At our last club meeting I put on a 28mm Vietnam game using FNG from TwoHourWargames (a bit of a version mash up as I prefer elements from the different one). Two US squads with experienced NCOs leading a bunch of FNGs on their first (and in some cases last!) patrol. Here are a couple of photos:
Showing posts with label two hour wargames. Show all posts
Showing posts with label two hour wargames. Show all posts
Friday, 18 March 2022
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Defiant Stand, Poland 1939
I used another of the Skirmish Campaigns scenarios - this time from their Poland 1939 booklet - although I changed the Poles from the Black Brigade to standard infantry (since I don't have any suitable figures for the Black Brigade - though these are now available from Gorgon Studios in the US).
Lenin took command of the Poles and I took the invading German forces. The scenario has the German forces motorised (motorcycle combinations and trucks) but given the final terrain layout the vehicles became rather redundant after the first turn!
My first motorcycle team advanced up the road towards the crossroads but as they approached the ford they came under fire from the nearby buildings and pulled off the road. With clear enemy activity I decided to move my trucks off the road and deploy my troops in the woods.
As I came to the edge of the woods my troops came under rifle and machine gun fire from both the houses by the crossroads and the barn.
In decided to try to get my MG teams deployed to provide covering fire to enable an assault across the open ground. Whilst it was easy to suppress the rifle fire the machine gun was a different kettle of fish. I had multiple attempts before their MG jammed and I was able to get a team into position; however, when the Poles cleared the jam I didn't fare too well in the subsequent fire fight. We also had to contend with sniper fire!
After taking quite a few casualties I managed to deploy my mortar team to lay down some smoke and advanced towards the barn under the cover of that and one of my remaining MGs.
Things were going relatively well until we came under fire from an LMG in the barn and most of my men decided to withdraw to the woods.
The NCOs carried on and managed to reach the barn and throw grenades through the openings which dealt with the men inside. Whilst I had secured one of the three buildings (my victory conditions were two) I had suffered serious casualties, particularly of my NCOs and as a result was not able to press home my attack.
My only frustration with the game (other than the minor one of not actually getting my vehicles far onto the table) was that my new Poles spent almost all their time in the buildings and so weren't very visible. As a result they don't feature in most of the photos of the game. I will be posting some more pictures of them when I have finished basing up the remaining few.
Friday, 18 October 2013
First Look: By Savvy and Steel
The rules are 90 pages can be purchased as either a pdf or in hard copy. As you might expect By Savvy and Steel is built around the Two Hour Wargames' reaction system but with a few extra elements in keeping with the genre and combined with a campaign system based around the fictional country of Edenstein.
Character generation is somewhat more detailed than many of the other THW rules - largely as these are based on having a much smaller number of characters. In addition to the usual Reputation, players have to determine their character's Birthright, Social Standing, Age, Nationality, Class and Attributes.
Once you have your main character you can then try to recruit some Grunts to help you on your adventures - this can actually form part of your adventure.
The core rules will be very familiar if you've used the reaction system before; however, you can supplement the standard melee mechanism with a special more detailed duelling system if both participants are of sufficient social standing.
The rules are about half the book and are then followed by a campaign and scenario system which takes up the remainder and provides plenty of variety of genre appropriate situations and encounters. It includes everything you need to generate non-player characters and PEF (possible enemy forces) rules which will allow players to play against the system or for the game to be played solo.
Given that I have suitable figures for the Musketeers, Cardinal's Guard etc. I could hardly not try these rules out and I'm looking forward to getting them to the table.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
The Second Relief of Fort Kosheh
Realising that another attempt across the desert was probably equally doomed a riverborne scheme was hatched. The steamer Lotus has been sent packed with detachments from the Royal Marine Light Infantry, King's Royal Rifle Corps and the Naval Brigade - so much so that the RMLI had to be relegated a barge towed alongside.
Having successfully repulsed the earlier attacks the Fort remains under the command of Captain Cyril “Barmy” Fotheringay-Phipps and his detachment of the 1st Cameron Highlanders supported by the 9th Soudanese although both units have suffered some casualties.
