Chain of Command, North Africa, 1941. Scenario 6, “Attack on Objective”

British Rifle Platoon, led by Rob & Steve, commanding a standard British infantry platoon, with a Lieutenant & Sergeant, a 2” MORTAR TEAM, a BOYS AT RIFLE TEAM & three infantry sections, each comprising of Corporal, LMG TEAM & Six riflemen. In support the British had an Adjutant, Pre‐Game Barrage, a Recce Section of two Universal Carriers & an M3 “Honey” Stuart Tank.

The AFIKA KORPS defenders Schutzen Platoon defenders, controlled by Mal, comprised of a Leutnant, leading three infantry sections, each with an Obergefreiter NCO, two MG34s and 8 riflemen. In support, the Germans had an Adjutant & a PaK38 50mm anti‐tank gun.

The patrol phase was a cagey affair. The Brits wanted to push wide across both flanks and the Germans were determined to hold onto the centre ground. In the end, the Brits established a forward jump-off position just West of the central orchard, but were pressed back on the flanks. The Germans managed to snatch nominal control of both centre buildings. This would prove critical!

The game opened with the Brits rolling the M3 Honey onto the table. However, the tank commander did not like the lay of the land, so called up for infantry support. The infantry arrived and pushed into the central orchard, while the 2” mortar established a firing position behind the orchard and started to lay smoke in front of the suspected German held buildings, in front of the bridge.

Once a decent smoke screen was established, the Brits started to push Yellow infantry section down the road, just to the South of the orchard. However, there was a gap in the smoke screen & suddenly an MG34 opened up from the second story of the big house just to the North-West of the bridge. This caused some shock, but little else, so the Brits dashed Yellow section down the road, to try to seize the small house just South of the German held main house.

Alarmed by this development, the Germans revealed another infantry section, in the depression to the South-West of the bridge. This caused significant casualties in Yellow Section, before they managed to dash into small ruined house.

To try to dislodge the Germans, the Brits pushed the M3 tank rapidly down the road, almost running over Yellow section, before they managed to scuttle into the relative safety of the small house. At this point, sadly the wind picked-up and a Pak38 was revealed in the Wadi, just South of the bridge. Its first round significantly jarred the M3’s crew and while the second shot missed, the third had the M3 crew bailing out! 

It was now clear now that Germans held the area in significant strength. The Brits called forward further reinforcements in the form of a further infantry section in the orchard and a Universal Carrier section South of the road, to try to suppress the Germans in the Southern depression.

Sadly the carriers proved unable to provide effective suppression for the Yellow infantry section, sheltering in the small ruined house & Yellow section was rapidly whittled down to just the NCO and one rifleman, before being routed from the house.

In the central orchard, the reinforcement infantry section moved forward to the Eastern perimeter wall, but only just in time to see Blue Section become pinned down by German fire from the house. Red Section rapidly set-up to provide counter fire, but before they were set, the Germans revealed a further squad in the Wadi, just North of the big house. The combined fire of four MG34s rapidly reduced the new British infantry section to a handful of men! At this point, the British decided to withdraw and seek artillery support.

Lardie Workshop 12/8/23

 The following games were played during the Lard Workshop held on 12/8/23 at Nottingham Trent University as part of the BHGS Games Day

I played ‘Morning Glory on the Combahee’ during the morning session and ‘Last Sword is Drawn’ during the afternoon.

 

Morning Glory was based on a Union raid up the Combahee river during the American Civil War to rescue slaves from the riverside plantations.  The raid was accompanied by the famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman who had scouted the plantations along the river and organised a slave revolt to coincide with the arrival of the Union forces.  Historically 850 slaves were freed, of whom 150 subsequently joined the Union army (think of the movie ‘Glory’).

 

I joined the Union. Our objectives were to protect the fleeing slaves and burn the plantation to the ground.  As a bonus if we could bring the slave owners to justice Confederate morale would be severely damaged.  It transpired that General George E. Pickett had also chosen to spend the day by the banks of the Combahee in the company of his latest southern Belle. 

 

The game started with Union troops deploying onto the swampy banks of the Combahee and the arrival of Confederate cavalry and horse artillery at the Northern edge of the board.  Union skirmishers advanced towards the local ferry intent on destroying it while the main body of the Union infantry (a black regiment) advanced directly towards the plantation screened on their left by a second unit of skirmishers. 

 

 

The Confederate cavalry rushed towards the Union landing point intent on rounding up fleeing slaves as they outflanked and cut off the union forces. 

 

 

Meanwhile, the accompanying horse artillery moved to a firing position to dominate as much as possible of the battlefield.  The Union Skirmishers moving in support of their infantry opened fire on the gun as it deployed hitting the leader and hampering further operations.

 

The Union skirmishers advancing on the ferry triggered the arrival of a second unit of Confederate cavalry who had been encamped on the south bank of the river. 

