Chechnya - 1st outing...

After several weeks of painting finally time to put some lead on the table.

Nothing too taxing for the first outing but it did allow everyone to get their toys out and try the rules in 15mm.

June 1995 somewhere between Benoi and Vedeno - Chechnya.

A Russian BM21 has broken down on one of the major supply routes. A squad has been left behind to protect the rocket launcher whilst reinforcements are on route along with a repair party. The area is known for rebel activity.

The Russians must protect the vehicle and drive off any Chechen fighters.

The northern approaches, the vehicle park can be seen in the centre of the table.

The BM21 is in a reasonable good defensible position with shielded by a row of houses and light woods to the North, East and West.

The Russian commander opted for a cirle of pickets in the high ground hoping to spot the rebels early, they are soon rewarded with two guards stumbling into two whole squads of Checken fighters.

  

The pickets fall back, but a pour dice roll leaves them pinned in the road and dispite covering fire from the corner house are soon cut down in a hail of bullets.

 

Meanwhile on the Northern raod a Russian squad is under fire from a Chechen screening force.

To the South a BMP1 edges along the approaches to the vehicle park, Chechen fire does little to slow it's advance.

A further Russian security force approaches from the West only to ambushed by another Chechen fire time.

 

 A short firefight drives the Russians to ground, with casualties on both sides.

Conclusions.

We have had some good encounters using Chris Peers rules in 28mm, but they did not covert well to 15mm, the vehicles movement was to slow and the command and control was difficult to maintain in the smaller scale for squads in such a large area, which was a shame as the scenario should have given a better encounter. 

 

The plan is to try and rerun using Force on Force and see if that gives us a better result and more in keeping with what we had in mind espically if we are increasing the vehicle count.

Chechen Project - Heavy Metal Part 3

Mission complete.

With smell of varnish still lingering the Russian Armour is complete and ready for action tonight, I might even be tempted to change the scenario just to throw in a some mobile reinforcements for the Russians to give these some game time, but we all know about the curse of freshly painted models :-)

Column Forward - The Russian Federation.

Two BTR70's and a BTR80, I need to add a further vehicle to represent the command vehicle for the platoon, but might use the BTR80 for that as the BTR70's are such an iconic vehicle.

A pair of T-72 B's ready to lead the assault, I could be tempted by a couple of T80's to finish off the platoon but these give the Russian's a spearhead.

A BRDM2 to provide a recon element togother with a BMP2, the BMP will form the basis of the second section, which I plan to bolster with a couple of BMD's.

A ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" used in a ground support role.

I am short of a few vehicles to bring the various platoons up to strength, the next batch will be a little more worn with stowage and a few with distruptive paint patterns, but for now these will be more than enough for the run of the mill encounter.

Chechen Project - Heavy Metal Part 2

A late night paint session on Friday to bring these to the table top in time for Sunday.

With the opening a scenario involving mostly infantry, I figured best to start with the mission objectives in case I don't get enough hours on the brushes this weekend.

First up a BM21 Rocket Launcher and it's accompanying support function a URAL open backed truck. 

The plan is paint up all vehicles with a Russian Federation feel on the basis that captured kit would be used for the Chechen's as the scenario dictates.

With the bulk of the Russian forces being MBT's and AFV's and armoured columns their opponents the Chechen's will be restricted to various artillery types to support their ground troops so hardware like the BM21 will be perfect although the likihood of actually firing it on table will be minimal if you consider the actual ranges open to this artillery piece.

The QRF kits went together reasonably well and once painted and based look great, whilst they may lack the crisp style that can be achieved in the newer plastic offerings they will stand up to game play a little better and have a real weight to them.

I have added the smaller bricks to blend with the officers amongst the foot figures and the rubble, should allow me to easily transfer them from a rural to an urban setting.

Chechen Project - Heavy Metal

Half way through the week and I have made some progress for this weekend's first outing of the Chechen Project, the mound of shiny metal from QRF has been cleaned up, glued together, filled and primed.... 

I did contemplate hanging on for more releases from Battlefront and Team Yankee but am not a great fan of 5 of everything and would rather mix up the AFV's.

Price wise there is little between the two, but metal castings feels like you get more for your money.

