Friday 9 May 2014

Operation Damp Patch - The Battle of Kakstadt, 1979 - part 1

It's May 1979 and the forces of the Evil Empire have just trundled across the Inner German Border.  For those of you who missed it first time round, I offer this recreation  - played as part of the testing and development of Little Cold Wars at an undisclosed location 'somewhere in Southern England...'
In our sector an East German Motor Rifle Regiment has to cross a canal and secure the approaches to the small town of Alte Kakstadt.
The toys in use were 1/32ish plastic figures, the vehicles were a mix of die-casts and plastic tat in 1/50 to 1/43 scales.
 The main canal crossings - both road and rail.
Before battle commenced the Commies flew an air recce sortie.  Here is the initial film in the shape of a panoramic photo taken on my iPhone.
 After analysis the photo appeared to show parked AFVs...
...in the shape of French APCs.
 The western side of the canal had been mined.  Turns out that mines look a bit like golf tees.
 Spenatz units in Kakstadt were soon engaged by a couple of French infantry platoons...
 ...who saw off the nasties.
 The DDR forces comprised a Motor Rifle battalion...
 ...supporting a Recce company of PT-76...
 ...with traffic police and an AT battery.
 The French Mech Company in town was supported by a tank destroyer platoon in AMX-13/90.
As the Germans closed on the town we were overtaken by poor light and the impending readiness of food.  Phase 2 of the battle will follow shortly!
Added 12/05/14: my co-author and I see LCW as having 'depth' rather than 'frontage'.  That is, rather than trying to field a divisional assault, we'd rather focus - as in the game above - on a battalion to brigade sized battlegroup and see it through several stages of a battle.  This first game, for example, lasted about 90 minutes and dealt with recce,  an obstacle crossing and probing enemy defensive positions.  Having located the enemy, the next game deals with the assault on the town.

20 comments:

Paul Foster said...

I seem to remember in France 1940, the Germans lagered at night and were not keen to crack on in the darkness.

History always repeats.

Good looking game.

Archduke Piccolo said...

It's postings like this that keep alive my own army Men project. I have enough stough (enuff stuff?) painted up to carry out some minor actions... But when, Kimo Sabe, when...?

Pete. said...

Fantastic stuff...

Cheers,

Pete.

tradgardmastare said...

I look forward to the next part.
The game has a excellent look to it very FLW yet different - as one would wish it to be.

Archduke Piccolo said...

Having just reread this posting, I was intrigued by the presence of the Police Traffic Control 'group'. Now that argues necessity for traffic control, which was not apparent with this obviously reconnoitring probing action. Hence, therefore and thus, one might infer a considerably heavier attack is imminent in this sector of the front.

Or else this is a piece of 'Commy' subterfuge designed to draw NATO troops away from the intended point of attack.

At any rate, one infers its presence was 'to amuse the enemy.'

Tim Gow said...

Paul Foster
As it happens after taking on supplies of (presumably looted) French for and Italian wine the DDR forces attacked Kakstadt during the night!

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
I'm sure you have more than enough kit for a game!

Tim Gow said...

Pete
The test games will lead to some rule tweaks but basically the game is everything it's authors had in mind. Which doesn't say much for their minds....

Tim Gow said...

Tradgardmastare
It certainly had the look and feel we were after.

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
You could be on to something there. Or it may just be a cheap toy....

Arthur said...

Tim

Great game. Hope that minefield is covered else it may be Dien Bien Phucked all over again.

Assume the next town is named Alte Guhtstadt?

Regards

Conrad Kinch said...

Looking good - I shall look forward to the next installment.

Peter Douglas said...

Tim
Play stopped for meals! This is war not cricket!! (needs to be said in a Tom Hanks "there's no crying in baseball" voice).

Glad to see that you did get to play outdoors on day 1 of play however.
Cheers
PD

Nigel Drury said...

Is this coming to COW?

Tim Gow said...

Arthur
Next stop.is Neue Kakstadt - but only after the commies capture Alte Kakstadt.

Tim Gow said...

Conrad Kinch
Coming soon. And thanks agin for your input last weekend.

Tim Gow said...

Peter Douglas
It was getting dark too. And raining.

Tim Gow said...

Nigel Drury
If there is demand.....

Peter Douglas said...

Tim
Well in Canada we played in freezing cold and blustery weather! But then again we were nuts

Cheers
PD

Arthur said...

Tim

At the risk of teaching my grandma to suck eggs, consider this:

In South Africa, Alte Kakstadt means Utterly CrapTown (not Old), whereas Neue Kakstadt means New CrapTown.

Just saying.

Regards