Empress Miniatures to stock Skirmish Sangin Books

Radio Dishdash Publishing (RDDP) is proud to announce that Empress Miniatures will now be stocking our books in the UK. 

This is just the beginning of what we hope to be an exciting collaboration between the two companies. We have in the works many ideas and plans to bring out new products in the new too distance future.

Colin Phillips (RDDP) – “We have been looking to find the right partner in the UK for along time. Our recent trip to attend Salute gave us the opportunity to discuss ideas with Empress and we found a lot of common ground”

Paul Eaglestone (Empress) – “We knew the Sangin Guys from the forums for a number of years. Then they asked to use our miniatures for the photography of Skirmish Sangin and they look absolutely fantastic. They are as passionate about modern wargaming as we are, so then it was just a matter of finding the right project for us all to work on.”

Watch out for more news in the near future.

AAR - Defend the river crossing

So most of the usual bunch met on Thursday to have a game of Skirmish Sangin.

Ray and Craig chose to play the Taliban this time leaving me to play the British.

The Taliban had two groups of 8 and the ISAF a small 8 man British Para squad. So with forces decided what was the mission.

Well Ray had cooked up a great little mission for us that went something like this.

The British making a large push into the green zone had been reasonably successful until they crossed the river where they where hit by a large force of Taliban. Using their superior air power and close in support they had held the larger Taliban force but not without taking casualties. These casualties now need to be evacuated, with no safe LZ available the decision was made to evacuate by road. Unfortunately this meant crossing the river at the only spot that was currently held by ISAF.

This is where my force came in. My Force had been deployed to defend the river crossing as the main force leap frogged forward.

The Taliban Spies had realised the bottleneck and sent a small force to cut off the line of retreat for the ISAF wounded.

So what did this mean in reality?

Well my chaps had to hold the river crossing for one combat round, 10 combat phases at which point the wounded convoy would enter from the far side of the table. This, ISAF was lead to believe, was a convoy consisting of number of Landrovers protected by a Warrior armoured vehicle.

I got to deploy my troops within 12” of the river (This was an 8 x6” table). And the table got to deploy up to 12” on their side of the table.

So all I had to do was to keep a numerically superior force that came on two flanks at bay for 10 Combat phases. I imagined by Para’s saying something like “ Bring it on” while lighting a nervous cigarette.

I deployed on the north side of the river, keeping the river behind me, to the left in a building and its courtyard on the right in another courtyard to compound. Trying not to be too gamey I only deployed one soldier on the stairs at the beginning of the game and no one on the roof but I did make sure all my chaps had medium cover and where kneeling as the game began.

 

So unfortunately I don’t have a blow-by-blow account but this was a very hard fought game, first blood went to the Para’s with a nicely placed 40mm grenade, quickly followed up with ten rounds of rapid fire but we definitely didn’t have it our own way. Ray’s Taliban kept up a stead level of pressure on the left but were reasonably static, making a slow and steady advance. While on the right, the use of a well placed berm meant that Pooch could split his force and use one lot to try and keep my head down while all the while trying to outflanking me using the berm to hide line of sight as he rushed up his out-flanking force.

This was a hard fought couple of hours, with both sides taking casualties as we came to phase 8 the Para’s looked in good shape, only one casualty. We had been making great armour saving rolls and Taliban damage rolls had been low. We had also managed to reload one of the UGL’s (It takes 3 AP to reload, which means that a man is out of action for a combat phase and I frequently didn’t have time to reload the UGL because of the weight of incoming fire meant I needed him to be firing his armalite). But an AP screw up on my part meant I didn’t get to fire it as the at the two RPG gunners on the roof opposite.

However, it began to slide when Pooch’s RPG gunner managed to blow up two men at the doorway to the compound (The only saving grace was he injured one of his won men in the blast)

Now down to 5 men and with none active in the last two combat phases I took another casualty was then down to 4 men as we reach the last combat action phase. I had made it… but only just. ISAF had managed to hold a very determined Taliban force for one combat round. Now the convoy would arrive and I still had possession of the crossing even though I was besieged on all sides.