The relief expedition is commanded by Captain George J. "Fruity" Biffen supported by Captain George “Boko” Fittleworth of the RMLI and Lieutenant Alexander “Oofy” Prosser of the KRRC. Leaving a small force from the Naval Brigade along with their Gardner gun on the steamer the remaining troops marched out.
Meanwhile, the fort came under fire from a captured Egyptian artillery piece and its captured crew.
The Naval Brigade spotted movement in some nearby rough ground and advanced toward it - they had second thoughts once they identified what it was!
With the relief force engaged the Mahdists assaulted the fort. Many were cut down in the rush to the wall but a scaling ladder went up and a melee ensued.
With the Naval Brigade forced to withdraw it was down to the KRRC to hold back the enemy. A couple of volleys and some cold hard steel soon had them on their heels.
But the RMLI were facing their own threat. But a cool head prevailed and Boko formed them into a line and poured fire into the advancing mob.
But still they closed - bloody hand to hand fighting ensued and the Mahdists were thrown back with heavy casualties.
The remaining Beja emerged from the ruins near the fort - one party to renew the assault and the other to hold up the relief forces. The advancing Naval Brigade detachment took up defensive positions in another ruin ready to bear the brunt of the assault.
Whilst the Lotus steamed up and down the river bank engaging the Mahdist riflemen on the shoreline.
In the end the last assault on the fort was repulsed and the attack on the relief force petered out and so the fort was finally relieved!
Saturday, 20 October 2012
Door to Door
Last Saturday I made it down to the club and put on a 20mm World War II game using Nuts! by Two Hour Wargames.
1000 6 June 1944 - South East of Chef-du-Pont, France
Men from all units of the 507th and some from the 508th PIR reached the railroad station in the center of Chef-du-Pont with little opposition. A small but important bridge is to the southeast. Whilst the remainder of the force clears the town, you have been sent to clear the the road to the southeast of the station.
The players had two squads supplemented later by a third and their objective was to clear the buildings and secure the road so the main force could advance.
The first two squad decided to concentrate and advance on the right flank. They successfully crossed the crop field and hunkered down behind the hedgerow. As a few were pushing their way through to observe they were spotted by a lone German rifleman who opened fire. He missed and quickly ducked back into cover when the paras returned fire. One group then rushed across the road to the churchyard wall.
One man was sent to recon the church and found nothing but when another group popped up to take a look at the adjacent houses they came under fire again from the rooftop sniper; however, this time a BAR was in place and swept the German's window silencing the threat. They then advanced into the church.
With Germans obviously occupying some of the buildings on this side of the road, one squad decided to rush across the main road to try to outflank them. Unfortunately this took them straight across the front of an MG42 team emplaced on the cafe balcony at the far end of the village.
The charge was led by the man carrying the .30 cal and he was hit. The man carrying the tripod thought better of the advance and darted back to the cover of the field but a couple of the others made it across safely. With their only machine gun now stranded in the middle of a road swept by enemy fire things were not looking good.
The other groups continued their advance, one squad through the woods to the rear of the buildings and the other to try to clear the first building, the one occupied by the sniper. One man rushed forward, primed his grenade and tried to throw it through the nearest window. Unfortunately it ricocheted back and landed nearby! He clumsily threw himself to one side but, fortunately, was only stunned by the blast. The remainder of his team tried a more direct approach and assaulted the building neutralising the occupants.
The squad advancing through the woods moved into position to cover both the buildings and engage the MG team in the cafe. Unfortunately they were spotted and came under heavy fire, taking several casualties; however, whilst the MG42 was reloading they managed to neutralise its crew. Two Germans, reluctant to surrender their primary weapon, crept out of the cafe under cover and took over the MG. Meanwhile the other buildings were slowly being cleared.
The MG42 came back into action but despite cutting down several of the paras the new crew came under heavy fire and suffered the same fate as the first. The Germans were clearly coming off worst in the firefights, largely due to their poorer quality troops and several casualties were captured as the next building was cleared.
Having heard the exchanges of a fire a third squad had been sent to support the first two and they were slowly advancing down the left flank. Advancing through an orchard they came under fire and took a casualty but their response silenced the opposition. An aggressive assault on the building secured it, despite the grenade blasts causing some structural damage. Moving forward to observe the road, this group spotted and engaged a lone German rushing from one of the buildings about to be assaulted on the other side across to the cafe. Despite several bursts he managed to throw himself through the open cafe door and out of sight.
