V the Mini Series - Knock Knock #5

Over the years I have switched between several rules sets and this outing is no different. In low level games I like the idea of ducking back and being pinned by fire, Chain Reaction by Two Hour Wargames really captures this well and strikes the balance between 'Stars' and regular troopers.

Back to the depths of Zikanga where the Visitors have been struggling to suppress the local population, it just goes to show not every mothership was sent to major US and European cities. 

Intelligence has led to resistance leader Soloman Mohah who is located in a village protected by a group of militia men. The Visitors need to capture him, whilst keeping casualties to a minimum.

The Visitors can approach the village from any of the access roads, the militia man the main check point and have men in most of the huts. The militia outnumber the Visitors by 3:1 but they are poorer quality. 

Picking the right access road Diana and the Shock Troopers rush in with the heavy laser cannon pouring fire into the militia men who stumbled from the first hut. The intention to attract the defenders and draw them out of their defensive positions.

Having drawn the sentries away a fresh detachment of Shock Troopers advanced up the main road using the concrete pillars as cover. 

As the firefight at the front of the village continues, further Visitors land at the rear of the village, which is largely undefended.

The Visitors get the drop on Soloman, taking out a number of his guards who were unable to react in time. Caught in the open they are cut down where they stood.

A lowly technician rushes round the corner to grab Soloman but is shot down, he would not get a second shot as another technician sets her blaster to stun and Soloman is down.

Visitors fill the village while the remainder of Soloman militia hide in the huts unwilling to risk more of their number in a firefight with the Shock Troopers. 

A fun encounter which delivered the right result. One person of interest captured, 15 of his militiamen killed for the loss of only two troopers. The Chain Reaction rules work really well, with the lower quality militia were often unable to react and fire in the same turn. The Visitor Body armour protected many of the troopers unless caught in the open at close range or from higher calibre weapons of the militia.

The reaction rules worked well, the threat of the heavy laser cannon and the blasters forced many of the militia to keep their heads down when better trained troops might be inclined to return fire....

Episode 6 - Can Soloman Mohah be rescued?

Bolt Action - WW2 Indian Infantry

The finishing of the testers did the trick and finally the Indian detachment leaves the paint table.

The sections of allies and with the platoon officer and radio operator.

Not quite sure of the rule set yet, I am torn between Chain of Command, Bolt Action or Nuts! Perhaps I should run a poll??? 

1st Platoon - The Bren gunner needed a stable firing platform so a rock and an ammo box are pressed into service.

2nd Platoon - With the NCO wearing a snazzy tank top. 

3rd Platoon with the deployed Bren Team. 

Despite feeling like they have been on the paint table for an age, I do like the overall look to them, they need a couple extras in the form of support elements, but they will give me a core force to work with.

Next up the start of the Vichy French forces......

A Bridge too Far - Zikanga Campaign AAR #2

Sunday night saw another adventure in Zikanga.

Kwaz Nwazutha:- The Beast had been expanding his territory, his militia had been swelling his ranks with men from the local villages, increasing his finances by placing a toll on any people wishing to pass through Nwazutha territory, PetroCorp were facing increased costs on their production of crude oil and the route around Nwazutha land was taking several days extra which was making them uncompetitive.

A decision was made to open up the main highway.

 

Drone reconnaissance revealed that the main bridge over the Bukala River was garrisoned by a single section and sandbag enplacement, with additional militia stationed in a nearby hamlet, this looked like a job for a small team of trained professionals.

3 Mercenary fire teams have made it through the militia lines during the night and are in concealed positions over looking the bridge.

 

Fire team 1 move through the bush but bump into pickets a brief fire fight forces both sides to head deeper into the undergrowth.

Fire Team 2 open fire into the section defending the bridge killing several of the guards before they knew what hit them.

Moving forward Baxter shows the militia no respect and is gunned down by a militiaman wearing a yellow rain coat, how embarrassing.

Hearing the gun fire the militia rush forward from the village, battered pickups fire up their engines and head towards the bridge.

Fire team 3 on overwatch on a hill above the village unleash a storm of lead, sending several of the militia running for cover, a LAW destroyed the first pickup and the crew in the second are shot as they rush for the main highway, the militia have lost their mobility.

The Beast is seriously cross.

The massing militia force fire team 3 from the hill, one of their number is caught in a blast from an RPG, but is dragged into cover by his buddies.

Fire team 2 holds the left flank as Fire Team 3 heads across the bridge, both sides lack the fire power to force the other from the table, the Beast has been given a bloody nose but the road remains closed, 2 Merc's had been killed and in exchange for 16 militia, Petrocorp will need to rethink their plans if they are to return to profit.

A Rumble in the jungle - A Nuts encounter.

The return of mid-week gaming...

A casual conversaion about comics of our youth lead to  the urge to unpack the Marine Corps on another adventure in the Pacific.

