BG Market Garden test table layouts and games

Getting ready for the Battlegroup Market Garden gaming weekend this weekend, we decided to test out some table layouts.  This first one is from Thursday evening and shows 4 tables laid out using club terrain and some of Will McNally's ditched roads.  Hell's Highway rather simplistically runs straight as a die along the tables, with a built up area at the far end representing Nijmegen.

Needs more scatter terrain to break up the open table.

We played out individual games using flank attack.  The force I brought was designed for the attack/defence scenario, so only included a single sniper.  Will swiftly dealt with him with a barrage of off table mortars.  Once our main forces started to arrive, things started to swing in favour of the German armour, with first two, then a third and eventually 4 Stug IIIGs entering the table.  A timed 105mm artillery strike also hit the windmill, which was a cornerstone of Will's defences around his deployment zone.  I also positioned a pre-planned artillery marker within his deployment zone, which narrowed down the opportunities for bringing troops on table quickly and them not being where they were needed.


My Stugs began to engage Wills 75mm artillery batteries at extreme MG range, but even with generally less than stunning dice rolls, they managed to reduce his crews and loader teams until they broke.  Will managed to position his 57mm AT gun along a hedge overlooking the canal bridge, but this was dealt with by a combination of heavy mortars and Stug MG fire.  His infantry rushed across the open fields to try and set up some kind of stop line by the hedge and woods.

My FHQ were deployed in the woods on my side of the canal, calling in artillery, but suffered at the hands of Wills off table mortars, but the surviving Stugs and infantry kept firing and moving forwards.

A mortar spotter concealed in woods.

The demise of Will's 57mm lead to my assault pioneer section and 251/16 rushing the bridge to squirt the yankee paratroopers.  Alas, pinning fire from the paras spoilt that plan, as did a bazooka in the windmill, which despatched another Stug.

A Stug and supporting Kriegsmarine try to deal with a pesky Yankee paratrooper recce section in the woods on the German side of the canal, while more Kriegsmarine and another Stug cross the canal bridge to support the engineers.  We called time as it was approaching 11pm, with the US airborne significantly closer to their BP than the gallant Germans.

Then on Saturday we tried out a larger game, more tables and players, using club and personal terrain (the latter mainly Will's).  We also made Hell's Highway a bit more irregular in plan.

Table for 30 Corps vs a scratch Jerry battlegroup.

My plucky 9th SS recce battlegroup would take on Will's US paratroopers (yes, Will again, but tables were allocated randomly on both nights).

Another table for 30 Corps to take on a German armoured battlegroup.

And yet another 30 Corps battlegroup taking on a German armoured battlegroup.

Some gratuitous shots of my scout 250/9.  It may never be seen again as in its' first two on table appearances, it has been blown up on the first turn in each game.  Time to opt for the cheaper 222.  If it's going to get blown up, it might as well be the cheaper option.

Recce screen was the scenario and we rolled for 5 turns, so no regular reinforcements until Turn 6.  Will's airborne scouts quickly fanned out on his side of the canal, taking up good observation positions.

My Germans were to secure the farmhouse in the foreground and set up a heavy mortar OP there as well as to try and get troops into the farm house by the canal bridge and onto ambush fire ASAP.  Alas, it wasn't to be, Will's Daimler rushed forwards and despatched the 250 and passengers with a well aimed 2lb shot, while his two batteries of off table mortars dealt with the 250/9 and pinned a load of my observers.

The game changer turned out to be an aircraft chit which I drew and successfully rolled for an FW190 armed with 8 small bombs and 2 autocannons to come on table.  The first tranche of small bombs scattered wildly and did no damage.

Next turn, bombs KO'd the 57mm jeep tow and put casualties and a pin on the 57mm crew and loader team.  Meanwhile, my Stugs had started to arrive and dealt with the Daimler, but not without loss of a Stug abandoned through mortar fire.

Will drew an aircraft and got a MG-armed Mustang, which didn't do a lot to my armoured vehicles.  It was eventually force to return to base when the pilots bottle went after taking hits.