This firing gave the assaulting paras pause and luckily they spotted the fact the building they were about to enter had been booby trapped. A luck escape.
A small group of Germans now engaged the squad on the left flank but, after several exchanges of fire, they were badly mauled and withdrew.
With the upper hand now moving to the Americans, things were looking up when a disturbing noise was heard from the road into the village - the round of tracks!
A Panzer IV and a section of Germans had been sent to support the section holding the village.
The German tank advanced slowly with the infantry split to both the right and the left of it.
The group on the left had a nasty shock as they were outflanked by some paras who soon put paid to them.
The squad on the left flank prepared themselves for the assault but when the tank swung into view the first man's nerve broke and he ran. He fell in hail of bullets from the tank's machine guns. The NCO, however, was made of sterner stuff and he threw his Gammon grenade at the tank. It was a desperate move but his aim was spectacular and the explosion brought the tank to a grinding halt as it burst into flames.
Several exchanges of grenades and automatic fire between the infantry caused casualties on both sides but with their armour support destroyed the Germans decided to withdraw and the engagement went to the Americans.
1000 6 June 1944 - South East of Chef-du-Pont, France
Men from all units of the 507th and some from the 508th PIR reached the railroad station in the center of Chef-du-Pont with little opposition. A small but important bridge is to the southeast. Whilst the remainder of the force clears the town, you have been sent to clear the the road to the southeast of the station.
The players had two squads supplemented later by a third and their objective was to clear the buildings and secure the road so the main force could advance.
The first two squad decided to concentrate and advance on the right flank. They successfully crossed the crop field and hunkered down behind the hedgerow. As a few were pushing their way through to observe they were spotted by a lone German rifleman who opened fire. He missed and quickly ducked back into cover when the paras returned fire. One group then rushed across the road to the churchyard wall.
One man was sent to recon the church and found nothing but when another group popped up to take a look at the adjacent houses they came under fire again from the rooftop sniper; however, this time a BAR was in place and swept the German's window silencing the threat. They then advanced into the church.
With Germans obviously occupying some of the buildings on this side of the road, one squad decided to rush across the main road to try to outflank them. Unfortunately this took them straight across the front of an MG42 team emplaced on the cafe balcony at the far end of the village.
The charge was led by the man carrying the .30 cal and he was hit. The man carrying the tripod thought better of the advance and darted back to the cover of the field but a couple of the others made it across safely. With their only machine gun now stranded in the middle of a road swept by enemy fire things were not looking good.
The other groups continued their advance, one squad through the woods to the rear of the buildings and the other to try to clear the first building, the one occupied by the sniper. One man rushed forward, primed his grenade and tried to throw it through the nearest window. Unfortunately it ricocheted back and landed nearby! He clumsily threw himself to one side but, fortunately, was only stunned by the blast. The remainder of his team tried a more direct approach and assaulted the building neutralising the occupants.
The squad advancing through the woods moved into position to cover both the buildings and engage the MG team in the cafe. Unfortunately they were spotted and came under heavy fire, taking several casualties; however, whilst the MG42 was reloading they managed to neutralise its crew. Two Germans, reluctant to surrender their primary weapon, crept out of the cafe under cover and took over the MG. Meanwhile the other buildings were slowly being cleared.
The MG42 came back into action but despite cutting down several of the paras the new crew came under heavy fire and suffered the same fate as the first. The Germans were clearly coming off worst in the firefights, largely due to their poorer quality troops and several casualties were captured as the next building was cleared.
Having heard the exchanges of a fire a third squad had been sent to support the first two and they were slowly advancing down the left flank. Advancing through an orchard they came under fire and took a casualty but their response silenced the opposition. An aggressive assault on the building secured it, despite the grenade blasts causing some structural damage. Moving forward to observe the road, this group spotted and engaged a lone German rushing from one of the buildings about to be assaulted on the other side across to the cafe. Despite several bursts he managed to throw himself through the open cafe door and out of sight.
This firing gave the assaulting paras pause and luckily they spotted the fact the building they were about to enter had been booby trapped. A luck escape.
