Two nights in Stalingrad - part 3

Late November 1942: another assault on the ferry crossing as Chuikov declares he will defend it 'to the last man.'  It it pointed out that he is now that last man...   Furious Sov counter attacks on the Tractor factory frustrate German pioneers infiltrating using the sewers.  Manstein fails to achieve a breakthrough.

Early December: The Germans finally capture the west bank of the ferry crossing.  Hube ensures that the men are well fed. Tarasov reinforces Golodny Island and prepared to repel boarders.

Late December: Massive German assault on Golodny Island fails but reduces the garrison by more than half.  Tarasov now referred to as 'The Hero of Golodny.'  Sovs attack the Hill and a bloody stalemate ensues.  Stalin orders a huge encirclement.

Early January 1943: Sovs capture the Hill.  Germans mop up isolated pockets of resistance, Sovs refuse to surrender the city.  Manstein's panzers arrive!

Normally we confine ourselves to silly hats.  Extra points to Mark (Chuikov) for an entertainingly convincing outfit!

Two nights in Stalingrad - part 2

 In this game each turn represented about half a month, starting in September 1942.  I'll try to give an account of the action by means of outlining successful arguments.  The photos may not be strictly in sequence and are here to provide 'atmosphere'...

Early September 1942:  The Fuhrer decrees that the city will henceforth be called 'Hitlerstadt' and must be referred to as such by all German officers.  A German assault on the Red October factory is repelled by fanatical Soviet resistance.

Late September 1942: Another attack on Red October fails.  Hitler diverts SS units from combat to 'cleansing'...

Early October: Hube leads a successful attach on Mamayev Hill and the Germans also capture Red October.

Late October: Paulus captures the Tractor factory, the Luftwaffe bombs Soviet artillery positions, Hitler orders Manstein to relieve Hitlerstadt. Sov reinforcements arrive at the ferry.

Early November: Hitler orders Fallschirmjager to fly into the airfield.  A massive German assault narrowly fails to captures the west bank at the ferry crossing.

Two nights in Stalingrad - part 1

Our first lockdown remote game was Tom Mouat's 'Stalingrad' Matrix Game, which I ran in late March 2020.  Three years later  - and prompted by still having the map I'd printed in 2020 - I decided to run it again.  

The field of battle.  1/32 and 1/35 scale figures, 1/144 aircraft and vehicles in 1/35-1/50 scales.

On overview of the opening positions.  Players and spectators* were as follows:

Adolf Hitler - John B

Gen von Paulus - John A

Lt Gen Hube - Pete

Josef Stalin - Russell

Lt Gen Chuikov - Mark

Col Tarasov - Diego

technical adviser* - Martin (he'd played it before)

Washington Post correspondent* - Nick

Don't Cry For Me - the truth at last! Falklands War Matrix Game - part 2

Here is the narrative of events from the game.

Turn 1

UK Task Force 1 sets sail for South Atlantic.  US agrees to provide satellite imaging of MEZ.  Argentina agrees to abide by Resolution 502 if UK ceases military preparations.  Chile declares neutrality and sends submarines to sea…

Turn 2

HMS Conqueror patrols with orders to sink Argentine warships breaching the MEZ.  TF1 arrives in S Atlantic.  Perez De Quela engages in intense but unsuccessful shuttle diplomacy.  US Sixth Fleet exercises in Med distract Soviets.  Chile stays neutral.

Turn 3

US releases UK-based stores to UK military.  UK TF2 sails.  Galtieri declares his own ‘Zona de Exclusion Maritima’ around Las Malvinas.  Haig emerges from his private jacuzzi and visits Argentina to urge restraint.  Chile stays neutral.

Turn 4

US offers financial aid to Chile which is spent on extended manouevres on the Argentine border.  UK TF1 & TF2 rendevous in S Atlantic and move to NE of MEZ.  PDQ proposes a UN-sponsored Colonial Evaluation Process to investigate other small islands.  A small detachment of Royal Marines re-captures South Georgia.  “Rejoice” says Mrs T.

Turn 5

Haig holds a press conference (in his jacuzzi) to urge peace and gain publicity!  His rubber duck becomes a global media sensation.  PDQ supports call for peace.  Chile continues military exercises and invites in the worlds’ press.  Reagan offers UK the loan of USS Guam if the RN loses a carrier.  While carriers and escort linger in NE of MEZ, 3 Cdo Bde and 5 Inf Bde are landed at Goose Green under Sea Harrier cover.  RAF Vulcans (‘one’ according to UK ministry of defence, ‘thousands’ according to Galtieri) bomb the runway at Port Stanley.

Turn 6

British troops encounter Argentine defences in E Falkland and are hampered by poor weather.  Massive Argentine air raids sink an RFA a frigate and a Type 42 destroyer in Falkland Sound, while Exocets fired from Etendards badly damage the Atlantic Conveyor.  Chile requests helicopters from US in order to be ready for air sea rescue missions.  Pinochet especially requests AH-1 Cobra gunships as they are apparently especially suitable for the role…

Turn 7

3 Cdo Bde (“the best troops in the world”) defeats Argentine forces in E Falkland.  5 Bde advances on Port Stanley.  Haig licences rubber duck production and arrives, at Pinochet’s invitation, in Chile to meet the press and sample another jacuzzi.  Galtieri holds a press conference – Argentine destroyers are dispatched to Southern Ocean and border defences against Chile are strengthened.  Chile remains neutral.

