Crisis Point 2018 Day 2 action

After a pleasant evening of beer, pies and pleasant conversation, Sunday dawned dry and bright.  Another hearty breakfast was washed down with plenty of tea and coffee and we were ready to start.

 

Heavy naval guns began to open up on the Andrevian trenches (large patches of white smoke), causing much devastation amongst the HQ and two of the trench line platoons, especially their MMGs.  On the right, the salient was assaulted by Turkish and German engineers who cleared the trench line with grenades and flame, mopping up with bayonet and pistol.  Follow up German infantry pushed on towards Tcherbevan, screening the left flank of a German task force which had crossed a large lake in Central Andrevia and then pushed through the southern hills to approach Tcherbevan from the south.

 

Four activations struck the Andreivian defenders all together, finally breaking every unit under command.  The mopping up was to be bloody for the Andreivians.  Meanwhile, Soviet cavalry was approaching Tcherbevan from the north west.

Victorious Turkish engineers have cleared the salient and wave on the German troops advancing through the southern hills, before turning their attention to mopping up the last Andreivians.

Seriously thinned Andreivian ranks still under naval bombardment.  The Andrevian Mk V male survived all the naval artillery, but was taken out by a long range FT-17 shot.  Give that tank commander/gunner a medal.

The combined Turkish/German forces swarming forward across the Dvimin line.

Looking north east from Dvimin towards Tcherbevan.  Soviet cavalry are approaching the city from the northwest, while the German task force passes through the southern hills.

Over in the southeast, the other Turkish force closed with the capital city and whittled down the remnants of Woosterforce.  In the northeast, the White Russians took control of the English Church, wiping out the heros of the Andreivian police force when Cossacks infiltrated the churchyard and charged the police unit from behind.  The Andrevian Culture Minister was last seen running through the carnage attempting to reach the airstrip and flee in his DVII, but it is suspected he fell beneath the Cossack sabres.

By the end of play, Andrevian military and para-military forces had ceased to exist.  The British were hanging on in Tcherbevan although part of the city was firmly in White Russian hands.  Large Turkish and German armies were approaching the city from southwest, south and southeast, while a Soviet force was approaching from the northwest.  Whatever the Allied, Central or Soviet powers decided for Andrevia, one thing was certain, it would be a long time before the people of Andrevia would have a say in the process.

A great weekend.  Thanks to Richard C for organising the event and herding the various wargaming cats.  Thanks to Richards C and P for the bulk of the scenery, Kev for his contributions, especially the glorious Turkish battleship, and to all the players for such a fun weekend.  It was great to see some of the local boys enjoying themselves too, with Leo, Arthur and Gabriel all seeming to enjoy themselves.

Thanks for looking.

Crisis Point 2018 Day 1

So, after a hearty breakfast at the local B&B, we headed across the road to the local Primary School hall.  I took command of the Turkish forces, in the guise of Mustapha Pasha, on the Black Sea front, facing off against Ian S's Andreivian regulars dug in along the Dvimin line.  Ian enjoyed five units of 12 infantry, each backed up by an MMG and 3 crew, as well as 2 Mk V tanks, one male and one female, plus support from a pair of medium mortars.  He obviously thought the Turkish threat significant as he deployed three of the infantry units with MMGs along the second trench line, with one unit forward in the fortress of the Dvimin military academy.  Only one infantry unit faced the Soviet thrust from the north.  My Turks comprised 4 8 man infantry units plus a 12 man engineer unit with MMG, demo charges and a flamethrower.  The Turkish HQ included 2 MMG with 3 crew and an attached team of German dragoons in a staff car, trained in naval gunfire support liaison.  The Turks were supported by some German allies commanded by Arthur (a local lad from the village) who fielded 2 captured FT-17 tanks, 2 units of 18 infantry and one of 12 infantry on bicycles, plus a 3 man flamethrower team.

 

The Andrevians manning the second trench line backed up by a command bunker.

 

Early congestion as the Turks and Germans tried to get across the first river line to get to grips with the Dvimin Military Academy fortress.  The Turks made good use of requisitioned Dhows and barges to cross the river.

On the eastern front, Kev's Turks pursue the British Woosterforce, despite some stubborn little rearguard actions.

Help is on hand for the Turks on the Black Sea front as a Turkish battleship hoves into view.

Scratch built battleship by Kev - a fantastic build and a great mobile artillery platform.

 

The Trans-Caucasian Soviet commander, Russ Phillips, moves his Cossacks south towards the Andrevian's hasty stop line.  Richard Phillips (AKA Sir Roderick Spode), commanding the British mission to Tcherbevan, watches on with detached interest, ordering strawberry mouse while the band play tea dance music. 

 

In the foreground, the Turks and Germans have their act in gear and are making progress forwards, all the time under withering fire from the Andreivians.  Some long range fire is exchanged between the Turkish 37mm on the train and the Andreivian MkV male tank.