A small group of Germans now engaged the squad on the left flank but, after several exchanges of fire, they were badly mauled and withdrew.
With the upper hand now moving to the Americans, things were looking up when a disturbing noise was heard from the road into the village - the round of tracks!
A Panzer IV and a section of Germans had been sent to support the section holding the village.
The German tank advanced slowly with the infantry split to both the right and the left of it.
The group on the left had a nasty shock as they were outflanked by some paras who soon put paid to them.
The squad on the left flank prepared themselves for the assault but when the tank swung into view the first man's nerve broke and he ran. He fell in hail of bullets from the tank's machine guns. The NCO, however, was made of sterner stuff and he threw his Gammon grenade at the tank. It was a desperate move but his aim was spectacular and the explosion brought the tank to a grinding halt as it burst into flames.
Several exchanges of grenades and automatic fire between the infantry caused casualties on both sides but with their armour support destroyed the Germans decided to withdraw and the engagement went to the Americans.
Monday, 24 September 2012
Operation Cauldron - Take 2
This weekend I hosted a get together of a few old wargaming chums and we each put on a game. Since I was the host it was easy for me to set my game up early and so I went first.
As it's the 70th anniversary of Operation Jubilee I thought it would be appropriate to put on part of the raid. As I don't yet have quite enough landing craft, tanks, figures or terrain to manage the main assault I decided to focus on one of the associated Commando raids.
I picked Operation Cauldron, the assault on Hess battery (not least because I'd already done a smaller version of it!). Since I was doing the game in 28mm I couldn't quite fit the landing and the battery all on a single table so I produced a slightly compressed section of the battery itself.
A couple of the chaps took command of the F Troop with the objective of disabling the two guns at one end of the battery. Meanwhile Lenin had the unenviable task of holding them off until reinforcements could arrive.
F Troops first challenge was breaching the barbed wire without attracting the attention of the MG34 post guarding the road entrance.
Unfortunately they were spotted and came under a hail of fire. The first group ducked back out of the line of fire whilst the bren gun team engaged the german position. Meanwhile another group were advancing on the wire with bangalore torpedoes.
The heavy fire from the MG34 caused it to run out of ammo and whilst they were changing belts the Commandos charged in an threw grenades over the germans' sandbags. Having taken out the first obstacle the two groups advanced separately towards the buildings. Unluckily the first group was spotted by yet another german machine gun position and were forced to take cover again. Only this time the bren gunner went down in an exposed position and it took several attempts to pull him to safety along with his weapon.
The other group moved steadily forward until they were engaged by german rifle and sub-machine gun fire. With the team ducking for cover, the Captain rushed across the street and threw a grenade threw the germans' open window eliminating the threat. This group could then continue to advance.
Up until this point the german flak tower had be preoccupied with the RAF aircraft flying overhead and A Troop who were providing covering fire from the other side of the battery.
Once again the advance was held up by an advancing german section but they were quickly dealt with and their machine gun, which was covering the road, was knocked out by a couple of 2 inch mortar rounds from A Troop.
When the flak tower spotted the Commandos it came under fire from the bren team they had left covering it and whilst they were throwing themselves into cover they came under fire from the A Troop mortar.
With most of the German defenders neutralised the raiders moved forward to their objectives, blew them and withdrew through the fence line covered by A Troop to the extraction point no Orange Beach 1.
As it's the 70th anniversary of Operation Jubilee I thought it would be appropriate to put on part of the raid. As I don't yet have quite enough landing craft, tanks, figures or terrain to manage the main assault I decided to focus on one of the associated Commando raids.
I picked Operation Cauldron, the assault on Hess battery (not least because I'd already done a smaller version of it!). Since I was doing the game in 28mm I couldn't quite fit the landing and the battery all on a single table so I produced a slightly compressed section of the battery itself.
A couple of the chaps took command of the F Troop with the objective of disabling the two guns at one end of the battery. Meanwhile Lenin had the unenviable task of holding them off until reinforcements could arrive.
F Troops first challenge was breaching the barbed wire without attracting the attention of the MG34 post guarding the road entrance.