Turn 8

Argentine morale on Falklands starts to collapse and while fighting continues in remote areas, Scots Guards enter Port Stanley and haul down the Argentine flag.  The Junta withholds the truth from the populace and a mass rally in Buenos Aries supports Galtieri.  Pinochet is awarded the Chilean Humanitarian Star.  He and Haig appear on the cover of Time magazine, hailed as men of peace and restraint.

So a broadly historical outcome which remained far from a forgone conclusion right to the end.  In turn eight, there were three arguments which basically said the Brits got to Port Stanley.  Two of them failed....

Don't Cry For Me - the truth at last! Falklands War Matrix Game - part 1

This week's game was another outing for my Falklands War Matrix Game - 

Don't Cry For Me, or how I stopped worrying about the bomb and learned to love penguins

Originally unleashed in 2000, I last ran it to mark the 25th anniversary of the conflict in 2007 and it has subsequently been included in this book:

If you'd like to have the full details of this game and several others you might care to speculate £12.95 on a copy here.My memories of the original game can be found here.

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It is early April 1982.  A few days ago, Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands, which the Junta claims are the Islas Malvinas, historically part of Argentina.  The United Nations has passed Resolution 502 calling for the withdrawal of Argentine troops.

A British task force is being readied and it’s first units, including elements of the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines, are ready to sail for the South Atlantic.  The British Government has declared a Maritime Exclusion Zone (MEZ) around the Falklands.

The game lasts up to eight turns, each representing approximately 10 days. 

	Entity	Character	Player
1	UK Government	Mrs Thatcher	John
2	Argentine Junta	General Galtieri	Martin
3	US President	Ronald Reagan	Pete
4	UK Task Force	Rear Admiral Woodward	Simon
5	Chile	General Pinochet	Richard
6	United Nations	Perez De Quela	Tim C
7	US State Department	General Haig	Graham

The (rather stylised) map was drawn on two sheets of flip chart paper.  Military units were represented by various boardgame parts.

Having set the scene, a future post will present the narrative of events.

ACW Matrix Game part 3 - War is Hell!

October 1864 - First Battle of Atlanta. An attempt to sack Johnston and replace him with Hood fails. Johnston marches to Atlanta and, supported by Forrest’s spoiling attack, engages US forces nearby in what becomes known as the First Battle of Atlanta. Schofield marches on Nashville but fails to repair the railroads due to Morgan’s heroic charge.

November 1864 - Second Battle of Atlanta. Johnston wears down the Army of the Cumberland but Sherman draws ever closer!  Army of the Ohio repairs railroads around Nashville. Morgan rests in Chattanooga and stocks up with looted US supplies.

December 1864 - Third Battle of Atlanta. While Johnston is increasingly preoccupied fighting off Sherman, Forrest’s cavalry overruns positions held by Thomas’s troops. Army of the Cumberland is reduced to prisoners, stragglers and a confused old officer mumbling about the battle of Chickamauga last year. Morgan slips past Schofield and the remains of his force heads south to Lafayette. Atlanta remains in Confederate hands - but for how long?

The final score.  Sherman, Schofield and Thomas achieved one, two and three respectively of their 3 personal objectives. Despite being driven back, the country laid waste and suffering considerable losses, Johnston, Forrest and Morgan each achieved all three!

As I write this final report (in 1867...) Thomas and Morgan, having toured the USA, have taken their Civil War lecture tour to Europe, leaving a trail of boredom in their wake. Schofield and Forrest have entered politics while Johnston has business interests including railroads and insurance. Though he’s reluctant to cover fires risks in the Atlanta area... And Sherman?  Never recovered from Thomas and Morgan’s first lecture. He’s still drunk.

Once again, this game went very well due to the ingenuity and commitment of all six players. Well done chaps!

And finally.... Clearly not everyone was gripped by the campaign. Even Jerry’s rebel yell failed to rouse Zoe.

ACW Matrix Game part 2 - Sweet Home Alabama

As with the Stalingrad game a couple of weeks ago, I have compiled a summary narrative of the game’s. This post deals with turns 1-5, the later turns will follow soon. In the photos, for clarity the Yankees are facing south, the Rebs north. As regards the figures, the six generals were represented and each other figures generally represented a regiment or brigade. But don’t worry about that.

May 1864 - Army of the Tennessee carries out show of force N of Cassville.  Army of the Ohio moves into Lafayette in support, Army of the Cumberland moves south into Alabama. Army of Tennessee fails to build fortifications, Bedford’s Raiders raids Army of the Ohio’s LOC, Morgan’s Cavalry raids ineffectually towards Chattanooga.

June 1864 - Sherman increases pressure on Johnston, Schofield attempts flanking attack. Forrest raids US LOC in Nashville, Morgan harasses US supply columns near Chattanooga. Thomas turns east to Rome while ‘entertaining’ us with anecdotes about his apparently crucial role in the battle of Chickamauga.

