Dust & Tears Campaign - A German Reconnaissance Mission

One of the benefits of a permanent gaming space is some times you just need to shuffle the table pieces. The second game of three for the Axis force.

This game is pretty even with both sides at equal points. Rolling for a scenario it's a reconnaissance patrol with the German forces having to unearth the true strength of the allied forces.

As this was a solo game, the counters represent the various potential Commonwealth forces, Yellow for light, pink for support and red for heavy. 

A desert farm complex has been identified approximately 5 kilometres beyond the current forward line. Intelligence reports are inconclusive regarding the strength and disposition of enemy forces occupying the position.

The farm may serve as:

A supply and water point, a platoon or company defensive position or an observation and reporting post for enemy forces operating in the sector.

Enemy troops are expected to conceal their true strength and will seek to avoid exposing defensive assets unnecessarily. Any advance guards or listening posts encountered should be assumed capable of raising the alarm and withdrawing to the main position.

Your detachment will conduct a reconnaissance of the farm complex 

The mission will be considered successful if:

• More than half of the suspected positions within the farm complex are identified.

• At least one heavy weapon or vehicle location is confirmed.

• The majority of occupied positions are identified.

• A reliable estimate of enemy strength is obtained.

• The patrol returns with sufficient information to enable a future attack plan.

The destruction of the enemy is not the purpose of this operation. Knowledge is the objective.

The Axis force probe forward using the stone wall as cover looking to get eyes on the main complex and immediately bump into a defending Indian section.

Meanwhile in a bold move throwing an armoured car forward flushed out more defenders and a shower of high explosive shells.

Pressing on yet more defenders this time an Armoured Car and AT Rifle team, the Axis scouts fell back.

A radio message back to Battalion HQ and a return dose to on the defenders.

A brisk fire fight and the olive grove was clear of defenders, the German AC having been beaten back on the main road to the village looked to push left only to be countered by the defenders.

With Germans firmly in control of the grove and eyes on the farm with over 50% of the defenders revealed, it was another victory to the German forces - They are finally on a roll.

With the Brits losing 625 Points and the Germans 350 - The Brits fall back on the campaign map.

Tactic II Campaign - The German counter attack

The Germans were looking for one big push, throwing an armoured company and tow battalions of infantry plus HQ into the fray against one allied armoured company and a battalion of Infantry.

The games are really scaling up. If they could win here the allied front could crack.

The allies were defending a hill top over looking a small settlement they knew they were outnumbered and the terrain was against them, but they had to hold the line.

The German had massed their armoured units into a iron fist to push up the road, while Infantry pushed into the farm complex, including an 88mm.

The plan was to strike hard and fast, the Axis forces drove up the road, light tanks breaking through the vine yards, a solitary Matilda looked to slow the advance damaging the German AFV's but they swamped the British Armour with multiple hits.

Not everything was going their own way, on the left flank the curse of newly painted units still held true, a troop of bren carriers took out the Armoured Car nudging forward.

The platoon commander ranged in on the German defenders suppressing and killing a number of Axis forces.

As 88 AP shells whizzed into the allied lines, a sniper drew a bead on the German artillery crew.

The crew having seen their commander killed fled for cover.

All this was a mere side show and the Axis Armour pressed on breaking into the allied wire, the allied defenders threw what they could at it, but light tanks and Boyes AT Rifles were no match for PZIII's.

Cresting the dune, they panzers broke into the infantry who were forced out of their positions. The field belonged to the Germans.

A vicious fight.

The Allies were pushed back losing 36 Points within Xenos Rampant

The Germans lost 20 Points.

On to the next battle - 1 down 2 to go.

Tactics II - Dust Tears & Dice Campaign - The Axis counter attack.

6 months have passed since the last campaign game - where did the time go?

The initiative switches to the Axis forces and after the last engagement Dust, Tears & Dice: XR - Allied Assault - Tactics II Campaign. a chance to get on the front foot.

A some point you just have to break a few eggs, so the Axis roll the dice and breakout from the city looking to break open the front, it an audacious move they drop their limited paratrooper battalions to neutralise the allied command and control and throw fresh German Infantry and Armour into the assault. 

In the past 6 months the Germans have been busy, with reinforcements drafted in for the offensive, these 'reinforcements' come from Blitzkreig Workshop on E-Bay he has quite the order book so you have to wait awhile but well worth it.

Let's see if the curse of newly painted units extend to other people's efforts.

Tobruk 1941 - Bolt Action

Wyre Forest Club Day and the Battle for Toburk.

April 1941. The British fortress of Tobruk stands alone on the Libyan coast, held by the battle‑hardened Australian 9th Division, supported by British artillery and a handful of tanks.

Rommel’s newly arrived Afrika Korps, fighting alongside the Italian Ariete and Brescia Divisions, launches its first probing assaults. Dust storms, poor maps, and fierce resistance turn the attack into a brutal, confused struggle across wadis, wire, and minefields.

A 6 player game with 3 Allied Players & 3 Axis Attackers - Forces listed below for those who are interested.

