"Sie mag es nicht sie!"

Being the second version of our Bolt Action WWII games set in 1940 following the successful execution by the Germans of Operation Sealion/Zeelowe. In this version, Phil commands the British forces seeking to recapture a bridge seized by Falschrimjaegers, the latter commanded by the grizzled veteran, von Bikkel! In the early morning half light the Jaegers take their positions ~

First on the scene for the British are the local Home Guard: two squads with transport in this case ~ one on bicycles and one in a local butcher's van it seems. Of course the officer, some sort of bank clerk I believe, has rather more luxurious transport ~

Under heavy, but wayward, mortar fire the Home guard units work their way around the enemy's left flank, bringing up the Smith gun for some supporting fire ~

After a brisk cycle ride, Sergeant the Hon Wilson's squad take up a position behind a stone wall and fire on the enemy's position ~

While on the British left, the Regulars begin to move into position to assault and recapture the bridge, with the aid of some support from a light tank, a Mk VI ~

Enemy mortar fire is now intense, and Sergeant Wilson's squad takes a massive hit! As the dust clears and the ringing in his ears eases, Wilson finds himself the sole survivor ~

Lance Corporal Jones' squad has fared no better, being devastated by heavy mortar fire, leaving only Mannering's HQ and the Smith gun firing on the enemy flank ~

Casualties are mounting on both sides now, but the Germans are holding on at the bridge, largely thanks to the enemy overestimating the power of a lone anti tank rifle! Finally the tank and supporting regulars manage to neutralise the threat and begin the decisive advance to recapture the bridge ~

Desperate times call for desperate measures! Sensing defeat von Bikkel orders the final squad of Jaegers to assault the tank as it crosses the bridge. Their morale is excellent and they rush the enemy who are too surprised to respond ~

With the tank in flames after a successful assault the British attack peters out and the bridge is still in enemy hands ~

Another seventeen turn Bolt Action epic! the game seemed to swing first to favour one side then the other, with it being difficult to predict the outcome right up to the end. Phil finally conceded when the tank was destroyed and he found himself with too few Regulars left to carry the day, despite having mortar and machine gun support. For my part, I think I held on grimly despite serious losses on my flanks. The mortars did the main execution for the Jaegers, but their stirring assault really sealed the victory!
The figures are all from my small 28mm WWII collection, predominently Foundry and BEF/Warlord with some from Artizan, Stronghold and Crusader along the way. The tanks are from Warlord and the other vehicles from Lledo.

"Fur dich, Tommy, ist der Krieg vorbei!"

One of a pair of recent WWII 28mm Bolt Action games we've fought out here in GHQ: this one saw me commanding the British force against Jon who, as the German force commander, had to force a bridge crossing defended by elements of the Home Guard and seize an important communications post ~

The bridge, together with a fording point lower down the river, are defended by the local Home Guard, under the capable{?} command of the ageing and overweight Brig {Capt} Bykleigh, who we last met in the 1920's during the Soviet incursions into Rhanzlistan! The force comprises four small squads supported by a Smith gun. Half the force starts on the table, the remaining entering on a random dice throw each turn, once dice have been allocated to the on table units. To add uncertainty we added an 'end of turn' dice to the mix.

The Home Guard are supported by one Mark VI tank which arrives from off table, like the other Reserves. We classed it as an 8 for purposes of a hit {as we did the German tank}. The picture gives some idea of the dispositions after 4 Turns on the British side of the river.
The German commander, Kapt Weiss, is seen here in deep conversation with his subordinates, while the gun comes into action to support the developing attack.

While the tank, supported by a motorcycle squad, closed on the bridge, the  remaining German infantry moved in a two pronged attack to draw the fire of the defenders from the main thrust. You might just make out the diversionary attack developing in the distance of the following picture ~

The defenders found themselves defending a rather wider front than they had hoped as the enemy squad  you see in the distance moved around their left flank ~

The defenders on the left of the British line were soon hotly engaged in a prolonged firefight with the enemy, sadly having the worst of the exchanges over a number of turns as the accumulating 'Pin' markers only too clearly show ~

Despite heavy fire from the defenders, the German attack made steady progress ~

And soon the two tanks were engaged in a duel to the death which would seal the fate of the bridge defenders or the enemy attackers ~

While the British defenders crumbled under withering fire the tank was finally knocked out by the German gun leaving the bridge open to the enemy, despite two heroic failures on the part of the defenders to assault the tank in a 'death or glory' moment ~

So, Brig Bykleigh, "Fur dich ist der Krieg vorbei!"

