Bob Plumb's toys - part 1

A new attendee at COW 2013 was one Bob Plumb.  Bob told me that he had been wanting to come to COW for several years but only got round to it that year.  He was delighted when I introduced him to the membership as our 'junior member'.  He was in his eighties....

The only photo I could find of Bob P.  The Operation Vijay game in progress at COW 2013.
Bob Plumb is furthest from the camera, reading his notes - near the TV.

Having had a lovely time at COW 2013, Bob was booked in for this year's COW but sadly died a few days before the event.
Bob's wife, Pauline contacted Wargame Developments to seek assistance in disposing of Bob's collection of figures and games and eventually - after some sterling work from Bob Cordery - a rescue mission was planned.

My end of things involved the figures - mostly 25mm and some 15mm - all from the 'pointy-stick era.   I had agreed in advance to purchase them as part of a three way deal with Ian Drury and John Bassett.   I picked them up in mid-November and began the sort out.  The photo at the top of this post shows some of the 40+ boxes of toys!

The initial sort out was completed by early December and most of the toys distributed to their new owners.

As I sort out my own 'share' I will reveal the figures here first.

West of Kleineburg, 1979 - part 2

The British briefing sent to John A read as follows.  You will notice that there are some significant differences between this map and the one sent to the Forbodians!

The Paras deploy

British briefing

 Elements, 3 Para

Btl HQ                                     HQ

2 Inf Co, ea:                             2 Infantry,

Support:

1 battery of 105mm guns located to the north (off table)

Observer is attached to 3 Para

Support: air support is most unlikely.  Enemy air activity is light to moderate.

Mission:

Some days into the Warsaw Pact’s assault on Western Europe, NATO forces ‘pocketed’ by the initial enemy attack have struck South.  To hamper enemy forces being redeployed your force was helicoptered in last night.  Enemy forces in at least battalion strength are expected from the west (point A) moving to the east.  So far you have prepared the bridge for demolition and arranged the materials for a roadblock (D)  The roadblock is not yet in position..  Your forces may deploy anywhere in the area bounded by line E and may be dug in.

West of Kleineburg, 1979 - part 1

This Little Cold Wars game was played at the Sheffield club on 17 December 2014.  Prior to the game I sent briefings to the players.  Martin R led the Forbodians and his briefing and plan can be found below:

The forces Martin was hoping for!

Forbodian briefing:

Elements, 81^st Proletarian Motor Rifle Regiment, Forbodian Peoples’ Army

Motor Rifle Btl –

Btl HQ                                    HQ with SA-7, jeep

3 Inf Co, ea:                            2 Infantry, 1 truck

Mortar Bty                              120mm, jeep

AT Plt                                     Lt ATGM, jeep

Regimental Recce Co             1 BRDM-2, 1 PT-76

Plt from Regt AT Co              1 towed 85mm AT gun

Support: air support is unlikely.  Enemy air activity is light to moderate.

Mission:

Some days into our glorious campaign to liberate the workers of western Europe, NATO forces ‘pocketed’ by our glorious Shock Armies have struck south and endanger our supply lines.  Your battalion has been allocated the Kleineburg area where a NATO (probably British) attack is expected from the northwest later this morning.

Enter from point A and take up defensive positions around Kleineburg.

You will need to prepare:

1 an order of march, specifying gaps between units

2 a defensive plan for Kleineburg

3 a fall back defence along the line B-C

Terrain:

Mostly open and cultivated, except where indicated.  Kleineburg is made up of stone & brick buildings.  The river is deep but the banks are fairly gentle.

The map area measure about 5km across.

Martin's plan:

244 Mr Bn(+), 81 MRR, Officer Commanding. 20.6.79

Order of march for defence of Kleineburg

Recce Group (BRD)

1 x BRDM-2

Forward Detachment (PO):  2km behind BRD

1 x PT-76, MR Co, 1 x 85mm ATG

Advance Guard (GPZ): 1km behind PO

1 x MR Co

Main Body: 1km behind GPZ

Bn HQ, SA-7, Sagger, 120mm Mortar, 1 x MR Co (doubles as rearguard)

Kleineburg defence plan (KDP)

BRD fall back when relieved and observe from hill C

PO AT elements occupy southern wood, MR Co occupy town

GPZ occupy northern woods

Main body occupy reverse slopes of Hill C with Sagger in overwatch on the ridge and infantry dig in on reverse slope

Reserve position defence plan (brackets are march routes from KDP)

Main body form pivot of manouvre on Hill C as above

AT group woods in road bend (retire via Hill C south of woods)

GPZ northern reverse slope of hill C covering road (retire by safest route)

PO MR Co support AT Co in road bend woods (retire last by road if feasible or across Hill C)

Bn HQ elements (HQ, mortar, SA 7) woods on far side of bridge.

The Kommissar's in town

 Some of the antics of the Warsaw Pact forces I have assembled for Little Cold Wars clearly indicated a lack of political will.  To rectify this alarming state of affairs this sinister pair of comrades from SPARK (Special Police And Revolutionary Kommissars) have been visiting military units to provide encouragement.

The car is a GAZ-21 Volga.  As this version of GAZ was in production from 1958-62 the comrades are clearly careful drivers!

The figures - since a number of people have asked - are from the dodgy old board game 'Microdot'.

 I picked up a copy at a car boot sale in the summer.  To be honest it's not a great game but £1.50 for four useful figures and some other bits was pretty good value!