phase and set up another Patrol Phase which allowed me to place 2 Jump Off points well along the enemy flank.

Phase 1 and British advance covered by a Smoke Barrage

Initial phase line approximately along road (my initial objective in church tower)

Daves section in wood was soon Pinned by Hun mortars as Andy brings on Recce section in Bren Carriers, with Bryn moving through the walled orchard

My chaps about to occupy church

This second phase saw my Platoon advancing well forward on right (including moving a Jump Off point) but coming under a deluge of ambushes from MG42s, PzGrenadiers, a 75mm Infantry Gun and 2 Flamewerfer teams (their 12 dice very nasty as they cancel cover and deal double shock). 

Bryn was slowed by having to move around the minefields and wire with Dave M eventually being able to push through to support my dwindling numbers (my lot felt well out on a limb for a period).

Andys Shermans gave sterling support fire collapsing 2 buildings and routing a unit of PzGr.

2 Stugs appeared but were only able to engage our infantry (lots of 2" Mortar smoke).

Andy did bring his Firefly forward to engage but soon beat a hasty retreat after surviving being engaged by an ambushing PzFaust team !! 

Time ran out and a draw was declared as whilst German left had mostly collapsed us British were still well shy of the final objectives.

Great stuff with some lovely kit and a lot of work put in by Jeremy to set up and run the game and I seem to have failed to photograph a single British tank or Stug !!

Dave units move in center as Bryn circumvents mined areas

My blokes in house being given severe suntans by flamewerfers in opposite building (one flame team was dispatched and another immediately popped up !!)

Bryns men line hedges

Furthest advance by British on right, This section survived by remaining in Tactical Mode 

A pic of some of British armour (from Jeremy)

Also at club 

Game of Pikemans Lament in 28mm with Leslie, Chris, Ian and Billy   

Dave T and Dave B had couple of games of FOGR with Confederate Irish and an ECW English army.

Jeremy M, Charlie and others played a 6mm (not seen this scale for awhile) game using Eisenhower with an Eastern Front scenario (the buildings were 2/3mm) and I think 6" squares for grid.

Charlie struggling to see 6mm ?? 

Chris, Jeremy N, Dave S and Paddy played a Middle Earth Battle Game on a rather nice Osgiliath style board.