Player A – Australian Infantry Company

• 3× Veteran infantry sections,  1× Vickers MG, 1× 2‑inch mortar

Player B – Australian Infantry Company

• 3× Veteran infantry sections, 1× Boys AT rifle, 1× Vickers MG, 1× Forward Observer (artillery)

Player C – Australian Support & Reserves

• 2× Infantry sections, 1× 3‑inch mortar, 1× AT gun (2‑pdr), 1× Carrier section (2 carriers)

Pooled Troops - British Armour & Artillery

• 1× Matilda II, 1× Cruiser Mk IV, 1× 25‑pdr artillery, 1× Bren carrier with engineers

Axis Attackers (3 Players)

Player E – German Afrika Korps (Assault Group)

• 2× Veteran infantry squads, 1× Panzer III, 1× Panzer II, 1× MMG, 1× Light mortar

Player F – German Afrika Korps (Mobile Group)

• 2× Mechanised infantry squads (trucks), 1× Panzer II, 1× 81mm mortar, 1× Sniper

Player G – Italian Ariete Division

• 3× Regular infantry squads, 1× L6/40 light tank, 1× Breda MG team, 1× Medium mortar

Italian Brescia Division

• 3× Infantry squads, 1× 47mm AT gun, 1× Autoblinda AB41 armoured car, 1× Engineer squad (demolitions)

Axis Objectives

• Primary: Capture at least two Allied strongpoints (bunkers, trenches, or artillery pits).

• Secondary: Exit one unit off the Allied table edge (representing a breakthrough).

• Bonus: Destroy the Matilda II.

Allied Objectives

• Primary: Prevent Axis forces from capturing two strongpoints.

• Secondary: Destroy at least one Axis armoured vehicle.

• Bonus: Keep the perimeter line intact for 10 turns.

On the day a score draw,  the Axis forces were lucky destroying the Matilda in the opening exchange having massed their armour on the right flank, a strong advance from the Italians in the centre was held up by Mortar and Bren fire. 

The Australians continued to funnel troops into the forward damaged bunker, the Italians got close but were unable to break in to it. The German Armour reached the lip of the trench line, but the clock ran down.

A fun game with everyone engaged from the first turn. Thanks to Steve the War Photographer for the excellent shots of the game.

Western Desert - Recon Units.

In a break from the Sino-Japanese project, a quick side step back to Operation Exporter and three Perry Miniature vehicles that that have been languishing in the cupboard of shame for a number of months.

First up a Vichy Dodge Armoured Car, built on a Dodge Commercial truck body with hand cut steel plate, it should protect you from small arms fire but pretty vulnerable to AT weapons. The Dodge saw limited action in Syria, Morocco and Tunisia. 

Next up two additional units for the British and South African/Commonwealth forces, the Marmon-Herrington and Rolls Royce Armoured cars are a useful match against the light forces of the Vichy. More of a challenge when facing the Germans.

Time to get them on the battlefield.

So many projects so little game time.

XR - Allied Assault - Tactics II Campaign.

The allied offensive continues and with a concentration of amour and infantry they continue to push the defenders at all the weak spots. This engagement is no exception as the Vichy defenders dig in and await the allied push.

The random terrain generator fell well for the Vichy with a village flanked by a dry river bed, the only challenge was the objective of the allies was to secure the wadi crossing.

Doing what they could, the French had put an emplacement covering the wadi hoping to stem the allied advance. But facing down the slow but heavily protected Matilda's would be a challenge.

The French threw what they could at the advancing armour, who countered with HE fire into the village.

The centre edged forward but progress was slow as artillery rained down on the advancing Brits.

However sweeping in from the left was a flying column of light tanks and bren carriers that looked to take out the artillery that had been plaguing the frontal assault.

The bren carriers and their supporting infantry pushed forwards sending the French defenders backwards and over running the artillery.

With the loss of the artillery support the main battle tanks pushed forwards, but are countered by a brave H35 which lasted for a few moments before it was brewed by a well placed AP round.

Time was running out for the defenders.... Vickers light tanks pursued the retreating infantry as Indian infantry charged the dug out.

Victory was complete for the allies.

Yet another win for the allies but the losses are mounting,

Allied Armour losses -200 Points, Infantry -325 Points - Vichy Losses -875 Points.

The war continues....

Battle in the valley - The allied push continues...

Continuing with the Tactics II campaign.

All out war across the entire front with the Allied forces pushing hard against the Axis & Vichy defenders. 

After a slow push through the mountains, like Hannibal in ancient times. The British Armoured regiment burst out of what thought to be impassable terrain. Another though ask of the German defenders.

Another outing flipping the rule system to Xenos Rampant whilst ironing out some of the kinks to in unit stats to better reflect the troops in theatre.

Allied - 1425 BA - 57 Points plus free spotter - XR

Axis - 1000 BA - 40 Points XR

The Germans hold the pass with an Infantry company and single light AT Gun facing off against a mobile column of Armour Infantry and Tanks.

Nestled amongst the rocks and dunes the Germans await the allied assault. 

The terrain was not the best for tanks, so as the AFV's pushed through the main road, the Infantry swept left by the oasis looking to assault the high ground. The Bren carriers moved quickly as Infantry filled the compound.

In the centre the armour pushed forwards, their advance slowed by off table artillery from the German rear area. The allies returned fire looking to supress the AT gun and AT Team.

Finding it tough going to the front the allies continued to probe the left flank, a Vickers light tank pouring fire into the Germans on the ridge line.

The Bren carriers assaulted the ridge line. The Germans (heavy Infantry with the Heavy weapon trait) pushed back the first assault but were picking up wounds.

In the centre the second Vickers Light Tank was a wreak having taken a number of hits from the defenders. This only served to drive on the British advance they can neutralised the AT team and were pushing into the pass supported by off table artillery.

The damn bursts. The Cruiser Mk III crashed into the AT gun driving the crew off, the allied Infantry seized the high ground as the surviving defenders were beaten back, who were then attacked by the flanking light tank.

An allied victory but at quite the costs.

Xenos Rampant makes for a fun game, the difference between the Allied Light Infantry & the German Heavy Infantry was telling, trying to wheedle the Germans out of heavy cover was hard work, next time they really need some additional heavy weapons to break them the Axis line.

A couple of additional tweaks to consider, company/squadron commands/activations given the games are larger than 24 points as stated in the book. - An armour deduction for flanks?

Overall pretty slick and fast moving for an evenings game.