OPERATION MAX UND MONTZ - Wyre Forest Wargames Club on the Road...

The final post of March and a quick overview of our annual outing to WMMS hosted by the Alumwell Wargames Club. This year we opted for a WW2 outing on the Eastern Front.

A great show, with a very relaxed atmosphere, not the first on the list for traders with several of the main brands no longer attending, but then I have been going a very long time well before the internet.... However it does allow you to linger that little bit longer at each stand and pick up several pieces which you might have missed in some of the other shows where you are 2-3 deep in those first 3 hours of the day.

Numbers felt to be down around 15% to my eye, but it was Mothering Sunday which might account for the slight drop off. Let's of great games on offer and plenty of eye candy for future projects.

A great days gaming, chatting with the occasional bargain thrown in.

Apologies only our game on offer on this post and then mostly from the morning session, I am sure others will share their wider Pic's across the blogosphere. 

OPERATION MAX UND MONTZ, SEPTEMBER 1942 – GROSSDEUTSCHLAND INFANTRY DIVISION – EAST OF TSCHERMASSOWO.

 A portrayal of the advance of Sturmpionier Battalion GD launching a daring operation in the Gostischka Vally against the enemy bunkers of the so-called “Cemetery Hill” due east of the town of Tschermassowo.

The main objective of Code Name Max Und Moritz was the seizing of the strategic heights to control the hill and observe enemy forces to the east and enable to make countermeasures against Soviet artillery Positions.

Under an Artillery Barrage and support Stuka’s the 2^nd & 3^rd Companies attacked the hill with Satchel charges, flamethrowers, hand grenades, spades and knives, while the 7^th Company attacked to the East of the hill in “Prittwitz Hollow”

 

The Game.

Can the Russians stop the German advance and the capture of Cemetery Hill?

 

Played with using the Bolt Action Core rules alongside elements of Chain of Command introducing Force Morale, variable movement and turn end. 

When the scenario calls for an air strike some is bound to bring a Stuka.... it took all day but it finally found it's mark, which gave the Germans a marginal victory.

If you fancied giving us a try you can find more details of the club here. https://www.wfgamers.org.uk/

Dispatches from the front XXXVI - A rare double header.

A little bit behind on posts of late, hopefully things should calm down in a couple of weeks once year end is out of the way, this real life stuff can seriously hinder hobby time.

Last weekend saw a rarity on the hobby front, a show and an all day game..... I suspect I will have to make up for that in the coming weeks, lets kick of with Hammerhead. A great show as always from Paul and Sally at Kallistra the hall was packed with plenty of games to chose from and most traders 2-3 people deep. I was reflecting on traders that were missing and the number that now concentrate their efforts on perhaps 3-4 shows a year, you can't blame traders given the cost of overnight accommodation and travel costs. That's a lot of margin to make up before you have even sold a pack of figures.

I did my bit with a nice haul from the show. I am trying to be more proactive so on the evening started to prep them before they disappeared into the draw of things I really must get round to finishing, it might allow me to get a little bit of prep across the week.

The haul Pendragon for the AWI Project with a number of additional buildings and phase three of the project, with more Militia, British Cavalry, Indians and more casualty markers. The under cloth hills from Kallistra will give me more options on the tabletop.

Finally a a couple of packs from Perry to bulk out the Christian forces for the Crusades, separating the Footsore Mini's from their larger cousins. The next game is scheduled for early April so no pressure to get them complete.

With barely time to recover Sunday saw a Wyre Forest all dayer with a dry run for the Alumwell show at the end of the month, I won't give the scenario away but it sees German mechanised forces take on Russian defenders.

Having a dry run gave us the opportunity to tweak the forces and ensure that the scenario moves at pace and gives a balance of troops for each side.

A big shout out to Howard from the club, knowing my Crusades project is underway he very kindly gifted me his "to do" pile... Very generous.... but wow the list of things to do is growing day by day....

Meanwhile back from hibernation the LOTR's campaign is back, over a year has passed since the last posting - Dust, Tears & Dice: LOTR Campaign - Back from the annuals of time. New purchases from my wargaming buddy has perhaps pushed Infamy to it's limits so we discussed switching to Lion/Dragon Rampant it will certainly give a faster play and both rule sets have enough characteristics for the various troops types. We will need to tweak the points for each campaign force but it should not take long to convert.

