Quick jaunt to Clare Gaming

Quick (only had an hour spare) visit today to Clare Gaming which was pretty busy with lots of RPG type stuff ongoing with spotty oiks ie youths :-) and couple of historical games from Elimination Club.

A 28mm Zulu game in progress with Black Powder and a Bolt Action 3 game also in 28mm with Polish Paras facing Germans (this had very nice buildings and figures.

A round up after busy weekend

Been off line couple of days so quick round up of wargaming activity.

Attended Elimination Club (last meeting for a period due to Covid-19 issues) briefly on Friday where a 10mm League of Augsburg game using Black Powder was being played by Bryn and Shane.
No idea as to result.

Quick solo game of Colonial Twilight on Saturday and what an enjoyable time again with the ever excellent COIN system (I could happily self-isolate with these games alone never mind all my other options)

And game tonight with my Dad of Combat Commander with the ever excellent Barrikady Factory scenario from the Stalingrad Pack.

Right down to the wire with Dad narrowly failing to out number my Ivans in factory (20 units each) as Time ran out.

A good third of the factory was rubble of blazing.

++Footnote++

My parents are both over 70 but in otherwise decent respiratory health, but are worried and concerned by UK plans to combat Covid-19 by having them self-isolate for 4+ months and I fully understand why.

I am behind (or at least understand) UK Government plans thus far, but do think they need better information dissemination to at least try to allay some genuine fears and concerns.

Bottom line is that for some sadly this pandemic will doubtless have a fatal outcome and maybe for others a life changing impact physically, mentally and otherwise (think the economic issues are yet to be fully revealed/assessed) 

I did try to explain that they pretty much keep to themselves anyhow (not big into social activities) so maybe not too much of a stretch with support from me and Jan.

Strange times and am just thankful I am no longer a Police Officer as the temptation to baton to a pulp the 'bulk-buyers' and 'doomsday merchants' would be just too much for me I fear !!

The despicably selfish behaviour by some 'members' of society is truly infuriating to say the least.

If only Covid-19 targeted the stupid gene rather than elderly/infirm............

Regimental Fire & Fury at Elimination Club

Game with ever excellent Regt F&F tonight at club.
Billy brought along a scratch force of Yanks and Rebs (3 Brigades aside) for a quick outing with rules.
He had used these Brigades in a Stones River game so already labelled up.
Somewhat surprisingly the rules worked really well for such an ad hoc non-scenario game.
Maybe not 'balanced' but fun anyhow.
Billy and Paul controlled the Yank force and Hugh (on first visit to club) and I the Rebs.
I had a Brigade of Veteran and Crack units backed by 3 guns which faced one of Billys 2 Brigades on our right.
Hugh faced the other two Brigades with 2 of ours on left and center.
Very quickly got into swing of system and we got to grips fairly quickly.
I charged two units of Crack Rebs supported by a Veteran in a large Green unit of Yanks also supported.
Billys defensive fire done absolutely nothing and it looked grim for the boys in blue.
However I managed to roll a 1 whilst Billy rolled a 10 and my units bounced off in melee Disordered.
This was high water point for Billy units though as after Rallying I came in again and this time Billy had awful rolls throughout shooting and combat seeing his unit Swept From The Field, broken and indeed spent.
They then rolled awfully again and Routed taking catastrophic losses and his flank collapsed.
Paul had a ding dong with Hugh in a wooded area gaining marginal upper hand but fresh Reb units on hand.
Billys losses were so severe we called the game with Yanks withdrawing.
Great stuff with a fine set of ACW rules that were also fairly easy to teach to 2 new players.
My only real 'beef' is that you need a ton of stands to play the game properly but certainly looks the part when so many on table

Also on going at club was a game of Flames Of War involving several players, with some fielding freshly painted/acquired units.
Not my cup of tea at all (FOW way too much 'game' and too little history for my tastes) but the chaps certainly had fun (beating Bryn may have been main reason ?) which is what it is ultimately about.

Trust me they are actually having fun !!

