Battle of Krinkel WW2

As you all know,WW2 is not my period,but last night I watched as the rest of the "crew" fought an exciting and well planned WW2 game involving Germans attacking the British in defensive positions,in and around, the town of Krinkel.
Dave devised the rules and the scenario,and a damned fine job he made of it too-well done!

Top photo is scenario,and bottom is the table as the Germans,represented by Paul and Graham,saw it for the first time.Brian and Dave were in charge of the British,and devised some hidden positions etc. for the Germans to contend with!!

The game started tentatively by Paul sending a "recce" up the road to see if anything was in the emplacement-which had surprisingly appeared when the German high command was out of the room,planning their attack!!-do you think the British would be so sneaky as to put troops in the position??

You bet your life they would!!-a Piat did this,cleverly blocking the road,now what would the Germans do?

A classic "pincer" move on each flank,through the woods,was launched,with support from masses of tanks,that's what!!-would the British have any more surprises up their sleeves?

Tut,Tut!-as one of Paul's tanks rolled around the burning Puma,and onto the bridge,Brian threw the requisite dice and the bridge blew up!!!
In the background,Graham is slowly(and I mean slowly) advancing against the wooded hill-surely the British won't have any more surprises??!!

Graham has spent an awful lot of time concentrating fire upon that small bunker position,before attempting a crossing of the stream-however,as it turned out,the bunker was empty!!!-sneaky!!

Paul is advancing in this shot,but he is being pounded by mortar fire,small-arms fire,and a Cromwell tank-heavy pounding gentlemen!!-Brian(the most photographed person in the world) looks relaxed and in command-the Germans were asking themselves "where are all the British tanks??"-you'll soon find out!!

There's one!!-it soon became clear that the Germans were going to take the British positions one by one,and that their tanks were more powerful than the British ones,however the British were not beaten yet,and produced their secret weapon,just as Graham's tank turned it's flank to the wooded hill...........................

Graham's face says it all!!!-look at that for a shot,come on British,let's go out with a bang(no pun intended!)

PHUT!!!-the bloody shell just bounced off!!-oh dear,how sad,never mind!!
At this point the British decided that they had no chance and continued their retreat!
this was a good game,well done to Dave,and Brian and Graham and Paul.All the figures,except two tanks painted by Paul,were from Brian's collection.This type of game should "spur" the rest of the lads to get their painting brushes out,and I'm sure it will.
We won't be playing next Sunday,because we'll be down at York show(Vapnartak)-I'll write a report on the show next Monday.

"Statistics"

I have just "hit" our Stats,and am astonished that we have had over 1200 hits in three days from the Americans!!-is anyone else getting this?-honest,Mr Trump,I love and support you,please don't send a drone to my garage!!!
Comments please!

Battle of Marathon 490BC

The battle of Marathon presented us with an epic historical challenge last night,with Brian and Graham taking on the mantle of Greek commanders,and Paul and I taking command of the Persians.

As usual,the top photo is the scenario,and bottom is the table before any movement.
Even though this battle is very well documented,there is still a query as to where the Persian cavalry were and where the camp was situated,so I took a decision,for wargaming purposes,and came up with this set-up,and scenario-it worked well!

The battle begins!-both sides advancing towards each other-I had "weighted" the fighting points so that the Greek flanks were confident that they could beat the opposition on the Persian flanks,whilst the Persian centre was equally as confident that it could beat the Greek centre!!!-but of course this is a wargame,and those ugly creatures,called DICE,were called into play,and not everything went according to plan!!!!!!

This is the Greek left flank phalanx-so heavily "weighted" against my puny axemen,that a "walk-over" was expected-not so said the dice,and for once I was throwing high  and won the first encounter-hurrah!!

On the other flank,Paul is also giving Brian's troops a hard time,but this was not to last,as Paul,who is noted for extremely lucky dice throws,started to throw really low,much to the delight of the Greeks!

