At Barrie's 14/10/07

With fresh copies of VB in hand we tried out the first two scenarios.

Whitman's Wild Ride:
Barrie's Tiger didn't quite get to end of the queue - the Honeys survived to Turn 10 to deny him victory & make it a draw (see pic).
Odd little scenario - not much to do except shoot & hope for hot dice - but probably a good one for beginners.

Point 213:

MarkO & Barrie's Tigers (2 each)
v.
Jim's 4th CLY Armoured Squadron

The German's Tiger Ace Skill was 3 shots for both platoons. Both platoons came on on the same road (d4).
The Brits started in a pack with the Cmmd teams in the centre around the objective & the 3 Tank Platoons on the adjacent roads.
As the Tiger column came up the road, the Brits sent A Tank Platoon to the left & C Plat to the right as soon as they finished their tea. B Plat stayed in reserve continuing to drink tea. The Firefly of A Plat jumped out onto the road, missed it's shot at Mark's lead Tiger & was promptly destroyed. Mark then engaged the Cmmd tanks thru the hedgegrow. C Platoon engaged Barrie's Tigers. The Firefly got one before the platoon was destroyed (3 Croms killed & the FF failed morale). Mark's 2 Tigers + Barrie's one now finished off the cmmd tanks. While the Cromwells of A Plat manoeuvred around the Tiger's flank, B platoon finally finished their tea and engaged the Tigers front on. The FF got Barrie's second Tiger on it's first shot. Mark's 2 Tigers destroyed the Cromwells of B plat and bailed the FF. The FF survived the Platoon Morale test but remained bailed. As 3 Croms hammered away at the Tiger's sides without effect, Mark ignored them & had 6 more shots at the FF. He got just one lousy bail. It survived morale again, unbailed this time - and promptly popped both Tigers = 3 Tigers in 3 shots !
Sgt Johny Wilkinson & the rest of his crew have been nominated for medals & the model has had 3 rings painted on the barrel.
The scenario is an interesting change - nice to have 4 Tigers to shoot at ?

We didn't have smoke handy to mark the dead tanks, but all the tanks in the 3rd pic are dead except the 3 Croms of A Plat beyond the Tigers & Wilkinson's FF on the left.

Unfortunately, the FF used up all Jim's luck for the day - he copped a $80 fine + one demerit point for doing 80 in a 70 zone on the way home.

Camp Cromwell 09/10/07

Isdonisgrad Campaign - T3 Battle in hex I6

Grenadier 2 (Barrie):
HQ
Grenadier Platoon A
Grenadier Platoon B
HMG
Mortars
3 Pak 40s
2 88's
2 37mm AA Arm HTs
105s (3 guns)

Panzer Grenadier (Byron & SteveJ)
HQ
Armoured Panzer Grenadier Platoon A
Armoured Panzer Grenadier Platoon B (less 1 team)
Pioneer Platoon
Neblewerfers
2 37mm AA Arm HTs
4 Marders
5 Panzer 38t

Motostrelkovy (MarkO):
HQ + AA
Motostrelkovy Coy A (less 5 teams)
Motostrelkovy Coy B (less 2 teams)
Mortars
Artillery (7 guns)

Tankovy (Nick):
8 T10
10 T34
7 KV
Rockets
Heavy Mortars
Mortars

Jim was in overall command of the Germans, Nick of the Russians. With so many troops to put down it was a slow process to deploy (alternating placing platoons from both Coys in a Campaign Encounter Battle).
The Russians concentrated their armour on their left in the rough ground (where they had more room to deploy). Their infantry was on the right with the artillery in the right rear and mortars on the left.
The Germans deployed Grenadiers along their front peppered with HMGs. The Pak 40s were in the front line in the centre, the 88's in the farm yard behind the centre. Artillery in left rear, mortars & rockets in the centre. Panzer Grenadiers still in HTs on the right. Marders behind the farm, 38ts on the left. AA in centre rear.
In their first turn the Germans were restricted by the Mobile battle Rule. They advanced on their left with Grenadiers & 38ts while forming a defence on their right. They managed to dig in their Paks, 88s & mortars, but that was all. One of the PGs platoons dismounted, the other moved back.
In the Russian 1st Turn they advanced their KVs, moved their other tanks to the right, tried & failed to dig in their Infantry & opened up with their massed artillery & mortars. The Germans lost a Nebelwerfer, a Grenadier & an HMG & were probably lucky at that.

