The further adventures of 6 Panzer Division in Russia

This game was played at Sheffield Wargames Society on Wednesday 8 September.  It was another outing (the third?)  for 6 Panzer in the 1941 Russian campaign.  The game was put together by Martin Rapier using the WW2 version of my NBC rules.  All toys and terrain (except my Luftwaffe bombers) are from Martin's collection.  Other people have collections - I just have an accumulation of stuff.  I ran 6PD while Martin looked after the (largely static) Soviets.

The scenario involved 6PD making an assault on the Stalin Line and the whole division was available, together with a pre-planned bombing raid by the Luftwaffe.  Above we see a flight of He-111 bombing the Soviet front-line fortifications and below a Do-17 flight bombs the strategically important crossroads.  Both old (early 1980s) Heroics & Ros models which last flew a mission about 20 years ago!

Assault Pioneers to the front!  As artillery rakes the Russian defences, engineers rush forward to begin gapping the anti-tank obstacles.

With the first line of bunkers dealt with, the engineers cross the river.  Apart from the one which failed a morale check...   Panzers get ready to follow up.

The AT obstacles are gapped in two places (the green counters) and all three Panzer Abts are across the river.

The panzers storm the defences on the hill but come under fire from other defenders of the Fortified Region.

The panzers roll up the Soviet defences - the trenches were swarming with infantry.  AT the top of the photo some tanks (actually dug in and static T-18s) are overrun.

Before storming the gun line (just off camera to the left) the panzers overrun more Russians around the crossroads - including the commander of the Fortified Region!

A nice atmospheric shot of the command team of 6PD - on to Leningrad!

Graham Evans Games Day 2010

Saturday saw me travel to Graham Evans' house near Northampton for his annual games day.  This has been going now for about 6 years and I think I have attended every one.  Graham and I were joined by Tony Hawkins, Ian Drury and John Bassett.

The first game of the day was a further instalment of the series set in the fictional African state of Zambola.  The game was governed by simple rules and driven by 'matrix' arguments.  The toys used were mostly Peter Pig 15mm.

Zambola was until last year subject to the just and benign rule of President for Life Joga-Joga.  The President went missing following reports of heavy fighting in Zambola's desert area and the resulting power vacuum saw a struggle developing between former presidential henchman Colonel Condimenti and the late President's foreign-educated son Luke Joga-Joga.  The ever troublesome insurgent faction under the notorious 'Fat Boy' was also in on the act. 

The start of this game was delayed slightly until the last player arrived in a car kindly provided by his previous appointment:

Clearly I cannot possible disclose this individual's name.  It is not for us to mock his personal grooming choices.

The game involved the various factions trekking into one of Zambola's remoter regions in search of the late(?) President's loot.  Here, in a scene reminiscent of the 'Wacky Races' the column led by the mysterious 'Mr J' overtakes Col. Condimenti near Africa's only Bhuddist temple.  All toys and terrain from Graham's collection.

As everyone arrives near the Presidential palace, the mysterious 'Mr J' (seen here atop the Unimog next to the two Toyota 'technicals') proclaims himself to be none other than President for Life Joga'Joga himself.  Inspired no doubt by the mysterious 'Mr B' in the first photo, his evidence consists of the President's tattoo on his (waxed) manly chest.

Sadly the loyal Presidential Guards don't believe a word and open fire!

Eventually the guards were convinced and the palace occupied.  The safe was cracked and the codes found for the Swiss bank accounts.  Sadly though, Luke's men threw them on the fire...  I blame his mother.

The game ended in a clear victory (hey, this is my blog after all) for the true President for Life - Joga-Joga himself.  Despite having been shot at by everyone in every game for the last six years.  That's enough evidence of divine powers for me!

After a fine lunch in a local hostelry we gathered around Graham's other (so rich!) wargames table for a refight of the Battle of Magnesia.  The original took place in 190BC in what is now Turkey between a Roman force under Lucius Cornelius Scipio (the brother of the famous one) and the Seleucid Army under Antiochus III The Great (your humble correspondent).  The Seleucid Army consisted of a wide variety of troop types including a large Pike Phalanx (all 20mm plastic figures)

...and gimmicks such as scythed chariots.  Like their historical counterparts these were completely useless!

An attentive Tony ( - playing Seleucus - making this two games in a row where he played my son!) hangs on Graham's every word.  Crawler.

The Romans were in fact led on the field by loyal Greek ally Eumenes (left) and Domitius (right).

The Seleucid right advances under my inspired (as against competent) leadership.  As always (in my experience) the elephants didn't last long!

The Roman left crumbles under a combined arms assault and several matrix arguments.

My brave lads envelop the Roman left wing while the Phalanx does...well, not very much really.  I forget what happened after this photo was taken.  I expect we won.  I mean, the right wouldn't have fled after the phalanx was wiped out by legionaries - would it.

On the plus side, what happened was a pretty historical result and so, as I, Antiochus III 'The Great'  write this in the dustbin of history I console myself with that thought.

Operazione C3 / Herkules - The invasion of Malta 1942

I know I've mentioned this before but there are now only 4 weeks to go.  A few places are still available but you are advised to move quickly!

I spent the weekend in a planning session for this game which I feel we have now knocked into shape.  John Drewienkiewicz kindly hosted us for the weekend, which was also attended by Adam Poole, Richard Clarke, Chris Kemp, Jerry Elsmore and Jim Wallman.  My thanks again to John and his wife Christine for accommodating and victualling us in some style!

Having received another two bookings today I believe we now have about 35 players and umpires booked for the day.

For booking details and prices please see the IWM Duxford website at  http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conEvent.3269

Ctesiphon, November 1915

This was another game played with Richard Brooks's Op14 rules.  It was played at Sheffield Wargames Society on 25 August 2010.

Ctesiphon is located around 20 miles southeast of Baghdad, and by mid-November 1915 a division-sized British force under Gen. Townsend was approaching the town from the south.  Townsend's main column comprised a small flotilla of river boats and a brigade of infantry with some heavy guns marching along the eastern bank of the Tigris.  On the photo of the table setup below north is to the left.  The other part of the British force (under Hamilton), consisting of 2 brigades and some field guns was to approach from behind the eastern sand hills.  Townsend had decided his objective, or 'Vital Point' was to be the small sand hill in the loop of the river next to Ctesiphon village (near the bottom of the map).  In our game the Brits were led by Martin Rapier (who also provided the toys).

'Johnny Turk' meanwhile was played by Jerry Elsmore, with advice and interference from John Armatys.  The Turks had a corps (4 brigades) and some field guns were deployed in and around the village.  One brigade was on the western side of the Tigris (there was a pontoon bridge near the village) with the rest dug in.  The front row of trenches were well prepared while those on the hill (where most of the Turks deployed) were temporary affairs.  A further corps (3 brigades and guns) was to arrive on the 23rd.

Unfortunately I kept forgetting to take photos and thus the records are a bit scanty. 

The Brits advanced in their two forces and while the main column engaged the tough defences...

...Hamilton was drawn into open battle with the Turkish relief force.  Not even an appearance from the Flying Corps could turn the tide of battle and a shamefaced Townsend ordered a full retreat.

Meanwhile the Turkish brigade on the west bank consistently drew Clubs throughout the game (as a detached unit this meant it was unable to move) and never saw (even from a distance) action.

Both Martin and Jerry were keen to revisit the battle and swapped sides for the re fight which took place last night (8 September 2010).  Happily I remembered to take more photos and this will be the subject of a future posting.