Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Warfare 2013 - Kallistra WW1 Game Preview

With Warfare only 3 weeks away, plans are well under way for the Wyvern Wargamers game at Warfare. Dane has been hard at work digging trenches and putting up barb wire and the game sponsored and supported by our good friends at Kallsitra promises to be HUGE albeit in 12mm scale.

Kallistra have an excellent new range of WW1 figures currently underway with plenty more planned with the forth coming 100th anniversary of the start of the 1st World War.

Check out the range here. http://www.kallistra.co.uk/





The plan is to use Through Mud & Blood from the Too Fat Lardies.

If you are going to the show stop by and say hello.

Cheers

Stu

Friday, October 25, 2013

Russo - Japanese War AAR #2 Threat to the Flank

For Sunday nights club I thought I would put on a traditional encounter some where near the Yalu River.....

Scenario 2 - Threat to the Flank.

The Purpose of the Scenario

The Russians must hold the river Yalu, the Japanese must force the river fording it under fire, to mount their main attack, while another part of the force will attempt to turn the enemy flank. The Russians are torn between perserving the main defence and countering the flank attack.

The ground rises steadly to the south over looking the river which is shallow and easy to ford, near the river is a couple of fisherman's huts whilst further up the hill is a small village, further to the west is a stone bridge which provides the Japanese the opportunity to out flank the defending Russians.

Japanese Forces.
2/3rd's must be main force.
1/3rd must be a flanking force.

Russian Forces.
1/2 must be defending the village.
1/2 must be a reaction force.

Success Criteria
The Russian's succeed if they hold the their ground by nightfall preventing the Japanese from advancing North, the Japanese must force the Russians to abandon their positions and inflict as must damage as possible on them.


Russian Briefing
Major Lipov looked out across the Yalu river the morning mist obscuring his view he knew the Japanese could not be far away, General Kuroki Tametomo commander of the Japanese First Army had landed at Chemulpo a few days before and the Russians had been steady falling back.

A messenger arrives, the Japanese have attempted to force the left flank and Lipov is forced to detach a body of men to go at best speed to the bridge to slow the Japanese advance.

Japanese Briefing
Lt Yosi Omura of the 17th Infantry lowered his binoculars the Russians had thrown up entrenchments covering the river, his regiment had been advancing for 24 hrs without rest and is now posed for attack. his force is split between a main force and a flanking force, with instructions to take the bridge and advance across the river breaking the Russian lines.
 
 

Turn one, the Japanese break cover and advance across the open ground, regular infantry supported by Artillery and a HMG, leading the assault is a detachment of Honghuzi Chinese Guerrilla's in the pay of the Japanese. After all why waste Japanese blood. 

 

On the far right the flanking force breaks cover, a section of Japanese supported by a renegade section of  Chinese regulars.


In the village the Russian HMG breaks cover looking to spot the advancing Japanese rushing head long for the shallow river.


In the woods on the Russian left the best the Russian army has to offer the 11th Eastern Siberian Rifle's breaks cover and pours fire into the advancing Chinese attempting to cross the bridge, the opening volley forces the Chinese to go to ground with several points of shock.


In the village, elements of the 4th East Siberian Rifles line the trench lines, of reasonable morale but poor in training, feel confident they can hold back the advancing Japanese.


The Honghuzi under 2nd Lt Tarou Ume are urged on reaching the river, sheltering from the Russian fire by the cover of one of the fishing huts.


Artillery shells fall amongst the Russian lines forcing them to cover. there poor training made the trench not as effective as it could be, but they continued to fire into the advancing Japanese.


On the left things were going rather better for the Russians the accurate fire from Kpt Durov's 11th Rifles had pinned the main Japanese unit and forced the Chinese to seek cover, seizing the advantage the Russians crossed the river counter attacking the ensuing hand to hand damaged both forces as they both sort cover in the wood to lick their woods.
 

The Japanese continue to press home their attack with more sections reaching the river line. The Russians are shattered with numerous levels of shock the Japanese to numerous to be stopped.


In the final turn the Japanese rushed the Russian lines. The first section was defeated but the shock on the Russians forced them from the trench. There was nothing stopping the Japanese from clearing the village.

The HMG's for both sides were terrible spending most of the game jammed the initial fear factor was soon lost as the true performance was revealed.