The "centres" have now clashed,and the Persians were taking a bit of a beating-so much so,that Paul decided to put his commander into the melee,to bolster their fighting ability,and morale-oh dear!!-guess what happened?-yes he was killed by Brian,who then gave us a disgraceful display of "Gloatiness",by doing a sort of "Dad Dance" combined with a "Sailor's Hornpipe"-realising what he had done,shame overtook him!!!!

It's no good trying to hide your shame,able seaman Irving!!!-you did it and you'll have to live with it!!

The whole Persian line is being pushed back in this shot,and Brian is starting to turn his "phalanx" onto the flank of Paul's troops in the centre-is all lost,and will history remain intact

Yes,and yes!-it's back to the Jodie and Rodney(marsh!!) for the Persians,as the Greeks were declared the winners!
This was an interesting and exciting game,played in good spirit(apart from one instance of regret and shame,which we will say no more about!!)-well done lads.
Roll on next Sunday,when we will be playing a World War 2 game,which the "boys" will be organising between themselves-I will provide the terrain,they will provide the scenario,troops,vehicles etc.-can't wait!

Battle of Denain 1712.

Last night we had a 100% turnout for the re-fight of this famous,but very difficult- to -find out- any- maps,battle-it turned out to be one of the most exciting and interesting battles we have fought-ever!!

Top photo shows the scenario,and bottom photo is the table before any movement.
I was Villars,aided and abetted by Graham on my left and Dave on my right,Paul was Albermarle,supported by Brian who commended the right of the allies-all was set for a great game.

Dave has started his out-flanking move against the allies' left flank,and the village situated there-however Paul had thrown the requisite dice and the Austrians have started to arrive on move number two(this was not historically correct,as the Austrians took no part in the battle!)

My attack against the town is developing,and,being historically correct,I have ordered them to take the position at"bayonet point"-the real Villars wouldn't have ordered this if he was up against Paul's "demon dice throwing!"

On the far left flank,Graham has instigated a Cavalry melee,which was always doomed to failure!

But his infantry attack,against Brian's Dutch, was a sight to see.In the town,I have gained an initial success,but Paul is piling troops into the position,and I might just get thrown out again!
Action all the way!!

See what I mean?-is Brian looking to the heavens for inspiration??
Dave's attack is in progress now,and with cavalry swirling all over the place and volley firing by the infantry,this was a spectacular sight,but neither side was gaining any real advantage.

The town is mine!!-hurrah!!!!-but Paul is sending reinforcements,in the shape of British foot,surely he wouldn't hit me in the flank and cause a mass brawl-would he??

Yes he would,and did!!-all my troops are beaten-woe is me-on the right Dave is fighting for his life,and is giving the allies a "bloody nose"-we might win this yet!

On the left,Graham is being very reluctant to advance past the town-he has advantage in numbers,and a fresh brigade-come on Graham!!!!-Brian is content to stand and hold his ground,and a damned good job he is making of it too!!

Dave is pushing onwards,and engaging the Austrians in the village,but once again the "demon dice thrower" was in action,killing most of Dave's officers,and sending the troops reeling!!!

Despite numerous attempts to beat back the allies,Dave was being held,as was Graham,and with the town in allied hands,all was lost,and the allies were awarded the victory...............

One last photo,as Paul surveys the scene of his(and Brian's) victory-well done to us all for this magnificent game.
Roll on Thursday-a colonial game Zulu/Dervish-who knows?

Romans vs Dacians. 101AD

For our first Thursday game of 2017,we picked Romans vs Dacians in a "Snow-filled" terrain-a bit ironic because it was the coldest night of the winter so far!!-however with the garage heaters going full blast,it soon warmed up-as did the game!!

Top photo is scenario,and bottom photo is the table before any movement-you can just see the camp burning nicely!!-this was a pity,because I turned out to be the commander of the right flank Romans,and consequently had no place to hide!!!
Brian commanded the left flank Romans whilst Paul and Graham commanded the Dacians.