Unfortunately they were spotted and came under a hail of fire. The first group ducked back out of the line of fire whilst the bren gun team engaged the german position. Meanwhile another group were advancing on the wire with bangalore torpedoes.
The heavy fire from the MG34 caused it to run out of ammo and whilst they were changing belts the Commandos charged in an threw grenades over the germans' sandbags. Having taken out the first obstacle the two groups advanced separately towards the buildings. Unluckily the first group was spotted by yet another german machine gun position and were forced to take cover again. Only this time the bren gunner went down in an exposed position and it took several attempts to pull him to safety along with his weapon.
The other group moved steadily forward until they were engaged by german rifle and sub-machine gun fire. With the team ducking for cover, the Captain rushed across the street and threw a grenade threw the germans' open window eliminating the threat. This group could then continue to advance.
Up until this point the german flak tower had be preoccupied with the RAF aircraft flying overhead and A Troop who were providing covering fire from the other side of the battery.
Once again the advance was held up by an advancing german section but they were quickly dealt with and their machine gun, which was covering the road, was knocked out by a couple of 2 inch mortar rounds from A Troop.
When the flak tower spotted the Commandos it came under fire from the bren team they had left covering it and whilst they were throwing themselves into cover they came under fire from the A Troop mortar.
With most of the German defenders neutralised the raiders moved forward to their objectives, blew them and withdrew through the fence line covered by A Troop to the extraction point no Orange Beach 1.
Monday, 2 July 2012
WW2: Eviction Notice
Lieutenants Summers and Turnbull along with Sgt. Bunkum were faced with a problem. Having only a few men they had to hold up a German attack supported by some armour!
Lt. Summers took a few men and took up a position in a cottage on the road. He carefully concealed the bazooka team behind the bocage in a field to the rear.
Lt. Turnbull took the .30 cal and few men and occupied the house on the right but pushed a small group forward to cover the field adjacent to the road.
Whilst Sgt. Bunkum and the remaining men formed the reserve.
The German assault group entered the field, split into two teams and began to advance down the side of the crops. They move cautiously until the reached the edge of the planting and peered around it.
They suddenly came under a hail of automatic fire from a US sub-machine gun, the lead man was hit and the others ducked back. Meanwhile their other team was making good progress down the far side of the field.
On the other side of the road the other squad and their MG42 team advanced, reaching a hedge overlooking Lt. Summers' position. They were spotted when they tried to push the LMG through the hedge and two of the men went down. They were luckier with their next attempt and raked the garden wall with the MG42, hitting the Lieutenant.
With the wall being hammered with machine gun fire the other paratroopers weren't waiting around to be out flanked. They dragged Summers behind the house and, picking him up rushed across a lane to the safety of a bocage rimmed field. Predictable as ever the Germans flanked the US position and after throwing a couple of grenades in rushed it - only to find that the birds had flown.
On the other flank the Germans were pushing their way through the standing crops and then threw grenades towards the US position. The US paratroopers were stunned but the Germans then rushed them and only one escaped back to Lt. Turnbull's position.
Germans couldn't advance against against the extra men and firepower. And, on the other side of the field the other German team had been spotted from the house and came under heavy fire and were forced to withdraw after taking a couple of casualties.
At this point the German armour arrived. The panzer clanked its way down the road right into sight of the US bazooka team. Unfortunately the guy with the bazooka was a little jumpy and their first shot went wide (but wide enough for the tank crew not to have notice it). They reloaded and had another go - a palpable hit but on the front armour - not enough to penetrate. The tank's turret began to traverse their way so they threw themselves down behind the bocage bank just in time as the shot was short.
With both armour and infantry advancing on their position the team took the incapacitated Lt. Summers and withdrew to join up with Sgt. Bunkum. The Germans took their position.
With further German reinforcements arriving the paratroopers withdrew but in the confusion two of the men were captured.
Lt. Summers took a few men and took up a position in a cottage on the road. He carefully concealed the bazooka team behind the bocage in a field to the rear.
Lt. Turnbull took the .30 cal and few men and occupied the house on the right but pushed a small group forward to cover the field adjacent to the road.
Whilst Sgt. Bunkum and the remaining men formed the reserve.
The German assault group entered the field, split into two teams and began to advance down the side of the crops. They move cautiously until the reached the edge of the planting and peered around it.