That’s where we stopped the game as it was getting late and we hope to complete the mission next week.

I’ll let you know how we get on.

Free scenario - Rhino Wars

Here at Skirmish Sangin we like to show you that our system can be used for all types of modern conflicts. So here is a free scenario, set in South Africa. Feel free to change where in Africa the game is set and feel free to change the Spec Ops nationality. This scenario was inspired by a documentary on the discovery channel.

US Special Ops briefing:

Last year, 700 rhinos in the Kruger National park were killed for their horn. The poachers have been turned into armed militias by illegal consortiums intent on feeding the Chinese market with rhino horn.

As poachers search the park for remaining rhino, your team has been tasked with finding them, arresting them and, if they put up a fight, eliminating them.

The South African government has indicated it is completely behind this mission and has recently changed the law so that there is no illegality if lethal force is used. However you will have to issue a challenge for them to surrender.  

Yesterday one of your Zulu park rangers found a trail used by poachers and you have been tracking them ever since. As dusk falls you finally spot their camp.

You have night vision devices, which should give you the edge at night. As you set off, out on the veldt you hear the roaring of Lions as, like you, the pride begins its hunt.

 

Team Rabobi

The locals call you Rabobi (Zulu for Spiderman) because like the spider on its web, things just don’t stick to you. They have tried to put you in prison and Mr Big in Botswana has sent his flash lawyers to get you off on technicalities or witnesses have been frightened so the cases collapsed.

You and your mob have managed to collect two rhino horns today that will keep your bosses happy. It’s getting harder and harder to find the rhino but the money gets better and better as the horn become more scarce. Your cut of the money from the Chinese will allow you to buy enough cows for your third wife and live well for a few months.

In the last few months you and your team have been in several fire fights with the local game wardens and now you and the boys come prepared. You have a group of 9 men heavily armed with AK47s and one of them has an RPG. If the game wardens come against you this time you won’t run. This time you will take the fight to them.

You have lit a big fire to keep the lions away and have several men guarding the camp. The rest of men laze around sleeping, smoking and chatting about how they will spend their money.

Table Overview:

This game takes place deep in the bush of the Krueger National park. This is mainly grassland with pockets of trees and bush. The area is crawling with animals of many different types most of whom are nocturnal, especially the Lions.  The table should be flat with odd rises of rocks and trees, possible a water hole and lost of bush on the table.

Special Forces Team:

Elite Ranger

1x Elite Ranger ((100pts) + WEAPON (10pts) + ARMOUR (10pts) = 120pts)

BODY	Armour Value	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
13(15)	1d10+4	100	3	M4A1	3,5,7,9

Pistol (BODY x5) 75% | Rifle (BODY x5 +10%) 85% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x4) 60% | Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) |
Throw (BODY x5) 75%| Forward Observer (BDY x4) 60%

Elite Ranger

1x Elite Ranger ((100pts) + WEAPON (10pts) + ARMOUR (10pts) = 120pts)

BODY	Armour Value	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
15(17)	1d10+4	100	3	M4A1	2,4,6,8

Pistol (BODY x5) 85% | Rifle (BODY x5 +10%) 95% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x4) 68% | Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) |
Throw (BODY x5) 85%| Forward Observer (BDY x4) 68%

Elite Ranger

1x Elite Ranger ((100pts) + WEAPON (10pts) + ARMOUR (10pts) = 120pts)

BODY	Armour Value	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
16(18)	1d10+4	100	3	M4A1	2,4,6,8

Pistol (BODY x5) 90% | Rifle (BODY x5 +10%) 100% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x4) 72% | Spot (100%)  | First Aid (40%) |
Throw (BODY x5) 90%| Forward Observer (BDY x4) 72%