The game lasted seventeen turns, a quite remarkable total for our Bolt Action engagements here in GHQ! A tribute to the dogged defence and 'never say die' spirit of the Brits? No, more due to our combined inability to pass Order Tests once the pin markers began to accumulate! The figures are from my small WWII collection, mostly Wargames Foundry and BEF/Warlord, though the Smith gun is from Stronghold. The terrain is from The Last Valley in the main, though Phil made the tiles and the two larger hills for me {See his News From The Front site in the sidebar if you are interested in some for yourself}.The odd vehicles are by Lledo ~ I don't bother with repaints myself ~ and the bridge was an old Airfix kit I recall. Pop back soon for a report on the second engagement we shall fight out tomorrow.

The Blandings Plate 1644

A recent ECW game here at GHQ using my own A Crowning Mercy rules. Jon featured as the First Earl Emsworth, loyal to the crown, and to his pig.... I was the Parliamentarian commander, Obadiah Bykleigh, Gentleman ~ no aristocratic pretentions here! Emsworth was charged with escorting his Plate to the king, that it might be melted down and used to supplement the Royal warchest. If he could escort the baggage train off the opposite end of the table he would win the game and, in his Emsworth persona, save his bacon...
Lord Emsworth, ably assisted, or not, by a sister and his son the Hon Frederick plan their course of action ~


Beneath the family banner a strategy is taking shape...

The Blandings Plate is loaded onto a baggage train and makes ready to set out on its journey ~

The Parliamentarian force appears randomly, with an increasing chance in each turn to appear. Just as well, as I could n't throw above 20% for three turns, allowing Jon to get well underway, although he was rather phased by not having a large force to cover all eventualities ~

With no sign of Parliamentary opposition, Emsworth's Horse are moving ahead to scout the road, while Robinson's Whitecoats move up ahead of the baggage train ~

Robinson's Whitecoats

At last my dice luck improves and Parliamentary forces intent on seizing the Blandings Plate begin to arrive on the table, and luckily at the right end too from my perspective ~

Parliamentary Horse and Foot advance to cut off the Plate!

Fierce fighting is soon breaking out as rival Horse clash along the Ludlow road, while Parliamentary Foot hastens into action ~

Taking advantage of Royalist confusion, the Parliamentary horse crashes into a unit of Foot ~

Seen from the perspective of those in the baggage train, the Royalist position looks grim ~

However, in several turns of fierce fighting, after fortunes went first to one side, then to the other, the Parliamentary force is finally broken and leaves the field, as the Plate in its baggage train exits the table to Royalist cheering ~

In all the game lasted seventeen turns in about three hours, with a short break for a cuppa in the middle of a lull in the action. No unexpected outcomes happened and the rules worked smoothly, as we feel they always do. If anything, my troops were rather on their metal in the middle of things, but were outfought at the climax when it mattered. It seemed Parliament's desires for the riches of the Blandings Plate were not as strong as those of the Royalists, who deservedly held the field at the end of the game.

The Grand Old Duke of York...

...well, not quite yet, but instead some French from the French Revolutionary Wars period; the start of my 2014 project! They are all from Trent Miniatures and have a very characterful style about them, which was the second reason I chose the project and them. The first was because my son designed them for Duncan a few years ago now. While its not an enormous range, it is possible to make sizable forces before having to paint the same figures over again too often. At present the total painted comprises ~

 
 











That's one 24 figure infantry Battalion, a 12lb gun and Foot Artillery crew, a Foot Artillery artillery command stand, and a couple of troops of Dragoons. I may expand the numbers there in due course to 8 or 12, we'll have to see. On the painting table I've a howitzer and crew to complete the Foot Artillery Battery. After them I will start the second French Infantry Battalion, planning a few figures in Brown coats and the odd one in white for them.

The Command elements of the Battalion

Some Fusiliers and the Elite Company

Enthusiastic Officer urging on Les Braves!

Fire! The Foot Artillery's 12lb gun

Foot Artillery Command base

The first cavalry for the force are some Dragoons. I have to say that I really enjoyed painting these a great deal!

I've not discovered details of the guidons carried in the early Revolutionary War period, so I'd welcome help here ~ link would be really good! I'll keep you posted from time to time over the year I hope, but I don't anticipate any games in the genre this year, not unless my painting output seriously increases that is...

Not a lot of people know that!