They suddenly came under a hail of automatic fire from a US sub-machine gun, the lead man was hit and the others ducked back. Meanwhile their other team was making good progress down the far side of the field.
On the other side of the road the other squad and their MG42 team advanced, reaching a hedge overlooking Lt. Summers' position. They were spotted when they tried to push the LMG through the hedge and two of the men went down. They were luckier with their next attempt and raked the garden wall with the MG42, hitting the Lieutenant.
With the wall being hammered with machine gun fire the other paratroopers weren't waiting around to be out flanked. They dragged Summers behind the house and, picking him up rushed across a lane to the safety of a bocage rimmed field. Predictable as ever the Germans flanked the US position and after throwing a couple of grenades in rushed it - only to find that the birds had flown.
On the other flank the Germans were pushing their way through the standing crops and then threw grenades towards the US position. The US paratroopers were stunned but the Germans then rushed them and only one escaped back to Lt. Turnbull's position.
Germans couldn't advance against against the extra men and firepower. And, on the other side of the field the other German team had been spotted from the house and came under heavy fire and were forced to withdraw after taking a couple of casualties.
At this point the German armour arrived. The panzer clanked its way down the road right into sight of the US bazooka team. Unfortunately the guy with the bazooka was a little jumpy and their first shot went wide (but wide enough for the tank crew not to have notice it). They reloaded and had another go - a palpable hit but on the front armour - not enough to penetrate. The tank's turret began to traverse their way so they threw themselves down behind the bocage bank just in time as the shot was short.
With both armour and infantry advancing on their position the team took the incapacitated Lt. Summers and withdrew to join up with Sgt. Bunkum. The Germans took their position.
With further German reinforcements arriving the paratroopers withdrew but in the confusion two of the men were captured.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
WW2: Sound of the Guns
After avoiding the unwelcome attention of the German flak unit, Lt. Summers and Sgt. Bunkum worked their way towards the sound of the guns. On their way they met up with another two groups of paratroopers including a Lieutenant. Their way ahead was blocked by an emplaced German machine gun and they needed organising to deal with it and quickly clear the nearby buildings in order to secure the area.
Summers and Bunkum quickly organised the men into two groups, one to advance down each flank. Unbeknownst to the Americans, a second German MG team were just moving into position behind the first.
Lt. Summers led his team down the side of one of the fields using the bocage as cover.
Meanwhile Sgt. Bunkum (guiding the other Lt.) cleared the first building, advanced across the small field and then across the first lane.
Everything was going to plan until Summers led his men at the double across some open ground and was spotted by one of the German MG teams. The MG42 opened up but fortunately Summers and his group were close enough to a stone wall to throw themselves behind it and out of the line of fire. As a result the Germans redeployed their second MG team.
Both Summers and Bunkum organised their men into two groups, one to assault the buildings and the second to provide covering fire. Clearing the first couple of buildings was a textbook exercise but they were unoccupied.
Bunkum managed to get his group into the building adjacent to the one occupied by the German MGs. They prepared their grenades and popped up to throw them. Despite the hail of bullets the grenades were thrown but a couple of men went down including Bunkum - fortunately he was as Hard as Nails and it turned out only to be a flesh wound. The grenades despatched the first MG team.
Meanwhile, another group of paratroopers advancing toward the MG fire, arrived on the flank (reinforcement roll). They decided to move forward and assault the building with the MG teams in it.
Their first group was immediately spotted by the second MG team and came under heavy fire taking two casualties including their senior NCO. Their second group had moved to the rear of the building and were able to rush across to it without being spotted. Grenades at the ready they dropped them through the windows and rushed in following the explosions. Unfortunately the MG teams were on the first floor and protected by the building so the paratroopers moved into close combat. Despite their physical fitness and training the Germans were clearly combat veterans as they subdued all four of them.
With the MG team now resuming firing, Bunkum shouted across the street to Summers' team, who were now in position. One of his team had been a Ball Player before joining up and he pitched the grenade right onto the German team killing them both. Bunkum's group then advanced and secured the building.
Summers and Bunkum quickly organised the men into two groups, one to advance down each flank. Unbeknownst to the Americans, a second German MG team were just moving into position behind the first.
