Havoc off Havana

And so our intrepid, time-travelling war reporter swapped the deserts of Syria in the 3rd century AD for the humid climes of the Caribbean I the early 1800s. A British “intelligencer” based in Havana had learnt of a Spanish convoy setting sail for Spain loaded with bullion. The British West Indies squadron was alerted and sent a small, but powerful flotilla to intercept.

The Spanish sailed out of Havana harbour in close formation. One had to ask was this wise for a large merchantmen and inexperienced crews?  The British sailed to intercept, spreading out to attack the front and rear of the convoy. The Spanish escorts swung to intercept but almost immediately took heavy 1st fire, and with inexperienced crews and long-range their return fire was frankly pathetic. Malcolm’s gallant British frigate was soon crossing the rear of the Spanish. One Spanish ship lost control of its rudder and the alarmed captain of the merchantman slowed as he saw the wild manoeuvrings of his inexperienced naval colleagues risk a collision. Very soon one Spanish frigate had been turned to matchwood, and Malcolm managed to grapple and board the merchantman.

The Spanish fleet lurched on taking fire.  They did manage to set fire to Phil’s frigate but his veteran  crew handled it well.  More Spanish catastrophe followed as Dave slowly sailed off the edge of the board and Rob managed to expertly line up his 3rd rate up for a ramming contest with the island. I wonder how that would end. Chris’ 3rd rate was pummelled into submission.

A pretty crushing British victory….

Once again the British easily prevailed over the Spanish. Inexperienced crews are pretty useless and veteran crews worth their weight in gold. The fleets were equally balanced in points but numbers rarely seem to be the deciding factor in Black Seas.

Next week over to Hitchin for what is rumoured to be WAT Arab-Israeli….

Simon

War of 1812 (in the Americas)

The war is not going great for the British as the Yanks have taken and spiked a British battery at Queenstown. Major General Isaac Brook has been ordered to retake the battery and drive off any lurking Yanks.

The battery is in the bottom right of the table with the British deploying in the top left. The Yanks have two deployment points, one next to the battery and one in the woods at the top of the table.

General Brook is first up and deploys his three groups of flank company troops in an open column whilst placing the moveable deployement point into the woods at the bottom of the table.

The Yank regular infantry under Captain John Wool deploy also in open column next to the battery, with the light infantry under Captain Ogilvie deploy into the woods.

Both forces continue their march towards each other with the Yank militia under Lootenant 'Buck' Rogers deploying infront of the battery.

The British deploy into line so as to not get caught in the flank by the Yank light infantry. However they need not have worried as the movement dice were not kind to the Yanks.

General Brook ordered the men to open fire to hopefully drive off the Yanks.

However he need not have bothered as the resulting fire was fairly ineffective. Meanwhile, Captain Cameron deployed his scouts into the wood to cover the British left flank and again were fairly ineffective with their fire against the light infantry.

In the face of overwhelming odds the Yank light infantry retreated back into the woods. On the other flank two groups of Indian skirmishers under Chief Roundhead rushed out of the woods and came face to face with the miltia that had advanced into the woods. The main Yank force under Captain Wool attempted to form line but their hearts were not in it and the last group lagged behind.

The main British force moved forward and a long range firefight developed between them and the Yank regulars. With their controlled fire and use of "Sharp Practice" this should be easy or so they thought.

The dice gods were not with the British as they received "Kills" and "Shock" whilst not having much effect upon the Yanks. Maybe their luck will change!!!!

or NOT!!!

However the Indians threw "Tomahawks" and charged into the militia in the woods, causing mass slaughter and pushing them back, taking their wounded leader with them. However, this was all too much for Chief Roundhead who was knocked out in the fight.

Things were not looking good for the main British force when Lt. Dennis was knocked down.

The harasing fire by the Yank light Infantry had to be stopped, so Captain Cameron cheered his troops on and advanced to cover the left flank and take the fight to the Yanks. On the other flank a group of Indians broke cover and rushed to the flank of the Yank Regulars, hoping to do some good whilst their chief continued his nap.

At this point in the battle the poor mobile phone battery gave up (so roving cam was lost), probably in sympathy with the British. However things were about to change for the better; the scouts had distracted the Yank lights into firing on them instead, thus saving the main force and Lt. Dennis recovered to help rally the troops.

On the other flank Chief Roundhead also recovered and moved the second group of indians through the wood and the two groups poured fire into the Yank regulars, wiping out one group. The main British force was just hanging on by it's fingernails with both leaders spending their activations rallying the troops.

Things were going from dire to worse for the Yanks as first Captain John Wool took one between the eyes, swiftly followed by his subordinate Lt. Gausevroot. This was all too much, with the Yank force morale plummeting the game was called with a British victory.

