John ran last night's game. It was a WW2 Commando raid based on a scenario in Don Featherstone's book:
The field of battle. Beach at the bottom, gun emplacement at the top. The red markers are the possible locations of German units.
The landing craft silently grounded. Some way adrift of our initial destination and right in front of a German patrol. Bugger.
Luckily they didn't spot us and we crept ashore in three 3-man groups led by Martin (Group 2 - left), Jerry (Group 3 - rear) and me (Group 1 - right). Jerry and I had concocted a plan before Martin arrived. In fact since it worked it was all my idea...
As Groups 1 and 2 crept stealthily targetwards a German MG position loomed into view. Groups 2 and 3 tried to dispatch the crew with their knives - but their dice rolls indicated they had retained the rubber training blades. The Germans were overcome but not before they fired a burst. Bugger again.
While all this was going on, my Group 1 hit the Germans with some point-blank SMG fire...
...and soon overcame the defenders. Demolition charges were swiftly placed.
Group 2 meanwhile was under fire from the village (off camera to the left). Given that the other chaps were clearly happy fighting and dying Group 1 legged it towards the landing craft.
The surviving 5 Commandos (a 55% survival rate...) clambered wearily aboard the landing craft and as we pushed off...
...the demo charges detonated, securing a famous victory.
Great stuff- very old school cool- how did the rules hold up after all these years?
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
The rules worked well, very old school (similar to Charles Grants 'Battle'), but it was the combination of rules and scenario which made it work. Automatic weapons had an interesting wrinkle in that they had multiple shots but jammed on doubles, which naturally only ever happened at key moments...
ReplyDeleteBacon butties back on the MTB and beers in the mess for fallen comrades
ReplyDeleteVery Don type scenario. He and Paddy Griffith always liked a short backstory to any game.
ReplyDeletePete
ReplyDeleteIt all worked very well - as Martin has commented, the ‘buggeration’ factor of the jamming SMGs added entertainment.
Martin Rapier
ReplyDeleteAnd then there were your rubber daggers....
Geordie
ReplyDeleteOnly if you’re buying...
John C
ReplyDeleteNo point in over-complicating things. A good guiding principle for wargames.