Once the Turks closed the range, MMG and rifle fire broke many of the defenders, who were then wiped out in close assault, although the Turkish attackers were reduced to two men and were assisted by a berserk German rifleman who clubbed the last Andrevian to death with his rifle butt, only to succumb to his wounds immediately after.  Andrevian troops attempting to surrender were despatched with bullet, bayonet and entrenching tool.

With the Academy fortress taken, the troops turn their attention on the second line, heading towards the vulnerable right flank where the line turns into a salient.

Over on the eastern front, The Turks have pushed Bertram Woosters British north across the river and Turkish cavalry have caught the mobile British Model T MMG cars bogged down crossing the river.  Despite losses to British MMG fire, the Turkish cavalry spear the crews and capture the vehicles.

The Trans-Caucasian Soviet troops sweep forward towards Tcherbevan.

In the northeast, White Russians and Andrevians slug it out, although the city falls to a coup-de-main force of Cossacks entering the city unobserved.

All through the day, Andrevian police secure the English Church, while the British military mission secure their perimeter, eliminating the German-backed Turkish militias in downtown Tcherbevan.  Late in the day, an Andreivian Fokker DVII takes off from the now secure airstrip and attempts to interdict Turkish troops on both fronts.

The Turkish commander, Mustapha Pasha finally calls up the battleship on the radio, relaying the location of a bombardment mission and the battleship races into position.

The Andrevian regulars suddenly find their northern defences turned, when Soviet forces win the hearts and minds of the Andrevian unit facing them, which defects and turns their guns on their former mates, destroying the mortar battery.  The Andrevian commander cooly orders his HQ unit to turn 180 degrees and machine gun their former mates, which they do with gusto.  He adds the Mk V female for good measure.

The German HQ group waiting to correct the fire of the Turkish battleship.

By the end of the first day, the Dvimin Military Academy is in Turkish hands.

The Turks (on the left) have forced the British Woosterforce to race into Tcherbevan to regroup and bolster up the Military delegation.

An eerily quiet Tcherbevan patrolled by Andrevian police and British units.

A handful of Soviet troops hold the Northern Black Sea coast, but the Andrevian army is too busy with Turks and Germans to turn and deal with them.

The net is closing in on the Andrevian army.

Lots of action around the table and I'm sure I've only picked up on a small fraction.  The Turks and Germans were quite frustrated at first due to the small deployment area and the need to either cross a single bridge or embark on Dhows and barges, all under fire from the Andrevians.

Overnight, the Turks consolidated two dangerously weakened infantry units into a single force and reinforced the command unit with their 2 MMGs.  The MMGs moved up into the Dvimin Academy fortress and the stage was set for Sunday, when the second trench line would be stormed and "tomorrow in Tcherbevan" became the Turkish and German marching slogan.

Thanks for looking.

Crisis Point 2018 Return to Andreivia Easter 1918 tables and background

This weekend saw us return to Dungworth for the next installment of the struggle for Andreivia, the fictional country at the eastern end of the Black Sea, bordered by Turkey to the South, Russia to the north and Armenia and Persia to the East.  We played on a large "H" shaped table bordered on one long side by the Black Sea and on the other by mountains.  The cross over represented the capital city, Tcherbevan, bordered by the Southern Hills.


On both southern linbs of the table, Turkish forces, supported by German troops, were pushing north, in the west coming up against the last gasp Andreivian Govt regular forces defending the Dvimin Line, while in the east, Turks were pursuing the remnants of a British expedition, "Woosterforce", which had advanced from Persia/Mesopotamia in an attempt to secure the allied depots in Andreivia, following the capitulation of Russia in the Treaty of Brest Litovsk.  In the northwest, Trans-Caucasian SSR revolutionaries were attempting to liberate the oppressed Andreivian people, while in the northeast, loyal "White" Russians were attempting to maintain Andreivia as part of the Russian Empire.  In the capitol city, a British liaison detachment and the Andreivian police were slupping it out with Turkish freedom fighters backed by German gold.


The war aims of all the players was to try and seize some or all of Tcherbevan and as much territory as they could to maximise their position during negotiations of the Armistice, which couldn't be far away in the Spring of 1918, whoever emerged triumphant from the war to end all wars.


Looking south along the Black Sea coastal road.

Looking east, the lighthouse marking safe passage into the Krupnehr River leading to Tcherbevan in the distance.  Richards Phillips and Crawley surveying their terraforming skills.

Tcherbevan with the legendary giant "Oracle of Andreivia", Richard Crawley, father of the nation.

Looking northwest from the arid terrain between Andreivia and Mesopotamia.  L-R Mark (White Russian), Richard C (umpire in much demand), Ian S (Andreivian Govt commanding the Dvimin Line) and Richard P (British military delegation to Tcherbevan).

Looking southwest from the Medieval city walls (sadly I can't remember the name of the city).

