WW2 British infantry for Flames of War

British anti tank battery for Flames of War

Second Chain of Command Outing

The scene is set for a Patrol game last Monday at Glenbrook HQ. What was a hive of painting activity becomes a peaceful patch of Normandy countryside.

In the foreground is a factory complex. At the far end is the bombed out Chateau Lafitte, now overgrown with foliage.

Close up of the factory which was the target of the bombing mission.

Chateau Lafitte. Which took the brunt of the bombs instead.

The chateau became the focus of the patrol phase as Brits and Germans entered the game at that end of the battlefield. The Brits getting the advantage of being able to get there first, quickly get two sections into the Chateau's overgrown grounds. The first section goes into the building while the second waits outside to see what develops.

The third section takes up a flanking position covering the lanes to the right of the chateau.

On the opposite side of the chateau, a first German squad reaches the wall and peering into the gloomy interior sees the British coming through the building. The German NCO gives frantic hand signals.

No1 Section's corporal motions for his men to stop as he hears a thudding, rolling sound coming down the staircase in front of him. "Grenade!" he yells and pushing a couple of men to one side he takes the full brunt of the blast. The rest of the men dive for cover.

In their next phase, having rolled two 6s so secure in the knowledge that the next phase is also theirs, Nos 1 and 2 sections get their revenge. No1 sections storms out of the building while No2 section led by the Platoon Sergeant charges around the outside. overwhelmed, the Germans are cut down, but the Junior and Senior Leaders escape, only to rout off table. The British Platoon Sgt succumbs to his wounds.

The battered remnants of No2 section head upstairs, the wounded NCO waves away the attentions of the medic. The remaining leaderless men of No1 section hunker down outside to await instructions

They don't have to wait long as the Lieutenant appears and after making a mental note to get the battered jalopy shipped home, instructs the few men of No1 section to take out the two nearest and vacant jump-off points. 

The Germans exchange effective range fire with the men upstairs in the chateau. The beleaguered Brits are unable to prevent the Germans moving up on their position, their mortar providing little assistance.

With so few figures and the morale effects of losing NCOs biting, No2 section comes out of the line of fire and moves back down stairs.

With a sneaky end of turn generated by the CoC dice, the Brits hit back at German morale by over running two jump off point.

The Germans continue to creep forward wary of the remaining British section.

A German team gets to a position across the lane from the chateau.

A senior leader takes a German rifle team the long way round, but with some good activation and movement rolls soon threatens the position of No3 section.

Who, sensing the danger, leg it for the hedgeline.

Fortunately just getting over the hedge before the Germans can catch them in the open.

Without their MG the Germans prove no match for a full British section and they are gradually pinned and then wiped out. With a senior leader at their mercy the gallant British NCO stops his men from firing at him (Ok I forgot to shoot him!).

By this time both sides morale was shot. The Brits eventually went down to 0 first but the game concluded with a "dishonourable draw". A cracking game once again with many ups and downs and toing and froing.

First Chain of Command outing at the Gloucester club

Myself (Brits) and von Bob (Germans) faced off against each other in a basic patrol scenario so we could concentrate on getting the rules right.

Overall view of the terrain after the initial patrol phase and my first two phases. An errant smoke round can be seen poking out from the other side of the building, but seeing no Germans I deploy a mortar team and all three of my sections. One is by the fence this side of the house, another is in the centre right of the picture and under cover of their Overwatching Bren team the third sections rifle team is making a dash for the farmhouse door. I am feeling pretty pleased with myself at this point...

The second section sets up overwatch by the hedge and the third makes its way across the road to the farmhouse having separated their bren team (left).

The first section detects some movement on the other side of the hillock. The Germans are here after all.

Bobs first section finally arrives and gains cover from the bank in front of them.

My No1 Section, assured that they are about to get devastating support fire from the farmhouse, go Tactical and hoping to survive the incoming fire with the Germans.

The platoon sgt arrives in the British centre and is happy with the developing smoke screen put down by the mortar. No2 section watches the British right flank for signs of a German counter. No3 section is in the farmhouse but it is full of abandoned copies of IABSM v1 which slows their progress to the upper floor. The Platoon Sgt then leads No3 sections bren team to the farmhouse to rejoin it's rifle team

No3 section's rifle team takes up a fantastic position at the upstairs windows to pour flanking fire into the Germans in the open below them. Hmm a pathetic efforts results in one kill only. Von Bob has by now another section on table and two sections pour 16 dice of lead into the farmhouse. The British realise too late that the building is held together by cobwebs as an amazing four kills and four shock are inflicted.

No1 sections Corporal hears the cries from the farmhouse and realises that his supporting fire has deserted him. A few exchanges of fire later he orders a desperate charge towards the German position. The results are so unpleasant that I cannot show the photos!

Best laid plans and all that eh? British morale tumbled with the complete loss of No1 Section and the wounding of Junior Leaders and I decided to bugger off before it got any worse.

Great game which initially looked all good for the Brits who tried to seize the initiative and the only elevated and hard (allegedly!) cover position on the field. The downside of course was that von Bob knew early on exactly where all my sections were and was able to react and deploy accordingly. I also left No3 section's bren team on overwatch for too long. They were desperately needed to support their rifle team in the building.

All in all a cracking game and a great sense of realism. I'm thinking about naming my platoon members but that may get far too upsetting.

Neither of us got a full CoC dice, nor did we have a Turn end. The whole game took two and a quarter hours roughly, but including a lot of referrals to the rulebook/iPad. One thing I really noticed was how simple the combat and movement mechansims are. I think we'll have most of the basics  when we play next time. This simplicity allows you to concentrate fully on leading your men to triumph or disaster.

Artizan Miniatures WW2 Commission for Chain of Command

British Robo Bull Dog (Mongoose Judge Dredd) Commission

An unusual little job for the Richard at the Abingdon club whose group are planning an alternative future '44 D-Day demo game to be held at their splendid Overlord show in March. They wanted a furturistic alternative to the famous Beach master's Dog from the original Normandy landings. I was given a Robodog from the Mongoose Dredd range and my brief was to give it a Union Flag motif. This is the result...

Peter Pig WW2 Commission

Hanomag

Char 1B

Horsch Staff Car

Jagdpanzer

All painted as part of a larger order for Mark in the US.

WW2 15mm Commission

More WW2 for Mark in the US. 

 Peter Pig tank hunters

 Peter Pig Infantry Gun

 Peter Pig Pak 40

 Peter Pig Hotchkiss H39

Peter Pig Somua S35

Plastic Soldier Company Stug

Zvezda Opel Blitz

German 7.5cm Pak 40(Sf) auf Geschutzwagen 39H(f)

Plastic Soldier Company PzIII

QRF Marder III