Friday 25 February 2011

South African Rifle Co. vs 90th Light Panzergrenadiers

Hi all,
Steve and I played a FOW game last night, pitching South Africans against DAK in a throw together mission. We both came up with our own force lists up to 1500 points.


90th Light - Confident Veteran
Co HQ
2 x Panzergrenadier Platoons
1 x Heavy Weapons Platoon
2 x Pak 38
3 x Pz IIIG
1 x Pz IIIJ Long
3 x Sdkfz 222
4 x 10.5cm howitzer
Limited Air (Stukas)


South African Rifle Company - Reluctant Veteran
Co HQ
3 x Rifle Platoon
1 x HMG Platoon
2 x Valentine Troops (6 tanks)
Recce Troop (3 x Humber AC)
SP AT Platoon 3 x 2lbr portee
SP AA Platoon 3 x 40mm AA Bofors
RA Battery 4 x 25lbr
Limited Air (Hurribombers)

We randomly chose our mission which was Withdrawal and diced off for attacker/defender, with the Germans getting the defender role.

Steve opted for a night attack and advanced across the table towards the German position.

The Germans occupied a ridge in the centre with a patch of scrub on their left and a depression on their right. The three objectives were evenly spaced along the back edge slightly towards the German right.

We played 6 turns, with the Germans withdrawing their Panzers, which were held in ambush, and their artillery, whilst having one of the Panzergrenadier platoons destroyed in an assault.


The South Africans lost a Rifle Platoon, the Recce platoon and one rifle platoon being one base of 50% strength.

My Panzergrenadiers were almost permanently pinned throughout the game and would surely have inflicted even higher losses if they had managed some decent dice.

The final act before we totted up the score was the Stukas came in to the attack braving some bofors fire, only to break off because I stupidly left a group within 16 inches, doh!!!

Good game, German losses in points 14%, South Africans 21%

Thursday 17 February 2011

February 2011 Spanish Civil War 28mm

The Republicans try and early attack on the square


Things that can ruin your day


Reinforcements: Legion no less !

You Cross the Road. No, after you !

This month Chas put on a SCW battle in 28mm. Steve M & me played the brave revolutionaries and Andy & Malcolm were the oppressive communist government.
The scenario revolved around government attempts to take the town of Sesena. A unit of Moroccans were caught resting in the town square and victory was deemed to go to whoever occupied the square a close of play.
The Republicans attacked with regulars supported by 3 x T 26's. This caused some alarm to my Moroccans, as they lacked any distance effect weapons that could damage tanks. The Moroccans duly spread out, manning the barricades and occupying the houses around the square.
A field gun and tow turned up in support and the gun deployed covering the square. The tow truck was used to block one of the roads into town.
A desperate fight for the church ensued and Andy launched several attacks on the barricades, only to be beaten back by the Moroccans.
With both sides receiving reinforcements the battle swung to and fro. The government lost the T 26 on the edge of the square, to a round from the field gun, but the gun crew then withdrew under mg fire.
Given the short ranges, crossing open ground was very costly and a stand off on the approach roads developed.
On our right Steve and Malcolm shot at each other from cover. Even the "Chip Van" could not be persuaded to turn the corner under fire from Steve's Legionnaire's, Civil Guard and Moroccans.
On our left, mg fire from the hill meant the Legion and Carlists could not leave the wood. Equally the POUM militia facing them dare not leave cover.
In a desperate assault Andy took the factory on the left of the square, only to be wiped out by counterattacking Legionaries (who died to a man in the process !).
As darkness fell 3 Moroccans still manned the barricades and a mass of Phalangists moved down the road to reinforce them.
A good game, played in a good spirit to "Rate of Fire" rules.
A little more aggressive use of the tanks and Chip Van might have swung the game. If we had lost the square, then the deadly cross fire from the buildings and barricades would have made retaking it very difficult.
Vince
P.S thanks to JJ for the photos.

Sunday 13 February 2011

German Heavy Metal

Hi all,
Just a few pics of my Normandy Germans. From Top to bottom, (1)Tigers, Stugs and Jagdpanzers, (2)SS Panzergrenadiers, (3)Panthers and Jagdpanthers, (4) Lehr Panzergrenadiers, (5) King Tigers and PanzerIVs. (6) 21st PD Panzergrenadiers.
Jon






Battle of Le Mesnil Patry June 1944

Just a few photos from Gus's game "Battle of Le Mesnil Patry, 11th June 1944". I know Gus is going to do a game report. Just to say, great terrain, great figures, great fun. Thanks to Gus, Jason and Nathan.