Crusades mini-campaign continues

Our travel-stained reporter this week hot-footed it from the Russian Steppe in 1941 to the north of Syria in 1125. He recognised it immediately. Only two weeks ago he had been here to witness the destruction of the Byzantine army at the first battle of Azaz in 1030AD. Would the Christian forces fare any better this week.

The situation in the Levant was tense. With Islam seemingly in the ascendant but suffering from fractious in-fighting, Venice had launched a mini-crusade in 1124 which captured the coastal city of Tyre. Religion was the ostensible motivation but commerce the real driver. Baldwin II, the King of Jerusalem decided to follow suit and try to capture the ancient city of Aleppo. Al Bursaqui of Mosul was ordered to defend Muslim interests.

The Crusaders deployed with an infantry right wing, a knight heavy centre and a mainly infantry left. Al Bursaqui had an infantry left, and more balanced centre and right.

The Muslims moved first with a general advance. 

The Christian right was slow off the mark drawing an early “1”

but their centre and left advanced leaving one unit hiding in a wood. The Christian centre was clearly their “schwerpunkt” but seemed to lack punch.

Lances were shattered and heroes expended but to little avail. Indeed several units received counter-attack disorders which seemed to unnerve Baldwin aka “Rob”.

The forces of Steve and Tony exchanged archery fire which gave the Christians the advantage there,

with Tony’s General doing an about turn and moving back behind his lines. I suspect he was deployed in the wrong place! 

The General tried a flank attack on the Crusader knights but was thwarted by the use of the Crusader Stratagem as he blundered into hidden broken ground and stopped dead in his tracks

The Christian centre became very messy with one gallant unit of Knights breaking through and charging towards the Muslim camps whilst all their compatriots gradually withdrew to rally .This could end badly for someone. That “someone” was Chris on the Crusader left. After the appearance of a Muslim hidden unit using their Stratagem, the Turcopoles were destroyed and the Muslim army began the systematic destruction of Chris’ flank.

The Crossbow went next taking some infantry with them and Malcolm’s cavalry charged through the gap and into one of the Crusader camps.

All could still be redeemed if the Christian centre could get going and do some damage. Unfortunately not. Malcolm’s cavalry raced across the board and took the second camp and with it the remaining victory tokens.

Per the Victory medal count a decisive Muslim victory, but probably closer than that. Steve’s right was undamaged and could have pressed Tony more, but the real problem were the Knights. To misquote Admiral Beatty 791 years later at the Battle of Jutland, “There’s something wrong with our bl**dy Knights today…”

Simon

Action at La Haie Sainte

This action takes place between 3pm and 5pm on the 18th June 1815. The British are trying to push reinforcements down to La Haie Sainte. The main battle for the farm still rages to the South and the massed French cavalry attack is now surging to the West, drawing support from the farm. The British aim is to get at least one additional group of line infantry into the Kitchen Garden. 

 

The British start with 1 group of Light Infantry (In-line) in the Kitchen Garden and one group of Rifles in the “sandpit”. The Sandpit offers light cover to skirmish troops within it.

 

 

Things started off badly for the French with the main British force and rifles all arriving early while the French were still finishing off breakfast.

Seeing the British column advancing rapidly towards them the French deployed their line infantry and the cannon opened up hoping to slow the British.

 
Meanwhile the Voltigeurs deployed behind the British in the "Garden", sneaky.

The French dragoons headed for the "Garden" and dismounted over the other side taking the British by surprise by shooting them in the rear. The 1815 Alamo was looking bleak for the British.

However, the British rescue column was moving at a fast pace...

and the British artillery were upsetting the French and their plans to get over the hedge into the "Garden".

The French managed to kill the officer and eject the British from the "Garden" but the column had now arrived. This wasn't looking great for the French.

The French Voltigeurs now picked on the unit ejected from the "Garden", causing casualties and shock. This was good as the British force morale was starting to plummet. Would the British be able to take the "Garden" whilst maintaining their morale? Their luck was in as the column formed line and poured fire into the single group that had managed to cross the hedge.

After a couple of turns the French were shot out of the "Garden". All the British had to do now was stop firing and then leap over the hedge. Could they do it? Of course they could.

It was a close run thing with the British force morale down to one and the French line threatening their rear. It could easily have gone to the French.

The Federation Strikes Back! - An initial game of Stargrave

 

Today saw the first game of Stargrave by the Black Wolf gamers.  Strongly based on Frostgrave, Stargrave is a recently released set of Sci-Fi skirmish rules by Joseph McCullough where crews of 10 models battle each other for loot (both physical and data).  As Tony had been dragged away to the northern love nest by his wife and Rob was not allowed out to play, the game was between Sci-Fi advocate Chris and Simon.  This may surprise regular readers as Simon is not a massive fan of Sci-Fi or Frostgrave.  Would this be a New Dawn for Simon, or would it be Game Over Man! Game Over, only time would tell.

