No mini's left behind (3) Bolt Action Pin Markers - Western Desert.

Last post of the year before the customary review of 2023, a sweep of the spares box as the last of the Western Desert project enter the paint table together with a few left overs.

I found these hanging around as I was making room for new projects - Foundry BEF and a handful of Africa Korps casualties from Artisan these will be perfect for Pin Markers for Bolt Action or Chain of Command. 

The Brits are wearing the wrong kit but it clears a few more of the hidden lead.... 

Two dice sabots per base should be enough.

That's all folks.... See you next year......

Tactics II - Turn 2 Axis - Game 3 Ambush on the highway.

With the Axis forces pushing on the left flank pinning allied units, other Axis units were able to break the river line with a view to swing left into the allied defensive line, however the dice gods were against the Axis forces yet again.

Bad news it's a Patrol Game so they are unable to bring their larger forces to bear and also a defender ambush... They are really not having it their own way at the moment.

Lady luck is once again on the side of the allies the terrain is largely open with a wadi at the far end.... The defenders/ambushers have to engage the enemy for a minimum of 4 turns before they can choose to retire.... The winner being the side which inflict the most casualties.

With a good roll on the reinforcements chart, I opted for a number of light support weapons and a couple of Bren Carriers should I need to pull back quickly.

The Vichy forces came on, a number of light machines guns teams first followed by couple of sections and a truck...

Lying in Ambush the FAO, Mortars, Machine Guns awaited the order to fire.... The Fascists were starting to get strung out on the road. 

Shells ran down on the head of the column, pinning the Vichy forces and HMG fire sweeps the marching infantry.

The French start to get organised and break for cover on the left and right flanks rushing forward to get into small arms range. The column was perhaps larger than anticipated with more troops, lorries backing up behind the first units.

With Armour approaching time to get out of dodge.... whilst casualties were still light.

The allies disappeared into the desert as the axis forces picked up the pieces and were forces to regroup.

Allied losses - 70 Points

Axis losses - 220 Points.

No mini's left behind (2) - British Civil War

Several years ago, A Very British Civil War was all the rage at the Wyverns, with a great campaign set in Worcester and the surrounding area, we even got a mention in the source book.

Tucked away in cupboard of shame was a bunch of metal left over from the project a bunch of militia types, beret wearing troops and vicars... Just the job for the Anglican League - Defenders of the Cathedral.

Within the AVBCW universe the Anglican League were a collection of political groups opposed to the King. They were outspoken on the marriage of the King Edward VIII

The Leagues military wing is structured around the local diocese very often led by clergymen or in the case of Bath and Wells the Bishop himself.

In Worcester out number by the BEF garrison and the local Socialist groups they are content to protect Church property and College Yard. 

The final bare metal was a Vickers HMG team which is a useful support element for the The Severn Riverside Wharf Labours Federation (SRWLF) arch rivals of the BEF, Socialists looking to wrestle the city from the fascists. 

A fun distraction before the next major project in 2024.

Tactics II Game Turn 2 - The Axis forces Strike Back.

With the Allied forces turn over, initiative switches to the Axis Forces, their first move is to attempt to break across the river, pinning a number of infantry units as their more mobile units pushed forward to break across the wadi.

Playing the Allied defender, I opted for a Veteran unit, armed with Anti-Tank Grenades in the hope that their better defensive saves would keep them in the field longer, the terrain was favourable with high ground to the rear and the ability for troops to be dug in.

The fascist forces would be heading straight down the road, with the possibility of reinforcements forcing the left or right flank, so I had to be prepared for that possibility, with infantry dug in on across the front and a mobile reserve of a couple of light tanks to plug any gaps.

On the high ground a HMG and Spotters scan the possible entry routes of the Axis forces.

As the Vichy French appear they are hit by off table and on table mortars peppered their line, the French had deployed a mobile field gun and armour but they failed to hit their mark against the dug in Infantry.

The French struggled to get organised under the burst of HE rounds. The infantry went forward looking to close the ground between the attackers and defenders.

The British light armour advanced to counter the enemy treat and break up the infantry attack, the armour under took a long range dual took place with both sides taking several hits before the French lost a tank.

On the right flank Axis reinforcements turned up in the shape of the mighty Africa Korps, but they were few in number and lightly armoured.

But despite this they were making a nuisance of themselves breaking through the dug in Infantry into the soft under belly taking out a number of support sections, they were driven back by the allied light armour.

All the time the force morale of both sides dropped point by point the French infantry rallied and charged into the wadi and defeated the battered defenders, on the right flank the Germans infantry was routed as it attempted to clear the defenders from their fox holes.