Elite Ranger

1x Elite Ranger ((100pts) + WEAPON (25pts) + ARMOUR (10pts) = 135pts)

BODY	Armour Value	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
18(20)	1d10+4	100	3	Minimi	1,3,5,7

Pistol (BODY x5) 100% | Rifle (BODY x5 +10%) 110% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x4) 80% | Spot (100%)  | First Aid (40%) |
Throw (BODY x5) 100%| Forward Observer (BDY x4) 80%

Poachers:

Rabobi

1x Average Poacher ((50pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 60pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
16	55	3	AK47	2,4,6,8

Pistol (BODY x3) 48% | Rifle (BODY x3 +10%) 58% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x2) 32% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) | Throw (BODY x3) 48%| Forward Observer (BDY x2) 32%

Poachers

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
11	35	3	AK47	4,6,8,10

Pistol (BODY x2) 22% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 32% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 11% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%)| Throw (BODY x2) 22%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 11%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
11	35	3	AK47	4,6,8,10

Pistol (BODY x2) 22% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 32% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 11% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%)| Throw (BODY x2) 22%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 11%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
12	35	3	AK47	3,5,7,9

Pistol (BODY x2) 24% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 34% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 12% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) | Throw (BODY x2) 24%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 12%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
14	35	3	AK47	3,5,7,9

Pistol (BODY x2) 28% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 38% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 14% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%)| Throw (BODY x2) 28%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 14%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
14	35	3	AK47	3,5,7,9

Pistol (BODY x2) 28% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 38% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 14% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%)| Throw (BODY x2) 28%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 14%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
16	35	3	AK47	2,4,6,8

Pistol (BODY x2) 32% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 42% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x21) 16% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%)| Throw (BODY x2) 32%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 16%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
17	35	3	AK47	2,4,6,8

Pistol (BODY x2) 34% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 44% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 17% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) | Throw (BODY x2) 34%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 17%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (10pts) = 35pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
17	35	3	AK47	2,4,6,8

Pistol (BODY x2) 34% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 44% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 17% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) | Throw (BODY x2) 34%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 17%

1x Novice Poacher ((25pts) + WEAPON (25pts) = 50pts)

BODY	MORALE	AP	WEAPON	CBT PHASE
19	35	3	RPG	1,3,5,7

Pistol (BODY x2) 38% | Rifle (BODY x2 +10%) 48% | Heavy Weapon (BODY x1) 19% |

Spot (100%) | First Aid (40%) | Throw (BODY x2) 38%| Forward Observer (BDY x1) 19%

Animals and things that go bump in the night

To add some variety to this game each round that the Special Forces move towards the Poachers they have to roll on the following table:

1d10	Description
1-5	No encounter
6-7	There’s a cobra in front you! No further movement this round.
8-9	You surprise 1d6 Zebra/ Wildebeest, who get up and run away alerting the camp
10	You encounter a young Lioness out hunting 1-3 she moves away 4-6 she stands her ground if players back away she will not attack if players continue forward she will attack Lions do 2d10 damage 7-10 she attacks A Lioness is treated as an Elite man in hand-to-hand combat against a man doing 2d10 damage per attack. Lions can make all manoeuvre attacks

Night Vision and Night Vision Equipment

What we as human being see at night is a combination of the available light sources and how good our eyesight is. The poachers have lit a large fire that provides a lot of ambient light and it’s a bright moonlight night.

The poachers not on guard near the fire will have ruined their night vision as they have been in a Fire-lit area. They can see 10”(20m) into the dark around them. The sentries are further away from the fire and can see up to 15”(30m) in the dark. The characters will retain this level of vision for the entirety of the game. If players think this will be too tricky to monitor which is which you can ignore the difference and give all poachers 15”(30m).

The Special Forces team night vision goggles can see 250” (500m). Based on the current data available on the AN/PVS-22 night vision scope, a soldier can recognize a standing man in starlight at over 500 meters.