A great game and really balanced scenario, the Japanese had broken the back of the Russians in the village and were forcing their way over the river and into the village, the flank attack was a disaster, accurate fire with a regular section under a status III big man was able to stop the flank attack in it's tracks.

A moderate Japanese victory.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Chain of Command Jump off Points.

Were the Wombles the original wargamers?
Like my wargamers I just hate throwing anything away.
 
I was having a clear out at the weekend and had some left over frames from Minbits, some Warbases 30mm circular bases which I ordered by mistake and some accessories from Peter Pig which were from their AK47 Modern African range which had remained in a draw from a collection I had long sold off. Perfect for Chain of Command, Jump off Points.



By adding the dice frames, I figured these could be used as shock markers as well Jump off markers, not bad for some left over odds and ends and put together, painted and based in under a day.

"Underground, overground, wombling free
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we
Making good use of the things that we find
Things that the everyday folks leave behind."

Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Adventures of Claude Canard - Episode 3 - Canard's Enemy.

After their escape from the Ottoman column Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" had been drafted into the 18th Infantry Regiment who were in desperate need of officers and Big men after many of their breathen had been struck down with heat exhaustion, disease or wounds following the disastrous attack on Allioup a few days earlier.

The town had now been abandoned by the Ottoman forces who had begun to retire to the interior leaving the French in charge of a nothing more than a dust bowl and a few goats....

The French set out to intercept the retreating garrison, there are concerns the Ottoman's may use the ford at El wetti to make good their escape when the attack begins. To that end Captain Gagon's company has been ordered to seize and occupy El wetti and ensure that the ford is blocked. The main battle is taking place two miles to the west along the river so he has been warned to expect troops attempting to escape the area coming from that direction.

 

 The northern approach to El wetti, the Ottoman forces under Ortan Jandsk a European Officer in the pay of the Sultan have thrown up makeshift barricades blocking the ford.
 

The French advance on a broad frontage looking to tie down the Ottoman defenders, many of the defenders are hidden amongst the buildings and scrub land, only a single blind can be seen behind the market stalls.


 In the battle of the blinds the French spot the mass ranks of the Janissaries.


After seeing their comrades routed earlier in the week they are keen to make amends. 


The main French body advances down the road towards the Ottoman defences, the Bashi-Bazouk defenders let loose an early volley, inflicting minor shock on the advancing French. A passed through the borrowed hat of Ensign Claude Canard, that was jolly close.


 Captain Gagon leads the way......


The 18th Infantry form into line and deliver a crashing volley into the Ottoman defenders, with Ortan Jandsk busily activating the Janissaries.  He has no choice but to watch as his riflemen fall back.



On the right flank the soliatry French section under Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton have been forced back by the Janissary formation which then swings left to catch Gagon's in enfilade. He needs to activiate but Nooooooooooo the tiffin card... 


To the rear of the French lines Major Sinistre enters the table with a further blind to bolster the wavering French forces, who are under constant fire from the town and the Janissaries to their right.


 The reinforced French catch the Janissaries enfilade and give them a dose of their own medicine, just as Khafra Bey enters the table from the West.


24 screaming Arabs with big choppers rush on to the table looking for blood.


Excessive shock disorders the French formation and causes them to drop back out of range,  Ensign Claude Canard struggles to dress his ranks, his section return fire pinning the Ottoman's who are now lining the roof tops.


The Arab mob rushes towards the ordered ranks of Frenchmen who deliver a panicked volley which fails to slow the angry horde. Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton stands firm ready to receive the charge.


A ferocious melee ensues, Kharfa Bey is shot through the chest and his horse bolts towards the ford, but his men fight on forcing the French backwards Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton can do nothing to stop his men falling backwards, what he would give for the crew of the "Le Vendeen" right now.


As the game draws to a close the French are busily redressing their ranks, casualties have been moderate but it will take several turns to lower the shock each units has suffered, Only Ortan Jadsk on the Ottoman side is active and he is unable to influence all units, but his mission is a success the ford is still in Ottoman hands and the main army can slip away intact.
 
Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" know this will be a longer struggle then they first thought.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

All Quiet on the Martian Front - The Boys of Company C.