The game turned out to hinge, once again, on US paratrooper sections crossing the canal bridge and occupying the central farmhouse.  My stunning operational plan was to suppress the defenders and then close assault with one of my MG34 sections.  The suppressed defenders took quite a few hits from grenades and MGs, but saved quite a few.  Then rolled a beyond the call of duty test, unpinned and swept my MG team away with fire.  Subsequent pinning and aimed fire reduced that team to 2 men, but they were reinforced with an engineer squad armed with a flamethrower.  Fortunately, I managed to keep them pinned and noticed Will wasn't spending chits to lift pins, which could only mean one thing.  I shot up another paratrooper squad behind the hedge next to the canal, which broke and suddenlt Will was 2 past his break point.  Not a moment too soon as I was 2 short of my breakpoint.  By the narrowest of margins, Hell's Highway had been cut in our sector.  On my left, 30 Corps had broken the Germans, while on my right, 30 Corps had been repulsed, while on my extreme right 30 Corps had pushed the Germans back.  So, the game ended with 30 Corps in control of the two ends of Hell's Highway, but with a German blocking force cutting it.  No supplies to the forward elements of 30 Corps for their push on Arnhem today.  Iron Cross first class to the gallant flieger in the FW 190 and purple hearts all round to the survivors of the paratrooper squad in the farmhouse who rallied and defeated the SS close assault, possibly candidates for the CMH.

Thanks for looking.

20mm Sawn-off M5 recce

I picked up an M5 hull from the 50p mis-cast box at the Early War Miniatures stand at the Derby/Bruntingthorpe show if I remember correctly.  There were some air bubbles which needed filling and Will McNally kindly gave me a pair of PSC (I think) M5 tracks.  I added a rolled up tarp on the rear deck with Milliput and built up a box cab using pieces of stiff cardboard cut from a packet of frozen prawns - of all things.  The card is stiffened with superglue.  Stowage (packs and mattock/entrenching tool) came from a packet of Sgts Mess US vehicle stowage and the .50 cal from another Sgts Mess pack.

Decals came from Skytrex, with very prompt delivery and a substantial discount on the postage rates quoted on their website (decals aren't that heavy).

Hull is Humbrol Forrest Green, tarp is khaki grey, tracks are flat brown and orange brown mixed.  Crew have US dark green pants and khaki or grey green jackets.  I gave the whole thing a dry brush of Iraqi sand to give it a dusty look and highlight any raised details.

The crew figures were another gift from Will McNally and very nice they are too.

A close-up to finish with.

This is the first vehicle completed for my US European forces, although I have several Shermans, assembled over Christmas and painted in the New Year, awaiting decals.

Thanks for looking.

20mm Late WW2 Luftwaffe air support

I'm still getting ready for the Battlegroup Market Garden weekend, which is coming up in a couple of weeks time.  Late war air support for German battlegroups is restricted to bomb and/or MG armed Bf109s and FW190s.

The Airfix late war Bf109G-6 armed with a single bomb, two underwing MGs and one firing through the propeller. 

This one is painted in light blue, grey violet and black grey.

An Airfix FW190A-5 ground attack version armed with 4 small bombs and one large bomb, plus 2 wing mounted MGs and a second pair of ?autocanons mounted in the nose.

This one is painted in a neutral grey, grey violet and black grey.

Cockpit detail on the FW190.

I thought these guys were wrapped up, but then I realised that Airfix don't supply the swastika decal for the tail, presumably as they are now based in Germany.  So, I will have to source a set of decals with a suitable-sized swastika included to complete them, which is a pain.

Anyway, I'm really pleased with how these have turned out.  Not bad considering I've not built a 20mm aircraft in best part of 40 years.

Thanks for looking.

20mm WW2 vignettes

A couple of vignettes to add some late WW2 period flavour to the tabletop.  These are from CP Models TQD range.  The first will act as a marker for Battlegroup Special rules like "Fight Damn You" and "Deserters Will Be Shot" or "Backs to Berlin".  It depicts a field execution by hanging and is all too good a depiction of actual summary executions in the German Reich from the summer of 1944 onwards, but escalating in intensity in 1945 as the situation grew more desperate.

The models depict two soldiers of the Feldgendarmerie who have intercepted a suspected deserter, who has been executed bearing a label indicating his crimes.

Then this group is designed purely to cheese off any American players, as it depicts a couple of GIs, one wounded, being herded into captivity, having surrendered.  They are depicted walking with arms raised or hands on head, being shown where to go by an SMG armed NCO.  An officer in camo trousers and field grey jacket follows and the group is watched by an enlisted man in field grey who appears to be holding a bottle.

I figure this last group will act as a psychological blow to my US opponents, as well as a triumphal marker to employ when his battlegroup breaks or if any of his units surrender during the game.

I also have a pack of the Pegasus Germans in Berlin, which includes a potential Hitler figure patting a very young Hitler Youth soldier on the shoulder, which I think would be good for Backs to Berlin.  The TQD range also includes a Berlin Breakout group, which has a figure in rain coat with Chaplin moustache and an armed female secretary, also a good candidate for Backs to Berlin.  Perhaps the medal awards if the Germans get additional BR or the breakout party if they have to take extra chits.

Thanks for looking.

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.