Panzer Grenadier Deluxe - St Nicholas Farm scenario - solo play concluded

Completed solo play through with a narrow British victory after taking St Nicholas Farm.

A couple of devastating Artillery stonks on the farm decimated the defenders and once British took possession just not enough Germans left to wrest control back.

British did take a good few infantry casualties especially from German MMGs (MG42) but the PAK40 had no effect as British tanks never came into its line of sight.

Shermans did give effective support fire to their Infantry

All in all a fun game with these flavoursome WW2 rules.

Really looking forward Mr Browns new 'O Group' set which appear to be faster playing without being too simplistic.

Having played this and a couple of Rapid Fire Reloaded games in solo mode during current lock down phase here in NI it does highlight the difficulty in many regards playing WW2 solo.

Hard to play without properly hidden units, which are very much 'meat and veg' of a WW2 game (I mean I just knew where that Pak40 was) and despite my using several attack/defence and set up plans (I then diced for selection) it is still harder to ignore the '100ft General' aspect in this period than in horse and musket or ancients.

Still good way to learn or refresh knowledge of a set of rules.

A bunch of variable quality photos as I messed around with settings on camera apps on phone and iPad.

Panzer Grenadier Deluxe - St Nicholas Farm scenario - solo play

Whilst awaiting the new 'O Group' rules to be published I thought I would have a bash with my current favourite WW2 rules by same author (Dave Brown).

Set up the small introductory scenario from main rules 'St Nicholas Farm' based around actions of Duke of Wellingtons Infantry late June 1944 against  KG Krause of 12th SS, part of the preliminary attacks to establish jumping off points for Op Epsom.

Scenario based on a 5' x 4' table with St Nicholas farm and orchard itself and another smaller farm, the rest of the terrain is placed by both sides comprising a mix of enclosed fields (4), low rises (2) and woods (4) with hedges lining most but not all of the roads.

Nothing really defined as such so I just placed as I deemed reasonable.

British attackers have 5 Infantry Platoons a Support Platoon (2" Mortar and a Vickers MMG) backed by a Squadron of Shermans and a Forward Observer for 2 off-board missions with a Bren armed Daimler Dingo as Recce element. A Battlegroup HQ and 2 Company HQs round out the force

German in defence have 3 Infantry Platoons, a Support Platoon (2 MMG and 2 Panzerschreck) and a PAK40 with a Kampfgruppe HQ and a single Company HQ as command element.

Only played opening turn (of 14) and no casualties as yet.

A 'hidden' PzShk fired on the Recce Dingo but missed and was forced back suppressed (has since rallied) by fire from supporting Sherman.

The Dingo did manage to spot a German Platoon hidden in St Nicholas Farm (sure to be target of British Artillery)

Some desultory fire by Germans in other farm.

Overview of table with St Nicholas Farm at top

British plow forward (green markers denote Platoons/units not yet spotted)

Dingo pushes ahead

Germans defend St Nicholas Farm and orchard

And have possession of other farm

Overview shots at end of first turn

Field of Battle 3 - Seasons of Battle - Battle of Thorn - a Seven Years War solo bash concluded

Finished of FOB3/SOB game today with Russians gaining a marginal victory.

Russian musketry was awesome throughout the game despite lower shooting dice and Prussian shooting was underwhelming 

The lesser grade Russian Cavalry more than held there own against Prussian mounted arm.

The Prussian reserve Infantry Brigade appeared but only in time to shore up crumbling line.

The Russian Light Cavalry Brigade also appeared but battle was virtually won by time they got forward.

Prussians ended up forming a sort of 'crescent' defensive line on the central hill which assailed by Russians.

Prussians ran out of Morale first and gave several (ie 7) Morale Points to Russians who had lost just over half their own starting Morale (lost 14 out of 27)

In Season of Battle campaign victory level is determined by winning sides losses (in Army Morale Points) combined with any gained from enemy.

National Morale for Prussian plummeted from 40 to 21 and that of Russian rose.

Several units on both sides had Morale adjustments (mainly downward) in post battle phase and Prussians suffered by having 1 unit of Cuirassier and 1 unit of Musketeers removed from OOB for duration of campaign.

Prussians retired one region to await next campaign turn (Autumn 1761).

Russians advance as Prussian reserve appears

Defence lines formed on hill mass

Russian Cuirassier having seen off enemy mounted

Russian left swings to envelop Prussians

Prussian 'crescent' forming

Russians toil toward the slopes

Lines clash on hill

Prussian reserve Infantry swings to left top shore up Cavalry as Russian Lights appear

Prussian right beginning to crumble 

Routing (red marker) and Disordered (yellow) abound as action intensifies

Prussian left about to be enveloped (failing to move on a move card did not help)

A Prussian Officer has fallen (black marker) putting his Brigade into Disorder

Russian Foot massing to assault centre posistion

Overview at end as Prussians yield the field

 

Field of Battle 3 - Seasons of Battle - Battle of Thorn - a Seven Years War solo bash

Resurrected my Season of Battle SYW 'campaign' with Russians and Prussians circa 1761. 

Started this off earlier this year (during first UK lockdown) and now getting to second Summer season action. 

Using the SOB Campaign deck the first card turned was a Prussian Battle card and having won the roll off the Prussians decided to get straight into another battle, this time in the Thorn region.

After rolling for battle generation/set up it was Map 22 (Moderate terrain density area) with Prussians nominal Defenders against Russian attack.

Both sides ended up (via SOB system) with one Command (randomly determined) starting off-table, which saw a full Prussian Infantry Brigade being delayed for 5 Move cards and the Russian Light Cavalry Brigade (already less 1 Hussar delayed until Autumn) being a whopping 10 Move cards from the fray.

The Russians are also labouring with an Inferior deck whilst Prussians retained their Superior Deck (not such a swing as in FOB2 with decks though)

Both sides could deploy into 3 extra table squares and Prussians could remove 1 terrain feature (they chose to remove a large wood on central hill mass.

Both forces deployed and action has already started with Prussians massing their Cavalry on their left trying to overwhelm depleted Russian mounted forces.

A unit of Russian Dragoons were charged by 2 Prussian Cuirassier and Routed (and left table toot suite) but a counter charge by Russian Cuirassier has seen one Prussian unit also Routed (but still on table).

Russians are trying (a couple of lowly D8 Leaders) to push their left wing Infantry against the Prussian right which is held by a small Brigade although of Grenadiers.

More to follow.....................

Overview of initial deployments (Prussians to the left)

Russian Infantry on their left wing

More Infantry and Mounted in Centre

Brigade of Cossacks and Horse Grenadiers delayed for 10 Move cards !!

View from Russian lines

Prussian 'delaying' force on their right wing

Their main forces on central hill mass

Russians advance up the slopes

Prussian Infantry Brigade delayed for 5 Move cards, a substantial part of overall force

Prussian central deployment with Cavalry massed on left

Prussian right

Cavalry action on hill

Russians left advances

They shall grow not old.....................

 

They shall grow not, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

We will remember them.