Dust & Tears Campaign - A German Reconnaissance Mission

One of the benefits of a permanent gaming space is some times you just need to shuffle the table pieces. The second game of three for the Axis force.

This game is pretty even with both sides at equal points. Rolling for a scenario it's a reconnaissance patrol with the German forces having to unearth the true strength of the allied forces.

As this was a solo game, the counters represent the various potential Commonwealth forces, Yellow for light, pink for support and red for heavy. 

A desert farm complex has been identified approximately 5 kilometres beyond the current forward line. Intelligence reports are inconclusive regarding the strength and disposition of enemy forces occupying the position.

The farm may serve as:

A supply and water point, a platoon or company defensive position or an observation and reporting post for enemy forces operating in the sector.

Enemy troops are expected to conceal their true strength and will seek to avoid exposing defensive assets unnecessarily. Any advance guards or listening posts encountered should be assumed capable of raising the alarm and withdrawing to the main position.

Your detachment will conduct a reconnaissance of the farm complex 

The mission will be considered successful if:

• More than half of the suspected positions within the farm complex are identified.

• At least one heavy weapon or vehicle location is confirmed.

• The majority of occupied positions are identified.

• A reliable estimate of enemy strength is obtained.

• The patrol returns with sufficient information to enable a future attack plan.

The destruction of the enemy is not the purpose of this operation. Knowledge is the objective.

The Axis force probe forward using the stone wall as cover looking to get eyes on the main complex and immediately bump into a defending Indian section.

Meanwhile in a bold move throwing an armoured car forward flushed out more defenders and a shower of high explosive shells.

Pressing on yet more defenders this time an Armoured Car and AT Rifle team, the Axis scouts fell back.

A radio message back to Battalion HQ and a return dose to on the defenders.

A brisk fire fight and the olive grove was clear of defenders, the German AC having been beaten back on the main road to the village looked to push left only to be countered by the defenders.

With Germans firmly in control of the grove and eyes on the farm with over 50% of the defenders revealed, it was another victory to the German forces - They are finally on a roll.

With the Brits losing 625 Points and the Germans 350 - The Brits fall back on the campaign map.

Chinese 88th Division Command.

It's Sino - Japanese month (again), this month the plan is to get all final pieces finished before a new project in November.

The 3D prints from Kyoushuneko Miniatures are very good, but are missing certain elements such as high level command and the like, so I have dropped in a couple of items from Eureka's range to fill in the gaps.

The Officers with machine pistols and a big sword are just the ticket to take the fight to the Japanese.

I saw a youtube video on converting Warlord Japanese Infantry into Chinese, so had a crack at a head swap on the standard bearer dropping on Kyoushuneko head - he's come out OK.

I did the same for the knee mortar. A useful addition to the defenders.

 Next up a more Chinese in blue.

I hate painting buildings.....

Buildings.... I hate painting buildings.....

They always seem a waste of time given how many figures are in the painting queue.

Two Sheds Fred to the rescue, Fred and Emily are great to work with, great communication and a wonderful paint job.

I had a pre-painted buildings from Hadrian's Walls (sadly OOP) but wanted to match some 3D prints which I had to the same style.

What a great job - A perfect match.

Superb detail on the buildings and the guys have done a fantastic job both inside and out.

The buildings whilst designed for Japan will be perfect for anywhere in the far east and will compliment my existing terrain for anything from the Sino-Japanese project through to the Water Margin.

Add in a Well from 4 Ground which had been hanging around for several years - I am never painting 28mm buildings again.

Two Sheds Fred highly recommended.

If you had not guessed this month it's back to the Sino-Japanese War and the last of the Chinese troops plus a couple of funnies.

Tactic II Campaign - The German counter attack

The Germans were looking for one big push, throwing an armoured company and tow battalions of infantry plus HQ into the fray against one allied armoured company and a battalion of Infantry.

The games are really scaling up. If they could win here the allied front could crack.

The allies were defending a hill top over looking a small settlement they knew they were outnumbered and the terrain was against them, but they had to hold the line.

The German had massed their armoured units into a iron fist to push up the road, while Infantry pushed into the farm complex, including an 88mm.