A greater tester game saw a win for the good guys.... shame it did not count. It was great to be able bring the campaign back to life, as always so many games, so little time.

Tactics II - Allied Turn 4 - Battle 2 - Oasis Assault.

The last game was September - wow

Back to the Tactics II campaign and the second battle of the Allied offensive, this game sees the British breaking out of the port of Karalan looking to push aside a solitary Infantry formation in a defensive position dug in around a desert oasis. Out numbered by 3:1 including Armour - how long could the Axis last?

If anyone is interested in the wider campaign this was the last post - Dust, Tears & Dice: Allied Turn 4 - The Allied hammer blow falls.

A flash of greenery in a desert landscape....

Hidden amongst the rocks and long grass the German defenders await the advance of the Allies.

Sensing the sneaky Germans might be waiting for them, the allies sent a flanking force to roll up the flank, Vickers Light Tanks and Bren Carriers sweep right, the vehicles are showered in sand as a mortar round lands close to the force.

In the centre a dreaded 88mm AT gun appears through the heat haze.

The 88 immediately makes an impact taking out one of the lead Matilda's as it enters the table.

The race is on, knowing the damage the 88 could do, the allies put their foot down, infantry flooded the table as they looked to close the gap on the defenders.

The allies call in mortar fire and get a lucky strike landing on the 88mm - result... Having ranged in it was only a matter of time.

Across the front the British and Commonwealth forces closed in on the defenders, an Anti-Tank gun was quickly neutralised before it could counter the advance on the left. A second Matilda pushed towards the oasis.

In a final hurrah a section of Africa Korps rush from the undergrowth to assault the approaching armour, they failed to score a hit, the supporting infantry beat the attackers back.

With the infantry attack repulsed and the 88 destroyed by another salvo from the mortar the German morale collapsed, unable to retreat due to a blocking force on the map, the German Infantry Battalion entered into captivity.

It was nice to dust off the campaign again, the loss of the allied heavy tank was quite a point loss but taking an entire unit off the map was a great result for the allies. The road was open on the left flank.

Dispatches from the front XXXV - Getting stuff done.

February already...

Whilst real life can often get in the way in the final quarter of the financial year, thank heavens for a hobby that keeps me occupied outside of work.

Sticking with the theme of getting stuff done it looks like February is shaping up to be another Crusade month, after the Cotswold day I still have a pile of Arab and Christian forces to get done. But first up a Sarissa Radio Station, a gift from a friend from his to do pile.

The Sarissa kits go together really well and a swift paint job and a bunch of posters to make it suitable for a number of games for Modern Africa and the Visitor mash up in Zikanga.

The Arabs are prepped and based over Christmas so time to get them on the paint table.

Meanwhile another year older a whole pile of inspiration for the year ahead.

So many plans so little time.

Allied Turn 4 - The Allied hammer blow falls.

Allied Turn 4

Things are hotting up in the Tactics II campaign with engagements taking place across the front (normally the breaking point of most campaigns with more games than time allows.) 4 battles to play out this round..

Starting from right to left the Allies look to break out from the recently captured port of Karalaan but found there way unhindered by a solitary Infantry formation they would need to pushed aside. Rolling for a scenario within Platoon Forward - A platoon attack is called for against a defensive position. Heavily outnumbered this could be a short lived battle for the Axis defenders.

Similarly in the centre the blue forces/allied army was pushing up from the centre catching the Axis forces who had crossed the river and were screening the city, they had failed to activate to fall back and have been caught by three times their number.

The third battle is an all armoured affair with both sides under taking a point reconnaissance and finally on the left flank allied forces continued to face off against each other, a veteran mountain unit had cleared the pass looking to cut off the Axis forces at the river, but have out stripped their supporting units.

On the far left the allied forces have pushed down the mountain road and were on the outskirts of El Habira generating a Battle (Type N) Defence against flank attack.