Once More into the Fray or It Ain't Half Hot Here

Last night our roving war reported hot-footed it from the snowy Ardennes of 1944/45 to “somewhere near Antioch” in the late 3rd century AD, where the forces of invading Palmyra met Aurelian’s Romans determined to re-capture the Eastern provinces.  The Palmyran General Zabbas  (aka Rob) set up with a cataphract-heavy centre, and light cavalry/archer wings. No subtlety here….go for the jugular with the heavy boys.  Aurelian (aka Malcolm) set up with a centre of legionaries, and traditional cavalry wings.

 

 

The Palmyrans got off to s good start with swift movement, but inflicting no casualties. The Romans started slower but eventually routed a  light unit off the board and killed another. In the centre “Tribune Chris’” artillery poured fire into a unit of veteran archers eventually killing them.  The Palmyran wings faltered as outnumbered and out-gunned they literally, had nowhere to go.  

The Palmyran cataphracts smashed into the Roman centre but to little effect. The managed many “ hits” but veteran legionaries are pretty tough, plus Phil remembered to use the modifiers which made them even better. 

The Romans struck back inflicting a number of disorders, and a “kill”.

The battle seemed to turn when Dave’s errant light cavalry returned to the table straight into the Roman camp, but the Roman discipline held. A brief conversation between Commanders made it clear that the camps were expendable and the destruction of the Palmyran army was the objective. Back on the flanks more light cavalry died and the fate of Zenobia was sealed when even more Cataphracts  literally “bit the dust”.

The result of the game looked pretty one-sided with zero Roman casualties. However the Palmyrans were unlucky with their archery fire and the Romans lucky with saves. That said the Roman defensive position in the centre using hills as an anchor was good generalship.

Simon

La Gleize, Bulge High Water Mark

And so our intrepid war reporter travelled back to the dark days of January 1945 and the Battle of the Bulge, where he joined a British battlegroup near the village of La Gleize. The dastardly Hun had rounded up the locals and were threatening to immolate them in the chateau. Very un-British behaviour.  We don’t treat the natives like that.

The British force advanced from the north-west with the recce screen out front. Malcolm’s Cromwell made excellent progress thanks to its “fast” attribute. The M4s which were meant to clear the woods to the north were more unfortunate and jammed their tracks in the dense woodland.  Rob’s Achilles for some inexplicable reason advanced in the open down the road.  This wouldn’t end well!  The German Stug then roared into life, located Rob and despatched him with a single shot.  Rob remembered too late that his “Hell Driving “ card would have allowed the Achilles to dive for cover….

Rob’s stricken Achilles was soon followed by Chris’ Sherman that had also gone on a suicide mission down the road. He fell to the mighty King Tiger which had been reported prowling in the vicinity.

With two out of five tanks burning , including one of the 17pdrs the British reluctantly radioed a nearby American unit for assistance. Soon a 76mm-armed Sherman was advancing up the road from the south-west. With the Cromwell, Greg’s Firefly and the 76mm all advancing from the south west the sole remaining Sherman in the north decided to play it safe, and advance very cautiously .  The Stug retired to a well-chosen position between buildings to the east of the Chateau. With its low profile and cover it was very difficult to spot by the advancing allies.  Leaving Greg and Rob to contest matters with the King Tiger and Stug,  Malcolm raced his Cromwell across the board to try to outflank Tony and take advantage of his limited firing arc.  Nice tactics!

The battle swung when the 76mm-armed M4 scored a hit on the King Tiger and removed two dice from play. Two poor sets of dice roll  left the King Tiger immobile in the town square and the remaining 75mm –armed M4 administered the coup de grace with a shot from the rear.

Outnumbered now 4:1 things looked grim for the Stug, but with a fanatical SS crew they fought on.  The M4 which had despatched the King Tiger was itself knocked out by the Stug, who eventually found himself surrounded by three Allied vehicles at point-blank range.  The Cromwell administered the telling shot and Tony's Stug died.

Simon

A Bit of a Rum Do off Cadiz

Once again our intrepid reporter rushed across time and the Mediterranean to meet a small Spanish treasure fleet returning from Montevideo to Cadiz in October 1804. Little did they know that the British had their covetous eyes on the gold and silver. Almirante Banks sailed his flotilla onto the table and instead of heading for the safety of Cadiz harbour veered towards the oncoming British. This was going to be interesting. Phil, Tony and Malcolm turned to intercept undaunted by the sight of a Spanish 3rd rate heading towards them. Chris’ flagship ploughed on but with its inexperienced crew found its gunnery less-than effective. Tony and Phil took damage but headed on towards their main prize, the merchantman.

Over on the other side of the table it looked like a small ships war would ensue as a trio of Spanish Brigs emerged from Cadiz harbour to meet their British counterparts. Shots started to be traded but Spanish progress was painfully slow.

