The Megablitz archive

While preparing for the recent "A Battle Lost?" game, I noticed various photos and articles going back to the mid-1990s.  Perhaps you'd like to see some of this, after all - I've endured it - why should you be spared?
I have already posted reports and photos of some games which pre-date the blog*, but that still leaves the following list.  I have created a poll (top-right-ish) where you can make your preferences known.

A US bombing raid makes life difficult for some Panzergrenadiers.
Sicily, 1943 (or was it 2008?)

Game reports/photos**
Kick in the Door - Eastern Front played in Wellingborough, 1997
Kick in the Door 2 - Eastern Front played in Wellingborough, 1998
The Race for Tunis - er, Tunisia played in Bedford, 1999?
The Race for Tunis - Tunisia played in Newark 2000
A Bridge too small - Market Garden played in Newark, 2005
A Drop too many - Market Garden played in Sheffield, 2006
Tunis Lite - Tunisia played in Sheffield 2007
The race to Messina - Sicily played in Newark 2008

Other stuff**
Various articles from 'Kleiner Panzerbehfelswagen' - an informal newsletter I ran for 11 issues in the 1990s.


* - notably Kursk (North) and the 1940 Dyle Plan
** - be aware that quantity and quality of material may vary.

Dastardly Danish defence - part 2

My Norwegian landing forces were aided (slightly) by our man in the tethered balloon.

We were also heartened by the presence of Capt. Widdrinngton who, having recovered from Gettysburg, stopped by to say 'What ho!' en route to Svenhasselstein.

The brave lads of the Naval Brigade stride manfully forth, hoping for a gentlemanly fight.

Sadly it was not to be - as the devilish Danes not only had an infernal machine gun but had also conscripted women sharpshooters!  Frightful!

Nevertheless, my chaps made it as far as the farm with only a few gaps in the ranks.

Mention should be made at this point of a visitor (and exiled Brit) from Norway in the shape of Nigel, seen here on the right being introduced to PW.

Nigel brought along a photographer he had made himself(!) which now forms part of PW's collection.  Here he is with the Bishop of Odenso.

The Danish MG soon whittled one of my battalions to just one chap who sensible hid in the woods!

The remnants of the second battalion had two choices - fire at the MG team or charge it - so no choice at all!

Meanwhile the Provisional Naval Motor Patrol had worked it's way round the flank - covering a distance of over 30 feet!

The Dane's better mobility (they were largely cavalry and cyclists) meant that a breakthrough couldn't be achieved and so the invasion (we all knew it was just a feint, right?) was called off.

PW's report appears below and is reproduced with his permission.  BRB=the Norwegians.  RWR=Danes.
BRB opened the game with a flank attack against the RWR right with 2 x regiments. Artillery exchanges being effective from early on - damage to the armoured train and hits on the RWR dismounted cavalry in the woods.

As the Naval Battalions closed on the first wood they were engaged by dismounted cavalry and a MG. These units promptly fell back to a second fire position.

With no movement to the front, RWR moved a horse artillery piece and Cav regt to the opposite flank. As the BRB advance continued things were beginning to look desperate...

Move 6 - the turning point. The BRB regts cleared the wood and were engaged by the MG, snipers, and 2 x Lt Gun. This weight of fire effectively removing them from the game.

RWR suffered casualties from artillery fire - and a light gun put of action.

BRB now launched a frontal assault with 2 x regiments. A heavy shell from RWR effectively destroyed an entire regt - and this was supported by MG fire.

With the rain beginning to fall, the game came to a close - with a final bit of skirmishing between a motor car patrol and a Lancer Sqn. An excellent game - lots of twists and turns - and it could have gone either way.

Observations.

The game was based on HGW's suggestion in LW for a mounted force v a dismounted force. Mobility played a very significant part - with the light guns and cyclist Mg's being very significant indeed.