The battle was adjourned at that to be continued next week. A titanic struggle seems to be in the making. The pic is taken from behind the Russian right flank. Note the swarm of tankovy in the hills on the far left.

Camp Cromwell 25/09/07

Late War Brits v. Germans

2 x 1500 pt Coys a side Encounter Scenario.

Jim's Armoured`Recon + Barrie's Italy Vet Rifles
v.
SteveJ & MarkO's Grenadiers.

(Also present: Byron & friend).

On the German right, Mark had Grens, SPAA & 4 Stugs deployed, Grens, Nebles, 2 Tigers in reserve, HMGs attached out.
Steve had Grens, Lt Mortars, 3 Pak 40s deployed, Grens, 105s, Hvy Mortars, Pak 97/38s in reserve + Hs129s.

On the Brit left, Barrie had 2 Rifles, Hvy mortars & 3 Churchills deployed with Rifles, HMGs, Lt Mortars & 2 17pdrs in reserve.
Jim had 2 HQ Cromwells, 3 Cromwells, 4 M10 3" & 4 Sextons deployed with 3 Cromwells, 3 Honeys & Mech Inf in reserve + air.

The Brits immediately attacked hoping to strike before the Pussies came. Barrie pressed straight forward while Jim advanced diagonally to the left to support him. The Stugs stepped out from behind the village to meet the M10s, shot badly & got just one before failing Stormwtrooper & getting mashed by the crowd of Brit armour. Mark was about to be swamped, but his Tigers & Grenadiers arrived in the right place at the right time to meet the attack.

The Cromwells suddenly turned right and threatened Steve's objective. This intercepted Steve's attempt to move troops to support Mark, & Barrie took possession of the objective. The battle could have ended then, but the Tigers managed to stormtrooper to 95mm from the objective to dispute it. Jim's Cromwells then discovered what Panzershreks & fausts could do as their diversionary attack pettered out against the Grenadiers. The Germans continued to get a good flow of reinforcements into the critical spot while the Brit reinforcements were slower to arrive, then had a long slog to the front. The Tigers sat next to the objective systematically destroying the Brit armour as the Brits brought up more troops. Having lost their M10s, they gave up trying to hurt the pussies with pop guns and went for everything else while the 17pdrs were brought up & deployed on a hill with a view of the Tigers. They got 1 Tiger and Mark's command was reduced to 3 platoons all exactly half strength, but it didn't break.

Up 'till now, the Air had neutralised each other, both sides only calling for it when there were specially good targets, or for interception. But the Hs129s did break though twice - once taking out the Cromwell HQ then later taking out 3 HMG carriers. The Brits only used their Hurricanes for interception as their prime targets were always either in smoke or too close to ground troops.

Having driven off the Cromwells, Steve's Grenadiers were now able to support Mark's Tigers, plus his 105s and Heavy Mortars gave more support. The Heavy Mortars were another nasty shock to the Brits when they blew armour apart with their 3 a/t and 3+ firepower. Jim's Coy failed morale but Barrie's last 17pdr managed to pop the last Tiger before the 105s could get it. Steve's Grenadiers got smashed by Heavy Mortars & and fresh Brit Inf occupied the objective in strength to win the battle.

