Black Wolf Wargames

Incursion Comes to Blackwolf

2011-09-23T19:53:00.006Z

Last night saw an entertaining Grindhouse Incursion game between Pete and Andy. Andy mounted a very effective 'overlapping fires' policy with 2xHMG and 2x'Grunt' APEs, neatly sidelining Pete's one Blitzhund with a roof 'cave in'.

However, Pete managed to sneak a few of his Bombie Zombies up to a couple of Andy's APEs, weakening them enough for a mass Zombie rush.

The game ended with Andy managing to push is last remaining HMG APE to successfully close and lock the second of the three doors he had to seal, before marching into a red mist of HMG fire shreaded Storm Zombie, almost reaching the last zombie entry door, before being finally swamped. A fine hour for the 7th, despite the eventual German win!

Last stand of the HMG APE!

Phil T. 23rd Sep 2011

PMZ Campaign: Hamburg

2011-09-09T14:12:00.006Z

Report from General Schlemm,
commanding First Parachute Army
The battle for Hamburg, dated April 30th 1945

Having withdrawn to the Elbe, I have had little time to prepare my defences before the inevitable British attack. I still have the Panthers of the 101st Pz Brigade and I have also been allocated two companies of JgPanthers from the training schools, unfortunately they have little fuel or ammunition.

My right is resting on a large lake where I have placed a force consisting of Stugs and Panzer Grenadiers of the 116th Pz Divn supported by Volksturm and one company of JgPanthers. The 553rd Volksgrenadier Divn is holding a line of hills on the left with attached Stugs and JgPanthers. In reserve is the remainder of 116th Pz Divn with the Panthers.

The British attack is beginning on the right. Here a single infantry battalion supported by JgPanthers holds, then throws back an infantry division supported by Sherman and Churchill tanks. Meanwhile a second British division is occupying a village on the far side of the river but is unable to cross due to heavy fire. Unnerved by this unexpected reverse, the attack appears to be faltering.

Now the British airforce attack in strength and they renew the attack on the right with another division, meanwhile sending amphibious units across the lake. The defending battalion has taken heavy losses, and at last retires, forcing the JgPanthers to retire as well. Taking advantage of this development, an armoured division is advancing on the left while the division in the centre has at last forced its way across the river.

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The view from behind the German positions. The units defending the right have retreated, leaving the British in control of the village. Many British units are queing to cross the river. Some units of the 553rd Volksgrenadier Divn are holding the high ground against the British armoured division on the left. The reserve Panthers and Panzer grenadiers are about to move into action.

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The Volksgrenadiers are retreating from the British armour, their single battalion of Stugs destroying many of the new Comet tanks before being itself destroyed.

I order the 116th Pz Divn to counter attack but they have been met by a wave of British armour and infantry.

German units are retreating all along the line with only a Panzer Grenadier battalion still intact, defending the supply centre.

Reports are confused but the Panthers appear to have retreated. Comet tanks are reported near my command post ..... ......... attacking ... ......... heavy fire ...... ..... overrun ........... ............

This was the final report by General Schlemm before his capture by our forces. With the destruction of First Parachute Army, and all available reserves being committed to Operation Spring Awakening in the East, there were no forces available to prevent us entering Berlin in early May. The British army is now occupying the Seelow heights while negotiations continue with the Soviets.

PMZ Campaign: Troyes 3

2011-08-26T18:38:00.006Z

Report from General Fortsch,
commanding First Army
The third battle for Troyes, dated April 15th 1944

I had ample of time to dig in along the river line, anchoring my left on a large lake and my right on some wooded ground protected by minefields. Unfortunately my request for reinforcements had been denied so I was lacking armour, having only the 2nd Panzer Division with a reduced battalion of Panthers and some companies of StugIVs. The Jagd Panthers have been reallocated to another sector.
The Americans attacked initially on the right against the wooded ground with an armoured division. Leading the attack were some new Pershing heavy tanks. Fortunately they were stopped by the minefields in front of the concealed Panthers who made short work of them. This attack having been halted, the Americans then attacked the village in the centre with a second armoured division, the village was protected by a battalion of the 352nd Infantry division. This battalion held out for some time, delaying this attack.

The Americans then launched two attacks, an infantry division attacked on the left, driving back the 352nd Infantry from the river and a third armoured division attacked on the right, supported by intense airpower. Eventually this assault took its toll on the few remaining tanks of 2nd Panzer and it was forced to retire.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 2nd Pz Divn has retired on the right, the Americans have yet to exploit this. The 352nd Inf Divn is holding out on the high ground and left of the road but they are soon to retreat. Some units of the 272nd Volksgren Divn can be seen in the centre.

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With our forces retiring, it was left to the 272nd Volksgrenadier division to hold the line which they did gallantly. However the American armour had now crossed the river and the 272nd were unable to prevent them overrunning the Corps command centre.

Realising that the position was compromised, I ordered the withdrawal of the army towards Metz.

PMZ Campaign: Gorzow

2011-08-16T14:06:00.006Z

Report from General Dietrich,
commanding Sixth Panzer Army
The battle for Gorzow, dated April 8th 1945

As part of operation Spring Awakening, I had been given the task of driving the Russians back from the borders of the Fatherland. The Fuhrer had allocated all the armoured reserves to this attack and great things were expected, we were not to disappoint him. Poor weather had grounded the Red airforce so we attacked under a ferocious artillery bombardment which however proved fairly ineffective. I had been promised all available aircraft, but apparently the bad weather made them ineffective as well. The Russians were occupying a line of hills with a large area of wooded ground in front of them.

The 1st SS Pz Division attacked on the right with the few tigers available, their task being to outflank the main defences. The 3rd SS Pz Division with attached PzIVs advanced through the woods. On the centre left the 16th Panzer Division with its Panthers and half of the Jg Panthers advanced cautiously against the centre of the Russian position keeping concealed as much as possible. The 232nd Pz Grenadier Division with PzIVs and the remainder of the Jg Panthers swung round the left flank.

The 1st SS engaged T34-85s at the far side of the woods and confidently outmanoeuvred them, destroying many in the process. These Soviets now came under pressure from the 3rd SS advancing through the woods and were forced to withdraw.

Meanwhile in the centre the 16th Pz had taken up position behind a crest line and awaited instructions. On the left the 232nd PzGren were advancing rapidly and beginning to push the Soviets back through the woods on that flank.
At this point the Soviets committed their reserves, Guards with sherman tanks against 10th and 30th SS. As soon as they did this, the 16th Pz attacked in the centre, slowly driving yet more T34s off the high ground. Meanwhile the 232nd PzGren were emerging from the woods into the Soviet rear area. The guards fought a bloody battle with the SS at close range, both sides eventually losing most of their tanks and being forced to withdraw.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 1st SS is advancing on the right having driven off the T34s. The guards have moved forwards to oppose them. The 3rd SS have moved through the woods on their left. 16th Pz have moved up onto the high ground and are about to drive off the T34s and Polish infantry in front of them. The 232nd on the left are advancing into the soviet flank. Wrecked Soviet units can already be seen streaming to the rear.

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The 16th Pz had now cleared the high ground and were advancing directly into the centre of the Soviet position at the same time as their remaining units were being surrounded by 232nd PzGren. At this point the Soviet command knew all was lost and began a headlong retreat. We pursued them as far as Lodz, where we were forced to stop for lack of supplies. We had retaken all the ground lost since February. It is rumoured that the Soviet front commander has been shot and that I will receive another addition to my Knight's Cross.

PMZ Campaign: Lodz

2011-07-21T16:29:00.010Z

Report from General Graser,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army
The battle for Lodz, dated Mar 20th 1945

I deployed the newly arrived Grossdeutchland division on my left, with its flank protected by a large lake. The 16th Pz Division was in the centre on a line of hills, the 72nd Infantry Division on the right with its flank protected by wooded ground.

The Soviets began their attack in the centre with the Guards tank corps with its JSIIs, ISU152s and new SU100s. This attack was driven back mainly by the Panthers of 16th Panzer. On the right, the 72nd Infantry kept the Russian infantry at bay.

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The view from behind the German positions. The Panthers on the hills have driven back the Russian guards in the centre although some of 16th Pz have retired with considerable damage. Grossdeutchland on the left have made a tactical withdrawal.

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The Soviets then attacked on the left with a Polish division supported by tank brigades and the Red airforce. With the 16th Panzer occupied by a renewed attack by the guards, Grossdeutchland began to give ground. Russian infantry then used amphibious vehicles to cross the lake. The guards were again driven back but the Poles broke through and overran the main supply dumps.

I considered the position to be untenable so requested permission to withdrew towards Gorzow. Taking no reply as an affirmative I immediately withdrew.

PMZ Campaign: Essen

2011-06-03T18:27:00.004Z

Report from General Schlemm,
commanding First Parachute Army
The battle for Essen, dated March 20th 1945

Having had two months to prepare my defences I deployed my troops behind a riverline in heavy defences.

The key to the position was a line of hills. Here I placed the 422nd Infantry Division supported by a battalion of Panthers from the 101st Pz Brigade and some armoured engineers. On the right was the veteran 422nd Infantry Division supported by a battalion of Panthers, while the left was defended by the newly arrived 18th Luftwaffe division supported by a battalion of PzIV and the King Tigers of Pz-Abteilung 503 and protected by minefields.

The attack began with a massive bombardment on the central hillline. At the same time I received reports of a mass parachute drop on the Elbe bridges. The British attacked with two armoured divisions in the centre while another attacked my left. The fire from the Panthers drove back attack after attack and inflicted huge losses on the British armour. The forward units of the 18th Luftwaffe took heavy losses aand eventually were forced to fall back to the embankment behind them. The British pursued fiercely and overran the rear positions before the Pz IVs and King Tigers could stop them. On the right the British attack was easily repulsed so those Panthers redeployed behind the centre. Many Typhoons were over the battlefield but they had little effect on the outcome.

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The view from behind the German positions. The Panthers on the hills hold back the British tide but are soon to be forced back. Tanks from the right flank have moved into the woods behind them and are preparing to counter-attack. The 18th Luftwaffe on the left have withdrawn with the British in pursuit.

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The continued assault in the centre eventually told and the last remaining Panthers were forced to withdraw from the hills. On the left the morale of the 18th Luftwaffe was broken and they retreated, taking the tanks with them. The redeployed Panthers now counter attacked the hill but were attacked in flank by mechanised infantry and forced back.

With the hill line lost and the British moving into the rear areas, I ordered a general withdrawal towards Bremen.

PMZ Campaign: Troyes 2

2011-04-15T17:30:00.006Z

Report from General Obstfelder,
commanding First Army
The second battle for Troyes, dated February 25th 1945
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The view from behind the German positions. Despite the units on the right having withdrawn to more defensive positions, German units still hold the central ridge and the riverline. The Americans have been driven back at all points.

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Despite having fewer Panthers available due to their tranfer to face the British, the combination of the river and accurate fire from Jagd Panthers prevented the Americans making any progress.

PMZ Campaign: Warsaw

2011-02-23T18:07:00.008Z

Report from General Graser,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army
The battle for Warsaw, dated Jan 24th 1945

Having been informed of the success of General Obstfelder against the Americans, I decided, like him, to place most of my units in concealed fortified positions lining the river with fields of fire commanding the ground in front.

Having lost all my heavy tank hunters in the previous battle, I deployed the 16th Pz Division in the centre guarding the river crossing, the 72nd Infantry Division on the left and the 254th Infantry Division on the right with its right flank protected by a large lake.

The Soviets attacked in force all along the line, their heaviest tanks in the centre. The first attack was driven back mainly by the Panthers of 16th Panzer, however they soon regrouped and attacked again. This time the Soviets were more successful, disabling many of the Panthers. All three German divisions fought stubbornly and the Soviets were again thrown back.

The Soviets then attacked for the third time. The units on the left were clearly exhausted and were easily held by the 72nd Infantry, however, the Guards Tank Corps in the centre, with JSIIs and ISU152s forced the 16th Panzer to withdraw, enabling them to cross the river. The 254th were then forced to give way as they were in danger of being outflanked.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 72nd Infantry Division on the left have held the Soviets. 16th Pz have withdrawn in the centre and the Soviets have crossed the river in force.

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I considered making a counter attack with my final reserve of armoured engineers together with the few remaining tanks. However, with little chance of success and the probable destruction of the entire Korps, I decided to give up Warsaw and withdraw in good order to my next defence line where I could regroup my units.

