Tactics II - A WW2 Desert Campaign.

Back in the height of lock down I had the idea to play this over zoom, it went back in the cupboard as we got back to normal. Every now and again I have opened the box and thought about turning it into a fully fledged table top game, but never had the volumes or variety of troops to cover all the units. 

Then chatting after the last club night I raised the idea of a campaign to link the games together, up until now we have linked the leaders in games, which is great for a big skirmish type affair but it does not give you that strategic feel, I mentioned Tactics II the 1950's classic and one bright spark suggest  it did not have to be western Europe - It could be a desert kingdom, so there you have it Vichy French and Axis Forces vs Commonwealth. Mixing in elements of Platoon Forward, Chain of Command and Bolt Action.

This could be a solo campaign or a mix of club night games to keep it flowing... Not sure right now but it should keep the brushes working... and give the figures a run out.

Tactics II is a real piece of board game history. It was first published in 1954 and whilst lacking the mechanics of more recent games it has a simplicity to it, with matches forces of Infantry, Armour and specialist units of Amphibious, Parachutists and Mountaineers. 

The board is squares with than hexes, Infantry units only have a rating of 1 point, with Armour a 2, it's a simple IGO - UGO with some variation for movement based on a simple weather chart. You cannot stack units so areas of control are important.

I thought I would tweak things a little, with each HQ holding a zone of command which can influence troops moving, so not all troops could be guaranteed actions and force players to protect HQ counters. Useful when adding in that solo map movement as plans can quickly fall apart. A HQ nearby would give you off board artillery in game, counters would only move if passing an order test, this would improve if close to the HQ's.

Every counter would carry a 1000 point value in Bolt Action and games, maps and opposing forces would be generated using Platoon Forward.

So on with the game.

The Commonwealth obtained the initiative and manage to activate a number of their forces more quickly to move forward although frustratingly one of the main forces in the centre failed to moved, which allowed the Axis forces in red to seize the small city in the centre of the board, although they had their own similar troubles with their main force also failing to activate, so were left with only a single counter to defend the river line.

On the right flank I opted for a swift advance seizing the port city of Karalaan before the axis troops could get a garrison inside. I also dropped parachutists behind the Axis troops to block any reinforcements getting to the city.

The forests on the map represent dense scrubland and rocky undulating terrain definitely not tank country. The rivers some a kin to the Nile, others Wadi's and the like.

Focusing on the centre whilst the Axis forces had managed to bring limited forces up to the river line, my Commonwealth troops outnumbered them 2-1 and had a HQ and Artillery in support. The 14th Infantry The Yorkshire Regiment are first to the fray,

Rolling on the mission chart a very limited scenario - a Patrol. The Terrain was classed as moderate as it contained a river. The randomly generated terrain below - The allied patrol will need to visit the Oasis, rocks, road and village..... Some where out there is a German patrol from the 2nd Mountain Division.

Whoever wins the game pushes the opposing counter back on the map.

Before we play that out, over in the mountainous west the Axis forces had reinforced the city but were facing my advancing Infantry down the coast road with Armoured forces picking there way though the narrow mountain passes. Now that does feel like Operation Exporter.

Not a bad way to spend an evening..... Now to put some toys on the table.