Tactics 2 Campaign - The probe at El Habira

After the last short encounter, I did not want to waste the table, so linking it back to the Tactics 2 campaign an opportunity to knock over one of the outstanding games and the battle around El Habira the British had pushed into the town and the Germans saw the opportunity to counter attack.

After the last game taking a core platoon a side, I rolled for additional support for each side. The British had been busy and anticipating a further German attack had thrown up some wire on the exposed left flank and a mine field on the right.

The patrol phase feel worked out well for the Germans with jump off points on both flanks of the village, Infantry massed on the lift, while mortar team peppered the village from the left.

The commonwealth infantry were pinned at the rear of the village scrambling to get to fighting positions.

The Afrika Korps set under the cover of the barrage and rushed towards the outskirts of the settlement.

The Germans were not to have it their own way a section of Indian troops had made it into the lead building and poured fire into the advancing Axis forces. The Germans dived for cover from the Indian fire.

The Germans were caught in a cross fire from an emerging section near the oasis.

With the first section under pressure and pinned down, the second German section assaulted the Indian position, driven back on the first assault, they called down mortar fire and went again finally forcing the Indians back. 

With the main building vacant, the Germans set about moving through the other buildings slowing driving the British forces from the village.

A hard fought victory for the Germans, the village was in Axis hands but at the cost of a couple of valuable sections. 

A fun game lasting quite a bit longer than game one. Nor the paperwork challenge of converting two damaged Chain of Command sections to Bolt Action points. 

Chain of Command 2 - Back to the Desert

The past week or so has almost been as hot at the Western Desert.

Another opportunity to give CoC2 a run out, an encounter between a platoon of Afrika Korp and Commonwealth infantry, I borrowed the infantry stats from the unofficial campaign the Battle of Gazala 1942.

A simple patrol game with a cluster of adobe buildings near an oasis with a platoon each.

The patrol phase pinned the allies back on the outside of the village with the jump off points behind the large dune and the oasis.

The Germans held the cards and using the wadi were able to gain a strong position to the front of the village. The AK advanced forward being caught in the open by HE rounds and Indian Infantry who crested the dune firing into the first squad, the junior leader was killed instantly.

The Germans returned fire driving back the Commonwealth troops behind the crest in the distance.

A double turn for the allies and got back into some kind of order with their senior leader getting the troops back into shape and a concentration of fire into the German position, another junior leader killed.

Despite the Germans having entered the village two leaders down the patrol decided they did not need the village that badly....

One of those games where casualties are light but the unlikely loss of leaders and a couple of CoC Dice change the outcome of the game.

I suspect the Germans will be back.

The Battle of Princeton 1777 - Rebels & Patriots.

The 250th Anniversary of the birth of America tempted me give the AWI forces a roll out. I picked up a copy of the Live Free or Die rules on PDF, the scenario's are great, they come with detailed maps and force breakdowns they need a little bit of work to convert to Rebels and Patriots.

Borrowing directly from the scenario with a slight tweak on the number of turns given the potential for commands to fail within R&P.

The game begins at 7am and lasts 10 turns, until mid morning. 

The British earn a victory if they can maintain control of road exit to Trenton or Princeton and inflict higher losses than they sustain at the end of the turn limit. This would delay Washington long enough for Cornwallis to react. Any other result is an American victory. 

The British deploy first on the left of the table with the US and Mercer command opposite on the main approach.

Washington begins on the table with Cadwalader’s brigade on the far right flank.

The British Light companies and Grenadiers advance knowing the they have to strike an early blow. They advance swiftly taking the fight to the American militia.

Cadwalader’s Brigade starts to take casualties before they had a chance to line out the first militia unit fell back disrupted. 

On the left flank the Mercers small militia brigade was under pressure from the German Jaegers pushing through the wood. 

Reinforcements for both sides start to flood the able the “Recruit/ Convalescent” regiment arrives on Turn 3 for the Brits together with the 55th Foot arriving on Turn 5 crossing the creek/ 

For the US Hitchcock’s brigade arrives from a logging trail on Turn 3. Fermoy arrives in column from Turn 5, and Mifflin arrives in column on Turn 7. 

Things were starting to get interested in the centre as the US pushed forward only to be countered by the experienced British every time the Militia lined out they were brought under fire by the thin red line.

Fermoy's mounted militia rushed forward on the left flank, driving the British backwards.

A vicious fire fight amongst the dense woodland, slowing the Americans gained the upper hand but at a great cost.

The clock was winding down, the British held the field, their Light Infantry and Grenadiers were being whittled down but a numerous American militia units were broken or down to half strength,  History was not to be repeated and the road to Princeton or Trenton would remain closed.

A fun battle the Rebels and Patriot rules flow really quickly, with 4 times the points recommended in the book, but still fought to a reasonable conclusion in under 3 hours. Each brigade was a drawn randomly to to decide who activated and in what order, this created some interesting challenges beyond the risk of activations within each brigade. 

HISTORICAL OUTCOME Heavily outnumbered and surprised to find himself facing the entire Continental Army, Lt. Col. Mawhood put up a tremendous fight. He was unable to defend either road exit, and the broken remnants of his command reunited with Cornwallis that night, at a cost of 400 men, or 30% of his brigade. The Americans pressed on to take Princeton and earned Washington his first victory over British regulars in the field. Remarkably, American losses numbered just 100 men, but famously included Washington’s friend.

Fire Forge Games - Christian Archers.

The marathon painting task rumbles on....

Next up a unit of Fire Forge Archers to add to the march of the pilgrims.

I painted up a number of figure bases from Warbases from their Midgard range these will help with movement of the every growing mass.

With a few games of Chain of Command lined up in the next couple of weeks, I can feel a change coming....