Bolt Action - Battle of Mahiwa

Just finished up a nice WW1 E. Africa game using Bolt Action. This is a scenario by buddy has used several times in the past. He tweaked the game a bit today by using activation die assigned per company - about 3 or 4 individual units. Similar to the "Stand To" rules, but a bit more simplified. It sped up the game and got units to do multiple different actions. I played a company of Germans and Askari on our right flank. Played 6 turns in about 3 hours, which ended in a slugfest of attritition across the battlefield. It was only my second time playing the rules in about a year, and came back quite easily and quickly. It was only my second time in about a year playing the rules, having played Chain of Command more often. There are elements of both rule systems that I like, but I do appreciate the simplicity and quick play of Bolt Action.

The terrain and figures are very nice.

British cavalry in support of infantry, both moving up to cross the river.

Although it wasn't used in today's game, the African Queen did give the game a proper look.

German artillery spotters on top of the building.

Looking across the battlefield from the British left.

View from the German left.

QRS with unit stats.

All in all a very nice Bolt Action refresher game.

Bolt Action - Soviet Invasion of Japan, 1951

Of course, this was a fictional battle set up by a buddy. This is the second playtest of the game which he'll host at Enfilade in May. I was one of the Soviet players and ended up having most of my troops and armor destroyed by turn 4. The scenario is the Soviets invade Japan via sea - they've already landed and advancing inland. The Soviets' goal is to capture intel at the two radar/commo sites on opposing hills. Unfortunately, the forces already in Japan besides their own defense forces include US infantry and naval personnel - along with several Pershing tanks and Chaffee and M36. The Soviets had a few T-34/85s and BTR-40s. The Soviets' advance was slowed by rough terrain, as well as US forces waiting in ambush stalling their advance. Two Soviet armored vehicles were destroyed on the two roads inland, thereby blocking the rest of the vehicles. We called the game at the end of turn 5, calling it a clear US-JSDF win. My buddy will do a few tweaks, like not bringing on too much US armor on the table until later in the game. Otherwise, it's a great scenario and should be a success at the convention. Here are a few images of the game - played in my buddy's outdoor bunker full of his gaming collection and books on military history (mostly WW2 and US).

After getting home from the game, my ebay order of Cavalcade Ming Chinese had arrived in the mail - not a bad Saturday!

Here's a comparison shot with Perry figures. A good match in size and style, IMO.

I'm glad to have gotten these Ming figures as they are either OOP, or very hard to find.

Chehalis Veteran's Memorial Museum Game Day

Had a great game day down in Chehalis at the privately run Veteran's Memorial Museum there. One of our gaming buddies is on the board of directors, and lets us have a game day at least once a year. I missed last year, but have been to several in the past. I was lucky play in a great Tribal game run by David, aka "I Live With Cats" blogger in the morning period. His figures are 40mm and very impressive - along with the terrain. My warlord ended up destroying a good portion of my opponent's warband before finally succombing to wounds from successive attacks by several enemy units. I did manage to secure my two objects though - destroying the warband's own totem and also have a shaman type safe until the end of the game. I'm sure David will be posting a detailed report of the game on his blog soon. It was my first time with the rules and they are card driven. That is, each player had deck of cards and it's used to activate and respond to actions during the game. The cards are also used for measuring movement - the long and short sides. Range for missile weapons is the entire table - as long as there is LOS. I was also able to finally get my Wargames Atlantic WW1 French and German figures on the table with a Bolt Action game in the second period. A captured Mk IV and Renault FT-17 from Warlord Games also made their gaming debut in the game. Here are some pictures from the two game I participated in.

The Tribal game prior to commencing. Two cards per player were drawn by the GM and had each players hidden objectives. My two were to destroy my own warband's totem and to secured the safety of a shaman (or whatever he was, as I can't remember). Then each player drew a card from their own deck and the order of play was decided by highest cards. Further cards were drawn for each unit, including individual heroes, by each player. These were used for activation or reaction.

David's 40mm figures are awesome to behold. His terrain is top notch too.

Second period with me hosting a Bolt Action WW1 game. As I hadn't played Bolt Action for some time I was a bit rusty at first, but then got into the swing of things. The Germans ended up winning by occupying more of the structures (ruins) at the end of turn 7 or 8. The Mk IV had the advantage over the FT-17 as it not only had several Lewis MMGs, but also a 6 pounder AT gun. The FT-17 only had a single Light AT gun. If I use it again I'll give it the option having an MMG. A French unit did attempt to assault the Mk IV, but it suffered a few casualties by the reaction fire from the tank. The remaining French had a fair number of hits but failed to cause damage to the tank. Here are a few pictures from the game.

French forces at the start of the game - two infantry squads, two machine gun teams, and the Renault FT-17.

Germans at the start - two infantry squads, two machine gun teams, and the captured Mk IV tank.

The terrain set up is pretty much the same way I had when I've run FPW games in the past. It seems to work well for these types of games.

The Mk IV unable to get LOS on the FT-17 in the distance.

Just an excuse for a photo op of the tank. I failed to get more of the FT-17 as it was hiding behind terrain most of the time.

German squad and machine gun team making into the ruins - this is an Old Glory building I've had for over 15 years - it has served well!