Mounted Infantry can clearly be a significant asset.
Naval gunfire was an excellent addition, and the gunboats really added to the scenario.

RWR also used a reserve gunner to man a Heavy gun - with the Chauffeur and Nursing Sister of the Bishop of Odenso. 

Desperate days indeed...

Dastardly Danish defence - part 1

Following the naval action – the Invasion and defence of Skagen.

BRB landed the following forces:

Naval Bde – Norge 40 points
Naval Bde – Odin 40
Bde Staff 5
Artillery 80 (including 2 gunboats and a rail mortar)
Balloon 20
Motor Car patrol 15

Total 200

RWR – defending

Cav Bde 60 points
HQ Staff 10
Artillery 60
MG Cyclist Coy 15
Fieldworks 30

Total 175

More to follow... 

The above photos show the terrain setup.  This game was played the day after the naval battle reported previously.  PW and I set up the terrain and sorted out the toys.  I had brought along my Naval Brigade, gunboats and daft train.

One of my two gunboats providing (very innefectual) fire support

The game provided a debut outing for the Thunderbox!

Danish railways turned out to be in a poor state!

Artillery from my (Anglophobian) Naval Brigade

My naval infantry

PW's naval infantry.  Was this the largest naval landing force yet seen in a FLW game?

Some Danish toys

Nordic but Nice - The Herring War Resumes!

The Danish fleet.  Painted black so they're clearly the baddies...

This game was played by FLW author PW (aka The Great Dane) and your humble correspondent in P's garden at RMA Sandhurst.  We assembled at 1700 hours and after a brief pause for tea and cake set up an played the game.  Hostilities were brought to a close as much as anything else by failing light.  P has already posted a report on the FLW Yahoo Group and I reproduce it in full below:

From the Samso Gazette – Late Edition - best for Tinned Fish since 1870

HERRING WAR RESUMES!

The perfidious Norwegian (Blue/Red/Blue) blockade of Skagen continues – and all Danish (Red/White/Red) naval forces are tasked with breaking the blockade, and returning the Bishop of Odenso to Samso in time for the feast of St Just the Bigot....

Objective – RWR – run the Bishop through the blockade – and attempt to sink the battleshipForces – Torpedo Ram – Tordenskjold + 2 x TB3 X Heavy Naval guns in the shore defence

Objective – BRB – to stop and ships escaping and destroy the shore defences – in order to land the Naval Division on the shore.Forces – BB – Norge + monitor Odin and minelayer Valkyrie + tethered balloon

Rules – a form of Boilers and Breechloaders, and FLW + LC.

Summary
The game opened with mine laying from BRB and an artillery exchange with the shore batteries – with some truly comical estimation of range. One excellent shot resulting in a shore battery being disabled.With dusk approaching the RWR fleet emerged – the TB's leading the way and immediately firing torpedoes. The Danish `Terror' weapon – the Torpedo Ram Tordensjkold engaging the monitor Odin – and receiving damage immediately. The Bishop looked likely to escape as the Norwegians concentrated their fire on the Tordensjkold...but darkness drew the game to a close...
A good little game, using a FLW type of 'Boilers and Breechloaders'; – with some fine shooting from TG.

Honours going to the B/R/B, with an amphibious assault set for the next day.

A neat little lighthouse - late in the game we lit it!

The heroic Norwegian fleet!

The Norwegian tethered balloon.  The spotter was shaken about by the stiff breeze.

The monitor Odin.

Norge and Valkyrie

Valkyrie braves the (reassuringly inaccurate) coastal guns to lay mines.

Norge opens up!

A hit!  This battery was put out of action by shells from Odin.

PWs plan was similar to what I'd have done in his shoes (or sea boots?).  His big ship and one of the TBs would make a lot of noise emerging from one channel while the other TB (with the Bishop aboard) made a run for it from the other channel.  He wasn't going to make it past Norge's guns!

See what I mean about the failing light?  After quickly packing up it was off for curry and a chat.