On the road to nowhere...

It was Phil's birthday on Monday, so he chose what game we would play in GHQ on our regular slot as a treat! He chose to play a WWII Bolt Action game set in 1943 in Burma. Phil took command of the British and Empire troops while I commanded the Imperial Japanese Army forces. The lull before the storm ~

As usual our games are scheduled for six turns, plus a possible seventh decided by a dice throw. In this game the British and Imperial force is defending from a Japanese attack supported by tanks. The British have seven areas of dug in defences they can utilise. The Japanese enter from either end of the road crossing the table east to west: the small recon force entered from the west, the main attacking force from the east. The British deploy south of the road not knowing this.In the end Phil managed his defence better than I coordinated my attacks, as I hope the few pictures will show ~

The main Japanese force enters from the East to find the Gurkhas dug in on
the hill to their front.

The smaller Japanese Recce force enters from the west and makes a
diversionary attack on that flank of the British position.

British troops are redeployed towards the threatened eastern flank of their
position as the Japanese attack has been blunted on the western flank

The mountain howitzer deploys and begins to shell the Gurkhas holding off
the attack on the British eastern flank .

British armour moves forward to engage the Japanese tanks supporting the
infantry attacks.

The Japanese call in off table artillery fire on the Gurkha position as they
mass for the attack. The mortar fire has proved ineffective, the men cannot
find the range it seems!

A suicide attack on the old Matilda proves to be
unsuccessful sadly!

"Banzai!" The hardened jungle fighters charge the Gurkhas dug in on the
eastern flank, despite their supporting tank being pinned by friendly artillery
fire! In the fierce hand to hand fighting no quarter is given or asked for! The
Japanese are beaten off despite heavy losses and the attack is called off.

With the repulse of the hardened jungle fighters by the Gurkhas the Japanese called off the attack. The loss of one medium tank and the pinning of the second robbed them of much needed fire support, while the Japanese bombardment of the Gurkha position did little to soften them up, and pinned their own tank support! On the western flank the demonstration by the Recce force of two light tanks and an infantry squad was ineffective due to very poor firing dice initially, allowing Phil to transfer support to the threatened eastern flank.
All in all a fine game, proving once again how versatile Bolt Action is as a game system. Next up in GHQ? Well, you will need to drop by again and see what we decide on...