I have opted for a cross section of hardware for the Russians and will add a few extra's as the project expands. but with 2 BTR 70s and a BTR 80 this gives me enough for 3 sections of infantry, a BMP adds a further infantry section or command . A BRDM for scouting missions together with 2 T72's and an AA unit to add a little punch to the battle group. 

A few more lorries will be needed in time.

The BM21 and the Artillery piece are more likely to be used for scenario's than actual fighting units, in my mind will be used by the Chechen's rather then the Russian Forces.

The basing in the main is finished with oval bases from Warbases covered with PVA glue and play sand and baked in the oven for speed, first ensuring the wife is out :-)

This is followed up by a dry brushing and flock from TSS/QRF to blend in with the terrain blocks.

My intention is to secure the vehicles afterwards adding additional grass and the like similar in style to the infantry.

A busy few evenings to follow.

Man the barricades - Chechnya 1995.

With the first outing of the Chechen project planned for a few weeks time over the the Wyvern Wargamers, I need to put my foot down on the terrain and figure front.

I picked these barricades up at Warfare last year for a £1 each, they seemed perfect for Chechnya or the Eastern Front or any other urban settings.

Very useful for blocking roads and bolstering the defences of buildings and city blocks.

Cast in resin they have plenty of detail for a modern barricade.

On the figure front I finished up a number of support elements for the Chechen defenders.
A senior officer, 2 Snipers and a Heavy Machine Gun

Again castings from Eureka miniatures - modern range with a extra sniper from their WW2 partisan range.

With other members of the club supply the Russians, we should have enough to have a dry run in a couple of weeks, time to think about AFV's and support elements.

Chechen Militia - Eureka Miniatures.

One of the minor iritations with Eureka is that the some of the ranges lack enough variety, looking for a few extra's to bolster the Chechen ranks, I fortunately found some reinforcements in their WW2 Partisan range.
I figured a number of these would be useful in representing some militia types or urban fighters.

Unlike the 6 man regular sections I have made the militia 8 figure units but have stripped the Light Machine Gun. I have gone for a mix of partisan types and modern Chechens largely in civilian dress, track suit tops and the like. The odd collection of weapons should make for an interesting section on the table.

If I was unsure of the suitability of the WW2 castings.
Then this photo put my mind at rest - I might have to add a white beard to my fighter.

More Chechen Fighters....

A day on the brushes and a chance to get more Chechen fighters finished for the Chechnya project.

I had originally opted for 4 man regular fire teams within Chris Peers - At Close Quarter rules but given recent "Zikanga" games opted for 6 man sections, each containing 1 RPG/AT weapon and a squad LMG, supported by an NCO and 3 riflemen. This should give the Chechen's comparable fire power to the Russian fire teams.

I am thinking that a full company may be somewhere near 40 figures, with a scattering of support weapons, a very loose formation depending on what turns up on the day.

I have started pulling together a few scenario ideas together and perhaps a limited campaign based on a Russian column and it's push into Chechnya and the Capital Grozny, more on that in the coming weeks.


Next up heavy weapons and more militia types.

Chechen Fighters - Eureka Miniatures.

Back in November a few of us over at the Wyvern's got drawn into a new project, largely due to Furphy's long held desire to game the 1st Chechen War, he got off to a cracking start. (see here.)
While I finished off the Cavalry Brigade for the Martian invasion campaign.....

Any how a gap in the run up to Christmas, finally a day to get some paint on lead and give him some opposition.

We agreed on 15mm in order to utilise some of our existing Russian Front terrain and urban buildings, besides the supporting vehicles gives us more scope for larger games. 

The Eureka mini's are small compared to others on the market, but they are well sculpted and take paint very well.

I have given them a mix of urban and regular camo, with a few civilian clothes thrown in for good measure.

First up a regular Chechen squad, the plan was to use Chris Peers - At Close Quarters Rules and have the Chechen's formed into squads of 6 men, 4 AK armed troops together with an LMG in support and an RPG.

More senior officers were based on 2p pieces, with the regular fighters based on pennies.
In order to identify NCO's. I added some smaller bricks on the bases.

I am really rather pleased with how the 1st squad has turned out.
They should given the Russians a run for their money.

Next up more Chechen's.

Hold the line...... Zikanga Campaign AAR #6

Some what behind on posts lately.... This was played a few weeks ago.

Another night in Zikanga.

In the North of Zikanga, Warlord Charity Nsithlan is pushing hard to capture some of the outer villages before a push to the Capital Wagadoodoodoo.

