The Defence of Futabad

Ever the stout hearted friend Phil one more embarked on the great trek to GHQ for our weekly game as I'm still inconvenienced by my foot injury. We were joined by William, my second oldest grandson, for his first real wargame. Phil has recruited William to the Imperial forces, mainly for his exceptional record with the dice when he's playing against Grandad! The scenario sees the Japanese defending a munitions depot against a probing attack. Onomoro must preserve his samurai heritage and reputation by defending the depot and seeing off the attackers. As usual now an annotated photomontage to carry you down hopefully into the action ~

Onomoro issues instructions to his second in command from the relative safety of the former governor's residence!

His men however have rather less substantial cover from the expected attack...

The general appearance of the battlefield from the Japanese perspective...

...and from the Imperial forces' view of the same. Now on to the action ~

The Forward Observer team is placed anywhere on the Imperial half of the table. It can neither be moved nor targeted afterwards.

The Imperial side has 12 elements, but only 10 Bolt Action dice. This is intended to partly simulate the difficulty of coordination in a jungle environment.

The eccentric aristocrat Lord Rawnsley and his 2nd in command 'Mad Bill' Watkins oversee the dispositions of their forces 

British troops in the foreground, Gurkhas in the middle distance. The 'off  table' artillery is represented in the far distance by the 105mm Light Howitzer.

Onomoro's defence is necessarily spread thinly. On the far right infantry are dug in behind log defences.

His main defence line stretches out from Futabad towards the muddy waters of the minor river.

The high ground is a prime location for his main anti tank artillery.

Lord Rawnsley instructs 'Mad Bill's in his mission on the left flank. Putting William in charge of the Bolt Action dice turned out not to my advantage!

Onomoro sends one group of infantry forward to occupy an advanced defensive position in the ruined gardens to the front of Futabad.

The Imperial forces storm forward all along the front stretching Onomoro's defensive options from the outset.

The Gurkhas reach the outskirts of the ruined farm ready to assault Futabad, their flank covered by the advancing British infantry.

Despite reaching their objective in Turn 2 the Japanese infantry find themselves under mortar fire directed by the Forward Observer. To their right a small unit of Tank Hunters advance hoping to engage the Matilda as it advances!

On the Imperial left 'Mad Bill's' infantry make for the relative safety of the high ground despite the ragged fire from Onomoro's defenders lining the river bank log defences.

The Gurkhas have consolidated their position around the farm ruins ready to assault Futabad. The British infantry are heading directly for the Japanese defensive lines. 

The Gurkhas are in position ready for the signal for the assault to begin in Turn 3.

The Japanese Forward Observer has struggled to direct fire on the advancing enemy, failing to establish radio contact with his various options.

"What do I need for a hit, Phil?"

"Six!"

"OK!" 

This is why you need William on your team. 

On the Imperial left, having gained the high ground, the British infantry pour down fire on the Japanese below.

It's all too much for these remnants as their morale collapsed and they fled for their lives!

The Gurkhas begin their assault on Futabad, moving cautiously through the cover afforded by the farm ruins.

The dug in infantry gun trades fire with the distant Matilda with little success. The accumulation of Pin markers hampers it's effectiveness.

The British advance through a minefield, fortunately finding it's a dummy! Machine guns are now deployed to support the developing assaults along the front.

On their left, having eliminated the enemy to their front, the British infantry prepare to probe the rear of the Japanese defense line 

Turn 4 sees the Japanese infantry defending the ruined gardens destroyed and the Gurkhas moving in to take advantage of the cover.

The Japanese Forward Observer directs successful mortar fire on their new position. Will it be enough to deter their planned assault?

The centre of Onomoro's defensive line is coming under repeated artillery, mortar, tank and machine gun fire which sees Pin markers mounting alarmingly. Attempts to Rally the troops are only partially successful.

On the Imperial right the Gurkhas press forward for the final assault on Futabad in Turn 4.

Banzai! The Japanese infantry throw themselves on the enemy now occupying the reverse of the log defences along the riverbank. Despite their best intentions they are roundly defeated in close combat and flee!

The Forward Observer calls down smoke from the 3" mortar to cover the Gurkhas' assault! By this stage Futabad is very thinly defended, need he have bothered?

The assault goes in under the cover of the smoke shells! Only the mortar crew and two snipers remain in position to offer any resistance.

Turn 5 ends with the Imperial forces in the ascendancy all along the Futabad front.

It's all up for Onomoro's failed defence of Futabad as Turn 6 leads to more Japanese losses as Onomoro's force disintegrates in the face of overwhelming odds.

All's well that ends well though thanks to Sue! Lunch on the patio makes a perfect end to a morning's wargaming. Next week in GHQ it's back to the Punic Wars as Haztrubel Bicca takes on Coronus Cunctator.