PMZ Campaign: Troyes 1

2011-02-22T18:01:00.009Z

Report from General Obstfelder,
commanding First Army
The battle for Troyes, dated January 20th 1945

The river being the best defence line available, I decided to place most of my units in concealed fortified positions lining the river with fields of fire commanding the open ground in front. The Americans attacked in the centre right, throwing wave after wave of units against the 2nd Panzer division and elements of the 352nd Infantry division who steadfastly stood their ground. An advance on the extreme right was held up by heavily forested ground. An advance over the frozen swamp on the extreme left was stopped and eventually thown back by heavy fire from the 189th infantry division.

Eventually the advance on the exteme right outflanked the 352nd whose morale now gave way and they retreated. This in turn precipitated the retreat of the heavily pressed 2nd Panzer division from the vital river crossing, now that its flank was exposed.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 189th Infantry Division on the left have repulsed the Americans. 2nd Pz are driving back the Americans in the centre. The Americans on the right have advanced across the river.

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At this point I suffered a serious head wound so information is sketchy but it appears that the Americans were now exhausted having suffered very heavy casualties. Some infantry and recon advanced across the river but a counter attack by elements of the now unopposed 189th infantry division together with the remaining tanks of 2nd Pz stopped them and eventually drove them back across the river. The few Americans who had crossed the river on the right were withdrawn at this point.

I hope to rejoin my command before the next attack on the riverline.

PMZ Campaign: Eindhoven 2

2010-12-05T18:17:00.006Z

Report from General Sclemm,
commanding First Parachute Army
The 2nd battle for Eindhoven, dated December 29th 1944
General Student has been transferred to the East front.

Upon taking command I placed my troops in heavy defences along the 'West Wall'.

In the centre of my position was a large lake. On the left was the 422nd Infantry Division and the 101st Pz Brigade with two companies of Jg Panzer IVs defending a ridgeline and wooded ground. On the right, on a ridge covering the main highway was a Kampfgruppe consisting of units of the 16th Luftwaffe Division with some Panthers of 101st Pz Brigade and some armoured engineers protected by minefields.

The attack began suddenly with no preliminary bombardment, the British obviously hoping to achieve surprise. Fortunately it was after dawn before the attack developed and we were fully alert. Armoured and infantry divisions attacked both sides of the lake directly into the accurate fire of our units. The British took massive losses, battalions streaming back to their start positions all along the line and both attacks grinding to a halt. We had taken few losses but all our units were fully engaged by the enemy.

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The view from behind the German positions. The 422nd Infantry Division and the 101st Pz Brigade on the left have driven back most of the attacking units. The 16th Luftwaffe on the right are under heavy attack. The British amphibious infantry are about to cross the lake.

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At this point a large force of infantry in amphibious vehicles advanced rapidly towards the lake. Our units were unable to respond to this move. The amphibious infantry moved across the lake, through and behind our positions, capturing the Korps headquarters. This precipitated a retreat all along the line and I have had to withdraw to the Rhine.

There were many British spotter planes overhead but luckily the dreaded Typhoons didn't make an appearance.

PMZ Campaign: Brest Litovsk 2

2010-12-04T20:57:00.006Z

Report from General Graser,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army
The second battle for Brest Litovsk, dated Dec 27th 1944

General Balck has been transferred to command Army group G and I have been appointed to command Fourth Panzer Army in his place. Fortunately there have been no major Soviet attacks in this area for 3 months which has given me time to reconstitute my forces.

I deployed the veteran 72nd infantry division on high ground dominating the main communications with their left protected by marshy ground, inpassable to vehicles. Their right was covered by elements of the newly arrived 254th infantry division with tanks from the 16th Panzer division which was in reserve.
The expected Soviet attack came just as the ground froze, making the marsh crossable and exposing the left of the 72nd. I immediately reinforced them with the JgElefants of Pz-Abt 512 and two companies of Jg Panthers, easily capable of stopping T34s.

After the usual massive artillery bombardment, a mass of Soviet tanks and infantry attacked our centre. Despite taking heavy casualties, the Soviets continued to attack, using a new type of T34 which appeared able to damage our vehicles. They also had large numbers of JSIIs, ISU152s and SU85s.
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The view from behind the German positions. The Soviets have overrun the 72nd Inf who are retreating back on their line of communication. The 16th Panzer are endeavouring to hold the line but have lost many of their tanks by this stage.

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Even with a gallant defence, eventually their numbers told and the 72nd were forced back, the 254th also giving way as they were in danger of being outflanked. Despite a valiant counterattack by 16th Pz Division, nothing could stop the tide of men and machines.
With this Soviet breakthrough in the centre, I ordered a strategic withdawal to my next defence line.

PMZ Campaign: Orleans 3

2010-12-03T11:54:00.006Z

Report from General Obstfelder,
commanding First Army
The third battle for Orleans, dated December 24th 1944

General Knobelsdorff has been out of communication since his command centre was overrun on 17th December. Information on the battle is sketchy but it appears he deployed on a ridgeline with armour and infantry spread out along the front overlooking open ground. He had no heavy tanks available, but they were supported by two companies of Jg Pz4s.

The Americans attacked in mass and, while their lead units were forced back by accurate fire, the American airforce pounded our positions in great numbers, disrupting our front elements. Taking advantage of this, the Americans pushed forward with their second line and overran our forward positions, causing units all along the line to fall back. The Volkssturm units proved particularly unreliable.

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The view from behind the German positions. In the foreground, the German units are withdrawing, badly damaged. The American airforce are bombing the remaing units on the ridge while their troops at the rear are poised to break through.

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The Americans then committed their final reserve which punched though our line, overrunning the command centre and opening a wide corridor though our lines, precipitating the entire Korps to retreat. This in turn caused the First Army to withdraw to the river Seine.

I have been placed in command of First Army and am fortifying positions along the banks of the Seine with those units I have remaining.

PMZ Campaign: Soviet report

2010-12-03T00:21:00.009Z

Ставка Главного Командования
Вооруженных Сил Союза ССР
STAVKA REPORT
Byelorussian Strategic Offensive
Report by Marshal Zhukov

The liberation of Byelorussia comprised three battles. Of particular significance was the preparatory phase during which we were able to draw off key defending units and mislead the enemy as to our intentions. By varying the strategic point of attack we were able to have the defenders misplace key units and enhance the value of our own attack units.

In the Battle of Bobruisk we faced a difficult initial combat to break into the enemy defences that were well anchored on hills and a lake while being fronted by wooded areas. Our tactical approach was to use tank formations on the clearer flanking areas and infantry assault teams in the central woods. The disadvantage was that we lost the option of synergy in mixing the combat arms and in general the approaches to the defences were too constricted by the choices made in developing our attack. Nevertheless, when able to close with the enemy we were able to overwhelm them and achieve a break-in. Particular note should be made of the efforts of the assault engineers who were highly successful in penetrating the enemy’s position. However, too much was asked of infantry that should be used to hold the ground seized and not enough use was made of the Tank Corps to fulfil the primary mission of taking objectives. From north to south the deployment was 9 Tank Corps, 18 Rifle Corps, 41 Rifle Corps, 130 Rifle Corps, 16 Tank Corps and 11 Tank Corps. However, the Rifle Corps entered combat sequentially making it easier for the defender to fend off our blows. Only in the north on the right flank did we have some success with 18 Rifle Corps and 9 Tank Corps making a coordinated attack. The key to this proved to be the attachment of the assault engineers with flamethrower tanks to 18 Rifle Corps and the use of follow-up units behind the main attack of both 18 Rifle Corps and 9 Tank Corps that could prevent successful counter-attacks. In classic military style the commitment of the final reserve could not be countered by the enemy who had been forced to commit all already. The northern wing troops were eventually able to prise open the defences and force the enemy opposing them to retire and that then caused the Hitlerite army to retreat for 125 kilometres. During this retreat the enemy was forced to abandon much equipment and as a result we have obtained examples of his most recent anti-tank guns and tank destroyers. These could be seen to be formidable developments as shown by his capacity to hold off our left flank attack with a single group of tank destroyers that were able to disable our tanks at extreme range.

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The break-in arising from the first battle then led to the Battle of Minsk. On this occasion the terrain was advantageous to us in being mainly clear with a wood and hills on the right, a village on the left and woods in the enemy’s flanking rear areas. This gave us the opportunity to develop a broad attack with each unit being able to readily support neighbouring units and enabled extensive firepower to be deployed as enemy positions were uncovered, quickly bringing suppressive fire down to disrupt his positions. Deployment from north to south was 18 Rifle Corps and 16 Tank Corps to assault the woods and hills on the right, 11 Tank Corps in the centre, 9 Tank Corps and 130 Rifle Corps on the left to seize the village and advance along the line of communications. Each tank corps was reinforced with an attached heavy-weapon gun regiment and this proved a successful tactic.

Extensive use was made of reconnaissance troops to identify enemy strong points prior to engagement. Rapid engagement of identified targets ensured quick suppression of the enemy positions and as a result reduced our own casualties. At this battle the enemy fielded for the first time his new heavy tank, which was immediately and successful engaged by the available SU85s. Particular mention should be made of the pilots of 16 Air Army supporting the attack whose ground attacks were prompt and accurate, ensuring that the enemy unit was not merely neutralised but destroyed. An unfortunate by-product was the lack of working models to examine. The debris showed thick armour and a powerful gun but a lack of engine power. That it is a potent weapon is shown by the damage inflicted on 11 Tank Corps, which took considerable casualties in the fire-fight with the main enemy defence line while engaging these new tanks. Our troops were able to cause rapid and significant damage on the enemy and most of his tanks were rendered inoperable early in the engagement. His forces hung grimly on suffering ever greater casualties until on the left flank and centre they broke in rout. On our right flank the terrain had slowed the approach to combat so his forces held there a little longer before fleeing. In handling the attack the unit commanders showed they were learning from their experiences in dealing with enemy forces. In the pursuit our right flank was able to overrun the enemy command complex, the centre to capture his forward supply depot and the left flank to advance onto his line of communications. With the Hitlerite army in flight we were able to capture extensive amounts of personnel and equipment, reducing his deployable forces for subsequent engagements and requiring him to draw extensively from reserves to reequip his forces. The pursuit also allowed the considerable unopposed advance of 375 kilometres.

Analysis of the correlation of forces at this point showed a continuation of combat to be unwise. In June we had the advantage of 2:1 in personnel and 3:1 in tanks. The intelligence assessment of our available forces at this point, compared to the enemy forces available at the new defence line under construction, suggested the position was 1.4:1 in personnel and 1.6:1 in tanks. Given that the Hitlerites would field more effective tanks than previously I considered it prudent to pause to rebuild strength, despite the fact that this would enable him to improve his defences. I suspected that in any future engagement the enemy would seek to field higher quality tanks in greater numbers and to cope with this I needed the full strength allocated to me by STAVKA available for battle. We had advanced 500 kilometres, one-third of the way to Berlin, and needed time to bring supplies forward and add replacements to our depleted ranks.
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The third and final battle in the offensive was the Battle of Brest-Litovsk. The terrain at this point proved most difficult as the route required us to pass between two woods, bounded by a lake and covered by a hill that had to be crossed. The wide open nature of the terrain allowed the employment of a mass tank attack but also permitted the Hitlerites a wide expanse to fire from longer range on attacking forces. Deployment from north to south was 41 Rifle Corps and 16 Tank Corps to assault the woods on the right, 11 Tank Corps in the centre to assault the hill complex, 9 Tank Corps and 130 Rifle Corps on the left to seize the woods and open a communication axis into the enemy rear area and advance along the line of communications. Each tank corps was reinforced with attached heavy-weapon units.

At an early stage in the advance the assault began to break-up under the intense fire of the enemy tanks and tank destroyers. Once again the main success against the heavy units of the enemy was achieved by aircraft. Extensive reconnaissance overwhelmed enemy scouting parties to identify the main lines of resistance. Valiant assaults by our troops closed on the enemy and began to break into his positions. On the left flank tank units broke through into his rear areas and threatened to overrun his command centre. In the centre an extensive and prolonged fight between the enemy units defending the hill area and the 11 Tank Corps developed. On the right flank our attacking troops closed with the enemy and forced him out of the wooded area, the advancing troops taking part of the hill defences and reaching close to his forward supply centre. Both the defending flanks were successfully taken and much credit must be taken by the Commissars in maintaining the fighting morale of the units in difficult circumstances, rally troops to further efforts by their exhortations. In the centre the enemy held grimly on to the main hill-line and the woods at the base of it. Intense anti-aircraft defences based on the hill and enemy fighter cover over the battlefield significantly reduced the impact of our air support units. Despite the utmost endeavours of the tanks and infantry who continued their assault until exhausted it proved impossible to shift the enemy from his positions. This prevented the proper exploitation of the successes we had achieved and our forces therefore commenced an orderly withdrawal to their start lines. A large percentage of the enemy had fled the battlefield but the Hitlerites retained sufficient strength to deny the Red Army its well deserved victory. Good tactical skill was once again shown by our commanders in their use of combined arms. However, it was clear that our tank attacks lacked sufficient power and an upgrade in this arm was needed before the next advance could be made. The enemy’s infantry had suffered many casualties and showed evidence of degraded performance but the tank arm still showed much determination.