This was an epic struggle which went on 'till midnight. The Brits used their mobility to gain an early advantage but they just couldn't quite nail it against the German uberweapons. The Tigers were expected, but the Panzer%$#%ers, Heavy Mortars & Hs129s were all nasty too. The Cromwell's 100% casualty rate on their first outing wasn't a good start. Their speed was very useful, but the CT rating's a pain - eagerly awaiting the VB book in the hope that the 7th Armoured Cromwells are CVs.

Pic 1: The Cromwell's diversionry attack is in the forground. The Churchills are taking teh objective in the far right corner.

Pic 2: Same time as Pic 1, but from behind Brit lines. Brit reinforcements are rushing forward in the foreground.

Pic 3: Carnage around the objective at the end - all that armour except 1 bailled bug is dead.

Camp Cromwell 18/09/07

Very Late War

Another one of SteveJ's scenarios at the gates of Berlin with over 3000 pts a side.

Jim & James' Germans: 14 Tiger Is in 3 Platoons, 5 Panthers, 2 AA Plats & 1 Grenadier Plat
Byron & SteveJ's Russians: 2 T34/85 Plats of 10, 2 JS Plats of 5, 2 Strelkovy plus limited air.
The Russians to win by getting 5 tanks off the far end of the table.
The table was dominated by a large town in the centre.

The Germans deployed the Grenadiers in the rear half of the town. The Panthers & a Tiger Plat on the left reqar. A Tiger Plat on the right rear & the small Tiger Plat behind the town. There was one AA on each flank & this succeded in driving off the Red`Airforce almost every time. Only once did a plane get though & it missed its target.

The first Russian rush on their right shuddered to a halt when Jim's Panthers & Tigers lept forward & smashed the front row of T34s. The Riussians then became more circumspect & advanced the infantry through the town in front of the armour. There was a confused fight in the town with tanks sniping at each other down the streets. The Grenadiers gave ground to the Strelkovy falling back to the rear edge of the town & their Tiger support to stand again.

Steve renewed the attack on the right with JSs in support of the T34s. The Panthers lost 2 to the JSs, 2 were bailed & 1 was captured by infantry - then they failed morale. But the Tigers wiped out the T34s and then slogged it out with the JSs, helped greatly by Byron getting one bogged in a hedgerow & not getting it free until the rest of the Platoon was dead.

The fight in the town became a stalemate as the 1st Strelkovy & the Grenadiers slaughtered each other but refused to fail morale and burning tanks of both sides blocked up the streets.

At 11pm we agreed to a draw. The battle probably would have been better with a few less troops so we could have fought it right out in the time available. The Germans got a bit of a shock meeting JSs for the first time - we found out why they made KTs.

Camp Cromwell 11/09/07

Kunnersdorf April 1945 (an historical scenario set up by SteveJ).

Germans (Jim & SteveJ)
HQ, HMGs, 2 CT Gren, Mortars, 3 Pak 40s, 3 SPAA, 2 KTs + in reserve 2 KTs (diced from turn 3) & 3 Panthers (diced from turn 6) = 2475pts

Russians (MarkO, Barrie, Byron)
HQ T34/85, 2 x 10 T34/85, 5 ISU122, 5 JS2, 1 Motostrelkovy, Limited Sturmoviks = 3400pts

The Germans started dug in & GTG. The Russians started at the other end.
Russian victory condition was for the Russians to get 5 tanks past the Germans & off the far edge.

Steve's Grenadiers were on the left with the Pak 40s & his KT & AA behind. Jim's Grenadiers on the right with his KT & mortars behind.

The Russians advanced as fast as they could in an effort to over-run the Germans before their reinforcements could arrive. The T34s were fastest and concentrated on Jim's flank advancing in two waves, Byron in front, Barrie behind. Mark's JSs & ISUs advanced on Steve's flank. The Motostrelkovy in the centre got hit by mortar fire & pinned down as soon as they got out of their trucks - they never got into the action. The Sturmoviks mostly got shot down by the AA, but Steve's KT had a narrow escape when one got thru the barrage. After that they seemed to lose interest and didn't show up again.

