Ra-Ra-whatshisname?

My 54mm Russians needed some spiritual (mis)guidance so I'd been on the lookout for a suitable Rasputin figure for some time.  This BMC/Americana chap emerged blinking from his mould destined to be an Irish Catholic priest before fate intervened and his career took a slightly different route.  My modifications were mostly confined to the paintwork - bushy eyebrows and even madder eyes then usual.

Like the man said - "Oh those Russians..."

Go on, I dare you:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg

The assault on Grozny - part 3

We return to Grozny as the Russians trundle into the city.  I think the flat area above is Lenin Park - being made all the flatter by a tank company!

A Motor Rifle company comes under fire from some locals.  This flat bit may be the Dinamo Stadium.

The tank company heading for the Railway Station.

It soon got very messy!

More Russians advancing from the north, between the soon to be rather fuller cemetery (left ) and the airport.

Terrorist or Freedom Fighter?  This particular terrorist is none other than Martin Goddard of Peter Pig fame.

By now we were doing a grand job of overrunning the centre of the city...

...and securing the outskirts.  My memory of the actual events is rather hazy but with an experience like this - and photos too - it hardly seems to matter!  What a splendid game!

The assault on Grozny - part 2

Since posting part 1 of this report I have been in touch with Tom Mouat, the perpetrator of this game.  Tom has very kindly allowed me to post the map used for planning - my much scribbled on personal copy. He is also happy for me to post the rules used, which I have made available - for a limited period - on my 'downloads' section.

The Soviet CO - a man who bears more than a passing resemblance to a younger and thinner version of your humble correspondent.  I only got the job on account of my ownership of a genuine Russian Motor Rifle beret.

The rest of the pics will follow soon.....

Humo en el agua*

A recent visit to Sandhurst afforded an opportunity for PW and I to try out his Spanish Civil War naval game.  He had asked me to bring a couple of 'County' class cruisers (to stand in as the Nationalist Baleares and Canarias) and a WW1 destroyer.  The enemy were represented by three older cruisers and a pair of DDs.  In the game I represented the forces of law and order while P (rather ironically I thought) took the part of the priest-killers.
I'm afraid I only have three photos - taken on my iPhone - as most of the hour and a half was spent working through and chatting about the game mechanisms.  Above can be seen one of the Nationalist cruisers - with a load of 6 inch shells bouncing off her armour.  Sadly the subsequent torpedoes were less easily dissuaded.

Vengance, however, was swift.  Here is the Republican flagship cheerily ablaze after a battering by some 8-inch shells.  Needless to say, the disorganised Reds couldn't stop the fire and down she went.

Just in case you missed it - here is another view of P getting his feet wet.  Just to make sure of him a stray salvo hit his lifeboat.

*Go on then:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwEIt9ez7M