Sorry Old Bean

To be deployed when someone takes their wargaming playing with toy soldiers too seriously.

Eastern Front 1945

We played a late war eastern front clash recently.  Russians versus Germans in the dying days of the third reich.

The game was played using the Battlegroup rules from Iron Fist.  This is probably larger than most Battlegroup games but the rules scale up quite well. 

The Soviets were closing in from two directions to capture a bridge needed for their advance while the isolated German defenders clung on in desperation. 

The terrain was heavily urbanised with ruined factories and administrative buildings most common. Break points were divided between the two Soviet forces but combined for the Germans.  We had two players on each side.

 

On the south bank attack the Soviets has a mix of regualr infantry, engineers and some inexperienced naval troops.  They were backed up with an SU bunker-buster tank.

To the north of the bridge a second force of Russian infantry, scouts, mobile artillery and some cavalry aim to link up with their comrades in the southern attack and secure the crossing point.

Traditional mounted cavalry versus machineguns is a brave tactic but ultimately there is reason it's rarely seen in WW2.

Fighting was at close quarters with the Soviets picking their way through booby-trapped buildings and viscious ambushes.

House to house fighting was the order of the day.

The SU Bunker Buster ran over a mine and proved a damp squib  after looking so threatening.

These guys were prepared but probably releived it wasn't down to them to knock it out.

A close of play the Germans had been pushed back but still held the bridge with their numbers  dwindling fast.  

The sailors had done surprisingly well.

The Soviet engineers bring up a flame thrower to burn out the remaining Germans.

Lots of fun and a first outing for Paul's new sarissa ruined factories and the Soviet sailors I painted.

Battle for Hougoumont

To try out the Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles rules for Napoleonics we used our new Hougoment castle terrain, recently aquired from Sarissa Precision. 

The nicely painted figures were British and French, including Grenadiers, Light Infantry, Marines and Riflemen from the collection of my club mate Dean. 

The stats were modified from the suggested Horse and Musket era examples in the rule book. 

I made the French army trait Quick, to represent the rapid French maneuovre and the British had Deadeyes to represent their famed prowess in shooting.

Lost French units were replaced with fresh units to represent the waves of attacks throughout the day.  We were only trying the rules, so played to the time we had but if this were a scenario I would set a limit.  Maybe 12 turns.

 Our game was not really historical but the redcoats held the castle as they did in 1815.  

Although there were some dicey moments.  An attack on the side gate was only just held by the rifles and the French Marines twice drove back the British fron the front wall.

 

The remnants of the French Grenadiers run from the Riflemen after a very bloody melee.

The FFOL reload rule works nicely in Bigger Battles to represent the first volley and making use of 'sixes' to reload can be vital.  You can't always wait long enough to play the six on the right unit though and the difficult turn decisions ramp up the tension.

The game was lots of fun and I expect we will try another, perhaps with cavalry next time.