Looking west at Tcherbevan showing the large, modern flour mill and old English church.

Looking west along the Dvimin Line of Andreivian defences.

Terrain is almost exclusively from Richard Crawley and Richard Phillips most excellent collections, much of which is scratch built especially for Andreivia.  Most of the grey cobbled roads and trestle bridges in the shot above are mine, sourced as mdf kits from Ebay and dry-brushed grey.

Crisis Point 2017

Crisis Point 2017, organised and umpired by Richard Crawley at the School Hall in Dungworth, near Sheffield, returned to Andreivia, the fictional Black Sea country, set in April 1918.  The Bolsheviks have just signed the treaty of Brest-Litovsk and are evacuating the country, while White forces are keen to continue the fight.  British and Empire forces have managed to place a small military force in the capital Tcherbevan, ostensibly to guard the military stores unloaded there.  Andreivia has declared independence from both the Russian and Turkish empires and the fledgling state is attempting to maintain the front line in the Caucasus, secure the capital and ease the passage of British and Empire forces into the country to help stabilise the new country.  The Central Powers, especially Turkey under the Ottomans, are keen to see Andreivia return to the Empire, while the Germans are keen to support the Turks and keep as many British and Empire forces busy as possible.  Apart from the action in the museum, all actions are played out using the Arc of Fire rule set.

A British Ford Model T patrol sweeps ahead of the main force (Woosterforce) advancing into Andreivia from Mesopotamia.  

Meanwhile in Tcherbevan, the Museum of Antiquities is the scene of a struggle to obtain the Golden Fez of Andreivia, a potent symbol of Andreivian nationalism.  Andreivian police, the local Andreivian mafia and the famous jewel thief Arsene Lupin III all attempt to steal/liberate/protect the artefact in a Pulp Alley game.

The British commander, wearing the hat of initiative, apparently behind Arsene Lupin III's attempt on the Fez.

Arsene Lupin III's team peer into the room occupied by the Andreivian mafia (German-backed), while Andreivian police advance from the furthest room.

Andreivian mafia knocked down and out by the police sergeant in a brawl.

The game was heading for stale mate with each team securing a plot point, until in the last round of the game a police constable knocked down the mafia leader, securing his plot point, while Arsene Lupin III retired through  skylight, leaving the Fez to Andreivia.

Meanwhile, on the Caucasus front, the Turks (to the right) launch a major advance on the sparsely held Andreivian lines.

The Turks appear to have won the preliminary artillery duel and their troops advance out of the trenches in an extended line.

The Andreivians can only reply with rifle fire, having lost their MMG to artillery fire.

Meanwhile, behind the lines, a German gunboat descends on the coast to clear the way for a landing, interrogating the local Arabs and intercepting an arms carrying Dhow.  Having interrogated the crew and determining they are harassing the local Andreivians, the German captain allows the Arabs to get on with their business.

The most excellent gunboat was scratch built by Richard Crawley.

The captain calls in the first wave of troops, landing sailors on the coast.

Meanwhile, "White" Russian Cossack cavalry tries to interfere with the local Arabs, only to be completely overwhelmed in the close assault and routed.

Unfortunately for the Germans, as the barge advances on the coast, the gunboat runs down one of the barges, causing total loss of life to the troops on board the stricken vessel.

The Arab caravan, bearing a secret weapon, plods off in the direction of the interior.

The surviving German sailors reach the beach.

It's almost all over at the front as the Turks close with the Andreivian front line.

The German barge captain has spotted the missing submarine, beached in a creek on a recce mission, and goes in to retrieve it.

Towing it back out to sea.

The road to Tcherbevan, with villages garrisoned by Andreivians.

Including a most impressive lighthouse, built by Richard Phillips.

The British Woosterforce, in overnight laager on the road from Mesopotamia to Tcherbevan.

The Germans land their crack infantry, while the gunboat trades shots with an Andreivian armoured train.

The Germans bring up mountain guns.

And close assault the armoured train, which has a knocked out turret and another turret and engine neutralised and temporarily inoperative.

The mountain guns advance to take the bridge on the road to Tcherbevan under cover of their guns.  To the right, Turks have punched through the Andreivin lines and mopped up, with the few survivors in pell mell retreat towards the capital.  They will find their retreat cut off by German infantry and guns.

To the east, the British have dealt with the Turkish pursuers and rendered them ineffective and so the way to Tcherbevan is open.

The view of the British from the defeated Turks in the east.

Australian Light Horse scouting for the British as they resume the advance.

So, the game ended with British and Russian forces skirmishing with Turkish militia and each other in the capital.  In the east, a British force was free to advance on the capital.  In the west, a combined Turkish and German force was advancing on the capital.  The scene is set for a future game involving a substantial scrap between Britain and her Empire, supported by free Andreivian forces, with a combined Turkish and German force.  What role the White and Red Russian forces will play remains to be seen.

Thanks for looking.