Byron's T34s lost a few going in, but hit the Grenadier screen and killed half of it before it pulled back. Then the 2 KTs came on from reserve at the perfect moment (on the second try) and the Grenadiers counterattacked. The 3 KTs plus Panzerschreck & Panzerfaust killed or bailed the rest of Byron's T34s and the Grenadiers passed tank terror to finish the platoon off. Barrie's T34s then came up, destroyed the Grenadiers and swarmed the 3

KTs. The KT's beautiful camo jobs were so effective the Russians missed their side shots when they had a chance. Then Steve got the Panthers to come on on their second throw - the T34s did get one KT, but they were outgunned and quickly dispatched.

Meanwhile on the other flank the Russian big gun tanks wiped the Pak40s then over-ran the Grenadiers while Steves KT whittled the Russians tanks away. Mark had 4 tanks left when the losses on the other flank (including HQ) meant Russian Coy Morale failure and German victory.

The Germans thoroughly enjoyed getting their rocks off in a Turkey shoot with their big pussys, but it was still a close run thing. The Germans put up a good defence, but: that Strurmovik only just missed Steve's KT, the German reserves both turned up promptly & the T34's shot badly when they had a chance to hurt the KTs. If any one of those things had gone the other way, the result may well have been different.

Pic 1: How far can that #$%&er fire ?

Pic 2: 20 T34/85s...one KT...come & get it !

Pic 3: The cavalry arrives.

Pic 4: On the other flank Steve's mobile pill box stands its ground.

At Griggsy's 06/07/09

The Kingston guys started their Club Comp last Thursday with 3 x 1500 pt FE games. They are planning to do as much of a round robin as they manage. Each player has a fixed FE 1500 pt list for the duration.

Steve's Strelkovy d. Mark's Canadians

This was a Fighting Withdrawal, Mark defending. Steve put both Strelkovy on his left, Gods spread right across his rear & 2 JS's in the middle. His hordes (see pic 2) just overwhelmed Mark's right before he had a chance to remove any objectives.

Smithy's Panzer Grenadiers d. Keith's British Rifles

An Encounter Battle. Keith did have a bit of luck with his Typhoons taking out the Kingtiger (see pic 3 for burning KT), but that was the extent of his joy. His Churchills turned up on the wrong flank and didn't get into the action. His reserves arrived too late. Their desperate attack to retake their lost objective shuddered to a halt under the MGs of the Panzergrenadiers.

Red's US Vets d. Griggsy's Grenadiers

Another Encounter Battle. Things didn't look good for the US at the start - the Germans had one objective nicely placed on a Difficult hill protected by Grenadiers, the other tucked in a corner nicely protected by more Grenadiers plus a Kingtiger. But the Shermans charged forward anyway. The Kingtiger was surrounded and destroyed by a lucky side shot, but 3 Stugs had come on and the victorious Shermans were clearly not long for this world. In the centre another Sherman Platoon + 2IC charged over the hill at the Grenadiers (see pic 4). 2 got bogged down, one got pinned by a bazooka, but the other appeared to be manned by John Wayne - the terrified Grenadiers fled abandoning the objective. Griggsy desperately threw his AA half tracks up the hill to dispute the objective, but the first got taken out by John Wayne & the other got bogged down. A surprising win for the US - goes to show that fortune favours the brave.

Isdonisgrad Campaign Turn 1

Excerpt from the papers of General Guisseppi Gandini - part 3.

These are documents found at the home of a Signora Gandini in Montepulciano, Italy during the advance of 1944. They provide much valuable information on the Isdonisgrad campaign in Russia September 1942. The papers have been translated from the original Italian by Lt Sneak-Jones, British Intelligence.

This part concerns Turn 1 of the Isdonisgrad Campaign

Jayfivsk, Russia
7 September 1942

Mamma Mia,

Last week, it was a very disappointing start to my new command. This Russian weather was so bad I had to delay the attack for a week. First it rain for days, then I have to wait for the mud to dry so my Fiat she not get dirty.

