Bolt Action... Brits vs Germans Someware in France...

Chuck set up a nice table and scenario last Sunday at "Randy's House of Games" shop. Randy, two other gents and myself were the contenders. Chuck was the game master. I was the German commander and Randy and the "two gents" I forgot their names sorry. They were new to the system but did very well as the British.

The Germans had 2 Stugs, a pak 40 gun, three 10 man squads of infantry with attached hvy. machine gun, and a panzer schrick section, and a sniper. The Germans were set up in a strong defensive position behind a deep (uncrossable stream) and some hedgerows.

The plucky British were on the attack. They had to drive the Germans from their strong position and open up the way for the follow up forces...

The British had 3 Cromwell's, 1 Sexton, 1 17pd Challenger,1 Churchill, three 10 man infantry squads, a piate team, 1 recon armd. car, and two artillery missions.

The British CO, with some of his assets.

The British advance into the open.

A look at the British advance from one of the German positions.

The ambush was sprung! However, the Germans could not hit anything!!! It was a very tough on the dug in Germans! They got hammered  for three turns. Then they finally got their sights adjusted and took out the Churchill and the Comet!

Poor Churchill tank...

Another look at the start positions of the British...

Yes indeed, the battle was a challenge for both axis and allies throughout the game. the British pounded the Germans whenever they could detect them! However, once the stugs and the pak 40 gun got their sights strait, they stopped the Brits cold! The British infantry was hit very hard throughout the game. The Germans lost one squads to a "tank assault" and a stug. The sniper, panzer schrick got whacked too...

Overall, everyone had a great time. The two new guys really liked the system, and also chucks great terrain and miniatures. "Bolt Action Rules" are definitely a good sound set of rules that creates a great game and a fun time. As well as putting you in a good position to get the feel of small unit actions!

Black Powder Rules.. The Great Indian Mutiny...

Last weekend Chis decided it would be a good time to host a "Black Powder" game staged during "The Great Indian Mutiny"  in 1850's northern India.  This was the third battle in the campaign. The British have won the first two. This encounter did not go so well for the Empire!!

Two Brigades of British with two batteries of guns came onto the field. 1st Brigade of three infantry battalions. The second brigade was of three regiments of cavalry.

The Indian Mutineers was made up of 4 brigades. 1st Brigade. was two cav regts., the 2nd Brig. had two Mutineers "regular battalions", the 3rd and 4th brigades were each made up of 3 mobs each....

The British from the start had some really bad die rolls and activations!! The Mutineers got the jump on the British. They surged forward all across the battle field toward the British still in march column!

There was a lively clash of cavalry on the one flank... Which the British finally won! In the center the bloodthirsty " 3rd brigade" surged into the face of the two veteran British battalions who did very little damage to the mobs and actually had to retreat in the very face of the wild charges of the unwashed masses.. On the other flank the "4th brigade" of Mutineers flew across the field of battle into the flank and overwhelmed the British battalion "fortified" in the village!! The Brits where driven out and routed and at a very critical point in the route the British army general, General Havelocke was overwhelmed by the crazed masses and cut down in a Heroic last stand with his faithful aides...

Indeed all was done after that... the remnants of the infantry brigade faltered back as best they could. While the British cavalry did what they could to hold back the ragging hordes....

The initial Mutineer deployment.

The initial positions of the British.

The Indians mobs coming down on the British line!!

The position of the "3rd Brigade" of Mutineers about to go in...

The Brave Mutineer cavalry Brigade. At the start of the battle.

The Mutineer cavalry rally and get ready for more charges!!

Another view of the great charge of the "mob"..Note, the "regular mutineer " battalions in the background.