David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Wednesday 1 January 2020

Cut up up the cut! 1940 Operation Zeelowe ~

For the final game of 2019 here in GHQ I chose a 1940 Operation Zeelowe game, using the basic table layout from the ECW game earlier in the month with added elements to bring it visually into the period. This involved adding the garage, canal and railway line along with hedges, walls, fences and period scatter like the greenhouse, platelayers' hut and pig houses. Added civilians further aid the period 'look' of the table ~

The action sees the British counter attacking the invader across a canal and a railway line. Phil took charge of the British and I was in charge of the Germans, caught out by the surprise counter attack. We used Bolt Action2 for the rules, but set the game limit as 12 turns to accommodate the larger playing area. As is my wont, the battle unfolds through the captioned pictures which follow ~
I sent one of the 38Ts supported by a squad of infantry to delay
Phil at the bridge crossing.

The other 38T I sent out wide to my left, again supported bya
squad of infantry to give flanking fire on the bridge crossing.
Myinfantry gun is in the wrong place! But my 80mm mortar
did splendid service. The spotter is in the abandoned pill box!

Phil's LDV Reccon squad made it over the bridge and into the
wood before my squad was in place. They were a nuisance all
game.

The sniper's spotter acquires his first target.

Von Bikel bites the dust! Bit of a downer that!

Vickers Mk VIc engages and destroys my 38T! What can I say?
The dice certainly didn't run for me there!

With the 38T down the infantry squad withdrew into the cover
of the garage!

At last my anti-tank gun gets into action ad destroys the Vickers
Mk VIc. Sadly the remaining Vickers knocked out my other 38T
on the flank along with my supporting infantry.
Well, Turn 7 and I'm beaten really, so we adjourned for coffee and then a late lunch. Being the 'vile Hun' as usual seems to have affected my post game frame of mind, so I arranged a small scene to finish on...
Finally, a couple of shots of the extras for these games ~
Sheep may safely graze? Or cattle chewing the cud?  A very
pastoral idyll...

Richard Dimblebury reportingfor the BBC?

Next game planned here in GHQ will be on January 8th with Jon. No idea at this stage what we will play, I will have to see where the muse leads me now the year has turned...

22 comments:

  1. What a pleasure to look at such a beautiful and atmosperic table, love the terrain and vehicles David!

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  2. Fantastic looking game and losing the Panzers must have hurt. A great period to play and one I aim to more of this year.

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  3. Splendid looking game David, but a grim end to the battle. I have my Sealion campaign high on the list for this year as well as painting up some SS units which have been sainting for ages.👍

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    1. Trounced in the end, but great fun as usual. It's a great hobby!

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  4. A delightful day to end the gaming decade, tremendous table, terrific toys and fine company. Looking forward to this decade.

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    1. Thanks Phil! Right now I will grab your hand off for another decade!

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  5. What a lovely game to kick off the new year David!

    Christopher

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    1. Many thanks Christopher, much appreciated.

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  6. A splendid looking game David.
    I much prefer the early war...
    And Phil gets a victory... well he was playing the good guys.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. We try to make the games look pleasant on the eye. The early war period kind of spilled over from VBCW games here.

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  7. Nice set up David,personally I dont/wont wargame WW2 but your battle looked very nice.

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    1. I'm interested to know why not? A moral preference or interest just not there?

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  8. Great pictures and game. Bit of a Gestapo moment at the end, though. History shows that that kind of barbarity doesn't work.....

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  9. Great stuff and the table is perfect, I keep seeing that little greenhouse, must find out where it comes from.

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    1. Thank you George, much appreciated. The greenhouse is by Warbases. They also do a lean to version and a cold frame. They have all similar bits in two TFLs sets.

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  10. Cracking looking game! I do enjoy early war gaming


    All the best for 2020

    Cheers
    Matt
    French Wargame Holidays

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  11. Thanks Matt! Hope your year is good too.

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  12. Lovely looking terrain, a joy to see it, especially the first shot. The towling tiles are great and the rest of the terrain complements it perfectly.
    All the best for the New Year.

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    1. Thanks for those kind words, much appreciated.

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