For those too young to remember, the Warlord Comic, Union Jack Jackson was a British Royal Marine serving with the US Marine Corps in the Pacific campaign. To distinguish himself from his American comrades Sgt. Lonnegan and G.I O'Bannion he painted a Union Jack on his helmet, hence the name.

Here we join U.J.J. and the gang as they seek out a Japanese OP, deep in enemy territory.

Played using the fantastic Two Hour Wargames Rules, which give a real comic book feel in a as the rules describe 2 hours.....

The mission is simple clear the jungle paths of enemy pickets, break into the enemy compound and destroy the radio equipment, which will clear the way for the main beach landing, real boys own stuff.

The Japanese have holed up in the compound with a full section of Infantry, this will be a tough nut to crack.

Sgt. Lonnegan leads his squad on to the table assisted by U.J.J. and G.I O'Bannion, all is quiet as they approach the first clearing. No sign of the enemy.

Much like spot the ball there 4 Japs hidden in the photo above....

 

Hidden amongst the under growth Japanese pickets lie in wait, seeing the marines enter the clearing they snap fire revealing their ambush far to soon.

The marines return fire forcing the Japanese defenders to duck back and forcing one to run for his life.

The short exchange of fire leaves several enemy soldiers dead or injured and many with their heads down as U.J.J. and the marine squad blaze away with the 2 Bar's, O'reily is hit but his comrades drag him to safety, to check on his wounds.

The Japanese commander in the compound leads his reserves into the jungle to stem the advance of the USMC, both sides waiting for the other to make their move.

Corporal Connor takes his fire team to right and catches the Japanese napping forcing several to dive for cover in the undergrowth.

But Capt Nija a veteran of several campaigns knows the best form of defence is attack and leads a heroic charge against the marines catching them cold, before they could fire again.

After a short but bloody melee the American fire team is either dead, injured or has fled into the jungle. Capt Nija is very satisfied with his work.

Sgt. Lonnegan, U.J.J. and G.I O'Bannion, angered by the loss of their comrades seize their moment and rush forward, killing a number of the Japanese defenders.

Capt Nija keen to add to his tally of the day, leads another charge into the rear of the advancing marines, but Union Jack Jackson and is section are not to be triffled with.

The Japanese attack is a failure, Nija lies dying at U.J.J.s feet his men wiped out. The marines had avenged their comrades.

Now for the radio, a rash attempt at forcing the gate is met by a blase of gun fire coming from the house, but U.J.J. stands tall as his men duck back.

 

U.J.J. fires a clip from his carbine, felling the Japanese Sargeant defending the window, great shooting under fire from the Brit, his comrades cheer from the safety of the stone walls.

With their officers and NCO's out of the fight, the remaining defenders surrender and stumble from the house, for them the war is over.

A cracking scenario, played out in less then two hours, with around 15 figures a side.

Right off to the loft I am sure I boxed those comics away somewhere....

Wargames Campaign - Modern Africa - The Beast is Back.....

This evening saw the return of "The Beast"

The Beast has been in excile for about 6 years, which by concidence is how long my African Militia have been in storage or last saw a table top outing, but with the success of Spectre Miniatures Kickstarter Campaign and the recent makeover the figures have had, I thought it was high time he broke out from his training camp on the Noore Border and crossed back into Zikanga territory.

There was just the same matter of the Gendarmes Nationale border post.

The border post of route 56 manned by members of the Gendarmes Nationale loyal to president for life Festus Okoye, a 10 man section armed with AK's one heavy squad weapon and a RPG 7 for good measure.

Srg. Bilts mans the main entrance watching for any would be border incursion.

 

He does not have to wait long before members of Kwaz Nwazutha aka "The Beast" come into sight advancing down the main track.

AK fire peppers the main sandbag enplacment and a well placed RPG round drives members of the GN into cover as they are out gunned by the advancing militia members. Biltstakes out two of the advancing militia men, forcing others to dive into the under growth, slowing the advance.

The Beast sends more of his men forwards skirting the main route and looking to break into the border post from the left flank.

 

The militia men break cover and pour supressing fire into the defenders who seek cover amongst the sandbag check point.

Lightly armed and poorly trained a number of the militia men are wounded or forced back into cover, only to be replaced by others...

Pinned on all fronts the Gendarmes Nationale are unable to raise themselves from cover without attracting several rounds of fire. A number of the GN head into the under growth fleeing their posts.

 

The Beast urges his men on as the sweep over the border post.

Srg Bilts and his remaining trooper shelter behind the skip as the militia close in on their position and are finally forced from the table to pass on the news of the Beast's return.....

Played using THW 5150 rules, which gave us a quick fun game in just over two hours. The insight rules and Duck Backs allowed the out numbered GN to hold off the under tooled militia for several rounds until they breached the defences in a weak spot... it was only then the whole front collapsed..

Roll on the next scenario....