Jon and I recently managed to meet up in GHQ for a game, our first of 2014! We chose an AZW game, but this time giving Black Powder a try rather than our usual rule set!! Jon, in the guise of Lord Walton, commanded the Imperial force, mostly of mounted troops supported by some artillery and the 24th Foot, while I took command of the Zulus in the guise of that old favourite, Chief Bykelezi M'Tubi, a wily if somewhat unsuccessful commander...

Chief Bykelezi, leading from the rear ~ sorry, protecting the cattle and his wives!

The game was to last 6 turns, with initiative diced for in every turn. Each side had an objective to seize ~ the Imperial baggage for the Zulus and the cattle for the Imperial side. WE began by dicing for scouting, with the winner being able to move one hill if the Imperials or both if the Zulus. My dice were better by one so I positioned the hills as I saw fit. Jon the had to order his force on to the table before turn one started with the Zulus having the first initiative. Some Boers, under their canny leader De Whyt, found them selves somewhat exposed ~

As you can see in the two pictures my Zulus failed to contact the Boers and De Whyt was able to gallop away to safety with his men, at least for now. In the meantime, the Imperial forces began to deploy for battle while most of the Zulus showed uncharacteristic lethargy when ordered to close with their foe!

The lancers surged forward to contact one Zulu regiment as it charger forward ~

While on the opposite flank the Zulus finally surged forward into action ~ as seen from the Imperial lines, where Lord Walton can be seem coordinating his battle strategy. Despite its best efforts the rocket troop scored only one hit all game! And that with an overshoot!

While the Zulus were over running the artillery and pressing the 24th hard, on the opposite flank the Lancers, supported by some Mounted Infantry, finally saw off the Zulus ~

The game looked all up for the Zulus as the withering fire from the 24th finally broke the Zulus as they retired from the bitter hand to hand fighting on the right!

However, it was the end of turn 6 and although the Zulus had had the worst of things, neither side had taken their objective and so we declared the game a draw. Chief Bykelezi M'Tubi had saved his cattle and his wives, though at the cost of the lives of many of his young men. Lord Walton would have a difficult job explaining his failure to trounce the Zulu to his political masters back in London too!
A grand game which we both enjoyed, with many tense moments right up until the end, with neither side being quite close enough to seize their objective! A fitting memorial to the 50th Anniversary of the movie, "Zulu", a perennial favourite amongst wargamers I feel! Next week, its back to the C17th and the English Civil War...

Another Year Slips Away...

Well, here we are again and all too soon it seems since this time last year. As appears to be the 'done thing' here in the blogosphere I suppose I ought to try and sum up my experiences of 2013, although why anyone would really be interested evades me somewhat to say the least.
As I consider myself mainly a wargamer who paints, rather than a figure painter who wargames, and there is a significant difference I think, I shall begin proceedings with a summary of the games we've played this year. Looking over my notes I see I've played a total of 65 games during 2013, a very respectable total in my opinion. Of these I won 29, drew 6 and lost 32 and so I'm clearly heading for midtable mediocrity amongst the gaming community! Rather apt as I'm a long term season ticket holder at Walsall! New games have included Battlegroup Kursk which I've played both at Phil's and with Jon at the Midlands Wargames Centre in Stafford. While I've enjoyed the games, and done quite well in them, I still prefer Rapid Fire! myself. I've also dipped my toe into the Back of Beyond, in the shape of 1920's pulp type games using Setting the East Ablaze, which I first encountered at Phil's but for which I now have my own force {see Tales From Rhanzlistan in the side bar links}. Throughout the year we've dabbled in no end of rule sets and periods between ourselves, from the Ancient World using Hail Caesar, to the Vietnam War using free wargames rules from the web, to Alternative WWII in the shape of Operation Zelowe, Blandings Castle and 1946 and beyond! In all this, my perennial favourite remains the ACW, so its fitting that I should introduce you to the final figures I painted this year, a Confederate command base featuring Jubal E Bykleigh and a few enthusiastic supporters!

Old Jubal was my Christmas gift from Matt and his family, following on from my Birthday gift of a stout Union General, Useless S Bykleigh in May ~ who figures on the heading of the site by the way. Matt sculpted my head and had some cast up. In this case its added to a Redoubt body and mounted on a Dixon horse to fit in with my collection. The two enthusiastic Rebs are from Dixon of course. Thankfully, Jubal is based on a younger and slimmer version of myself this time. Matt remembered my Mexican 'tache which I sported for several years in my post beard phase, hence the slightly sinister look!