The other German squad and machine gun team occuyping another set of ruins on the opposite flank.

French squad advancing up to the stone walls for cover. They were eventually destroyed by fire from Germans occupying ruins facing them.

German squad moving up to hedges for light cover. They were able to take out the French facing them with rifle and machine gun fire.

French squad assaulting the Mk Iv near the end of the game. The failed to damage the the tank and had to retreat back. In fact, this was the only assault in the entire game - there was no infantry on infantry assaults. 

Rat Patrol game using homebrew rules. Greg the GM, came up from Portland to host this in the first period. He also ran it at Enfilade earlier in the year.

Xenos Rampant game - first period.

Chain of Command WW2 game - first period.

Napoleonic Rebels and Patriots game - afternoon period. This was run by my buddy James with his 1809 Campaign Austrian vs. Bavarian scenario. I played versions of this scenario a few times with both Black Powder and Rebels and Patriots.

Natives getting restless in the morning prior to the first period. I was able to set up my Bolt Action game on a spare table for the afternoon period.

The entrance into the display area of the museum - I've posted images of the displays in previous posts of prior game days here.

The P-51 and massive US flag on back wall.

As mentioned before, this museum is privately funded and very impressive. The displays contain a lot of personal items from service members from the Washington State and surrounding areas. It's easily accessed off of I-5 in Chehalis.

It was a great way to spend an overcast and drizzly Pacific Northwest day in a great museum with like minded gamer buddies. I was again encouraged to attend the Tuesday night games in Olympia and also have a Saga game day on Wednesday. Not sure if I'll make these, but it's always nice to have so many gaming opportunities nearby. Speaking of which, next month is another annual game day up in the Boeing Museum of Flight. Looking forward to that one too. Until next time, thanks again for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Battle of Halbe - Bolt Action

 Just finished up a fairly decent game of Bolt Action using a bit of the Tank War rules (with armored platoons), and Scenario 7: Envelopment from the main rule book. The game was based upon the Battle of Halbe with the German Ninth Army trying to breakout westward via the village of Halbe Their intent was to make it to American/British lines to surrender and avoid capture (or worse) by the Soviet forces which were already encircling them in large numbers. As it turned out the game played out well enough with the more than usual vehicles in Bolt Action game. The Germans only managed to get two units off table and one unit into the Soviets set-up area. They did, however, win by overall victory points by destroying enough of the Soviet units. The Germans started out with a Tiger II, two each Panthers and Panzer IVs, and several halftracks transports. The Soviets had a IS-2, SU-100, two T-34/85s, two Shermans with 76mm guns, and a T-34/76. I added another Tiger II after the first one was knocked out, and also recycled the IS-2 after it was knocked out. Several tanks were set on fire and had their turrets jammed. I thought the Germans played a little too conservatively, although you never know how things go with die rolls. Specifically, their advance stalled out before most had reached the midway point by the end of turn 6 (which is how many turns we had agreed to play). If I were to run this scenario again, I might add more German tanks. I was hesitant to give them more in this initial playtest as I thought they were too powerful, but since they were the attackers they likely needed the help. Here are some pictures from the game.

About the end of turn 6 - the end of the game. The Germans had given up trying to make it off the table, and attempted to destroy remaining Soviet forces.

One of the Panthers advancing to take aim at the IS-2 in the distance.

One of the Sd.Kfz. 251s already in flames. The crew escaping the wreckage - with a pin.

Lend-Lease Sherman and IS-2 occupying the center of the battlefield.

The T-34/76 manuevering through hedges to fire upon the advancing German left flank. Dismounted tank riders taking up position in the town ruins.

A 251 making it to a road to hurridly make it off the table. The Panzer IV and Panther awaiting a clear shot at Soviet armor in the distance.

The IS-2 taken out by a King Tiger.

A Panther awaiting an advance order to fire on Soviet troops. An Sd.Kfz. 7 and Sd.Kfz. 251 destroyed and burning in the background.

The first King Tiger before being taken out by the SU-100 out in the diistance.

A second King Tiger appears on the battlefield after the other one was destroyed.

Remnants of a Panzergrenadier squad about to assault a T-34/85 which has been immobilized and having its turret jammed.

T-34/85 on the left immobilized with turret jammed awaiting assault by Panzergrenadiers. The IS-2 on his right has been recylced into the game after being initially destroyed.

A view from the vantage point of the stalled German advance.

The Panzergrenadier squad failed to damage the T-34/85, and regrouped away from it afterwards.

The SU-100 taken out by a Panther.

Another view from the end of the game.

The second King Tiger on the prowl

Panzer IV cautiously advancing.

Panthers and Panzer IVs were teamed up into separate platoons on each flank.

SU-100 in light cover supported by infantry.

All in all I enjoyed the way the rules played out with so many AFVs. There were four players, two of whom are more into Chain of Command, so was happy to see that they enjoyed themselves too. With some minor tweaks (like giving the Germans a few more units), I think it would work okay for a convention or game day with players with little or no experience with the rules. In fact, for this particular scenario, I'm wondering if more AFVs and less infantry might be better. Maybe most of the infantry in smaller Tank Hunting units. Although, the Panzerfaust wasn't used much in the game - most-likely due to the short (12") range. Thanks again for stopping by and checking out the blog.