PBEM catch up - No Retreat! The Russian Front and Combat Mission: Barbarossa To Berlin

Quick update from couple of ongoing PBEM games I have in progress.

First up Vassal game of No Retreat! The Russian Front still in progress with Mike and we are now up to Turn 13 (May/June 1943) with Russians looking rather powerful as they gain strategic initiative, although I have just about managed to form an unbroken line of defence.

Also have an ongoing PBEM game with NJ John of (the venerable) Combat Mission: Barbarossa To Berlin.

We have been playing one of the Operations (mini campaigns) entitled 'Dergatschi Roadblock' set in March 1943 and now coming to a crunch as Johns Nazis forcing their way into town enroute to bridge objective beyond but time now against them.

Fascists in town center

My T34 force has been decimated by much faster firing Panzer foes !

 

Combat Commander - more solo (as practice)

Another few solo sessions with Combat Commander this time just playing the first three initial scenarios from original CC: Europe set. 

This time with a bit of purpose as I managed to persuade Stephen to try the system this week (as a wee change of pace from our GDA-a-thon)

So it was Fat Lipki, Hedgerows A d Hand Grenades and Bonfire of the NKVD and great fun again.

Fat Lipki

Hedgerows And Hand Grenades

Bonfire Of The NKVD

Battle For Normandy - solo play

Not much time free on Thursday as watching all the various D-Day commemorations on telly (sad that this will likely be last large event with veterans in attendance) so choose to have a play with old Battle For Normandy from Attactix Games.

Tough old task for Allies to gain all the victory cities, and so it proved (not helped by storm on turn 1) as Caen held solidly by Huns and Cherbourg never threatened.

Allies did open up a corridor between Gold and Omaha with St Lo falling but just not enough

A very basic introductory style game but no less fun for that and played to completion in less than 2 hours.

Initial set up

Turn 3 and Allies already struggling with losses mounting for both sides

Also attended remembrance service at local War Memorial in the evening 

Combat Commander - more solo goodness

Played through another five (!) Normandy scenarios with Combat Commander with actions at Omaha Beach, behind Omaha and in British/Canadian Sector at Authie and Capriquet.

All great fun and every one close in the end 

Combat Commander - Normandy solo session

Played two scenarios today from the Normandy Pack for Combat Commander in solo mode.

First up was the British glider assault on Pegasus Bridge ("Up the Ox and Bucks !") followed by US attack at Ponte Du Hoc.

Both fun game with Allies chomping the Huns both times.

Hoping to get a few more scenarios from Normandy done next couple of days as 80th anniversary looms.

Pegasus

Ponte Du Hoc

General d'Armee 2 - Ligny (St Armand) scenario

Another game using GDA2 today at Stephens trying the Ligny scenario from 100 Days supplement.

Tough scenario for attacking French (Stephen) as 4 villages (tough as nails) and defensive cover from fields and streams. 

Prussians (moi) hampered somewhat by having several Recruits and only 3 Brigades on table at start with one other as an on table reserve the other as a reinforcement but both these only activate on turn 6.

We managed 6 full turns (despite waffling about old job memories for over an hour prior to even placing any figures !) and then discussing how to use the 'Now Is Your Time' CinC Tasking as unclear to us at what stage the enhanced shooting occurs (I think it is preemptive but Stephen thought it was in later Volley phase - except for the one lead charging unit). Again not entirely clear from rules as could be interpreted either way.

As one can likely see we clearly enjoy the rules overall but frustrating that most every game throws up a rules problem we struggle to decipher/know how to play due to imprecise wording.

Ulster Wargames Society - Talavera scenario with General d'Armee 2

UWS meeting today and game with GDA2 set up by Dave S who put in a lot of work bringing all the units (fully labelled), terrain and paraphernalia.

We had 7 players with French led by Mr B with Dave S, Jeremy D and young Mark as attackers and British led by moi with Dave T and Dave B in defence.

Mr B and I sort of umpired as well as others all new to rules.

Great game with lots of incident the highlight being Dave Ts lowly Spanish Cavalry (3 small recruits campaign types) dispersing a column of French foot. They got very lucky as column failed an attempt to form square then lost the charge phase but in combat it was still 5 dice each but French managed only 1 hit to Spanish 3 so imploded.

These plucky/lucky Allies then caused all sorts of problems in amongst the French forcing them into squares and then almost unbelievably defeated some French cavalry !! This incident almost caused a coronary for French CinC and to raise the white flag, throw in the towel, flee the field (mistakenly thinking whole cavalry brigade was retreated/routed/broken) but we managed to talk him out of it/bring him back from precipice.

Said Spanish later suffered from casualty accumulation whole brigade dispersing but by this time potent British cavalry had arrived from reserve (they narrowly failed to destroy a square) and they had more than done their duty.

In center a French foot brigade stormed up the steep slopes (using Post Of Honour CiC tasking) lead by an Elite battalion and forced the withdrawl of opposing British Brigade on three separate occasions (a virtual juggernaut) and were almost on reverse slope but in danger of being isolated as we ended game (with these types of rules is that very hard to fully finish a game).

Initial set up (note British cavalry on right went into reserve as no mounted could cross that hill as rough ground)

Not that they were needed as cowardly French hiding on reverse slope opposite (the sheer cheek especially facing Mr Welseley !!) 

French push on right targeting Spanish on low ground as rest cower like curs

Glorious Spanish mounted thrust into French lines (French cavalry arrive from reserve but where pushed back)

My British on right push forward to try to sting the French into action (their cavalry did come out to play). Note French 'juggernaut' forming and about to storm forward along dry stream bed.

A game of 'two halves'

British basking in sunlight as clouds of doom covered the French (note however French columns storming up slopes) 

French left has been forced to activate after right wing is thwarted

Also at club Paddy. Leslie and Phil played a game based around KG Peipers last stand at La Gleize using Bolt Action (but different activation system ?) and 20mm kit. No idea how this went but lots of tanks visible.