As we are on the subject of painting, its probably apt to look at my output this year now. My notes show that I painted some 603 28mm figures during the year. They will have been in any number of period interests, most notably the whole of the Rhanzlistan Field Force and of late the start of my 2014 project, the Wars of the French Revolution, which I mentioned and previewed in an earlier post! Now, if you have been following this closely, you'll recall that I described myself as a wargamer who paints and not a figure painter who games. I do believe that there is a fundamental difference between the two. The former, amongst whom I proud to stand, make up in my view the vast bulk of our hobby, although the magazines and Forum Boards are often peopled more by the latter, for whom I once coined the rather strong label 'Painting Facists'. By that I meant to convey that I felt the painting of the figures was becoming an end in itself and that folk, or some of them at least, had lost sight of the fact that the hobby is called wargaming and that we are all united, despite our different interests, approaches and scales, as wargamers! The little lead folk have no life beyond that which we give them over our table top battlefields. Of course, that does n't mean that we should spray one side red and the other blue, unless we want to of course, but we do well to remember the 3' rule: we see the figures on the tabletop battlefield, not blown up as photos on the web or in a magazine or rulebook. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I feel ever more strongly with each passing year that the object is to game with like minded chums; to have fun and enjoy the social interaction a game brings; not to lead a semi monastic existence, hunched over the painting table like some monk of old carefully illuminating a manuscript for weeks on end, labouring over a single figure.

Another series of events has coloured 2013 for me, though rather less pleasantly than the games I've played, the folk I've met and the places I've visited. I'm referring to my experiences where I was subjected to what I considered to be a form of cyber bullying simply because I asked a few folk to think for themselves about something before mouthing off to all and sundry. I've said before I'm sure that the net should be a wonderful source of inspiration and information for our hobby, and of course it generally is, but sadly it seems to have attracted a small number of socially inadequate folk who have no concept of good manners or of proper behaviour, encouraged as they are to hide behind tags which give them anonymity. Terry Wise once told me that every hobby attracts such fringe elements: sadly the net has given them a voice far beyond their import and a malign influence far out of proportion to their number. My only New Year Resolution is to ignore such elements in our fine hobby entirely!

Looking forward with enthusiasm now to 2014 and all I hope it will bring us all. I have started a new period, despite vowing this time last year never to do it again. I've already painted 12 French Infantry and 3 French Dragoons as a start, with a further 4 infantry and 1 Dragoon underway on the painting table. These are from Trent Miniatures for my Wars of the French Revolution project. I hope to show the first units to you early in January, so pop back from time to time. In the pending tray, already undercoated and ready to go, I've also got two ACW infantry units from Dixon, some Saxons for my Late Roman armies together with three more Late Roman generals, all from Foundry. 2014 looks like it will be busy on the painting front, DV! I also look forward to more work on my Great Detective project, though that's in the pending tray as I'm waiting for the final buildings to be delivered still. Lots to do, lots to look forward to, and that's not even thinking about the new and shiny which will come along to tempt us all...

So, out with 2013, in with 2014, and A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Christmas Presents

I was lucky enough to have my whole family with me for Christmas this year, making the holiday a real joy from start to finish! I was also lucky enough to receive several wargames related presents this year. From Sue, my wife, I got a battery of Trent Miniatures 28mm French Revolutionary Wars Horse Artillery to add to my growing 2014 project. From Matt, my son, I got the second of my unique 'Personality' figures, a second ACW General; this time a Confederate, Jubal E Bykleigh! More on both of these gifts as they are painted in the coming weeks. From Ruth, my daughter, I got the new Private Eye History in Cartoons which has had me chuckling steadily since I opened it on the Day!
Finally, from my wargaming chums in the GHQ Irregulars I got a fine 28mm German Officer for our 1940 Zeelowe games from Jon and a mystery 'Red Cross' parcel from Phil ~

It contained three wonderful additions to my collection in the shape of a fully assembled and painted 1/48th scale kit of an Airco A10 with its own unique landscaped flight stand. It will do duty in our developing Great War games and also see action in Rhanzlistan I am sure.

And lurking amongst the packaging was a very pleasant surprise in the form of a painted and based Staff Car for the 1914 games next year!

It will need some base work to match my collection and the rear passenger needs some work ~ I painted these earlier in the month for another project but they fit the car so well. But, I'm sure you will agree, a really spiffing set of hobby related gifts to mark Christmas 2013! A final picture of my only win this month, a Wings of War game with Phil: Captain Bicclesworth downs the Hun ace, von Rhobinsaan, the Pink Baron ~