Back with the Atlantic fleet, Chris behemoth tried to manoeuvre but found that a large ship, inexperienced crew and frantic changes of course was a lethal cocktail. This looked entertaining. Having been seemingly abandoned by Almirante Banks the merchantman was stopped by a Tony taking a ram and then boarding. Spectacular if unorthodox tactics. Phil then fired into the merchantman administering the coup de grace and also setting it on fire. Watching his inept Admiral finally crash his flagship onto the large island.

 

Dave and his Spanish frigate hove into view pursued by Malcolm.

The Spaniard poured fire into Tony’s stricken frigate and another ship began to blaze.

Back at Cadiz harbour things looked grim for Spain. Two brigs caught fire and sank leaving Rob’s frigate to deal with three British Brigs. Although not sunk it too was reduced to a fireship and would not be welcome in Cadiz’ teeming harbour.

With two brigs, a frigate and the merchantman ablaze, plus the mighty 3rd rate foundering on the rocks, it was a pretty decisive victory for the British at least in numbers of ship losses. However Captain Tony RN had lost his own ship in the process and the gold was last seen slipping into the icy waters of the Atlantic.

After the battle a monster from the deep was detected in the area…

Simon

Nastiness at Narasara

Once again our intrepid time-travelling war reporter packed his travel bag  and headed from the Golan in 1973 to Armenia in 336AD. The forces of Imperator Constantius II codename “Malcolm” was facing the Sassanid General Narses otherwise known as “Phil”.

In the run-up to Thursday there had been some surprise as to how few units there seemed to be. Sassanid double-armed cavalry and Roman Legionaries are pretty powerful troops....but pricey in points!

Phil had deployed with a largely infantry centre and cavalry flanks. Malcolm responded in kind albeit with weaker wings and a powerful centre. It looked like a game of which would collapse first, the Sassanid centre or the Roman wings.

Undeterred by numbers and quality Phil pushed his centre aggressively forward. As usual Chris had a sluggish start on the Sassanid left and Rob advanced on the Sassanid right albeit he did seem fixated on the elephants.

Malcolm pushed the massed cohorts to engage leaving Dave and Tony to try to hold the wings.

First blood went to Rome as a Sassanid light cavalry unit died in a hail of archery. Unfortunately for Rome that was to be their sole “unit kill” that day. Malcolm’s seasoned legionaries moved into combat but inflicted a single disorder, suffering two in return. This wasn’t in the plan!

The superior Sassanid cavalry soon began to wreak havoc on the Roman flanks. 

 

Tony lost cavalry and found himself facing elephants emerging from the woods.

Dave lost light cavalry and cavalry, but was holding the flank until Chris sneaked a unit of lights through a gap to dash for, and capture the camp.

Malcolm lost a Legion to a determined unit of javelin men, and then Tony lost more cavalry. Chits of 1 and 2 saw the adjacent light cavalry break and it was Game over....

All a bit of a massacre.

Over in one hour twenty.

Best summed up by a plaintive cry from Walkern Road....”we haven’t even had time for coffeeeeeee....”

Next week we try to find our sea-legs and head back to the world of “Black Seas”. Will we remember the rules??”

Simon

Return to the Golan Heights...

Thursday night saw our much travelled war reporter return to the bitterly contested Golan Heights in October 1973.

The game was set in the desperate first 48 hours of the Syrian offensive as the Israelis tried to prevent the massed Syrian armour breaking through before Israel’s reserves could enter the fray.

Six tough T55s took on a trio of Centurions supported by a pair of Supershermans.

With their “poor gunnery” and only 8 turns to play with the Syrian armour surged forward....except for one of Rob’s tanks that decided that sitting in a copse engaging in a long-range gunnery duel was a sound tactic.... if only to guarantee personal survival.

The Centurions rushed into their prepared defences and started to fire, but to little effect. Chris’s Shot Cal then became a magnet for all the Syrian crews and eventually died thanks to a flank shot.

Things looked grim for the embattled Israelis as they failed to take out Dave’s lead T55, and the Syrians began to outflank the Israelis. The first lucky break came as Malcolm drew his chit from the bag ahead of Dave, and scored a catastrophic strike on Dave’s 2nd T55’s flank.

 

Phil then advanced his Supersherman, using Chris's burning Shot Cal as cover. Unfortunately he drew the fire of several T55's and quickly succumbed.

As the Israelis began to give ground and retire to other positions they were amazed to see one of Tony’s tanks appear over the hill and ram a Supersherman. Effective as the Sherman crew bailed out but ultimately futile as the T55 itself fell to Greg’s gunnery. 

This left the Israelis with two operational tanks vs three Syrian. Through the dust and din of battle the Syrians began to hear the squeal of tank tracks as the Israeli reinforcements rolled into action....

The game had proved very tight, and quite balanced. It could have gone either way, which for me makes a good game.

Simon