Sunday, October 25, 2026

Wild Geese - The last flight

Club day and the opportunity to play a game which has been long on the wish list - A recreation of the classic - Wild Geese movie.

Colonel Faulkner's Briefing

The mercenary force has suffered a major setback. The vehicle convoy intended to carry them to safety has been destroyed at a river crossing, leaving the surviving troops stranded deep in hostile territory. Communications are intermittent, ammunition is running low, and enemy forces now know their approximate location.

The only chance of escape is a remote airfield 25 miles away where a transport aircraft is scheduled to make a brief landing at dawn. Between the survivors and their escape lies rough terrain, hostile villages, roadblocks, and an increasingly determined government army.

To be read to the assembled mercenary force shortly after the destruction of the lorries at the bridge.

"Gentlemen, listen in.

The good news is we're still alive.

The bad news is that every man in this country now knows roughly where we are, and they know exactly where we're heading.

The bridge is gone. The transport is gone. What should have been a fast run to the airfield has turned into a twenty-five-mile march through hostile territory. We're carrying our wounded, we're short of ammunition, and we're going to be hunted every step of the way.

So let's be clear about our situation.

Nobody is coming to rescue us.

We are the rescue.

 

Ahead of us is an airfield. At dawn tomorrow a pilot brave enough or crazy enough to keep his word will attempt to put an aircraft down on that strip. If we're there, we go home. If we're not, we're left behind. 



In a running battle, against more than 4 times their number the Mercs would have a job on there hands but they were professionals and training should get them through this.


Played using Force on Force, with the mercs with always on initiative they were able to supress multiple fire teams that popped up as Faulkner and his men ran the length of the table.




With the Heavy Machine Gun sweeping the open ground the majority of the mercs made the runway.


As the local militia started to fill the runway the last of the Merc's piled on to the plane.


A great game and mission accomplished for the raiders.
Julius Limbani was on the plane all for the loss of 2 dead and 3 wounded.

Next up some alternative scenario's in Zembala and the government of General Ndofa.

Operation Iron First.

Following the escape of the Wild Geese, General Ndofa launches a brutal purge. Intelligence indicates that loyalists of Julius Limbani are gathering in the northern highlands. Ndofa sends an elite battalion to eliminate the rebels before an uprising can begin.

The Diamond Convoy.

A convoy carrying Zembala's diamond reserves is travelling to the capital to finance Ndofa's regime.

The Battle of Mamba Airfield.

Months after the failed rescue operation, foreign governments secretly back a second attempt to overthrow Ndofa.

The Presidential Return.

Rumours spread that Julius Limbani survived and has secretly returned to Zembala. Escort Limbani through hostile territory to a major town where he can rally supporters.

Operation Cobra Strike.

The only thing keeping Ndofa in power is a sophisticated communications centre coordinating his forces.

28 comments:

  1. Stu played a great general Ndofa

    Always on the Back front with initiative it’s never easy.


    With only 60 simbas im going to get Another platoon to enhance the threat and am getting a road bridge built for the dried up
    River bed with an evil looking Cessna with a machine gun pod and a napalm bomb to boot to make it a bigger linear game.

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    Replies
    1. Great game Andy looking forward to the next outing.
      Cheers
      Stu

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  2. A great looking table Stu - makes me think I should get my "modern" stuff out for a quick solo game!

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  3. Replies
    1. Not the day to be a militia man..... Next time...

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks Matt, one a long time in the making.

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  5. Great game, and I really like the options for a follow up.

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    1. You know what it's like, that wargamers spark :-)

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  6. What an absolute blast. I have often thought this would be something I would like to do. Great idea and set up.

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    Replies
    1. All credit to Andy who put it all together...

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    2. Hi Thank you for your comments the Bedford RL lorries were from Anyscale models the Wildgoose was a second hand kit of Ebay 1/48 scale the mercs were MOFO from Gripping beast the Simbas were 1970s Africans with G3 Rilfes which looked like FN Fals to me and the Jeeps were from Grubbies
      The Vickers was a Royal Marines WW2 base from Warlord Games and the Stretcher crew was from Full Metal Miniatures i just havent found a Limbarny figure yet.

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  7. Great game and a great film too:)!

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    Replies
    1. Then the follow up conversation on the way home... was it the prequel to the Expendables :-)

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  8. How brilliant was that! Well done to all involved!

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    1. Cheers Ray - All Andy's work at the Wyre Forest club.

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  9. Super looking game dude. Just rewatched the film!

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  10. That was a beauty! Will you do the other five scenarios?
    What amazing timing, like Mark I had recently re-watched the film, first time since the original viewing on release, inspired by a post on Jeffers blog.
    Best wishes, James

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    Replies
    1. I meant to add. I especially like the DC-3 too. What a ripper model and paint-job.

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    2. Thanks James great fun, I am just the ideas man :-)

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  11. Excellent table there...very cool!

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  12. Still just as challenging for the professionals.

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  13. Hi Force on Force is an Absolute aweosme Sand Box rule set
    Only annoying thing is the lack of Drone rules for ultra modern rules

    We have done so far
    La Drang Valley
    Gulf War
    Fallujah
    And My Fave which is Gothic Serpent
    and now Wild geese
    I am thinking about Bravo 20 next

    Andy

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  14. A long-awaited club game done properly, and Colonel Faulkner's briefing sets the mood perfectly. The image of the mercenaries trudging 25 miles to a remote airfield after losing their convoy at the bridge, with nobody coming to rescue them, is pure Wild Geese. I also enjoyed how the always-on initiative in Force on Force let the outnumbered mercs keep the militia suppressed, and the heavy machine gun sweeping the open ground so most of the force could reach the runway. Getting Julius Limbani onto the plane for just 2 dead and 3 wounded is a fine result, and the follow-up ideas like the Diamond Convoy and Operation Cobra Strike sound very promising. More details here: https://gachanebulaapkmod.com/ Thanks for a cracking report and for sharing the scenario ideas that follow it.

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