The plan was to strike hard and fast, the Axis forces drove up the road, light tanks breaking through the vine yards, a solitary Matilda looked to slow the advance damaging the German AFV's but they swamped the British Armour with multiple hits.

Not everything was going their own way, on the left flank the curse of newly painted units still held true, a troop of bren carriers took out the Armoured Car nudging forward.

The platoon commander ranged in on the German defenders suppressing and killing a number of Axis forces.

As 88 AP shells whizzed into the allied lines, a sniper drew a bead on the German artillery crew.

The crew having seen their commander killed fled for cover.

All this was a mere side show and the Axis Armour pressed on breaking into the allied wire, the allied defenders threw what they could at it, but light tanks and Boyes AT Rifles were no match for PZIII's.

Cresting the dune, they panzers broke into the infantry who were forced out of their positions. The field belonged to the Germans.

A vicious fight.

The Allies were pushed back losing 36 Points within Xenos Rampant

The Germans lost 20 Points.

On to the next battle - 1 down 2 to go.

Tactics II - Dust Tears & Dice Campaign - The Axis counter attack.

6 months have passed since the last campaign game - where did the time go?

The initiative switches to the Axis forces and after the last engagement Dust, Tears & Dice: XR - Allied Assault - Tactics II Campaign. a chance to get on the front foot.

A some point you just have to break a few eggs, so the Axis roll the dice and breakout from the city looking to break open the front, it an audacious move they drop their limited paratrooper battalions to neutralise the allied command and control and throw fresh German Infantry and Armour into the assault. 

In the past 6 months the Germans have been busy, with reinforcements drafted in for the offensive, these 'reinforcements' come from Blitzkreig Workshop on E-Bay he has quite the order book so you have to wait awhile but well worth it.

Let's see if the curse of newly painted units extend to other people's efforts.

Pony Wars - Wagon Trains ho.....

Wyre Forest Club day and an opportunity to dust off the 7th Cavalry for an outing into the badlands. The rule mechanism are of their time, so in an effort to keep away from the rule book and it's numerous conversation charts, I switched the firing elements to use Men Who Would be King. 

Three valiant commanders set out heading for the 3 homesteads and the Indian village.

As is the way the columns wind there way through the wilderness, when smoke is seen rising from the centre of the table.

Having learned from an earlier outing the commanders knew to be more assertive and keeping two commands together rode towards the smoke and the high ground running down the Indians atop of the hill. The white man was feeling confident. But they were still some way off reaching the homesteads and now further complicated by a wagon train who on seeing the smoke circled the wagons and refused to move.

To the West there was trouble, the homestead was under attack from two bands of Indians and a further wagon train appeared heading for the fort, yet more civilians who will need to be escorted.

In the centre of the table the US Artillery shocked the Indians gathering on the other side of the valley with high explosive shells. As the cavalry pushed through the gap.

Elsewhere the wagon train having been brought under orders was aided by a screen of cavalry under pressure from a large Indian Warband. 

Matters were being brought to a head, the Indian village was in sight and whilst the blue coats had lost a few men the concentration of firepower was enough to break the Indian defenders leaving the camp wide open.... Victory for the 7th Cavalry.

A great outing, the cards fell nicely for the cavalry with limited Indians and no drums to rally the Indian warbands. The conversion to MWWBK worked well keeping the booking to a minimum. The ammunition rules need a tweak but a good blend of old rules and new.

Lets see what happens next time the bugles call.

The Peasants are revolting.....

Somewhat later than planned - a theme for the month.

Play a game and paint something to compliment it :-)

After the Excalibur outing I dug out half a box of peasants that were left over from one of the Crusader units and thought they would be useful to compliment the Knights of the Round Table and defend their homesteads against the invaders.

First up 5 missilemen and a cluster of arrows just because they were left on the sprue. A mix of greens and browns with some pretty flowers to show they are the good guys...

A bunch of spearmen ready with their wall of spears ok maybe more like a hedge of spears.

Finally a cluster of villagers with hand held weapons, the one eyed leader suggests is bark may be worse than is bite.

Nice to get these off the paint queue and table ready.