 

 

This unit now started to escort General Pickett’s buggy across the bridge over the river.   They were quickly engaged by the heavy guns of the Union Riverine and small arms fire from the skirmishers.

 

 

The cavalry ensured General Pickett safely crossed the river but took heavy casualties from the Riverine and skirmishers, eventually breaking and routing from the field.

 

Back on the plantation the confederate cavalry rounded up a number of slaves and pressed on into the wooded area on the banks of the Combahee threatening the flank of the main Union force who had now entered the plantation proper and were providing cover for the fleeing slaves.  The planter and his wife ran for their lives.

 

The main body of the Confederate infantry now arrived marching down the road to secure the escape of General Pickett and advancing through the plantation to drive off the Union forces.

 

 

By now the riverine field of fire was largely screened by trees, buildings and the Union infantry line and offered little further support.

 

With the arrival of the senior Confederate leader the Confederate gun began to pour canister into the union line and their skirmishers. Mrs. Tubman rallied the troops and the Union line held. 

 

 

The skirmishers on the plantation were now suffering from a strange kind of command paralysis as their leader wasted time fussing about his expensive (10 bucks!?!) new hat as it blew off.

 

Nevertheless the Union line and their skirmishers were causing significant casualties on the Confederate horse artillery who broke and ran.  Confederate morale was wavering

 

The Confederate cavalry now stalled in the woods, allowing the remainder of the Union infantry to deploy in front of them and bring them under fire. 

 

Despite bravely enduring the Union fire the cavalry broke and galloped back to the safety of the plantation buildings.  They were quickly followed by the planter’s daughters who picked up their crinolines and scampered off.

 

 

After making hard work of it the skirmishers at the ferry had succeeded in setting fire to the ferry and moved to protect the left wing of the main Union force.

 

As the game ended the slaves were slowly making their way to freedom.  General Pickett and the planter’s family had made their getaway and a major fire fight was developing across the plantation.  Confederate morale was close to breaking and the ferry had been destroyed.   The game was therefore declared a Union victory.

 

 

The afternoon affair was much less epic but infinitely more heroic as the Kitayama clan tried to retrieve their honour from the temple of the Tchanaya clan. 

 

The evil Tchanaya clan had murdered the Kitayama Daimyo and stolen his sacred katana.  The bravest of the Kitayama warriors (now reduced to the level of Ronin) have sworn to retrieve their ex-master’s sword from the Tchanaya temple.

 

 

The Katana had been placed in the care of monks who were tasked with consecrating the weapon as a new Tchanaya relic.

 

Each side consisted of six swordsmen and also present were the temple monks attempting to carry out their ordained task.  I took the side of the Kitayama.

 

The Kitayama heroes rushed ferociously into the temple precincts heading directly for the sacred sword but it was not unguarded!  Tchanaya warriors appeared as if by magic from the shadows of the temple.  The Tchanaya leader imperiously challenged his Kitayama opposite number to a duel.

 

 

This neutralised both major players but allowed the other Kitayama swordsmen to move towards their prize. Soon the temple rang with the sound of desperate battle.

 

 

Inspired by his ancestors the Kitayama leader began to get the better of the wicked Tchanaya headman, scoring hits and breaking down the Tchanaya armour.  Both combatants separated to draw breath.  No quarter was given and battle was soon rejoined. 

 

 

Elsewhere the first casualty was a Kitayama swordsman cut down in a pool of blood. Tiring and suffering from blood loss from many minor cuts other warriors also began to drop until finally the Tchanaya leader was cut down, the Tchanaya warriors lost heart and fled leaving the Kitayama victorious.

 

Both games are highly recommended albeit Sidney’s Flashing Blades rules are yet to be published.

Altar of Freedom, Seven Pines

This was just a small re-orientation game for Altar of Freedom, ahead of running the Gibraltar of the West campaign. This game was straight out of All Quiet on the Pontiac, the Seven Pines scenario. 

Longstreet’s massively powerful Anderson’s Division barrelled through Seven Pines, sweeping Couch’s Division (Union IV Corps) before them. Keynes attempted to pivot Casey’s Division onto the left flank of Anderson’s Division, but Anderson merely split his Division, with one half chasing what was left of Couch’s Division back through their own HQ, while the other faced down the re-deploying Casey’s Division. 

However, Anderson’s Divisional artillery rolled up on the now exposed flank of Casey’s Division, causing them to fallback to the hill just North of Savage Station. Heintzelman (Union III Corps), on the Union right flank, was attempting to stabilise a front near Dr.Trent, awaiting Union reinforcements, but harassing fire from Hill’s Confederate Divisional artillery drove them back. This collapsed the Union bridgehead over the Chickahomany River to an unviable sized, so come nightfall, the Union army withdrew.