At this point it was appropriate to close down the Strategic Offensive and commence the Memel-Baltic Offensive with the Second Byelorussian Front. The resource base available to us at this point was such that we could vary the strategic approach by closing exhausted offensives and opening new offensives simultaneously, causing the enemy considerable difficulties. The Hitlerites had been forced to switch forces between fronts and thereby added wear and tear to men and equipment while being able to deploy them less frequently operationally. During the Byelorussian Strategic Offensive the enemy suffered casualties equal to more than 100% of his personnel and 70% of his equipment, while being driven back 500 kilometers. In compliance with instructions First Byelorussian Front had covered one-third of the distance to Berlin.

Georgi Zhukov
Marshall of Soviet Armies

PMZ Campaign: Antwerp

2010-09-21T18:27:00.005Z

Report from General Dietrich,
commanding Sixth Panzer Army
The second battle for Antwerp, dated November 20th 1944

As part of operation Autumn Mist, I had been given the task of driving the British back and siezing the port of Antwerp, thus depriving the Allies of their supply base. My orders were to drive as rapidly as possible for the port before the poor weather cleared which would allow the Allied airforce to operate. The British were occupying polder country so I was forced to attack on a narrow front in one of the clear corridors dominated by a line of low hills.

I attacked on the right with the 10th SS Pz Division supported by the 30th SS Inf Division, a Tiger Pz Abteilung and Jg Panthers. On the left the 9th Panzer Division was to make a diversionary attack supported by the 26th Infantry Division. The attack got off to a slow start as the Panthers and Tigers were forced to negotiate forested ground. Emerging from the forest they came under heavy fire from Shermans and antitank guns on the ridge in front of them and took significant casualties as they closed. After considerable manoeuvring, the British gave way and retired behind the hills.

On the left the 9th Panzer swung away from the wooded ground in front of them and advanced on the central ridge. They came under heavy fire from the ridge and forced to stop. At this point they were attacked in the flank by a battalion of Churchills hidden in the wooded ground and forced to retreat. Despite repeated attacks, they could make no further headway. Short on fuel, they retired from the battlefield.

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The view from behind the left flank. The lead elements of 9th Panzer are advancing on the central ridge. In the background 10th SS Pz have driven the British from the ridge.

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The 10th SS Pz advanced up onto the ridge and found themselves facing another British division which had moved up behind it. Another lengthy battle ensued, using up more precious fuel. Eventually the British were forced to retire, leaving the 10th SS Pz in possession of the ridgeline. With intact Britsh troops on the flanking hill, two British divisions in front and very little fuel, I knew it was now impossible to capture Antwerp and so was forced to call off the attack.

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The view from behind the German positions. 10th SS Pz have advanced onto the ridge. The British are in front of them and on the central hill.

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PMZ Campaign: Orleans 2

2010-08-20T11:03:00.009Z

Report from General Knobelsdorff,
commanding First Army
The second battle for Orleans, dated October 20th 1944

Since the capture of General Eberbach at the beginning of September I have commanded First Army. Knowing it was just a matter of time before the Americans attacked once more, I chose a good defensive position and dug in as best I could with the limited resources at hand. My left flank was covered by impassable terrain, next was high ground with a good field of fire. In the centre the ground was lightly wooded with forest to the rear. The open right flank I protected with minefields and other obstacles. Prior to the attack, I learnt that American paratroops had dropped at Troyes and seized the bridges over the Seine, so I knew I had to stop the American attacks at all costs so the bridges could be recaptured.

The opening American artillery barrage was directed at the recently vacated front positions and so caused no casualties. The opening attack was made by the newly arrived American 14th Armoured division supported by infantry in the centre. Here I had placed the veteran 189th infantry division supported by a Panther battalion of the 2nd Panzer division. These troops stood their ground despite repeated attacks and caused huge casualties on the American units.

The American airforce was largely absent, only one attack being made which missed its target.

The American 4th Armoured division attacked against the high ground defended by the untested 18th Luftwaffe division. Taken in flank by the Panthers, it ground to a halt, only one unsupported battalion of shermans making it through the Luftwaffe positions, however this did present a threat to our rear areas.

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The view from behind the German positions. On the left the shermans have broken through Luftwaffe positions on the high ground. In the wooded ground in the centre, the 189th Inf are holding off the Americans while a spotter plane flies overhead.

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The American 5th Infantry division advanced on the right but stopped short of the minefields. 2nd Panzer was stationed on this flank but facing no attack sent a battalion to aid the threatened rear areas. However this proved unnecessary as the Luftwaffe division, displaying unexpected resilience, counter attacked the Shermans which eventually retired.

As usual, facing huge losses, the American command ordered a withdrawal. I await the next attack. The paratroops of the American First Airbourne Army have been defeated.

PMZ Campaign: Eindhoven 1

2010-08-02T18:33:00.007Z

Report from General Student,
commanding First Parachute Army
The battle for Eindhoven, dated October 23rd 1944

A month of inactivity by the British has allowed me to regroup my forces and dig in along the 'West Wall'.

The British attacked in mid October. At this position I had deployed the 16th Luftwaffe Division supported by Jg Panzer IVs in wooded ground on the left. In the centre the 422nd Infantry Division (with an attached Panther battalion) was dug-in around a village within wooded ground through which ran the main highway. On the right was the newly arrived 101st Pz Brigade in an area of polders.

The attack began with an AGRA shoot against the central wooded area. Fortunately this caused little damage, the 422nd Division quickly re-establishing its positions. This was followed by an attack of three infantry divisions against the central village and the polders. The British found the polders difficult to traverse and soon came under accurate fire from the 101st Pz Brigade, so this attack ground to a halt, the British infantry retiring to cover. The few fighter aircaft remaining to the Luftwaffe now made an appearance and shot down many allied aircraft; they didn't bother us again for the remainder of the battle.

The British infantry in the centre was having more success, one battalion from 422nd Division being destroyed. At this point the attack on the polders by the central British division was redirected towards the village and two armoured divisions committed to the attack. In response, the Panther battalion in the centre moved forward and attacked one of these divisions in the flank destroying many Sherman tanks. Its mission accomplished, it then withdrew behind the village. The second armoured division struggled through the polders against the Panthers of 101st Pz Brigade. As they advanced the Panzers retired, continually inflicting losses.

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The view from behind the British positions. On the right 422nd Inf are holding the village, the Panthers having retired behind them, the British infantry are engaging them. The 101st Pz Brigade are behind the Polders on the far left. The British infantry have just been stopped.

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At this point with losses mounting and the German fire unabated, the British command realised they were not going to break through our positions, so they abandoned the attack. I ancicipate they will soon be back.

PMZ Campaign: Brest Litovsk 1

2010-05-31T17:59:00.007Z

Report from General Balck,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army
The battle for Brest Litovsk, dated Sept 23rd 1944

Following the disaster at Minsk, I have replaced General Nehring. August was quiet on this front, the Soviets presumed to be reorganising after outrunning their supply in their advance to Bialystock. There has been a major uprising in Warsaw which resulted in all my replacements being diverted to crush this, however it is being successfully suppressed.

Expecting a massive Soviet attack, my forces were deployed between a lake on the left and open woods on the right. The critical forward wooded area was held by the 275th infantry division with attached Jagd Panthers. The 16th Panzer division was deployed on the high ground in the centre with some of its Panthers deployed with the 72nd infantry division in the woods on the right, this division also had a company of Jagd Panthers attached. Minefields protected the flanks although most of them were ineffective due to lack of material.

The Soviet attack began with a massive katyusha bombardment which disrupted two thirds of my units, however our morale held. The attack was concentrated in the centre. Six Soviet divisions attacked in line, their infantry and tanks quickly entering the important forward woods. The tanks in the centre advanced cautiously and were soon stopped by the Panthers of 16th Pz Division. A long range firefight then developed with the Panthers easily outgunning the T34s, only the JSIIs could engage them effectively. The small groups of ISU152s and SU85s proved to be ineffective in this situation.

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The view from behind the German positions. 275th Inf are dug in, in the woods on the left , with the infantry of 16th Panzer behind them. The Panthers are on the hills in the foreground firing on the mass of advancing Soviet tanks. The 72nd Inf are on the right laying down fire on the advancing Soviet infantry.
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The Soviet airforce attacked in strength but their Sturmoviks were held in check by the small number of Messerschmits we had available.

Soviet infantry on the right were stopped by the 72nd infantry and soon forced to withdraw under heavy fire. The Soviet armour on the right then attacked the 72nd who gave way under the pressure and retreated. This Soviet armour was then attacked in turn by the 16th Pz Division and itself forced to retreat. At this point the 275th infantry broke and retreated from the forward woods which were now held by only a single infantry unit of 16th Panzer, the only remaining German division. This unit hung on tenaciously despite repeated Soviet attacks.

The Panthers eventually won the firefight in the centre and the Soviet tank divisions retreated. With no Soviet units on the right and centre, the 16th Pz Division now counter-attacked into the forward woods, driving back the now exhausted Soviet units. At this point the Soviet command abandoned its attack and their remaining units precipitously retreated, leaving hundreds of T34s behind. I do not anticipate another Soviet attack for some time and so can concentrate on rebuilding my units.

Generalleutnant Dietrich von Müller, the commander of 16th Pz Division has been awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves for his outstanding performance in this battle.

PMZ Campaign: Amiens 2

2010-05-10T16:58:00.010Z

Report from General Student,
commanding First Parachute Army
The second battle for Amiens, dated September 5th 1944

This report is based on confused evidence pieced together over the past few days.

General Eberbach prepared to stop the expected British attack by deploying the PzIVs of Panzer Lehr division on high ground supported by the Tiger IIs of Panzer-Abteilung 501. On the left he placed the 422nd Infantry Division, resting its left flank on marshy ground with a lake beyond it. The 716th Infantry Division was in reserve protecting the command centre and supply base amidst light woods. To the right of Panzer Lehr was open ground.

The British attacked aggressively with three armoured and infantry divisions in the centre. Panzer Lehr fought valiantly, the Tiger IIs causing one of the attacking divisions to precipitously retreat. On the left, a division of mixed tanks and infantry attacked the 422nd Division, which held on determinedly. Meanwhile the British 7th Armoured division swung wide round the right flank. The British attack faltered at this first setback and they appeared to doubt the possibility of breaking through our position.
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The view from behind the German positions. Panzer Lehr are on the high ground under heavy attack. 422nd are in the marshy ground to the left. In the foreground the 7th Armoured are advancing with the remnants (Pv IVs) of 716th retreating before them.

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Then a battalion of Churchill tanks reached the hill and together with the remaining troops broke into the Panzer Lehr positions. On the left, the British succeeded in pushing the 422nd Division back into the woods. On the right the 7th Armoured turned and smashed into the flank of 716th Division which disintegrated, allowing the command and supply bases to be overrun, General Eberbach being captured along with most of his staff. Being almost surrounded, Panzer Lehr broke at last and retreated from the field. With no effective command, the entire corps now broke and retreated back towards the Scheldt.

I was commanding the Fallschirmjaeger regiments guarding the Scheldt, these were the first elements of First Parachute Army. At this time units of the British First Airborne Army dropped on Antwerp and seized the bridges over the river.

Fifth Panzer Army now split in two, with half facing the Americans and the remainder being pursued by the British. The British armour drove rapidly for the Scheldt, German resistance crumbling in front of them, and they managed to reach the bridges before my troops could crush the First Airborne Army. However I have now contained the British within the Antwerp area.

PMZ Campaign: Orleans 1

2010-04-29T00:38:00.019Z

Report from General Eberbach,
commanding Fifth Panzer Army
The battle for Orleans, dated August 28th 1944

Having returned from Berlin, I prepared for the American attack near Orleans.

