WW2 Spectacular.

Last night Dave hosted a most interesting and spectacular looking game ,involving Germans against Americans.The scenario was simple(always the best ones!)-the Americans had to capture a factory unit and supply dump-the Germans had to stop them!

Dave and Malcom(top picture) and Brian and Paul(bottom picture) discuss tactics etc. before the game started-I sat this one out due to poor knowledge of the period but enjoyed every minute of it!!

Both Paul and Brian had columns coming onto the board(from each flank) with troop carriers and tanks-Dave and Malcom had hidden troops and artillery,with their troop carriers and tanks coming soon-all was set for a great game.

OMG-that's too close for comfort-doesn't he look the part??

A grand looking tank,painted by Paul,rolls onto the table-this had limited success,as Dave's notoriously bad dice throwing let him down time and time again!!!-However there were some successes.........................

Tanks and infantry were going up in smoke and being pinned down by accurate gunfire-the factory looks to be still in German hands(Hans-get it??)-both Paul and Brian were getting blasted,but with more and more troops arriving,they might just swing the battle.

Although he was suffering,Brian is in the process of forming a good position-this is his "suffering" face...................

NO COMMENT!!

Dave has brought a unit of infantry to oppose Paul's advance on his flank,c/w a tank for support-this worked until superior fire-power and Paul's legendary dice throwing began to tell!

Close quarter fighting for the large hill on the German right flank-possession of this hill was crucial for the outcome of the game-the Americans took it after a hard and bloody struggle!!

Malcom's Stug(?) and two Shermans slug it out to gain the road leading to the factory-meanwhile Brian was putting a lovely out-flanking move into operation on the German left.

The German "high command" discuss what to do next!_Paul has driven a small tank down the road,cutting the German position in two-Brian is advancing with a light and medium tank on Malcom's prepared position-things are not looking too good for the Germans-however there was still more fighting to come,as the factory was still in German hands(no, I'll not crack the same joke again!)

German morale eventually cracked,and the Americans took the factory unit,winning the game-everyone agreed that this was a most enjoyable and spectacular game-thanks go to Dave.

I don't know when we will be able to use my garage again for games,but I live in hope-the main hope is that my garage won't have to be demolished along with next door's garage!!

Good News,Bad News!!

Good news is that no-one got hurt!!!-Bad news is that the "clubhouse"/garage is out of bounds for a while........................

 The brown garage is mine!!-next door's fridge/freezer decided to catch fire in their garage,wrecking the entire garage and conservatory,and making my garage subject to assessment tomorrow!!!-my entire house stinks of smoke,as can be imagined,and part of my garage roof is burned too.

The boys from the fire brigade did a grand job,but not before they had to demolish part of her garage wall!!

Aftermath!!-so no games until we get it sorted!!

Vikings vs Saxons.

We had a most thrilling and exciting game last night,involving Vikings against Saxons-Dave and I were the Saxons,whilst Malcom and Brian were the Vikings-this was because both Paul and Graham were laid low,with a chest infection(Paul) and the dreaded Covid(Graham)-get well soon lads! 

Scenario,map and table lay-out-nothing too complicated!

Detail of the Bay and Village-the Peasants defending the village were,well,very poor quality!

We're off!-the Saxons didn't move for the first few moves,but the Vikings had to try and get back to their ships,so movement was frantic for them!!

Top photo shows the Saxon reserve having to move towards the flanks to prevent both Malcom and Brian from out-flanking us,bottom photo shows the inevitable clash as the Vikings charge home!!

After a very brief defence,the village is in Viking hands,and the swines set fire to it!!

Top shows village ablaze!!,bottom shows the Saxon line being sorely pressed,but then disaster struck for the Vikings!!!!.........................

Brian,who should know better,put his Viking chieftain into a fray,to bolster their morale and fighting points,and Dave promptly threw the requisite dice to kill him!!-forcing all units under his command to take a morale test-they failed-oh dear,how sad,never mind!!!

With Brian's command and troops gone,the Saxons were able to shift troops to oppose Malcom,so we decided that the game was finished and that the Saxons were victorious-hurrah!!

This was agood game,plenty of laughs,banter etc.-next week at Dave's where we will be playing a WW2 game-roll on next week,and,hopefully,a full complement.

 Hammerhead Show 2022

Dave and I were the sole travellers to Newark based show (Saturday 5th March) so an early start in order to arrive for 10 am prompt.

Despite an overcast day and biting wind the eager queue shuffled into the main hall, wrist bands applied by very helpful door staff and we were off!

View of the main building hall which had an outer cordon of traders with some excellent games within the central area. 

The bonus was an eagerly awaited bring and buy sale which rotated sellers hourly and was packed all day over its multiple sales tables. This was a welcome return to game shows after a long absence from them being permitted.

Some views of the large games in the large hall. A Renaissance game above

    

                       A spectacular storming of an Indian citadel in this siege. 

Some amazing detail and nice customisation of buildings. 

Another game featuring 40 mm semi flat Seven Years War figures. 

These are the same Prinz August figures that Dave now has (over 1200 of the beauties)

Very nice too !

Some interesting figures above which caught my eye based upon myths and legends. 

We spend a fully enjoyable day and caught up with many friends both traders and gamers. 

A particular surprise was to meet expats Brian and his lovely better half Irene who we spent some chill out time with in the other building refreshment area (well a cafe and bar - tables with cloths on too which reminded me of the Co-op ! Ah the good old days

My apologies to the gamers who put so many brilliant looking and some oddly quirky but colourful games who I have no space to mention. Enough to whet any gamers interest.

Well done to you all.

2nd Battle of Ellon.

For this battle I widened the terrain to incorporate the small village of KINHARRACHIE to the west of Ellon,thus allowing the RN commander to throw a Bailey Bridge over the river and attack the TA on their left flank-worked a treat!!

A token force was left to cover Ellon,whilst this force crossed the river-the Ta response was quick,and a fierce action took place...................

The Ta tanks move to take on the RN tanks and infantry-the "Token Force" left to cover Ellon was ordered to move west to support the main attack,allowing the TA to counter-attack across the bridge at Ellon!!

The TA counter attack begins.

A view of the action from the RN side of the river,note the Helicopter has been brought into action,and doing very well by knocking out a TA tank!!

Top photo shows mounting casualties among the tanks on both sides,so the Infantry get engaged(bottom photo)-a classic battle for the Village ensued,with the RN eventually being successful,and the TA retiring(it's good being retired!) leaving Ellon in RN hands.

Success for the RN troops-the TA fell back to Montrose,where they received reinforcements of men and equipment-the RN stayed where they were and also received reinforcements of men and equipment.The most important reinforcements for both sides was the arrival of "Special Forces" infantry,highly trained in covert operations,capturing installations,taking prisoners and disrupting communications!!