But today, it all changed and all is bellissimo! The sun shine and the Panzers rolled. In just one day my men have blitzed 2 hexes into Russia on both flanks. My troops are already at the gates of Myskina & Isdonisgrad is almost surrounded.

Only at Jayfivisk, just south of Isdonisgrad did the Ivans make a stand. There, Kapitan Hundzuchter’s Grenadier Coy, they pinned down a Strelkovy Coy while I send forward Kapitan Jendich’s & Kapitan Steurmann’s Panzers from my cunningly placed reserve. The Russians tried a flank attack on our left, but our mortars, grenadiers & panzers stopped them dead in their boots. The rest of the Russians then fled in a rabble before my Panzers.

Mamma, I’m so pleased with myself! Herr Hitler will be so happy, I’ll not get shot. And maybe he give me the Iron Cross. Very clever these Germans - the Iron Cross they hang round tour neck on a ribbon - that way you don’t got to take any gold braid off your uniform to pin it on. Is a nice medal too.

Chiao,

Guisseppe

PS: I enclose some pics from the battle.

1. Shows the start of the battle - Russians on the right.

2. Is picture of Kapitans Hundzuchter, Jendrich & Steurmann.

3. Shows the Ivan flank attack being destroyed.

4. Map of battlefield.

Battle casualties as recorded on attached note:

Germans: 1/105, 1 team Grenadiers.

Russians: Strelkovy Coy: Red Plat 1 inf, Blue Plat 5 inf+1HMG, 1ATR

Militia Coy: HQ destroyed, 1st Militia Plat reduced to Cmd+4Inf

Camp Cromwell 28/08/07

WWI Naval - using Camp Cromwell Dreadnought Rules

Coronel 1914

Germans (Byron & SteveJ)
CA Scharnhorst
CA Gneisnau
LC Nurnburg
LC Dresden
LC Leipzig

Brits (MarkO, Dylan & Barrie)
CA Good Hope
CA Monmouth
LC Glasgow
LC Otranto
CA Defence *
* Defence wasn't actually there, but was on the way. We did the what-if scenario where the British commander acted sensibly and waited for reinforcements rather than charging the winners of the Kreigsmarine's shooting trophy in heavy seas that rendered half the guns on his obsolete & outnumbered ships unusable. The predreadnought B Canopus was also coming, but she was so slow the Germans would never have let her at them.


The Germans split their force - the CAs took on the Brit CAs while the LCs tried to go around theri rear. The Brits used more simple tactics, putting a LC in front & another in the rear of a single column. The German made the mistake of closing in so the benefit of their superior gunnery control was lessened. With an extra heavy ship & distinctly better dice the Brits soon started to hurt the Germans CAs. Steve's LCs were too far off to be hurt, but the Brit CAs copped a pounding from the Germans secondaries. The pic shows the Gniesnau & Scharnhorst taking on the whole Brit fleet while Steve's LCs are off on fancy manoeuvres.

The Germans CAs turned away making smoke as did the Brit LCs. Steve's LC went in pursuit of the wounded Brit LCs as the Brit CAs circled between trying to get shots off between all the smoke screens.

Steve managed to sink the Glasgow, but not before the Liepzig was made a mess of. But while the Gnienau, Scharnhorst & Liepzig were all badly damaged, their speed was not affected and they made made their escape.

Both sides claimed victory. The Brits lost a ship. The Germans were severely mangled and a long way from home. A draw is probably a fair assessment.

The rules were made for Battleship actions and haven't been tried for cruiser actions before. The umpire was also a bit rusty - it's been 4 years since we last used them. They worked ok, but could use a bit of fine tuning for this sort of scenario. Probably best to have a sub-set of rules for Cruiser actions, rather than try to make the rules cover everything.