Knowing they had to take an important highway, I deployed where it passed through heavily forested ground. My right was protected by a large lake and my left by marsh. On the left I deployed 21st Panzer division, on the right I deployed 709th Infantry Division with an attached SS Tiger battalion and some JgPanzer IVs. The 352nd Infantry division with some Pak 40 ATGs was in reserve and guarded the rear echelon.

The Americans attacked with one armoured and one infantry division on my left, two infantry divisions on my right and the weak 3rd Armoured division in the centre. This armoured division advanced rapidly but with the SS Tigers lining the edge of the forest were soon driven back in precipitous retreat.
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The view from behind the American positions. Elements of the 3rd Armoured are in the foreground with infantry beginning to move round towards the lake. They are under fire from the tigers lining the forest, with the 709th behind them. On the far right elements of 21st Panzer can just be seen in wooded ground with the marsh behind them.

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The units on my left advanced more cautiously and soon engaged the Panzer IVs of 21st Panzer division. A prolonged firefight ensued but the 21st were continously hit by P47Ds and heavy artillery while being outflanked. Despite the corps commander's personal intervention, they were eventually overwhelmed by the American units and forced to retreat. Unfortunately with command breaking down, they retreated in total disorder completely from the battlefield, exposing the flank of the 709th and also the rear echelons.

Meanwhile on the other side of the battlefield, the American infantry had swung round our right flank. One division assaulted the 709th while the other headed for the lake. Under intense pressure the 709th held out, refusing to be moved from this vital point. The Americans to our surprise didn't stop when they reached the lake – they had amphibious vehicles!

The 352nd now fought desperately to prevent the Americans breaking through to our rear. Despite the odds, they held out until a kampfgruppe made up of the SS Tigers and infantry battalions of the 709th counter-attacked the exhausted American infantry. This attack, together with their heavy losses, was too much for the American command who ordered a withdrawl. In the confusion, this turned into a retreat, then a rout, with the Americans streaming from the battle area, leaving vast amounts of equipment behind.

I think I am safe here now at Orleans for a some time to come, so can concentrate on the British threat.

Battle of Kagul, July 1770

2010-04-06T11:27:00.021Z

The allied forces of the Khanate of Crimea and the Ottoman Empire consist of 35,000 Ottoman infantry and 35,000 Ottoman cavalry commanded by Grand Vizier Ivazzade Halil Pashaand. The Ottoman army is represented by 160 units. There are also about 70,000 Crimean Tartar cavalry, these start 10 miles off the battlefield.

The Russian First Army consists of 38000 men under the command of General Pyotr Rumyantsev. The Russian army is represented by 90 units.

In all there are over 2000 15mm figures.

The Ottoman players placed their camp and defence line, then both sides set up simultaneously with a screen across the table.

This picture shows Ottoman camp (centre left) with the heavy cavalry in the foreground. The Russians are on the right.

This picture shows the Ottoman light cavalry (centre right, with the levy infantry behind them. Their heavy cavalry is in the foreground with Sekhans in the rough ground. The line of chained guns is in the distance, with chevaux de frise in front and the camp behind. Kagul is in the foreground. The Russian squares can be plainly seen on the left.

A close up of the previous picture from behind the Ottoman position.

The Ottoman attack has begun. The light cavalry attack the outer most Russian square while the heavy cavalry move round the flank.

The Ottoman Spahi heavy cavalry on their right flank move to attack the Russian square. The Suvalieri cavalry on the left of the picture are reluctant to attack.

A view of this attack from the Russian position. Russian hussars can be seen in the foreground. The Russian gun line is in the centre exchanging ineffectual fire with the Ottoman guns in the background. Sekhans advance on the Jagers in the rough ground and the Suvalieri cavalry obey their orders at last.

Back to the Ottoman left flank. The Spahis have been delayed by the stream. The light cavalry continue to press their attack; these continous attacks are beginning to disorder the square. Meanwhile Russian dragoons and cuirassiers push some of them back and prevent others from penetrating between the squares. Some bashi-bazouks are about to charge the next Russian square from the broken ground.

The Russian square breaks, to the amazement of the Ottomans, the light cavalry pour in and Russians flee to the rear. In the foreground, the first bashi attack is driven back.

On the Ottoman right flank, the Russian horse grenadiers have moved up to support the beleagured square, diverting a number of Spahis. Meanwhile the Russian cuirassiers have swung wide round the square and are about to charge. At this point, the Tartar army began to arrive. Seeing the lines of cuirassiers between them and the Ottomans, they decided that looting the Russian baggage was the best course of action.

The Ottoman Suvalieri charge the gun line, overrunning one of the guns. The Russian square behind the gun line prevents any more guns being taken while the Russian hussars valiantly stop the Suvalieri from moving between the square and the rough ground. The jagers contiue to skirmish with the Sekhans.

On their left flank, most of the Ottoman light cavalry have been driven off by the dragoons, who are now about to attack the second line Ottoman levies.

The Russians begin their long delayed attack in the centre. The square advances against Ottoman guns backed by Janissaries. On the left, the next wave of light cavalry is entering the field.

As the battle nears its end, the cuirassiers sweep away the remnants of the Spahis.

At the end of the battle, as no attempt had been made to take the Ottoman camp, the battle was judged an Ottoman victory (particularly as the umpire was also an Ottoman player!). However as the Ottoman heavy cavalry on their right flank had been almost destroyed and those on the left flank appeared intent on joining the Tartars in raiding the Russian baggage, it was judged to be only a marginal victory.

PMZ Campaign: Le Mans 2

2010-03-29T17:41:00.013Z

Report from General Eberbach,
commanding Fifth Panzer Army
The battle for Le Mans, dated August 12th 1944

While waiting in Berlin, I received this report on the anticipated American attack near Le Mans.

My subordinate deployed on a group of hills overlooking bocage. The Panzer IVs of Panzer Lehr division occupied this ground in protected positions together with the 709th Infantry Division. The 352nd Infantry division was in reserve and guarded the command centre and supply dumps in the rear area. Minefields were placed on the flanks. The Americans attacked with two armoured and two infantry divisions on the left. The 1st Infantry division, weakened from the battle a week earlier, advanced slowly in the centre.

The units on the extreme left were halted by the minefields, those closer to the centre advanced rapidly and soon engaged Panzer Lehr. Meanwhile the American airforce pounded our positions and inflicted significant damage. After a prolonged firefight, the green American 4th Armoured division withdrew but not before forcing most of Panzer Lehr from its position on the hill. This allowed the American 2nd Infantry division to take the hill and attack the remaining units of Panzer Lehr in the flank.

Meanwhile the other American divisions (the green American 3rd Armoured division and the 90th Infantry division) had moved round the minefield, swung to their left and attacked the 352nd Infantry division. Facing them was only one battalion with attached Pak40 ATGs which was guarding the supply dumps. The ATGs forced the armour to retreat after knocking out many Shermans while the infantry battalion held off repeated attacks by the American infantry.

With our central position crumbling, the American 1st Infantry division made a cautious advance. Seeing this, the commander of the 709th Infantry Division, forming a kampfgruppe from the remaing tanks of Panzer Lehr and his own infantry, attacked the 1st division, driving a wedge between it and the 2nd division. This caused great confusion in the American forces and halted their attack.

Nevertheless the Americans have punched a hole through our line on the left, so the Corps has withdrawn to Orleans.

Bottom right are elements of US 4th Armored.
Top right are elements of US 90th Infantry.
Top centre is the battalion of 352nd and the supply dump with remnants of Pz Lehr in the background.
The US 2nd Infantry are on the hill with US 1st infantry bottom left.
The 709th kampfgruppe is centre left under attack by the US airforce.

PMZ Campaign: Minsk

2010-03-15T18:23:00.006Z

Report from General Nehring,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army
The battle for Minsk, dated July 28th 1944

I had been summoned to Army Group headquarters regarding a plot against the Fuhrer when I received the reports about the Soviet Lvov–Sandomierz offensive. This was launched by First Ukranian Front against Army Group North Ukraine and drew off most of my armour, leaving only a single Panzer division near Minsk.

My subordinate deployed in a defensive posture with his remaining infantry divisions between open woods on the left and a village on the right, the Panzer division being placed in reserve. Reports of the action are confused but apparently the Soviets made a surprise attack without their normal artillery bombardment. The attack in the centre consisted of twelve battalions of tanks including JSIIs, ISU152s and SU85s plus their supporting infantry, while additional infantry divisions advanced on the flanks. The front line buckled under this onslaught but just managed to hold its position. The counterattack of the Panzer division broke one of the Soviet tank formations, but weight of numbers meant that this was only a temporary respite.

Soon the Soviet armour broke through, surrounding many of the surviving German units and causing the retreat of those units which could do so. The koenig tigers of Panzer-Abteilung 503 are reported as being destroyed by the Red airforce. The entire Korps was effectively out of action and Soviet forces poured through the gap in Fourth Panzer Army's line.

I have been recalled to the front to stabilise the situation. Fourth Panzer Army is now in headlong retreat, two of my divisions have been completely destroyed and another will require rebuilding. The Soviets have bypassed the defence lines around Baranovichi and Bialystok, so I am planning to stop them at Brest-Litovsk, all units have been ordered to stop at that position.

The defence of the village, right flank of the panzer division can be seen on the left.

Massed Soviet armour advancing in the background.

PMZ Campaign: Amiens

2010-02-12T11:29:00.007Z

Report from General Eberbach,
commanding Fifth Panzer Army
The battle for Amiens, dated August 8th 1944

I am writing this report from Berlin where I have been summoned after the battle for Rouen. I assumed it was to account for my withdrawl to Amiens but it transpired that I was there to be questioned by the Gestapo about my superior, General von Kluge, who has committed suicide after being implicated in a plot against the Fuhrer – not a pleasant experience. He has been replaced by General Model.

Unfortunately Panzer-Abteilung 503 was assigned to the Eastern front, however the Army has recieved replacements for the Tiger Is lost at Rouen.

My subordinate deployed along a ridgeline overlooking open ground, this was occupied by the 9th SS Panzer Division. The left was light woodland and a small village, occupied by the veteran 422nd Infantry Division resting its left flank on marshy ground. The right was light woodland occupied by the veteran 716th Infantry Division (which had replaced the 243rd) and an attached battalion of JgPz IVs.

The British attack was slow to develop. On the left, the only noise to be heard was the buzzing of recconaissance aircraft and the sound of 5.5" shells landing on the forward positions of 422nd. On the right an infantry division supported by a battalion of Shermans advanced rapidly but were stopped by an infantry battalion and the Jg PvIVs. These raw troops stood their ground for a time before retreating back to their start position.

The main attack then developed on the left with the 27th Armoured Division in the lead. They were faced by a battalion of Panthers detached from 9th SS as well as the infantry of 422nd around the village. Despite the pounding from the artillery, the 422nd managed to stop the attacking infantry, while the Panthers stopped the Shermans, destroying many in the process. At this point infantry mounted in Buffalo amphibious vehicles entered the marsh from hiding in the forested area on the extreme left, causing much concern for the 422nd commander, particularly as the Panthers were now under air attack for the first time and also under the fire of 17pdrs from the forest. Fortunately at this moment the 27th Armoured gave way, having lost half of its tanks, retreating back to its start line. 422nd commited its reserve, a battalion of Armoured Engineers, to counter the buffalos.

Captured officers reported that the British command was near to despair, as they felt the position to be impregnable. However they persevered, and attacked with their remaining infantry division. Simultaneously, typhoons made a devastating attack on the Panthers; the artillery accurately hit the infantry around the village, followed up by an attack by the British infantry supported by 25 pdrs; and the buffalo mounted infantry laid down accurate fire on the Engineers. Under this overwhelming pressure the morale of the 422nd gave way and it retreated from the battlefield, taking the few remaining Panthers with it.

Fortunately the 9th SS Panzer commander reacted rapidly, sending battalions of Panthers and Armoured infantry into the wooded area just vacated by 422nd. Seeing this, the British commanders decided to halt the attack and withdraw, which they did on 6th August.

The view just prior to the counter attack of the 9th SS.
Foreground: the 422nd retreats.
Left: the Buffalos are advancing.
Background: the remains of 27th Armoured.
Centre: the British infantry advancing.

PMZ Campaign: Le Mans 1

2010-02-09T12:35:00.006Z

Report from General Eberbach,
commanding Fifth Panzer Army.
The battle for Le Mans, dated August 2nd 1944.