Lt. Summers led his team down the side of one of the fields using the bocage as cover.
Meanwhile Sgt. Bunkum (guiding the other Lt.) cleared the first building, advanced across the small field and then across the first lane.
Everything was going to plan until Summers led his men at the double across some open ground and was spotted by one of the German MG teams. The MG42 opened up but fortunately Summers and his group were close enough to a stone wall to throw themselves behind it and out of the line of fire. As a result the Germans redeployed their second MG team.
Both Summers and Bunkum organised their men into two groups, one to assault the buildings and the second to provide covering fire. Clearing the first couple of buildings was a textbook exercise but they were unoccupied.
Bunkum managed to get his group into the building adjacent to the one occupied by the German MGs. They prepared their grenades and popped up to throw them. Despite the hail of bullets the grenades were thrown but a couple of men went down including Bunkum - fortunately he was as Hard as Nails and it turned out only to be a flesh wound. The grenades despatched the first MG team.
Meanwhile, another group of paratroopers advancing toward the MG fire, arrived on the flank (reinforcement roll). They decided to move forward and assault the building with the MG teams in it.
Their first group was immediately spotted by the second MG team and came under heavy fire taking two casualties including their senior NCO. Their second group had moved to the rear of the building and were able to rush across to it without being spotted. Grenades at the ready they dropped them through the windows and rushed in following the explosions. Unfortunately the MG teams were on the first floor and protected by the building so the paratroopers moved into close combat. Despite their physical fitness and training the Germans were clearly combat veterans as they subdued all four of them.
With the MG team now resuming firing, Bunkum shouted across the street to Summers' team, who were now in position. One of his team had been a Ball Player before joining up and he pitched the grenade right onto the German team killing them both. Bunkum's group then advanced and secured the building.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
WW2: Flash and Thunder
"They jumped much too low from planes that were flying much too fast. They were carrying far too much equipment and using an untested technique that turned out to be a major mistake. As they left the plane, the leg bags tore loose and hurtled to the ground, in nearly every case never to be seen again. Simultaneously the prop blast tossed them this way and that."
Band of Brothers by Stephen E Ambrose
So when Sgt. Don Bunkum hit the ground he found himself alone in the middle of a field surrounded by thick hedgerows. He decided to move to the nearest edge of the field and after forcing his way through the undergrowth found himself looking into a small lane. He spotted what looked to be an equipment bundle but to his dismay it was empty.
Meanwhile, the nearby German anti-aircraft unit were enjoying a well earned break after all the initial excitement.
Hearing noises to his left Sgt. Bunkum decided to follow the field edge to investigate. He quickly identified that there was movement on the other side of the bocage and, once again, began to force his way through it.
On the other side was Lt. Summers and two other men he didn't recognise. They had obviously attracted the attention of the flak unit as a small patrol was advancing across the field towards the hedgerow behind which they were concealed.
Lt. Summers ordered the men to open fire and soon a hail of bullets rained down on the advancing Germans.
Two of their men fell in the first burst but their NCO returned fire with his SMG and one of the paras fell with the other ducking back behind the earthen bank of the bocage; however, Lt. Summers clearly wasn't phased and returned first cutting the German NCO down and sending the remaining member of the patrol scurrying back to the flak unit.
Having now stirred up a hornets nest and seeing the four barrelled flak gun being rotated in their direction the paras decided it was high time to withdraw and slipped away across the field before all hell broke loose.
The combination of the anniversary of D-Day and the purchase of Blood Upon the Risers was irresistible and so I set up the first scenario for a solo game this morning. I rolled up my character who turned out to be a Rep 5 NCO who was a Born Leader and as Hard as Nails. He quickly became the no nonsense Sergeant Don Bunkum.
The first scenario has you starting with only your star who is trying to hook up with his unit. You randomly determine where you land on the table which has plenty of bocage, a German anti-aircraft unit and two markers or PEFs (Possible Enemy Forces). The first turned out to be an equipment bundle which was, unfortunately, empty. The second split into two which ultimately turned out to be the German patrol and the other US paras.
I was pretty pleased with the way the game turned out. I'm looking forward to the next game now...
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