Warm and inviting!!-the towers blaze away,keeping my auxiliaries' backs warm-the Dacians, commanded by Graham, were keeping their fronts warm!!!!

This shows Brian's flank!-he opted for an all out attack(the best form of defence?)-this worked out quite well,for a while,but he was hoping for help from my half of the legion-fool!!!

On the far left of this shot,I have marched my cohorts to the bridge to prevent Graham from sending help to Paul-my auxiliaries have formed a defensive formation,because the Sarmatian cavalry (extra heavy types) are making mincemeat of my cavalry!!-the figures inside the fort are "casualties"-ie. lost and taken off the board!!-oh dear!

This shows Graham's Sarmatian cavalry-he used a combination of horse archers and these "heavies" to win my far right flank,then followed up with a mad rush of big hairy Dacians wielding their two-handed weapons(can't touch you for it!!)-however my troops were up for a fight and didn't do too badly,for a couple of moves.

This is from Graham's side of the table,showing my thin red line of cohorts-gaps started appearing after melees,and really it was the beginning of the end for the Romans on my flank-but what of Brian?-as long as he holds a nice clean Roman line,he should be ok!!.............

Oh hell!!-Brian is being put under alot of pressure from Paul's determined attacks.

My auxiliaries have had it!! and my cohorts have been pushed back onto their original hill position!!-not looking good!

Brian's cohorts are all over the place!-once the line is broken all is lost!-and we were!!!

Too much pressure,resulting in the Dacians being declared the winners!!
this was a very exciting and tense game,each side having "problems" to solve.
Well done lads,and roll on Sunday,when we will be re-fighting the battle of "Denain" 1712.

Battle of "The Bones".-Spain 1097AD

For our first game of 2017,we played a Medieval/Crusader type game,using "El Cid" Spanish and Normans against a Moorish army.

Top photo is the scenario and bottom photo is the table before any movement-Paul was Yusuf ben Tariq,Dave was General Sharaf,Graham was Raymond of Castile and Brian was Robert Duke of Normandy-all was set for a great game..........................

The "boys" in good fettle before the game,discussing a box of "Bolt Action" tanks etc. bought by Dave and Paul off "E-Bay"(Dave,Graham,Brian,Paul) 

The game started briskly,with both teams having the same plan,of holding in the centre until the flanks were secured-Brian changed his plan half way through the game but forgot to tell Graham!!!

Dave is advancing on the Norman lines-he had two units of Camels,and used the "smell factor" well,upsetting Brian's Heavy Cavalry.Dave also had two Mangonels,which were manned by Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles!!!-say no more!!!

These lovely little models were bought in a museum shop and are actually "pencil sharpeners"!

Paul's flank is under pressure in this shot,although he used his light cavalry well,by charging up to the Spanish heavies,hurling his javelins then swirling away before the slower moving troops could catch him!!-historically correct,and so frustrating to Graham's plans-and great wargaming!

Brian and Dave have made contact!-note the camel unit "lurking" on the flank,and making the Norman cavalry fight at -1 from their dice-this was a decisive tactic,and upset Brian's plan(which one,I hear you ask!!)

As the "tumbleweed" drifts across the centre.....................................

Paul's "hit and run" tactics are paying off,and the flank is stabilised-hurrah!!

Dave is slowly, but surely, driving the Normans back,and it looks like he has taken the position,so with both flanks fairly secure,it must be time for the central troops to start fighting(?)

The Moors are advancing onto the stationary Spanish-even with Graham's heavy cavalry  hitting Paul's light troops in the flank and destroying them,Paul still managed to beat the main central line,and all was lost for the Spanish!!

Brian declared himself as well and truly "ploated"(which is a Geordie word for being well and truly beaten!!) and Graham also declared himself beaten,so the Moors retained the "Bones" and were declared the winners of this cracking game-well done to everyone.

I have been planning ahead,and have issued the lads with a list of games to be played on the Sundays and Thursdays in January and February.........................

Happy "gaming" to you all for 2017,and keep the comments coming(good or bad!)-every comment will be replied to.