I deployed on a line of hills in bocage country, with marshy ground to my right. The 709th infantry division was in fortified positions in the centre supported by a battalion of Jagd Pz 4s, this division was also holding a vital road junction. The 352nd infantry division was in fortified positions on the left, supported by a battalion of Panthers. My main concern was a turning attack by the Americans round my right flank so I stationed the 9th SS Panzer division there in light woodland, behind minefields. The command centre and supply dumps were in wooded ground to the rear of the infantry.

After our experience in late July, the Corps commander was expecting the arrival of American heavy bombers. They were much more accurate than the British, no bombs were seen to land on the American positions. Our losses were significant, mainly suffered by 9th SS Panzer who were almost forced to give up their position. During the battle, naval bombardment fell on the infantry in the centre but, protected by their bunkers, little damage was done.

American units then advanced all along our front, but more cautiously than the British had done. On the left some weak units stopped just outside our range. In the centre an infantry division supported by tanks moved into covered positions at long range and engaged in an ineffectual firefight with our infantry. Another division moved up to the far side of the marshes, keeping our line under fire and protecting their supply road. It appears that while Patton may be a good field commander, his administrative abilities are somewhat lacking, leaving a tank destoyer unit without fuel and failing to coordinate with his air support. A reconnaissance aircaft spotted the 9th SS panzers but no ground attack aircraft arrived until near the end of the battle.

On the right, the Americans were more aggressive, advancing with the 2nd Armoured and 90th Infantry divisions together with engineers, on the far side of the marshes. The attack reached the minfield, which the engineers started to clear, when an SS Panther battalion and the dug-in infantry battalions opened fire disabling many of the Shermans and forcing the infantry into cover. Nebelwerfers then landed on the engineers who promptly withdrew to cover. Having been refuelled, the tank destroyers arrived at last and moved forward cautiously in the woodland until they were within four hundred meters of the Panthers. They opened fire …. with very little effect. The Panthers replied and a few destroyers managed to retreat from the battlefield. Other Panthers were taking their toll on the remaining Shermans who followed the destroyers, leaving many burning vehicles.

Meanwhile in the centre, an infantry company had been suppressed so an American infantry battalion of the 1st Infantry division assaulted it. The Germans rallied and put up great resistance, while the American attack rapidly disintegrated, the battalion eventually retreating from the battlefield. On the right, the American infantry decided that they could make no progress without tank support so withdrew back towards their lines. The American commander decided not to commit his reserve division, possibly fearing our counter-attack. It was at this stage that squadrons of Lightnings and P47Ds appeared over the battlefield and proceeded to attack the 9th SS panzers. While disabling some of the vehicles, they could not affect the course of the battle, so the Americans ended their attack on 1st August. I decided not to advance out of my fortified line ……. I am expecting another attack soon.

A view from behind the left flank of 9thSS showing the marshy ground to their left. The Panthers are under air attack in the foreground while the retreating American units can be seen in the background.

PMZ Campaign: Rouen

2010-02-07T19:22:00.007Z

Report from General Eberbach,
commanding Fifth Panzer Army.
The battle for Rouen, dated July 28th 1944.

I had deployed along the Seine, with Pz Lehr occupying a fortified line in the centre, its right flank resting on swampy ground. To its left was a vital village held by 243rd infantry division, a veteran unit. It also was occupying a fortified line but had to protect a long front out to its left, through light woodland. I allocated a battalion of Tiger I to support it. In reserve was 21st Panzer division equipped mainly with Panzer IVh. This had the additional task of protecting the command centre and supply dumps around wooded ground to the rear of the village.

The Corps commander was awoken by the noise of heavy aircraft, this heralded the arrival of a British heavy bombardment group which bombed our positions, however many of the bombs were seen to land on the far side of the river, directly on the British positions. Our losses were fairly light and it is rumoured that the British took almost as many casualties as us as they were assembled ready to attack. However one important unit was disrupted, the infantry defending the bunkers on our left flank, as will be shown below. At the same time, an AGRA stomp landed in our rear area, fortunately it landed on an area of dummy positions and caused no damage. Next a naval bombardment fell on the village but caused little damage.

British divisions then attacked all along our front. In the centre a weak force moved into covered positions on the other side of the river to Pz Lehr, while others moved towards the swampy ground to our right. This was just a demonstration but appeared to be a credible threat at the time and kept the attention of the commander of Pz Lehr.

On the left, the British advance was slowed by the river, but was soon across, the bridging teams were very efficient. The attack was concentrated on a fairly narrow frontage, with only a few battalions facing it. The main unit defending this area was the infantry in the bunkers, which, being disrupted by the bombers, was unable to prevent the crossing or significantly slow the British advance. A prolonged firefight now ensued, the British taking a large number of casualties and many units being disrupted, while they inflicted few casualties on the fortified defenders. The lack of any British artillery support was very noticeable, and while ground attack aircraft appeared occasionally over the battlefield, they were driven off by accurate anti-aircraft fire. A prisoner reported that Montgomery had entrusted the operation to a subordinate who had failed to ready all of the equipment in time for the attack.

The British were however, able to push fresh units through to the front, having three infantry divisions and an armoured division (7th) to call upon, whereas the German infantry were slowly being disrupted. The Tiger tanks were in heavy protection but this made them difficult to manoeuvre. Meanwhile the naval artillery was disrupting the right flank infantry defending the village.

Eventually, the bunker complex was assaulted by an assault engineer battalion, and once that was taken the morale of the 243rd infantry suddenly collapsed despite the personal intervention of the Corps commander. Just as it was about to attack, the Tiger battalion was caught up in the panic and also retreated. The retreat of this division caught the German command by surprise and there was no immediate response. The village, now being empty, was rapidly occupied by the left most British infantry division.

Pz Lehr was still fixed by the British forces on the far side of the Seine and would not give up its fortified positions, so 21st Panzer was ordered to halt the British. However with many of its units committed to protecting the rear echelon from a possible attack by the victorious British units now moving away from the river line to its left, it could only make desultory attacks. The British, having most of their units disrupted, were in no shape to exploit the attack and concentrated their armour around the village.

Thus the battle petered out on 24th July, with the British in strength across the Seine. I have ordered the withdrawal of the Corps towards Amiens. Hopefully the arrival of the Koenig Tigers of Panzer-Abteilung 503 will slow their advance in the coming weeks.

PMZ Campaign: Bobruisk

2010-02-05T14:39:00.004Z

Report from General Nehring,
commanding Fourth Panzer Army.
The battle for Bobruisk, dated July 2nd 1944.

This report is written in haste as my convoy is being strafed by Soviet aircraft as it retreats towards Minsk.

I had taken up a protected position across the main highway with my left protected by a lake and my right on a string of hills. My armour had been drawn off by what I now know to be Operation Maskirovka (Camouflage); this Soviet deception meant that I had no armoured units except for a handful of Jagd Panthers.

The Corps commander deployed two veteran infantry divisions, the 342nd and 72nd, in the lightly wooded ground in the centre through which the highway passed, they also covered a vital hill on the left, in front of the lake. The 275th veteran infantry division was tasked with protecting the command centre to the rear, a village containing supply dumps behind the woods, and also the string of hills to the east. The Jagd Panthers were placed on a dominating position on these hills with obstacles and a minefield in front. We only had time to construct light defences before the Soviet assault.

The attack was heralded by the expected massive artillery bombardment. Fortunately this proved to be ineffective with only minor disruption to our units which was quickly recovered. Artillery continued to hit our forward positions as the Soviets advanced, but we had pulled back deeper into the woods and it had no further effect.

The Soviets attacked all along the line with armour and infantry. We allowed them to close in the centre and left, using recon platoons to hide our positions. As they approached, we opened fire, causing great losses and forcing many units to withdraw. The Jagd Panthers held off the attack by T34s on the right while flanking infantry in the woods pinned down his infantry. Fortunately the absence of Soviet artillery support and the Red airforce meant that our losses were light.

Eventually with weight of numbers (they had six divisions), some Soviet units gained the hill on the left. Assault engineers and flame tanks defeated a battalion on our left flank which was forced to retreat, exposing a dangerous hole in our line. To deal with this, the divisional commander called in all available artillery which disrupted his remaining intact units, then counter-attacked with a reserve battalion, restoring the front.

Captured officers reported that the Soviet command was near despair, as every attack had been shattered and they had few remaining undisrupted units; the commissars had unholstered their pistols and prevented any units running away. Under pressure, they committed their last units to close assault. Our units by this time were exhausted and low on ammunition; failing to stop the assaulting units. The close combat devolved into a series of small combats, with troops falling back on both sides. The German units falling back were misinterpreted as a retreat by other units of the 342nd division so the remainder of the division retreated as well; exposing the entire left flank and resulting in the capture of the vital hill and wooded area.

The Soviets were beginning to rally some of their armoured units and they were able to move a reformed infantry division into the woods to support their forward battalion. At last the Soviet artillery & airforce made an effect and hit the 72nd division in the centre, preventing it from counter-attacking. With the loss of the division on its flank it required the personal intervention of the Corps commander to hold them in position and not join in the retreat.

Knowing the position to be untenable, I ordered the withdrawal of the Corps on 1st July. The Soviet Corps was too damaged to prevent our escape. Unfortunately the Jagd Panthers ran out of fuel and had to be destroyed by their crews.

PMZ WW2 Campaign 1944-45

2010-02-05T12:27:00.007Z

This campaign is being fought by members of the club and also by Chris R. who created it. Battles are fought using the 'Arras to the Ardennes' ruleset.

Background

Patton Monty Zhukov ("PMZ”) recreates the final twelve months of World War Two in Europe predicated on a race to take Berlin. The three participants are the US Third Army commanded by General Patton, fighting the German Fifth Panzer Army and then the German First Army; BR Second Army controlled by General/Field Marshal Montgomery, fighting the German Fifth Panzer Army and then the German First Parachute Army; the First Byelorussian Front commanded by Marshal Zhukov, fighting the German Fourth Panzer Army. The Germans are controlled by the same player on all three fronts.

In order to avoid the problems of historical hindsight the situation is not the same as what a contemporary might have anticipated. In reality these armies were not always directly commanded by Patton, Montgomery and Zhukov and they did not always follow the given routes in the given months, however it generally follows the course of the campaigns. Unit designations and OOBs are generically approximate to reality!

Objectives

The campaign map is divided into a number of areas as a linear approach from the starting points of Caen, Avranches and Gomel to the objective: Berlin. This campaign comprises 12 'monthly' game turns from June 1944 to May 1945. Patton, Monty or Zhukov achieve victory by reaching Berlin no later than any of others; being first gives an outright rather than shared victory. If none of them take it by the end of May 1945 then the German player wins.

The Great War, Anzac Style

2009-01-28T20:43:00.005Z

The Turks (Dave) waited nervously in the outer trenches, while their German allies (Chris), lounged in the fort, drinking schnapps!

The Brit infantry and dismounted cavalry (Simon) 'demonstrated' against the left flank trenches, coming off slightly worst off and suffering badly from the German snipers.

The Anzacs (Phil) then launched a close packed assault, led by two armoured cars. While the armoured cars were quickly neutralised by the Turk field gun, this gun was in turn knocked-out by the combined fire of the British and sole remaining armoured car mounted machine gun.

The massed Anzac infantry then rushed through the scrub, up to the wire. Unfortunately, the Anzac commander had misjudged the thickness of the scrub and the Turkish command bunker machine gun pinned down the entire Anzac force, short of the wire, until a group of Anzac 'bombers' finally succeeded in storming the bunker.

By this time, fire from the Germans, in the fort / central compound, was beginning to take effect and the one Anzac squad that managed to cross the wire, was wiped-out by the remains of the Turkish trench garrison. The one bright spot of the assault, was the VC awarded to Capt Walter (Bruce) Willis, who singlehandedly finished off the celebrating Turks!!

The Turko-German alliance claimed a marginal victory, while the Anzac command were sent on a bunker recognition course!? Many thanks to Tony for organising the game.

Phil T

Secrets of the Third Reich - Trial Game

2009-01-28T20:27:00.004Z

OK, bit of a mix-up with who was organising the game, but eventually the Russians and Germans pitched-up for a scrap. Unfortunately, nobody told the Germans that they could bring anything other than infantry. While the Russian infantry hid in the trees (+1 bonus), the Germans tried to force the centre.