 

Nsithlan supporters are made up of bandits, murders and deserters bereft of any political aims or objectives, opposing them are members of Zikanga's Gendarmes Nationale. The personal bodyguard of President Okoye. 

After initial successes in taking the out lying bush Nsithlan's forces look to break through the GN check points before laying siege of the important fortified town of Iseyin on route to the capital.

 

The road to Wagadoodoodoo the check point is at the far end of the table.

The GN take up their positions awaiting the approach of the Warlord Charity Nsithla's forces.

 

As the rabble approach they are raked by automatice fire.

In return the checkpoint is peppered by RPG fire.

The warlord's forces push through the plantation grounds as the GN are pinned under round after round of unaimed RPG fire.

Pressure mounts on the GN as technicals roll onto the table pouring fire into the valiant defenders.

With so many pinned troops the troops of President Okoye have little choice but to head for the town leaving the outer defence to Charity Nsithlan.

Hearing the news from the front President Okoye lifts up the phone - "Get me Muller"...

November and a new project looms...

I think in future I shall be driving to shows on my own....

Clearly sitting in a car with fellow gamers only leads to wide ranging discussions which ultimately leads to me parting with cash for projects I did not know I needed.

The trip up to Derby last month was no exception....

I casually mentioned that I quite like the look of the new "Cold War" ranges coming on to the market and that it would give me an excuse to use various terrian pieces in an alternative setting and it's been a while since I have painted moderns......

Next thing you know Gav suggests we try the Chechen War, one of his favourite conflicts.
"A lovely range of figures from Eureka and Grozny would allow you to use your buildings"

Well motivated irregulars vs well equipped but poorly motivated regulars...
I was hooked....

With Warfare but a few weeks away..... I can see several purchases on the cards...

A walk in the jungle - Zikanga Campaign AAR #5

It's been over 12 months since the last trip to Zikanga.

With the skirmish at the bridge a stalement for both Kwaz Nwazutha and PetroCorp both sides looked to make alternative probes of the out lying defences.

Lacking any suitable maps of the region, scouts from both sides were sent out to see if a back road could be found. Sure enough the village of Swooty Naaadds provided a potential crossing route avoiding the river and the bridge.

Both sides sent out recon elements looking to secure the village. From the North two sections of Professional Mercs in the pay of PetroCorp, from the South a the Beast sent out three groups of gun men with promise of loot and plunder....

The village of Swooty Naaadds, the sides holding the most buildings at the end of the night would be the winner.

We decided to give Chris Peers - At close Quarters rules a run out again, the Merc pushed down the centre of the "Highway" whilst the rabble flood the bush either side of the village.

The PetroCorp men reach the cente of the village, their professional status allows them to fire first, but could the bring enough fire to bear to shut down the Kwaz Nwazutha militiamen?

Having seen many a western on Zikanga late night TV, Bobby Muzuto steps forward to challange the Company men, it was high noon in Swooty Naaadds.

The militia rush forward, whilst unable to aim they are able to left off several RPG rounds which unsettle the PetroCorp men, recovering from a number of pin markers they return fire pinning several of the untrained gun men.

Caught in a cross fire, Operator Johnson takes a round to the chest and is Out of Action, the Merc's dodge down the alley to avoid the increasing fire on the main road.

The Action moves from the main road to the flanks, the Merc's swing right and catch one of the gunmen bands before it can fully deploy, several aimed shots, kill half a dozen and force the rest from the table...... Pistols and shotguns are no match for an M16....

Kwaz Nwazutha reinforcements rush into the village but are met by a hail of bullets forcing them to ground, with only one pin roll per turn it would be a while before they could get organised again.

Meanwhile on the main track the Merc's have fallen back rushing to find safer ground at the end of the village.

Ouch - seeing the Mercs fall back without laying down any covering fire, the milita for once take careful aim and blaze away with their rusty AK's knocking two of the Company men to the ground - Victory to the local Warlord......

Not quite ---- the risky move of standing in the open to aim made them easy targets for the two flanking fire teams who kill several of the celebrating militia, seeing their comrades fall the rest take to their heels.....

A cracking little outing which was touch and go for several turns, the rabble are great as long as they have numbers, but a well positioned fire team can soon put them under pressure if they stay calm.

I can feel a few more African outings taking place soon......