Neue Stan Halle, 1979 - part 1

No doubt some of you will already have seen Bob's report of this game over at Wargaming Miscellany .  I organised this  - the largest Little Cold Wars game so far staged - at Knuston Hall on Friday 5 June.  As I gather in the photos which several of the players took, I will present a fuller report of the game over the coming weeks.  For now I will simply set the scene...

Having had a couple of players drop out due to family and health issues, on the day there were six of us - a good number.  It can now be revealed that those taking part were:

Game Director and dogsbody - Mr Tim Gow

The forces of progressive democracy - Comrade Bertrand Plastique and Comrade Ian Drury

  

The running dogs of capitalist imperialism - Mr Bob Cordery, Mr Russell King & Mr Jack Wright

Warpact forces crossed the inner German Border at first light this morning.  Intel reports indicate a Warpact Motor Rifle Regiment heading for the picturesque town of Neue Stan Halle.  US forces are rushing to defend the area and it's crucial airfield.  What could possibly go wrong?

We gathered at 0900ish and after setting up the field of battle - an area of around 30x30 feet, I offered the following overview of Little Cold Wars:  

36 inches = 1 km

1 stand of infantry = a western style platoon.  Typically represented by 4 figures.

1 stand with MG/mortar/ATGM = support platoon, typically 2-3 figures.

1 artillery observer team.  2 figures

1 AFV/gun model = platoon/troop/battery/Warpact half-company of 4-5 but see also below

1 APC model represents enough transport to lift a Western-style infantry company (so around 12-15 vehicles)

1 aircraft model = a pair of aircraft

1 transport aircraft or helicopter model represents enough transport to lift an infantry company

A game turn = 15 minutes

Given our prompt start - we were ready to begin the game by 1015ish - I aimed to run the game in pretty much real time.

 RAF Neue Stan Halle - clearly a major NATO airbase and likely to be a WARPACT objective.  While I was painting the big bit of cardboard used for the runway I noticed evidence that it has already been used for at least three other games!

Neue Stan Halle on the left, with a view of the Autobahn heading east.  By a trick of the light the concrete surface looks very like a yellowish strip of mown dried grass....

More outdoor fun soon.