After a brief fire-fight, with the Russian snipers coming off second (but not before routing a German squad), the Russian mech thingies and a handy werewolf, succeeded in turning both German flanks. While the German infantry struggled to deal with the mech thingies (having no serious anti-armour) weapons, the werewolf closed in on an unfortunate German squad, who promptly fled!?

The German commander's official statement was "no comment", but was later heard muttering dark things about dodgy rules and rigged scenarios!?

Phil T

Strange Goings on in Warmington!

2009-01-27T21:07:00.004Z

Major Kreutz the daring hero of the German parachute attack on Eben Emal crouched behind the hedge surveying the village of Warmington-on-Sea . He had the unenviable task of parachuting into England to rescue or eliminate the crew of a German Heinkel, commanded by Captain Lufthansa downed by the tommies while trialling the new secret radar beacon technology. After identifying the main tommy defence line along the river , which also happened to be the proposed route of withdrawl, Kreutz made his plan.

Without concrete information on the whereabouts of Captain Lufthansa and his crew Kreutz had no option for a silent extraction of the crew but would need to sweep the entire town and surrounding fields to discover their location. He ordered Lieutenant Weis to take his two sections to sweep the fields surrounding the town and Lieutenant Rot and his two sections to sweep the buildings of the town. Kreutz decided that his command section with the only machine gun in the force would occupy the Church spire and bring down fire onto any troops moving into the town from the main tommy defence line.

The initial move of these elite paras was carried out in silence and superb skill without anyone seeing what was happening. However on as Kreutz was slowly moving around the outside of the church through the grave yard the local vicar decided to have a little walk around his pleasant little English church. As he turned the corner he was transfixed by the large men of Kreutz’s section moving silently through the grave yard. Kreutz initially tried to remember the English language lessons from his time at Potsdam university to try and pacify the Vicar could not recall anything of use. Instead he decided to spring into action and waved his men forward in a mad rush around the church. Pushing passed the vicar he turned the corner and saw the front doors of the church were open wide he dashed through the door barrelling passed the portly curate blocking the entrance. Once inside the nave Kreutz relaxed he somehow had got into the nave of the church without raising the alarm. However this short movement of relaxation was shattered as the woman walking passed the church started screaming and yelling “Germans, Germans the invasion has started”

A well trained british army unit jog trotted into the centre of the town square to see what had caused this terrible screaming. Lt Rot in the meantime rushed forward to the grave yard wall had decided the game was up and opened up on the tommy section in the square. Regrettably an English civilian was hit in the crossfire which pinned this tommy section in the square.

A tommy armoured car came bursting out of the local garage moving to cover the tommy section in the square. Unbeknownst to the armoured car the Lt Rot’s second section was just infiltrating into the garage and when they heard the engine they burst into action and charged out into the street in an attempt to neutralise the armoured car. However as the armoured car was travelling to quickly (and the umpire had decided these brave paras could not melee with the armoured car or drop grenades into the top) they gave it a couple of bursts to speed it on its way.

Lt Weiss teams in the meantime had scoured the fields to the north west and took up a position at the entrance to the town. The well trained tommies now started their counter attack pouring forth from their defensive line (one element of this intricate defence line also included the local pub !) they moved into the village. One unit took up position on the left of the pub. Another congregated outside the pub in preparation to clearing the centre of town a third moved through the back part of the town using the cover of the surrounding buildings. A forth unit of elite bicycle borne infantry moved on behind the german lines and took up position in a field. A fifth unit the famed Warmington on Sea platoon lead by the famed Captain Manawaring assembled outside the manor house.

The brave and fearless Kreutz knew that to complete the mission successfully he needed to establish a firebase in the church spire. He raced up the ladder into the spire, closely followed by his mg team. On reaching the top and throwing open the trap door he was confronted by two startled tommys operating an advanced device. Thinking quickly he motioned to them with his schmeiser and called hande hoch. After a moments indecision quickly ended by the aperance of the mg crew the two tommys raised their hands. Kreutz’s covered the two tommys while the mg crew hosed down the tommy section in the square.

In the meantime the Tommy attack was developing. The unit to the left of the pub rushed forward to the graveyard wall opposite Lt Rot and bought down fire onto his section. The Section in the town square retreated out of the deadly kill zone. The Pub section deciding that it would be best to keep in cover skirted around the town square through the buildings. A further section was also cautiously moving forward through the back yards on the right of the town. Manawaring had an impromptu inspection of his troops to see if they were ready, while taking some fire from one of Lt weis’s teams. The elite bicycle unit enraged by the attack on Manawaring gunned down half of Weis team.

Kreutz surveyed the surrounding town and saw a Tommy section move to the wall of the graveyard opposite Lt. Rot’s position along with the Mg he hosed down this section forcing it to retire to the pub. Kreutz’s radio operator meanwhile picked up a message from the stranded bomber crew. Lt. Weis team set of to skirt the town and establish contact with the bomber crew. Kreutz meanwhile directed fire onto Manawarings platoon while Rot’s second team secured the square and also put a few rounds into Manawarings platoon.

The tommy attack through the centre of the village was taking shape and bought Lt. Rot’s second team under a furious barrage. The Tommy’s started a barrage from their secret weapon on the top of the church spire. However this was ineffective and only destroyed the roof of the church.

After the Weis linked up with the Bomber crew Kreutz started to withdraw his troops from the village. While withdrawing he over ran the section cowering by the pub and captured another secret weapon.

In recognition of their bravery the Furher awarded Kreutz the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Lts. Rot and weis the Iron Cross first class.

Report filed by Tony M

Rules: Triumph & Tragedy, 28mm WW2 Skirmish.

More Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_t_photos/sets/72157612011680937/

Black Wolf – Napoleonic Principles of War Competition Finale

2008-11-15T22:06:00.007Z

The winner of the 2008 Black Wolf Napoleonic POW Competition is Ian Rawlings. He defeated Kevan Smith by 75 points to 72 points in the Grand Finale played on the 1st /2nd November at a secret location in Stevenage.

Picture: Ian with the BW trophy after ‘a near run thing’

The Grand Finale pitched the winner of the pre-1811 league (Ian) against the winner of the post-1811 league (Kev) in a final based loosely on Waterloo. Each competitor had ca 85-90 points of POW armies at their disposal, though curiously both armies both had a strength of 326 points.
Ian had drawn the French. Marshal Ney was his commander on the day with Napoleon taking a back seat. In gaming terms Napoleon was a staff officer in charge of the Grande Batterie but also capable of influencing The Guard, (but no-one else!). Ian had taken the option of splitting the Guard into two with Duhesme acting as a Divisional General in charge of the Young Guard.
Kevan had the British and Allies. This was a complicated army with nearly every type of system, infantry type and shooting ability present. Wellington in charge.
There was an off-table ‘race to the battle’ between Grouchy and Blucher. Only one would arrive – not that Ian knew this. Kevan started the game outnumbered but would reach parity once the Prussians arrived. The Prussians would arrive at any time, the later they arrived the more aggressive and more likely to be toward Papelotte and the French line of supply. In gaming terms both players rolled a die with Kevan having a distinct advantage for the first 6 turns. Kevan’s troops also having the better terrain and ensconced in buildings.

Map: Deployment and terrain

The map was pre-designed. The number in brackets showing the die roll for that terrain feature. Hence Hougoumont was very strong. La Haye Saint was not, especially as it lined a road with an open door!
The British and Allies had to deploy behind the red line. A Dutch Division had to deploy on Hill 2 in plain view. Kevan had the option to deploy up to a division in Hougoumont and one brigade in La Haye Saint (LHS). All the allies were on hold orders except one division. Kevan had the Union Brigade, a Dutch Division, the Guards, and the 2nd and 3rd Divisions. Kevan placed the 2nd and 3rd on the ridgeline with 2 brigades in reserve. The guards were in Hougoumont and the Union brigade between LHS and Hougoumont on engage orders. Kevan was forced to allocate VPs to the enemy LoS, Papelotte, and hills 3 and 4.
The French had to deploy behind the blue line, but were restricted to the central 4ft. Ian had three infantry divisions, a lancer division, a dragoon division, a cuirassier division, the Guard and a grand battery. The Cuirassier Division had to be on hold orders on their LoS. The French had to allocate VPs to LHS, Hougoumont, and Hill 3, and optionally hills 4 and 2.
The French opened the battle by sending all three infantry divisions and GB through the centre and the two cavalry divisions on a right hook.
Somewhat surprisingly to all concerned ( a 10 on a D10!) the Prussians arrived on turn 1.
(Behind the red line to engage to the British line)
The French Cv destroyed some German conscripts and broke through the very thin ‘red’ line. The recently arrived Prussians then dealt a severe blow to the two French Cv Divisions. The Dragoons scattered but one of the squadrons of Lancers escaping the carnage. However despite their ‘free rein’ elected not to capture Brussels (-50VPs!!!) but preferred to attack the British on hills 3 and 4.
The rest of the battle was mainly a tussle between besieged British and Allies on the ridge from assaults on all sides from the French. La Haye Saint was soon lost. The British and Hanoverians dealing out as best they could but the fire from the grande batterie was devastating: on one turn Ian was rolling on 150pts of damage!! – he rolled a 6 – ha ha ha! (4 points of damage to Ian, 8 to the enemy)
The Union brigade had surprising success against the Cuirassier division eventually scattering it and capturing the enemy line of supply.
At the end of the game hills 3 and 4 were bitterly contested. Hougoumont was still in British hands, La Haye Saint in French hands, and the Union Brigade were on the way to Paris.
Each competitor had been forced to allocate Victory Points to features on the battlefield.

Picture: The situation on the ridge and Ian trying to hide the British Cavalry on his LoS.

Kevan had lost 28% of his army, Ian 25%. The result of the battle depended upon Victory Points. Ian had strategically ignored Hougoumont (-10 VPs) but had captured LHS (+10 VPs) and contested Hill 3 scoring +15 points but lost his LoS (-15) giving a total of 75pts.
Kevan had placed most of his hopes on holding hills 3+4, which he disputed but could claim no points for. He had been forced to put 5 points on Papelotte which he did not capture, and 5 points on the enemy LoS which, surprisingly, he did capture. This gave Kevan a total of 72pts.
Ian, and the French won Waterloo!!

But surely 75 to 72 is ‘a near run thing’.

Thanks to everyone involved in the competition; Chris, Conor, Kevin, Peter, and Ryan.

Seán Slater

PS A difference of 3pts is usually a draw, but this is the finale!! Next year more competitors please!

WW1 Battlefield Tour – October 2008

2008-11-05T22:22:00.009Z

After a protracted planning period, finally kicked into action by youngest son missing out on a school trip to the First World War battlefields, the Threlfalls packed-up up kit bags and headed for the continent.
This being a family visit, the itinerary was not too ambitious and spread over 3 full days, but allowing a day to travel out and back. Anyway, below is a short summary of the trip, which I hope might help / inspire others to embark upon the path of remembrance.

Monday: Caught the 11 o’clock ferry to Calais.

First stop was La Coupole V2 launching site, near St Omer. OK, not really WW1, but it made a good stopping off point and represents the staggering industrial scale, which the Nazi’s applied to constructing the ‘V’ weapon launching sites against England. The Museum also contains a rather harrowing holocaust exhibition and displays of Allied air missions, in the area. Well worth a visit. Then it was on to Albert, in the Somme, to get something to eat (but no chance of that on a Monday evening in France!?).
Our accommodation was with the really welcoming Sarah and Peter Wright, at Trones View, literally a ‘stones throw’ from Delville Wood. Sarah and Peter could not have made us more welcome and provide a really good English breakfast. We could not recommend them more highly, for a visit to the Somme area. Check out their web site at;
http://www.tronesview.com/

Tuesday: First stop was the Newfoundland Memorial park, near Beaumont Hamel. The park is beautiful and the semi-preserved trench / shell holes, give an excellent feel for the action. The story of the Canadian Newfoundland regiment’s tragic losses and courage is moving.

Next stop was the Thiepval memorial to the 73,000 Commonwealth ‘Missing’ during the Somme campaign. The new visitor centre is very good and the memorial, a very dignified and thoughtful place.

Then it was on to Pozieres. The Australian’s fought hard for this village, as recorded by the 1st Division memorial and the Windmill memorial. Opposite the Windmill memorial, is another memorial commemorating the first use of tanks.

We then moved on to Lochnagar Crater, now a privately owned memorial, showing just what 60,000lb of ammonal can do! After this we called in at Mametz, to get a feel for the nature of the Somme battlefields. From the town cemetery, one can see the Devonshire’s CWG Cemetery and visualise what the German machine gun, sited in the cemetery, could have done to the exposed lines of British troops walking over the crest line in the distance (near the current CWG Cemetery). Even more sad when the British commander had predicted this!?