Unbelievably both sides were left with one force morale point. The Allied sniper finally found his mark after missing all game killing the AT Rifle team which forced the axis forces to withdraw. 

The allies had held the river line but losses were heavy on both sides.

Axis - 519

Allied - 445

No mini's left behind (1) - Starship Troopers

After a but of a tidy up in the gaming room, you come across a few more items from the cupboard of shame, I thought I had cleared many of these items during lockdown but clearly not.

So bare metal blisters went on e-bay and several others dropped into the painting queue - On the basis of ship in or ship out - No Mini's are left behind :-)

First up a 3D printed Brain Bug for Starship Troopers - The Mongoose variant sell for around £60.00 on E-bay but this proxy will do just fine... I seem to recall this one was purchased over 4 years ago - finally now table ready.

Perfect for raid scenarios and the like the Mobile Infantry will have their work cut out in the tunnels of Klandethu.

Might be even tempted to get a game in over the Christmas break now this is finished.

Right on to the next box and whatever is tucked away in there.

Tactics 2 = Desert Campaign Allied Move 1, Game 2 - Raid & Prisoner Grab.

Having seized the town of Karalaan 1st Armoured Brigade were tasked with raiding the outskirts of town to unsettle and push back the Axis forces. They can been slow to react and had reached Karalaan only to find it in Allied hands.

The 9th Colonial Infantry Regiment were deployed in the pumping station over looking the town, the concentration of blinds gave a good defensive position with barbwire and slit trenches to bolster the line. However the Allies had some luck and were able to call in a preliminary bombardment hitting the pumping station which put the Vichy forces automatically under pressure.

The Allies picked a full platoon, reinforced by a further section and supporting elements, together with a spotter from an off table artillery piece, more than enough for a raid and prisoner grab?

Unsure of the weak spot in the line, the Allies opted for a couple of section across the entire front with the mass of troops filtering through the mosque. That seemed the closed to the enemy positions as else where there was simply to much open ground to cover.

Rather worryingly the CO spotted a H35 Light tank parked up, that could be problematic as the allies only had a single boyes rifle and no one thought that AT Grenades might be an idea.

Several moves in and the British Infantry moved ever closer to the enemy lines, the spotter for the 3inch scrambled on to the roof top, to get a clearer view of the defenders.

The attackers started to make their move under cover of HE rounds.

As the shells landed, the first section rushed across the road the colonial infantry were unable to raise their heads long enough to supress the Brits, who had their eyes firmly on a light mortar team who were valliantly throwing the occasional round towards the attackers, in a sharp firefight the team was over powered and bound up for a race back to the allied lines.

Meanwhile having sensed this was not the full blown assault they had been expecting, the French Armour rolled forwards chasing down the flank section who were forced to fall back, the 3inch turned to fire on the tank but it was difficult to score a hit. The two HMG's were really taking their toll on the allies.

Over confident perhaps. The Boyes AT team popped up from the mosque wall disabling the French tank and allowing the British to slip away. It would be repaired but it was enough to force the French to call it a night.

The 9th are forced to fall back having sustained losses totalling -346 points to the allied -80 another good showing for the allies. Let's see what the next round brings as the Axis forces take look to respond to the allied opening moves.

Big Bashes.....

Sometimes you just want to line them up and knock them down....

A couple of big games, with plenty of toys on the table. First up a stand up fight between the Brits and French, the whistle of cannon ball and the clouds of black smoke as the French columns looked to break the British line.

In true French style the heavy cavalry charged down the meadow looking to break the thin red line.

Will the British line hold?

Should they have formed a square?

Will 3 rounds a minute put paid to the valiant French attack?

Several hundred years earlier and the Ancient Brits aim to hold back the Roman invaders.

A blood soaked field.

But the Romans hold the line, drill and training beating naked (literally) aggression.

Next up back to the desert.

Africa Korps Support Sections.

Having completed the Commonwealth forces, the German Africa Korps clear the paint table, a mix of Warlord and Artisan Miniatures.

A great addition to the German forces and perfect timing as the campaign games are calling.

The German Light AT Gun - 37mm should be ok for stopping some of the lighter armour the allies have. But might struggle against some of the larger peices.

The battle word 75mm IG will be a valuable addition to the Axis assault.

The main stay of German defences the MG42, the Artisan figures are a little more bulkier than the Warlord figures but they blend in well once based up.

Next up..... a couple of BIG games.... and a green table for a change.