Rapid Fire II scenario played at Elimination Club (and an ACW skirmish)

Attended Elimination Club tonight and brought along another small Rapid Fire Normandy scenario, this one set 18th July 1944 during Operation Goodwood entitled 'Olemers Counter-Attack'.
This pits elements of Coldstream Guards against 503rd Panzers, so 7 Shermans and 3 Firefly against 2 King Tigers, 1 Tiger, 1 PzIVh, a Pak 40 and a Company of German Infantry with a PzFaust and a PzShreck.
Both sides looking to 'threaten' to exit enemy edge to win in a 10 turn game.
As I brought stuff at last minute this was a nice small scenario with minimal terrain (I do like to support the club if possible putting on a game if I can).
I played as British against Chris again with command of Hun.
A short (played in less than 2 hours) sharp but very fun game it was to.
Shermans simply outclassed by the Big Cats (at best they need a 6 to hit the Royals often no possible hit if movement or cover involved) and even the Firefly struggles at range.
However the 88mm (both types) hit on basic 2+ so lot of brewed Shermans, I lost 1 Firefly with 2 others heavily damaged and 4 Shermans brewed with 1 on Light damage, but did take out the PzIV and the PAK 40 and on last shot of game the Tiger 1 and 1 Royal had heavy damage.
The German Infantry (who started hidden) had no real part to play once the British Armour retired.
Shermans were actually close to achieving their breakthrough but a 'Retire 2 Moves' Morale result put paid to that.
However all the defensive work by Germans meant they never threatened their Exit area so an honourable draw was result.
Another decent game with this fast play set which is perfect for a club game.




The field of battle with British objective the road on right visible.
British start in corner defined by other road

British armour appears

And try to use cover of open woods to advance

Big Cats appear enmass

Two Tigers showing 'heavy damage' late in game

British armour has advanced on right, note Sherman and PzIVh brewed up

Firefly under 'heavy damage'

Sherman brews on left flank

The zenith of British endeavours as a Squadron approaches the road 

But a failed Morale roll sees whole Regiment retire for 2 Moves (24") but Tigers pinned in defence of roadway

No way through this wall of steel.............

Bryn, Simon and Shane (later also Chris and Sam) were playing an ACW skirmish using 'Rebels and Patriots' and Bryns 28mm troops on a nice Cigar Box mat.
They had a quick first rattle in same time as my game but re-set for 2nd game (which I left part way through)

Rapid Fire - Normandy scenario at Elimination Club

Game using Rapid Fire II (a set I have not used since before I started this Blog !) tonight at Elimination Club.
Very much a last minute venture as unsure if I could make club and then seemed as if no other games on (as it turned out a massive Black Powder League of Augsburg 12mm game took place).
I found a small (1 Battalion a side) Rapid Fire 'official' scenario for an action on 28th of July 1944 near Grainville during Op Epsom that I used my 15mm kit for.
Action sees 9th SS Kampfgruppe counter attacking elements of 15th Scottish Division dug in around a Chateau near Granville.
Was unsure of how so small a game would play with RF but twas fine.
I played with Chris who took the Germans and I the British (only right and proper of Brexit Friday !).
Game play is fast and furious with RF despite my struggling to recall several parts of it, especially Artillery which has changed a tad from initial version, with the 9 square grid being  no more (expect for rockets) and the standard 4" target circle used.
Game is still essentially '6 hits 1 misses' type deal but no 'worse' than say Battlegroup with less rules overhead or quirks/gimmicks.
A good solid WW2 game overall.
British held out against the SS who suffered from my off-board 25pdrs only managing to take 1 Objective whilst losing all their armoured support with 2 Panther troops, a Flamewerfer PzIII, and a Sd251/9 all falling foul of some uncharacteristic good rolls (has the worm turned !!??).
British lost several Infantry and 1 Churchill with another suffering Light Damage.
The Anti-Tank/Armour system is as basic as I recall but fine for what it aims to do (pardon the pun) and there are several alternative versions around but not sure worth complicating a simple system.





Churchill Squadron advances passing the Chateau

9th SS appear

Dark 'road' standing in for a railway line.

Table tennis table gave plenty of space for game

Defender dug in around Chateau (red marker indicate those on Reserve Fire)

A Churchill Troop brewed as another suffers Light Damage 

But SS Panther are now burning !

Germans occupy village on their left

As British do same on their left

The other club game was a huge affair (12' x 4' ?) with several players and a ton of 10/12mm figures (think a combo of Kallistra and Pendraken ?) on table along with some very nice wooded areas (courtesy of Shane I believe ?).
The 10/12mm stuff is getting very close to old 15mm in size but the animation and detail is impressive.
Black Powder being used although I thought they were building these forces for War Of Three Kings set ?
Impressive and all I know is Simon's wing held whilst compatriots centre and other wing collapsed, but as to who was how or what I am at a loss as too busy fighting Nazis !
Strangely these pics turned out better than those of my own game....................