Wednesday: We said goodbye to Sarah and Peter and headed north, toward Ypres. The plan was to take-in Vimy ridge en-route. It was a sunny day, with a clear blue sky, making the twin sparkling white towers, of the Vimy Ridge Canadian memorial, very beautiful, as well as very moving. The preserved observation trenches and German front line section, complete with shell and mine craters, really brings home the ferocity of the bombardment and reinforces my admiration for the Canadian planning of the operation, to take this hill.

After lunch in Arras, we moved on to the German Cemetery at Neville St Vaast. We were the only visitors and staring out across the 37,000+ burials, even with the sunlight shining through the crosses, was just very sad.

We then moved on down the road, to the Commonwealth cemetery, at Cabaret Rouge. Again we were the only visitors (quite different to Tyne Cot next day!) and even the occasional passing car, does not detract from the sad peacefulness of the place. The large proportion of “unknown soldier of the great war” stones and multiple burial stones, gives on a feel for the brutal nature of the conflict. Our last port of call, before leaving the Arras area, was the French cemetery at Notre Dame Lorette. The chapel and ossuary / lighthouse are very fine buildings and the views from the cemetery, give one a very good idea of the tactical and strategic significance of the two ridges (this and Vimmy ridge opposite).

We then headed off to Varlet Farm, our accommodation for the next two nights. Charlotte Cardoen-Descamps runs Varlet Farm and besides offering a fabulous continental breakfast, excellent accommodation and a vast knowledge of the WW1 sites of the area, is just a really nice person. On her advice we popped into Ypres for the evening ‘last post’ ceremony and a meal in town to follow.

Details of Varlet Farm can be found at;
http://www.varletfarm.com/en/index.htm

Thursday: Now following Charlotte’s plan (in place of mine), we headed off toward Passendale town, marking the peak of the Allied 1917 advance. From Crest Farm and the Canadian memorial, one can appreciate the ‘high ground’ (all 25m of it!!) and the nature of the terrain, which can quickly turn to mud, as it did back then.
We then went on to Tyne Cot cemetery. The new visitor centre is very good and the cemetery itself probably a ‘must do’ (containing nearly 12000 burials (8000 unidentified!) and the wall with over 35,000 names of the missing in the campaign, or for whom there was no room on the Menin Gate!!), it is just that it is a bit ‘busy’.

After calling in at the Passendale memorial museum (in Zonnebeke) and the local chocolate factory(!), we then called in at Hooge crater. This little private museum (opposite the cemetery), has a very extensive collection of WW1 items and equipment (but just don’t visit on a day with ‘museum fatigue’!). About a 100 yards up the road, is the actual site of Hooge Crater, now a muddy pool in the grounds of a hotel. At the far side of the crater (lake), there are some recreated trenches, Sadly these were flooded, but perhaps gave more of an idea of the famous Passendale mud!?
It was then on to the Canadian memorial at Vancouver Corner. The ‘Brooding Soldier’ marks the spot where the Canadians and British stood against the first German gas attacks. Our last call of the day was the recreated Yorkshire Trench. This short section of recreated trench, sits somewhat incongruously in the middle of an industrial estate, but gives a good idea of the construction of a typical trench section. Then it was back into Ypres for a spot of shopping and a look at the Menin gate in the daylight.
We would recommend a visit to the First World War battlefields. One can read the books, but only by standing in front of the thousands of graves and having driven through fields, where it is rare to be out of sight of a CWG cemetery, can one get a grasp of the scale of the loss of life and wasted opportunities.

Friday: A relatively short drive back up to Calais, for the early afternoon ferry, was broken by a visit to Dunkirk. The is not much to see of those fateful days in 1940, but standing atop of the crumbling “Atlantic Wall” defences, looking out over the dunes, one can still picture the desperate scenes of the evacuation.
Phil T

Further pictures can be found at;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_t_photos/sets/72157608680424628/

Club Night, 4th Sept

2008-09-09T20:05:00.004Z

Just a few pics from the selection of games going on last Thursday.

1st up, Jim and Phil in a Napoleonic naval game, using Jim's rather fine 1:1200 miniatures.

The French wait at anchor.

The Royal Navy arrives.
...and forces the gap between the French line and the fort
The game closes with the British being forced too far downwind, while the battered, but unbowed French weigh anchor. A win for Jim's French.

Simon's Kings African Rifles participate in Pete's Crossfire lookalike, ww1 African game.
The German Navy in the African jungle.
The King's African Rifles try to dislodge the Germans.
...but are driven off with significant loss.

Meanwhile, Ian and Colin conducted the first of the Principles of War, Napoleonic league games.

CASEVAC Precinct 13

2008-08-30T15:42:00.006Z

“What the hell went wrong”, mused Cpl. Buck?”, as he stated blankly out through the gore splattered, tangled remains of the Huey helicopter’s windshield? The plan had been good; land in the nearby freight yard; the SWAT team to set-up a covering fire zone, while drawing away the ugly crowd of zombies gathered around the police station. Once the coast was clear, the police, including their stretcher case, would then slip out of the back door, down the back alley and over to the freight yard, into the waiting helicopter, all the time covered by the SWAT fire-team and the SWAT sniper, from his vantage point on top of a container in the freight yard.
However, things started to go wrong from the start, when one of the trapped police officers, possibly spooked by the appearance of zombies outside the toughened glass police station windows, fired. This weakened the glass and attracted more zombies. Before long, they were flopping in through the shattered window in pairs, while the five police officers, arrayed in an arc around the room, blazed away at the hideous forms.

The pile of gory bodies mounted, while the ammo dwindled Then suddenly, one of the gory, stinking forms, managed to stagger through the murderous fusillade of lead and jumped straight onto the unconscious form of Officer Nordberg, as he lay strapped to the stretcher, at the feet of the sweating police officers. This zombie was quickly despatched, but not before it had torn the throat out of the helpless Nordberg. So much for the CASEVAC!?
Outside, things weren’t going much better. Sniper ‘TJ’ in place, Alex and Hondo dashed through the freight yard gates and across the street. However, before they had got beyond the middle of the street, a spine chilling howling erupted from their left. Rage zombies, four of them! These mindless killers tore down the street. Alex turned and squeezed off two long bursts from her MP5, but the only result was that one of the Rage zombies appeared to stagger slightly. The SWAT sniper did better, dispatching one of the monsters and knocking another down.

However, before Alex could fire again, two of the Rage zombies were on her, tearing at her clothing and flesh. The fight was pretty one-sided, but finished even more abruptly when, a short three round MP5 burst from Hondo, narrowly missed its intended target and struck the hapless Alex instead.
Hondo did not have time to curse his luck, as a group on shambler zombies were now closing in on him, from the direction of the police station. Hondo sprinted around the block of flats, arriving back in the street opposite the freight yard, only to be met by the sight of another disaster unfolding! A handful of shambler zombies had now appeared within the freight yard. The SWAT sniper, ‘TJ’, was distracted by a clawing on nails on the rough metal sides of the container below him. He glanced over the edge, shocked to see a small child zombie figure.

He snapped up his L96A and fired, destroying that pathetic soft toy clutched in the small hand, but missing its real target. As he took more careful aim, one of the other figures lurched over toward Deke, over at the freight yard gate. Deke turned, firing into the shambling form, but seemingly without effect? Deke prepared to fire again, but suddenly the howling form of a Rage zombie crashed into the heavy metal gate behind him. As he snapped round, he was winded by MP5 slugs pounding into his body armour. Hondo had seen the Rage zombie streak across the street, toward the back of Deke. Instinctively Hondo fired off a short 3 round burst, but instead of hitting the intended target, the bullets struck the unfortunate Deke instead. Deke was completely stunned, not knowing which way to turn. A growling to his front warned to the next danger; the shambler clutching at his front. Before, he could raise his weapon, the swaying form lunged forward, sinking it teeth into Deke’s neck with an amazingly accurate bite.

Hondo was now in a state of shock, his team dying around him. He stared blankly at the zombies staggering toward him down the street and failed to hear two more emerging from a dooway behind him. He struggled briefly, but then just let out a long howling, hopeless scream, as the cold fingers pulled at his flesh. The SWAT sniper, ‘TJ’ watched in horror through the scope of his rifle. Unable to bear it anymore, he fired, not into the shambling forms, but into Hondo, thankfully cutting off that terrible scream.

Down at the police station, the pile of stinking, rotting flesh inside the smashed window was mounting, the floor strewn with empty shell cases. The trapped officers could hear the rescue mission collapsing, over the crackling radio. They decided to make a break for it. Buck pulled open the back door of the police station and dashed out, closely followed by Pat and Lacy. However, before Chuck and Chris could reach the door, more ghastly figures staggered into the open doorway, while two more crashed through the open window in front of them. Their overworked guns spoke again, but were too few now and the pair soon disappeared under a heap of rotting flesh.

Back at the freight yard, things had got worse! The last remaining Rage zombie had ripped open the gate and was tearing straight for the helicopter, ignoring the bullet impacts of the SWAT sniper. The pilot hesitated a fraction of a second too long and as the machine lifted, the snarling monster smashed through the side windshield. The pilot struggled to maintain control, while thrusting the gnashing teeth and rotting flesh, back out of the window, but eventually succeeded. Wiping the gore from his gloves and peering through the gory streaks on the windshield, the pilot then crabbed the helicopter over to the waiting sniper, who leapt from the shipping container roof, onto the port skid of the helicopter. The pilot was just about the lift clear, when he spied the three surviving police officers, running from the back alley, into the street opposite the yard. Taking an insane risk, he dipped the helicopter, into the tiny space of the garage forecourt, ignoring the debris clanging from the rotor blades and fuselage. The three officers jumped into the open passenger compartment, barely able to grab onto something, before the chopper swept skywards. No-one looked back!

Cast:
Police Officers: Alastair (Late take-over)
SWAT Team: Pete (‘Hondo’ & ‘Alex’, Andy (‘Deke’ & ‘TJ’))
Zombies: Tony (“2s then jokers”!), Dave (“straight 8s”!!)

Rules: Savage Worlds.

Field of Glory - Army Lists

2008-07-25T06:11:00.004Z

With the recent popularity of the new "Field of Glory" ancients rule set, all those dusty little ancient armies seem to be creeping out of the cupboards and boxes! Steve and Pete thought it would be a good idea to try to survey what is out there, just so that any new-comers to the Field and see what they might like to fight, or maybe develop?

So, we have;

Immortal Fire;

Alex. Macedonian (Kievan)

Early Successor (Kievan)

Gallations (Pete)

Greeks (Pete)

Greco Bachtrian (Kievan)

Hellenistic Greek (Kievan)

Indo Greek (Kievan)

Rise of Rome;

Late Carthaginian (Kievan)

Late Macedonian (Kievan)

Late Repuplican (Kievan)

Parthian (Pete)

Pyrrihic (Kievan)

Rome Triumphant;

Ancient British (Andy)

Anglo Saxon, early (Kievan)

Caledonian (Kievan)

Frankish, Limigantes, early (Kievan)

Pictish (Kievan)

Principate Roman (Andy)

Scots-Irish, early (Kievan)

Phil T. 26th July 2008

10th July 2008 - Games

2008-07-13T17:45:00.003Z

A bit of a mixed bag this week. Chris running a Turks vs Russian slaughter, under The Great War.

John and Kevin engaging in an attractive Blitzkrieg Commander, 1939, Germans vs Poles game.

While the rest of the crew lined-up for a Field of Glory, Rome vs Celts/Picts.

Phil T. 13/7/08

WW1 in 20mm

2008-06-26T21:00:00.005Z

While their subordinates slugged it out in the AWI campaign game, John and Chris, indulged in a spot of 20mm WW1 (using the Great War rules). John's very nice set of 20mm models look excellent........Now Chris, why did we go 28mm, when I can have a whole fleet of 1/72 scale tanks, for the price of one 28mm!?
Just look at the nice vehicles - nice one John!

Phil T

AWI Campaign - British Set Back

2008-06-26T20:23:00.005Z

British forces seemingly suffered a major set-back today. After pursuing a rebel column to within sight of a fort, the British forces mounted a hasty attack. Initially, the attack went well, with British light infantry forcing the gate. However, as the British main column attempted to reinforce the attack on the gate, it was first stopped in the gateway, then attacked in the flank by a group of rebel riflemen. The British commander rushed forward, to inspire the light troops, now engaged in a life and death struggle inside the fort, but was then trapped inside, as the rebels succeeded in closing the gate. Caught by fire in the flank and rear, the British heavies crowded around the gate, until finally gunned down.