Two crews had been assembled by Chris, who played the 'Camden Nutty Boys'.  Led by a Rogue (Mike Barson) with Veteran (Lee Thompson) is support, the crew included a Hacker, Chisler, Code Breaker and Case Cracker to secure the loot with two Troopers and a Gunner in support.  A Duck Recruit waddled along as well.   Figures were mainly those made by North Star Miniatures for Stargrave with a couple of Wargames Atlantic's Grognards and Einherjar thrown in.

Simon led a Federation force comprising Commander Travis supported by Sergeant Tyson,both carrying decks to help them secure data loot, two Mutoids (Case Crackers) with picks for use on physical loot, five troopers and a political advisor called Sevelan as a Runner.  Figures are from 'The Beast in the Broch'.

The encounter started slowly with both side moving onto the table and establishing them selves in good firing positions.  When it broke out the firing seemed somewhat half-hearted and ineffective.  Federation high command remarked on the high number of 20's being rolled by his opponent.  The dice were swapped, but the 20's kept coming.

The Federation Commander surveys the battlefield and his opponents dice

Travis led a squad down the left flank while his first mate led a similar force down the right.  The Nutty Boys separated out a little too much leaving their Leader on his own firing became more effective but the Federations tight formations allowed them to inflict significant damage on their opponent with  several figures being stunned and wounded in short order.  This did not prevent them from securing a physical loot on their extreme left flank and starting to move it off table.  Trying to secure the second physical loot the Nutty Boys second in command was caught in a cross fire between his opposite number and two federation troopers.  Things did not go well for him, being first wounded and then put out of action - first blood to the Federation.

Trying to redeem the situation the Nutty Boys Commander rushed into the forefront battle and managed to secure a data loot on the roof of a building on their left.  Meanwhile the Squat Gunner laid down a withering fire on Travis Squad although not achieving much in terms of damage inflicted.  The fire fight in this area bogged down with little advance being made.  Finally a Mutoid was ordered to try and secure the data loot, locking sadly at her useless picks she rushed to obey.

Mutoid wishing there was more cover whilst in the middle of a firefight.

With a data and physical loot secured and casualties mounting the Nutty boys started to disengage.  The Federation pressed forward securing a physical and data loot of their own.  The Chisler and the Hacker both tried to stem the advance and were taken out of action for their pains.  Travis tried to chase down the Nutty Boys Code Breaker and fulfill his ambition of shooting a woman in the back, but was foiled when she turned to face him.  Despite being wounded she made it off the table.  The exposed Mutoid was eventually shot down as the Nutty Boys withdrew but the Squat Gunner was also lost.

The scores on the doors were that both sides secured one data loot and one physical loot with the final data loot being left unsecured on the battlefield.  Federation attempts to secure it post battle failed.

Losses were less even with 5 of the Nutty Boys being taken out of action whilst only one Federation Mutoid was lost.  A clear tactical victory for the boys in black.

But what did Simon think of the game?  'Not as bad as I thought it would be' came the reply.  He even suggested a second game may be a possibility.  As in a lot of Science Fiction no matter how bad the situation looks, there is always hope for the future!

Chris

Hold the Line, a What a Tanker scenario in Russia 1941

This week our much travelled reporter moved from the sands of the Levant to the open plains of Western Russia during Summer 1941, and the German invasion of Russia codename Barbarossa. The German orders were to destroy Russian armour and cut the road. Nothing was ever revealed of the Russian orders. No doubt the political Commissar hadn’t bothered informing his army counterpart. “If I tell you I’ll have to shoot you”.

The German armour entered the combat zone under a pall of oily smoke courtesy of a line of burning Russian trucks. Nice work by those Luftwaffe boys! Rob performed his usual trick of planting the Pz38(T) in the southernmost copse of trees , and waited to see what would happen.

 

It looked like the most powerful German tank was going to let the others do the fighting! The PzIIs and IIIs entered more to the North, and tried to make best use of the scanty cover. The Ivans clanked on the table to meet them. 

One tank headed South to block Rob, leaving five to take on the four Germans further North. With pretty crap guns this was going to be a game of manoeuvring for flank and rear shots, and a search for cover.

Tony’s PzIII followed Rob’s example and heroically hid in the other copse,

leaving the mighty PzIIs to take the battle to the T26s and BT7s. One PzII exploded, 

but in response the Umpire ruled against a clear German shot on the Russkie. “Commissar Banks” was showing his true colours. He might have well said “they are my tanks and they always win”.

Undaunted the Germans pressed on, killing a Soviet tank

whilst at least one PzIII remembered the mission and crossed the road to take the battle to the massed Red armour. A game of cat-and-mouse ensued around the house and the cornfields, as tanks stalked each other trying to get the elusive killing shots away. Another Russkie suffered  heavy damage but fought on.

In the South Rob woke up, realised he actually had to face combat and took on the might  of the Red army. Dave’s tank retreated with heavy damage but remained in the fight. 