July 1864 - Renewed US attack on Cassville fails, Johnston breaks off contact, fighting small delaying actions. Thomas leads remarkable forced march to outskirts of Atlanta. Forrest tears up railroad tracks at Nashville - so don’t expect a ride on the Chattanooga choo-choo anytime soon. Morgan is distracted from plundering US supply stocks by attending a Masonic Lodge meeting in Chattanooga.

August 1864 - Sherman’s attempt to eject Rebs from Chattanooga fails and Schofield’s attack on same is bloodily repulsed. Forrest, having plundered US supplies, marches to Macon. Thomas fortifies approach to Atlanta.

September 1864 - Sherman presses on to Cassville but Johnston evades into the mountains. Schofield and Morgan clash at Chattanooga again. Forrest fails to pressure Thomas, who continues to construct ‘The Atlanta Wall’. Groan.

ACW Matrix Game part 1 - Tennessee Waltz

This weeks game was another Matrix Game and I was joined on a Skype call by six players and one observer for The March To The Sea. I played this game when Bob Cordery ran it as a play by mail game back in 1995 and as I have suitable 54mm toys to represent the military units involved, it was an obvious candidate.
I always thought Bob had written this game but he credits Chris Engle with it’s design.

I replicated the map on two sheets of flip chart paper and labelled up some toys. I’ll follow up this post with two relating the events of the campaign.

The ‘cast list’ of Sheffield Wargames Society stalwarts was as follows:

USA

General William Tecumseh Sherman - Tim C

General John Schofield - John

General George Thomas - Simon

CSA

General Joseph E. Johnston - Martin

General Nathan Bedford Forrest - Jerry

General John Hunt Morgan - Richard 

Stalingrad - the Matrix Game (part 2)

This evening we played through the second part of the game. Over both nights we took about two and a half hours to run through all 9 turns. Not bad considering the mix of experience among the players, including one who’d never previously endured a Matrix Game.
Eventually the Germans were thrown back to their start lines and much blood was spilled. I have summarised the narrative of the game below.
The clear winners were agreed to be Stalin and Chuikov, who each achieved their three objectives. Chuikov’ s survival was something of a surprise as he personally led at least half a dozen assaults!
My thanks to all six players for making this such an enjoyable experience.

 A couple of random photos taken towards the end of the game. 

Summary of narrative:

Turn 1. Panzers  conducted armed reconnaissance to the south of Stalingrad preventing Soviet surprise counter-attacks. General Chuikov Conducted aggressive close defence. Major German attack into Red October Factory by SS and assault pioneers supported by artillery fire.

Turn 2. Hitler successfully argues for German combined arms bonus to apply in future combat. Stalin busts Chuikov down to colonel and promotes Tarasov to general. Chuikov conducts passive defence. Attack on Red October factory is reinforced. Tarasov mounts passive defence holding off the SS. 

Turn 3. German reinforcements arrive. Chuikov leads counter-attack across river, Germans capture Red October factory.

Turn 4. Germans bomb, shell and attack Kurgan Hill, repel Soviet attack on Red October.

Turn 5. Soviet reinforcements arrive at Volga ferry, Chuikov reorganises his defence of Kurgan Hill, but massive German assault captures Kurgan Hill. 

Turn 6. Germans establish observation posts on Kurgan Hill, improving effectiveness of artillery Luftwaffe. German reinforcements arrive at Goumrak. Winter begins to take hold, Soviet reinforcements flood in via Volga ferry. 

Turn 7. Bitter fighting over Kurgan Hill - Soviet assault bloodily repulsed. 

Turn 8. Von Paulus digs in at the airfield. Massive struggle for Kurgan Hill is bloodily repulsing by exhausted German defenders. Abortive German attack to Southern Station sustains casualties. 

Turn 9. Hitler makes speech claiming great victory in order to boost morale on the home front. Stalin claims the job is done but continues to send reinforcements. Massive Soviet assault on Kurgan Hill pushes back Germans to airfield perimeter huge casualties suffered on both sides. Red October factory falls to renewed Soviet assault led by NKVD troops. 

Stalingrad - the Matrix Game (part 1)

While we’re unable to play face to face games it’s important to find alternatives. I’ve played matrix games before by email and it occurred to me that with systems like Skype we might be able to run such a game for several players over the course of a couple of evenings.
Thus it was that I found myself hosting a Skype call with six players located in Sheffield, Derbyshire and London.
I had decided to run the Stalingrad game written some years ago by Tom Mouat as this is a fairly simple military/political game on a familiar campaign. I printed the map onto a dozen sheets of A4 card and to represent the military units I dug out toys in what I hoped would be a truly offensive* variety of scales.

Last night we played through five of the nine turns, with part two to follow this evening.
The roles and (carefully cast) players are:
Hitler - Martin
Stalin - Jerry
Von Paulus - Simon
Chuikov - Bertrand
Hube - Tim C
Tarasov - Richard

The map at half time, with the front line marked in red. 

* 1/32, 1/48, 1/72, 1/144, 1/300. So far.