AVBCW - The Battle of Powick Bridge 1938

Harry Doyle smiled as he released the carrier pigeon into the evening sky,  reinforcements were on there way, after the recent set back at Park Royal the Leader of the Severn Riverside Wharf Labours Federation had received word that a flying column of Gloucester dockers were on route via upton.
Was the tide turning in favour of the forces of the left.?

The plan was a simple one seize the Bridge at Powick opening up access to the city from the West.

The main road bridge was well defended but the old Bridge of the1st civil war fame, was less so with only a single bunker  guarding the approach, the Socialists were also made aware by a local angler of a crossing at the weir and salmon tanks, which had been over looked by the Fascists, allowing the dockers to cross the Teme to flank the BUF positions.

Top Left the Old Powick Bridge and Power station, the Weir crossing can be seen to the right.

Dawn on the 7th under the cover of a low lying mist to protect them from the defenders of the road bridge the dockers advance on a board front pushing down the road to Powick Bridge and across ham hill towards the River Teme.

We used the Too Fat Lardies Mud & Blood Rules, with a couple of card tweaks to add to the 1938 flavour, The BUF defenders were forced to start within 10inches of the Power Station and Bridge, all BUF defenders started the game on blinds or hidden in the terrain.

The dockers must exit the bulk of their forces off the southern table edge.

Opening moves and the BUF push forward their armoured car to cover the bridge and the approaches to the the Bridge from the Malvern Road.

The dockers enter the table to armoured cars and several sections of infantry, the Socialist opt not to enter on blinds to give them the opportunity to  fire on to the bridge defenders.

A Fascist  blind rushes to the weir realizing that they have left their flank exposed, socialist blinks can be seen in the background sweeping down from Ham Hill.

The dockers reach the Vernon Arms (a wool shop in this encounter) and skirt around the rear to avoid the harassing fire from the BUF pill box, meanwhile a good turn of cards has pushed a second section into the enclosures to the right of the Pill box.

  

At the Weir the Socialist blinds cross the river, whilst a BUF Blind takes up a postion in the meadow covering the crossing.

The end of the turn and both players unmask, the BUF are significantly outnumbered armed only with rifles and close assault weapons, whilst the docks have several lewis guns in their armoury.

The BUF and local Police rush to support the weir defenders knowing that the power station and bridge will compromised if they cannot hold the right flank.

  

Despite the BUF card coming up first the rifle fire is insufficient to stop the advancing dockers, they move forward and close assault the BUF defenders, despite the fact they held the hedge row, the SMG and pistol armed dockers inflicted sufficient casualties to drive the BUF from the field leaving their Big Man mortally wounded in the mud.

Meanwhile at the bridge the Socialist made their play, bursting from the hedgerow they charged into the BUF defenders who were unable to bring sufficent firepower to bear, unable to retreat the shell shocked defenders surrendered to the forces of the left.

 

Playing an heroic leader card the fired up communists charged across the bridge hand grenades primed.

 The dockers inflicted sufficient hits on the vehicle to force the crew to bail and flee the table.

The BUF commander attempted to rally the fleeing section in front of the power station but was set upon by the advancing dockers a further fire fight ensued forcing to the BUF to head for the realative safety of the Powick power station.

The BUF on the run, their would be some dark nights in Worcester in the coming weeks unless the government forces to recapture the power station....

A great nights gaming with plenty to keep both sides busy........

Played in under 3 hours although we could have played for longer if the militia had turned up for the far right.

Wargames Illustrated Photo Shoot... Wyvern Wargamers

Over at Wyvern Wargamers we had the pleasure of hosting Dan and Neil from Wargames Illustrated at the last club, Dan was looking for a game to compliment a forthcoming article for the Magazine.

I have been reading the magazine since issue 1 and never thought that I would see my stuff in print. 
I won't say too much now, but a great game was had by all and wow what a difference professional lighting and a backdrop make.

Dan had read this blog and we had the game to match his article, it makes this blogging lark worth while and hopefully gets the club some coverage for new members.......

 

You can expect to see the completed article in early FY13.

You can find the club at www.wyvernwargamers.org.uk

Can't wait.

AVBCW - Blackshirts Muster

With  Sunday's game fast approaching, I thought I would draw up the forces for the engagement, my painting style has changed slightly over the last couple of years and the Command Group need to be touched up a little adding a little more depth to the flesh tones, they are also missing the Silfor Grass  which seems to have become the wargamers must over recent years..

I have also had the opportunity to finish two HMG's to support the defenders of Powick Bridge.

Stay tuned for the AAR.

AVBCW - Worcester Aflame

How time flies it been 12 months since the VBCW has had an outing, Next club night at Wyvern Wargames club see's a return to the City of Worcester Campaign.

Time for a quick recap.....

The city is held by the BUF with occasion support from the army, armed factions have sprung up all over the city defending their wards and boroughs.

The main resistance to the government is the SRWLF - Severn Riverside Wharf Labours Federation a communist group controlling the area around Diglis receiving support armed support from the factory workers of Birmingham and Gloucester dockers..

Buoyed by the success of recent engagements weeks, the SRWLF look to consolidate their position in the City.

The fascists have for a long while held an OP in the park land on Fort Royal Hill over looking the city and it's approaches from the South, this has been used to interdict the movements of the SRWLF and other opposing factions, if the SRWLF could secure this position they could move freely in the southern part of the city and observe the BUF garrisons stationed at the Cathedral and City Centre.




Crossing the canal at Sidbury, the plan is a simple one, flank the bunker covering the park entrance and seize control of the OP.


Using the lock gate and a local canal boat leading elements of the SRWLF push through the surrounding buildings, a small BUF patrol is sighted on the right flank but is largely ignored as the SRWLF pushed forward.

Elements of the BUF move down the hill to engage the SRWLF, the Marxists are forced left and break cover from behind one of the town houses only to be met by a whithering fire from a second  BUF platoon hidden in the tree line, taking several casualties they are forced to fall back.




The SRWLF centre company push forward to secure the terrace houses facing the park and force the defending BUF to fall back, but mindful of the fascist HMG positioned on the hill are content to only fire at distance rather than venture out into the open for more than a few seconds.


The BUF patrol ignored in the first turn had worked it's way into a position to fire on the flank of the SRWLF and had covered the canal escape route, sensing the battle swinging in their favour they burst from cover in a bold attempt to seize the command elements of the SRWLF.


This was the last straw for the Marxists and they were forced to leave the table leaving a number of their wounded behind.

 Fort Royal remains in BUF hands...

Next week the Battle of Powick Bridge 1938..