Back North the Germans faced the behemoth that was the T28 or T35. Through the smoke it was difficult to tell. Tony’s PzII advanced heroically but its puny 20mm cannon made no impact on the 5 armour dice. The return fire looked fatal until the “sandbags” card saved the day. Finally Simon’s PzIII found itself outnumbered and  cornered,

and succumbed to a flank shot. Boom!  Photos of the Russians machine gunning  the surrendering crew show the true moral depravity of the Communist regime.

With the light drawing in the Soviet-sympathiser umpire called an end to proceedings. Both sides claimed victory but as we all know “history is written by the victors”. Ergo the Germans won!

Next week we return to Outremer. Chris will be once again a Crusader. I predict a Muslim victory.

Simon

Capturing Caesar's Camp Campaign (Part 3)

Today we played the third game of the Capturing Caesar's Camp (Scenario 3). The junior reporter was missing so the after action report was relayed to them third hand so is a bit on the short side but hopefully is accurate. The mission is a simple one where the British have to get the Germans to withdraw whilst maintaining a force morale of three or greater.

British patrols spread out from the centre of the table, initially toward the North East, aiming to secure the Northern Cornfield axis of approach. However, strong German patrolling pushed the initial British Jump-Off Points back into the sunken road in the North. However the British were able to advance Jump-Off points into the field in the South. The German Jump-Off points were arrayed along the hedge-line in the North and in the wood to the East. However, this meant that the British had a lot of open ground to cover...

or in this case simply dig in in the lane and hope that your firepower would overcome the Germans.

The British deployed an HMG in the sunken road near the Northern field and Red section along the NE edge of the Southern field, although the later were quickly hampered by off-table HMG fire from the South. The Germans then responded with a infantry section deployed along the Northern hedge-line and another in the wood to the South, leading to a protracted fire-fight, which progressively drew-in more and more men from both sides. However, the high level of cover provided by the sunken road and some excellent marksmanship by the British riflemen, gradually eroded the German sections along the hedge, to the North. The German section in the South seemingly being protected by the British smoke laid by the platoon 2” mortar!?

All this time, the German platoon leader was off-table, but eventually the German platoon sergeant notified him of the mounting losses and horrified by the “butcher’s bill”, the German Leutnant ordered the position to be vacated.

Six Go Mad in Dorset

And so the long-anticipated trip to Bovington finally happened. Whilst Phil, Malcolm and Rob roared off in one car, I was left with Chris and Fred. Things got off to a shaky start with Fred being 4 minutes late. As we headed down the A1(M) the talk was becoming a nightmare. How does Corespace match to Stargrave, and what about Frostgrave? No mention of anything based in reality! The M25 was a breeze, and apart from a delay at the M25/M3 junction all seemed well. Then disaster. Our communications operator ( Chris ) reported a message from the advance party that there was a crash at Basingstoke, and Phil was detouring via Andover. I asked Chris to contact the others for advice plus requested a check of Google maps. The reaction was akin to asking your radio operator to call HQ 20 miles away and him breaking out the semaphore flags. Chris resolutely refused to phone and simply texted. Anglo-Saxon language was exchanged.

Eventually we reached Salisbury. 40 minutes later we left Salisbury. At 11.00 Chris joyfully advised that Phil and crew had reached the destination. We were still 40 minutes away. After 4 and a quarter hours we reached Bovington…

We quickly raced to the main hall, losing Fred en route as he searched for coffee. Had we taken Tony by mistake? Some excellent exhibits. I was particularly impressed by the pre-war Crossley-Chevrolet armoured car. The facility to electrocute ne’er-do-wells and other miscreants who climbed onboard planning mischief seemed an excellent idea and one I may recommend is resurrected in modern vehicle design ! Other highlights were the Tiger I and T34/76 in Finnish markings courtesy of the Finnish tank museum. I was also particularly impressed with the Char B, and marvelled at how British tank designers had managed to design such singularly ineffective tanks pre-war.
 
With our 13.00 lunch rendezvous approaching, Fred had to be peeled off the Jadgtiger as he licked the Zimmerit. Most unseemly! We also marvelled at Fred’s obsessive attention to detail and knowledge of German tank-barrel cleaning equipment. Post lunch we took in the “tank factory and witnessed Phil in an almost Fred-like love-affair with the Swedish Centurion. Quite disturbing. The final hall saw the “WW1 experience “ and a close-encounter with a Bavarian landser mannequin as he witnessed the approach of a British tank circa 1916. “No Hun, a bayonet won’t save you here”!

Then retail therapy. It is fair to say that the shop was rather better stocked than Saumur. I managed to escape with only a Tiger T-shirt, Panther mug, a book on “ancient linear defences” and some “Tiger Tank” chocolate. It could have been a lot, lot worse.

And so we prepared to leave. Unfortunately some were lured into filling out the “Customer Survey”. It will only take you 15 minutes. Chris dutifully started answering and I told Fred to not bother. Fred wandered off, not to be seen for another 15 minutes. As my blood pressure reached a worrying level Chris approached with a bemused Fred. To this day no-one knows where he was. Maybe snatched by Aliens?

The journey home was less eventful and even good natured, despite even more debate about the merits of the various figures ranges suitable for Stargrave.

Give me strength…

Simon