GMT Holland 44

 Trying out the GMT Games Holland 44.  Lots to take in for a first play through, but seems to be working ok.  With Si (US 82nd and Br 1st) and Will (beastly Hun) and me (30 Corps and 101st).

First turn and 30 Corps get off to a sluggish start on the road to Valkensward.

101st US got a good drop and quickly moved to secure bridges and form a perimeter.

82nd had a difficult drop with scatter and step loss, but held a perimeter around their drop zones.

1st Br Airborne had a very successful drop, quickly moving units to the bridge in Arnhem, while holding their drop zones.

We completed 3 turns, but had to stop there, leaving the game out and ready to resume on Monday.

Thanks for looking.

War of the Spanish Succession

 Not a period I know very much about, but Will wanted to get his WSS collection out and used on the table.  He kindly allowed me command of the combined British and Dutch forces, while Ian took the French and their allies.  Table was too cramped for much tactical movement, so the infantry centre held firm while the cavalry wings charged and countercharged.

On the British right, the French guard cavalry proved a tough nut to crack, especially when supported by a unit of infantry firing from the shelter of a hedge.  By the time we called it, the British had lost almost 50% casualties, the French similar, but had lost most of the guard.  Will felt the British had the upper hand.

On the British/Dutch left, cuirassiers on both sides took relatively light casualties until their opponents came in range of line infantry and canon, which made rather a mess of their forward units.

The Dutch infantry sadly suffered a damaging mis-order when asked to advance a unit to the hedgerow beside another unit and instead opened fire into the backs of the leading unit, causing it to break.  The unit did quickly redeem itself with volley fire into the cavalry in front of it.

Lots of fun and the table looked great.  Photos are from initial set up, action was too intense for more during the game - that and the sheer number of troops involved.

Thanks for looking.

Partizan Oct 2025

A quick screen dump of some of the great games at Partizan last weekend.