With December fast approaching and having paid for my pledges through Kickstarter, I thought I would dust off my War of Worlds collection in preparation of the launch of "All Quiet on the Martian Front" from Alien Dungeon which tells of the 2nd Martian Invasion in the US.

The kickstarter campaign raised over $300,000 which should see plenty of freebies, my intention is to use the new models to blend with my existing collection and augment the more Victorian looking items into the home service forces.... using the new rules to boot.
Although other members of the Wyvern Wargamers already has significant plans for a trench system.......

Two months and counting before the goodies arrive.... was that a green flash in the sky???

The guy's over at Alien Dungeon very kindly offered within the Kickstarter campaign a taster of the rules and created a scenario using elements of the starter set.

A sinopsis of the mission is here reframed for the 1st invasion of England.
The Boys of Company C

The “mission” seemed pretty anti-climatic after all the training and the very long march to the staging post. Company C were order to occupying a deserted farm several miles back from the action. The commander a veteran of at least one encounter with the Martians ordered them to dig in the woods rather than the farm house having seen how timber burns under the heat ray before, he had the scars to prove it.

All was quiet when from over the horizon one came a Martian fighting machine striding over hedges and fields heading straight for the farm.
The Veteran Captain ordered his men to stand too.



The farm and surrounding woods, with not a single human to be seen.


The Martian Fighting Machine comes into view, there are several possible locations for the Home Services forces, but which is genuine?


The Martian Commander unleashes his heat ray, burning the closest potential hiding place of the human forces turning the wood to ashes in a matter of seconds.


The Home Service forces unmask from their defensive positions and open up with both rifle and cannon.


A battery of guns steps releases a salvo from their position in the woods.

The Martians hit back sweeping their heat ray across the frontage of the entrenched infantry.



After several minutes of tense exchanges the Martian walker defenses are reduced to such a level that it suffers a critical hit and is felled, it's commander splashed to the four winds......
A small victory for mankind.
 
The draft rules were easy to pick up and challenging for both humans and Martians, the two stage movement makes it a real game of cat and mouse, the dummy markers give the humans a chance to inflict an early hit on the Martians weakening them to allow others to strike home, unless of course the aliens stand off and burn them to a crisp...

A great taster and plenty to prepare for over the coming weeks.....

Friday, October 11, 2013

The Adventures of Claude Canard - Episode Two - Canard's Rescue.

In an earlier posting you were introduced to Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" a parody of all things Sharpe and Hornblower.

At the curtain fall on episode One it was not clear if our heroes had survived the assault on Aulieoup after the French made hard work of breaching the towns defences.


Episode Two opens with Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" in the hands of the Turk.

Fortunately for them a French detachment were sent to cover the rear of the town and have intercepted the Ottoman column as it heads into the interior. Canard and CdM are being dragged behind two stinking camels, Canard has worked his hands free and whenever he wishes he may make his break for freedom stopping to free Cote's on the way of course.

The French detachment must free the Naval officers, they start the game in ambush anywhere within 24" from the point where the road enters the map on the northern edge.



The table and the road north.


The Ottoman's enter the table in column of march unable to change formation or spot any of the hidden Frenchmen until they show their hand.


Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton enter the table tethered to camels.


Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton guarded by El Washarm Pit, he must be overcome if they are to make there escape.


 As the Turks reach the village the trap is sprung, the French unleash a crashing volley on the densely packed ranks of Ottomans.

 

To there rear French cavalry appear from the corn field and set off at a canter towards the heavily shocked advance party.


The trap is sprung.


With odds of 4:1 the Ottomans break and run but not before a further unit of French unleash a follow up volley to make sure they were well and truly out of the nights action.


The Ottoman's head for the hills - or rather dunes....


The Remaining Ottoman Turks square off against the French Cavalry.

Ensign Claude Canard makes his bid for freedom knocking the Turkish Big man to the ground, a Turkish Bey runs to join the melee but is beaten back and forced to yield.


The Turks make one last push to break the French, their lancers beat the French Dragoons with the loss of a single French man and forcing them to retire, only to allow the line infantry to let off a volley into the cavalry driving back to the Turkish main body.


Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" scramble over the dune to freedom.



You won't see us for dust monsieur Turk.

And so another episode draws to close, Ensign Claude Canard and his Friend and mentor Ensign CĂ´telettes de Mouton of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" are back with there brothers in arms.