On with the first battle and a challenging clash. The Italian defenders who were outnumbered 3:1 but were confident in taking a chunk out of the allied attackers. The terrain fell nicely for the red forces with a village and rough ground all sitting on their side of the table. The Allied forces would need to clear open ground to reach the defenders.

We are a small gaming group and you get to know how people play, however every now and again you can be surprised by players actions and this was one of those occasions.

With a road running into the cluster of buildings the British player put is foot down and headed straight for the village neither side knew the exact numbers they are up against.

Turn one and the Italian defenders open up turning the lead lorry into a burning wreck with the occupants scrambling into the scrub.

However having sprung the trap the remainder of the allied column bypassed the first wreck and pushed into the village, the small number of defenders were unable to stop the charging lorries.

The allied attackers spilled from the backs of trucks and set about the defenders. Quite a bold move and not one the Italians had expected.

On the right flank more allied troops entered the fray, they were brought under mortar fire but it did not stop their advance as they looked to envelope the village.

In the centre the Italians were flanked as the allies leapt from one house to the next.

Finally Italian reinforcements entered the table but the village was already in allied hands, the Italians looked to open up on the speeding transport but far off a solitary Matilda fired a 2 Pdr round which sent the Italian tank to go Down.

Boom and a second shell brews the first tank. The second tank had had enough and retired from the table it's Force Morale broken.

A short but bloody affair the Italian formation was all but destroyed as a fighting force and will need to be reconstituted in the replacement zone as an inexperienced unit.

On to the next encounter and hopefully a more balanced battle.

Tactics II - Turn 3 Axis - Game 6 Spotters Ridge.

After being mothballed over the summer months the Tactics II Desert Campaign kicks off again, thanks to my good gaming buddies who indulge my map movements and come along to roll some dice, the games take on a new meaning when their is a little more of a back story.

A few miles outside of Karalaan the 1st Parachute brigade are holding the road looking to stall the Axis advance.

The German Armoured formation having been slow in mustering is finally pushing forward looking to counter attack and recapture the costal city where the allies have been shipping in reinforcements the Axis force need to put them under pressure before they can breakout.

Using Platoon Forward the mission is Hasty Attack which orders the German to breakthrough the British lines who are holding a rocky rise and the only pass on route to the city.

Both sides were given the aerial photo showing the ridge and the road rather than blinds both sides were given their available points to spend, but are also provided with the option of additional support should they pass the various rolls. The allies had a positive roll on the support table and were able to deploy a stretch of barbwire to cover the road this would be deployed after the Germans had announced their table top plan.

Hidden amongst the scrub and rocks the allies awaited the advance of the Germans. A glint from the spotter reveals his location as he ranges in on the advancing column.

The Armoured Car moves up the road but is brought under fire by the allies bringing down mortar fire and an off board 25 Pdr. A lucky strike and the A/Car is immobilised. The German infantry scatter. Not the best of starts the curse of freshly painted units strikes again.

The German armour swings left across the desert plain, still no sign of the Allied defenders. They break into the compound the locals having left hours before.

The Germans fan out and head towards the ridge line Pz III's and infantry advance forward.

Shells land amongst the advancing Germans as they moved swiftly to secure the ridge line still no sign of the defenders.

Unable to wait any longer the Allied forces opened up on the advancing Axis forces killing a number of the attackers, the armour responds sweeping the line, artillery shells burst amongst the ridge line. The casualties start to mount.

The clock was ticking down the Brits start to drop from the firing line seeking shelter on the reverse sloop having kept the Germans at bay for as long as possible. At this point the British as well up on points.

No one was certain what happened next the allies ahead on points decided to fall back on the table, they only have two parachute formations in their roster and they may be needed elsewhere but in a fubar moment the Infantry falling back from the German assault bump into the Captain moving forwards, words were exchanged and burst of fire and the officer is killed. A costly loss of 75 points on game night just as the clock struck 11.00 pm.

A hard fought battle with losses at 145 Brits to the Germans 135. The allied forces fall back on the map but are forced to swing right to avoid the enemy forces on their flank, despite a hard fought effort the road to Karalaan is open.

Next up the Allied initiative and an opportunity to counter the German attack.