This was a game run by Martin and using his 6mm toys and my NATO Brigade Commander rules. The action was set in 1944 and centred around a German scratch force sent from Sevastopol to stem the advance of the Stalinist hordes.
For some reason I was again typecast as the chap in the shiny jackboots while Martin ran the Russians.
My forces consisted of a Flak battalion (part mounted on a train!), two infantry battalions and an assault gun battery. I had to stop the Sovs getting any tank or motorised infantry off the western edge (left in the photos) of the board.
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| The train which saw the scenario swiftly renamed! |
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An overview of my defences - the two Flak batteries can be seen on the raised ground to the left...
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| ...while the StuGs lurk in the woods near the river. This is a very old GHQ casting. |
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| KG HQ parked up near a Flak battery. |
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The train scored an early success against an advancing T34 battalion. I blew some up and the survivors' morale failed!
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| Another view of Von Gow's Express. |
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| Soon a second T34 battalion was seen off in similar style. |
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Once a goodly pile of Soviet tanks had been accumulated it was time to fire the artillery and send in the Stukas!
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Realative peace still reigned on 'Flak Hill' - the only firing was at some nasty Commie partisans
who appeared from the south. What a rotten trick.
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| Sadly the train's luck couldn't last forever and more hooligans in T34s overran it. |
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Further Soviet perfidy was soon on display in the shape of swarms of Sturmoviks. Happily they missed.
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An overview of the game as we drew it to a close. The Soviet tank units have all been worn down to the point where none dare suffer more casualties. The motorised infantry battalion (bottom right-ish) has abandoned it's trucks and crossed the river but seems content to skulk in the woods.
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| In celebratory mood Von Gow orders the 88s to be polished. |
19 comments:
A fairly disastrous day for the Red Army tank arm! Never mind all those Tiger tanks, what the German army really needs are more flak trains...
Cool map, minis and report, highly unusual
Martin Rapier
Though the loss of the train was sad, it was in fact the only German casualty! Tigers are being melted down to produce more as we speak...
Al
Or just a flimsy excuse for getting some daft toys on the table - like most of our games!
Great report Tim. The train looks fantastic as well.
I like the use of tile spacers to denote hits! I've made some explosion markers for Spearhead (6mm) - some pics on the blog. We use these to denote Suppressed units but I'm sure they could be used to mark hits as well.
We're using these for Sword Beach as well as my patented black pipecleaner (extra thick) casualty markers to denote burning vehicles. I supsect that Sword Beach will resemble the smoke stacks of Victorian London!
Phil Broeders
Tile spacers? These are all hand carved bespoke casualty markers! Though they do look a bit like tile spacers....
I always think a train on the table makes it more interesting eye candy wise, although I have not progressed to the train-tank phase.
Good report and a Iron Cross 2nd Class in the mail.
Tile spacers work brilliantly as it is obvious what they are and they stick to bases/playing surfaces well. I've tried using little cotton balls in different colours but they are too fiddly.
The artillery shell bursts are from the Irregular WW1 range (they also do craters). They paint up well and very handy for marking artillery strikes.
The Russian attack was a complete cock up, I'm usually better at managing Soviet units than that. irl they forced a river crossing in a rather more professional manner, but the German rearguard still held them up long enough for their comrades to retreat into Sevastopol.
Paul
Thanks for the medal - I'm sure it'll look good on the fleece I have on (damn cold in the office this morning!)
Martin Rapier
I'm sure you'll do better next time - if you survive the NKVD's inquiry into the failure of the attack...
Tim
Looks like a fun game.
PD
Peter Douglas
I assure you that it was played in the same spirit of seriousness which characterises all our games...
Tim
So I assume that you were wearing inflatable airplanes on your head?
Cheers
PD
Peter Douglas
Alas no Peter. However, if you know where I can find an inflatable Stuka.....
No, but there are Tiger Tank slippers available!
Cheers
PD
Peter Douglas
Tigers? How very 1943.
Great game and report.
Always wanted a game with an armoured train in- however gaming in 20mm means this is unlikely... still I admire your micro version.
Cheers,
Pete.
spprojectblog
My 20mm armoured train has featured in a number of games!
Yes, an armoured train is just a big tank on very inflexible tracks so no reason one shouldn't appear in 20mm games.
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