British Columns Arrive in Sight of the Fort
British Light Troops Engage Rebel Cavalry, Both Sides Suffering Losses
British Light Troops Force the Gate
British Light Troops Battle Against the Odds, Inside the Fort
The Main British Heavy Column Receives Surprise Flank Fire

British Heavy Column Trapped at the Gate

British Commander Attempts to Turn the Tide Inside the Fort, but Fails and is Captured

Phil. 26th June 2008

The Battle of Friedland - Prequel

2008-06-23T18:25:00.004Z

A Re-fight of the Battle of Friedland - Prequel

On the evening of 13th. June 1807 Russian troops, of Benningsen’s Army of Poland, cross the river Alle at Friedland, ejecting some French light cavalry of Lanne’s Corps. A couple of battalions of Advance Guard Jaegers chase the French back into the Sortland Woods. Benningsen then orders bridges to be built across the Alle, in Friedland, for the rest of the army to pass over the river in the morning. He orders further bridges built across the Millstream to link the two wings of his army.
At first light, 3.30 am the rest of the Advance Guard cross over and take supporting positions near the Sortland Wood, where the Jaegers continue their combat, now with skirmishers from Oudinot’s division, for possession of the woods.
At about 5am elements of 8th Division, supported by cavalry from the Right Wing attempt to take Heinrickstadt, on the Koenigsberg road. They are ejected from the village by three battalions of grenadiers from Oudinot’s Division supported by Naounty’s heavy cavalry. The cavalry combat continued, drawing in Beaumont,s Light Cavalry and Dragoons for the French, and the Right Wing cavalry for the Russians. The Russians withdraw to the plain, on the right of their infantry. The French withdraw behind the village.
The rest of the Russian army, covered by the reserve artillery and the 14th Division, cross the Alle; march through Friedland and form-up on the plain beyond.
At about 9am the Russians have completed their deployment, and the head of Mortier’s Corps arrives along the Koenisberg road at Heinrickstadt.

Now our battle begins.
The players:
The Russian players are Kev (S); Kev (P); and Kev (I).
The French players are Jim; Sean; Connor and Ryan.
Game Mechanisms:
To represent the strong French skirmish screen the following were used:
The Russians deployed all their troops directly on the table;
The French deployed almost all their troops as movement bases;
The spotting was made as though into low terrain;
The French were allowed two movement bases per division, and did not need to decide which of these the troops were on until spotted. This gave the French an enhanced ability to react to the Russian deployment and movement.

Russian Setup and Plan
The Russians adopted an aggressive stance, deploying almost all their divisions forward to a steam bisecting the battlefield, and many attacking from the off. They also decided to bring their reserve artillery forward to form two grand batteries. Their plan was to hold the French attack down the Eylau road, while attacking with the infantry on the right into the village of Heinrickstadt, and sweep around the village with all the cavalry to flank the French attack.
French Setup and Plan
The French held Oudinot’s Division, minus its detachments, in and around Posthesen on the Eylau road, and linked the two villages with the cavalry divisions on dummy bases. As reaction to the Russian moves one division of dragoons supported Oudinot, while the other supported Beaumont on the left. Oudinot (Ryan) was ordered to hold Posthesen, on the Eylau road, and Sortland Wood for three hours, when he is to be reinforced. The left wing cavalry (Conner) are to attack the Russian Cavalry opposite and attempt to sweep around the Russian right flank. Mortier is to hold the Heinrickstadt.

The Game

The initial setup from the South, looking over the Sortland Wood

Having deployed up to the stream the Russian first moves were slowed, but later they were glad of the cover it afforded. This slow movement allowed the French cavalry in the North to counter attack with good effect. Although, subsequently they succumbed to the superior Russian numbers they slowed the attack and greatly damaged the Russian cavalry.
In the right centre, Prince Kevan, the Russian advance was thrown back by more French cavalry.
On the centre left, Prince KevIan, the Russians patiently awaited the French Infantry attack, not yet realising that there were no French Infantry.
On the far left the Advance Guard, Prince Kevin, advanced slowly against Oudinot. He was slowed more by their lack of command and control than by the French.

The Russian Centre Being Thrown back by the French Heavy Cavalry

In the centre the Russians finally deployed their reserve artillery as two grand batteries, these had been slowed by the difficulties of getting through Friedland and then by the retiring troops before them. Once deployed they rapidly cleared the French from before them. On the left Oudinot’s divisional artillery was literally blown away.
Both sides were advancing very slowly, the Russians being slowed by their lack of command and control, while the French were hampered by their lack of numbers, plus a fear of the Russian grand batteries.
In the North what remained of the Russian cavalry spotted Ney’s Corps reaching the battle field. This force had been redirected by Napoleon to complete the encirclement of the Russians. Unfortunately no longer having cavalry support Ney’s infantry formed square and began to advance very slowly. The Russian cavalry had halted before the massed French infantry squares and was suffering from the artillery of Mortier’s Corps.
The Russian centre right infantry had finally redressed its ranks and regained the line of the stream.
The Russian guard cavalry had advanced through the infantry it was supporting to assault Verdier and Polentz. This delayed movement came too late as these divisions had been able to form square, and repulsed the attack.

The Russian Guard Cavalry Advance too late

In and around Sortland Wood Oudinot’s division faltered and withdrew, faced as it was by another Russian assault and the massed artillery. However the Russians were in no state to pursue immediately, and were still hampered by their command and control.

Summary
Thus by 4pm our Russian commanders: General Prince Kevan; General Prince KevIan and General Prince Kevin, had bettered their historical counterparts. Much of the French cavalry had been destroyed, much of it while throwing back massive Russian infantry attacks. The remaining Russian cavalry, thus had control of the battle field and would be able to cover a Russian withdrawal back across the Alle.
Our Russians could hence claim a victory. Having severely damaged substantial French forces, and being in a position to retire to the relative safety of the right bank of the Alle, before the overwhelming French forces could concentrate and destroy them.
However, there remains 6 hours of daylight; Victor and Guard are about to enter the battlefield; a fighting withdrawal would be an intriguing batlle, as would refighting the prequel.

Chris F

AWI Campaign Battle Images

2008-06-16T21:02:00.005Z

British forces await the Rebel attack in the redoubt Rebel Militia hold a shaky line
Regular Rebel forces assault the bridge, only to be driven back.
Rebel forces redeploy to face a new British threat
Rebel forces are almost surrounded

Glorious Loyalist cavalry charge routs two lines of militia.

The British relief column right flank deploys

While the left flank assaults the Rebel positions
British forces sally forth from the redoubt, only to get a bloody nose from the Rebel forces holding the bridge.
A second British bayonet attack carries the bridge and the rebel resistance collapses.

Popping out for some milk!

2008-06-16T20:43:00.006Z

Peering out through the mesh screen covered windshield, of what the team called the “Zombie Hunter”, Hank reflected on this latest twist of fate.
6 months had passed since “the Outbreak”. After a rather rocky start, Hank’s little group of survivors had established itself and grown into quite a little community. However, this brought its own problems and recently the processed food supplies had grown increasingly hard to find and now they also had some young kids to feed.
This morning, Wong and a couple of his thugs, had come to the stockade, claiming to have significant quantities of dried milk, including the much needed baby formula. However, they demanded either leadership rights of the group, or some women, in exchange for the precious milk. Negotiations had grown heated and finally got out of hand, resulting in the death of 2 of Hank’s group and the wounding of one of Wong’s group. Wong had fled, closely followed by a quickly assembled a small team of Hank’s survivors. The team tracked Wong and his thugs, to a small riverside freight yard. However it was clear that something had gone wrong, as Wong’s wrecked SUV lay against the damaged fence and 20 or more, “shambler” zombies were now congregating along the fence.
Fortunately all the zombies appeared to be “shamblers”, the slow, cumbersome state, that the infected eventually end up in, after a few weeks of infection. There was no sign of the more agile and dangerous, “Rage Zombies”, the recently infected.
After a brief exchange on the walkie-talkies, the plan was settled and Chris floored the accelerator of the big armoured pick-up truck. However, instead of heading straight for the gates and risking damaging the pick-up trucks, Hank had a plan! Chris swerved the pick-up truck through the first group of zombies, now shambling toward the two oncoming trucks, mashing two into a grizzly pulp.

The two trucks swerved left and headed to the far edge of the freight compound, coming to a stop against the fence. The team quickly scrambled onto the hoods of the pick-up trucks and jumped over the fence. Hank was confident that the “shamblers” would not be able to follow them and the team moved quickly toward the nearest building.

However, just as the team approached the building, from behind them, they could hear an unearthly growling. Hank cursed, ‘Rage zombies’! Four of these red eyed demons sprinted from an alley opposite the parked pick-up trucks. They barely paused, as they leapt onto the pick-up trucks. Fortunately three of them skidded straight of the side of the pick-up truck roof and only one made it over the fence.

Hank made a snap decision, and yelled “Wong must be in the freight office, go, go….get in there!”. The team sprinted across to the barrels arrayed in front of the freight office. Chris skidded to a halt behind some yellow barrels and caught a whiff of gas. Some sixth sense cut in and as Wong’s hood, Chang, thrust his pump action shotgun through the window, Chris dove to one side. The shotgun barked and the gas filled barrels sent a massive fireball skyward.
Chris and Hank were amazed to find themselves alive, but before they could react, Chang’s shotgun spoke again, felling Chris, while Wong’s Uzi blasted from the door, badly wounding Hank.

Just as Hank thought that things could not get any worse, the four pursuing Rage zombies, leapt on the wounded pair.

Meanwhile, two other members of Hank’s team, Chuck and Malone, had reached the rear door of the freight office. Malone threw the door open and Chuck blasted the room with his pump-action. Amazed to find themselves alive, and sensing the ‘game was up’, Wong and Chang fled the freight office, via the front door. The pair sprinted for the hole in the fence, which they had hastily disguised, when the SUV had crashed into the fence.

As the badly wounded Hank empted a magazine from his MP5 at the pair, Wong pulled the wire apart and he and Chang sprinted down the zombie filled street. Somehow the pair weaved their way through the grasping hands of the zombies piling back into the street. They gained the temporary safety of Hank’s pick-up truck, only the find the keys gone! Wong wrenched at the pick-up’s cabling and as the ghastly undead fingers started to pull at the mesh on the windows, he found the temporary repair from the last ‘hot wiring’ and ripped the insulation away, and jammed the wires together. He was rewarded by the engine roaring into life. He rammed it into reverse, crushing rotting flesh, before roaring off down the street. In the rearview mirror, he could see Hank and members of his team dragging a crate of dried milk down the street, covered by deadly fire from Susie’s MP5K. “Good luck to them”, muttered Wong, “they will need it”!

Game run with Savage Worlds Rules.

AWI Campaign- Successful American Raid

2008-05-19T19:57:00.001Z

Upon receiving intelligence that the imperial power was constructing yet another weapon of oppression, Colonels Sumter and Clark determined to delay them. The warriors of the Carolina and Georgia miltias, accompanied by Major Davies’ backwoodsmen, marched forth to assail the works.
Arriving at the fort, No.96, they found it complete and strongly garrisoned. But the attack still went in. The cowardly British had hidden troops in the woods, who attacked our forces in the rear. The brave militias attacked into the fort, but were driven back by the vastly superior numbers of the garrison. Only after a hard fought battle did the brave American troops withdraw. Much damage was done to the fort and its supplies.
The Continental Congress has applauded the action. In a statement issued yesterday, it said "This shows that our men, fighting for their land and liberty, can stand up to the much vaunted British mercenaries under the pay of an oppressive government. Only their superior numbers prevented the destruction of the fort."

Chris F

Trapped - Another All Things Zombie Game

2008-05-02T21:30:00.009Z

The stage was set. With the rapid spreading of the ‘Rage’ virus, all essential personnel, and their members of immediate family, are being extracted to a ‘place of safety’. Special Agent Leon has been assigned, to locate and extract, senator’s daughter, Louise Egmonton. After successfully locating her, Leon’s vehicle was rammed and disabled. As the area was full of the “infected”, Leon and Louise took refuge in a nearby apartment block and called for back-up.

Law an order in Beaver City had gone to hell!? Those officers still able to, were congregating at the central headquarters, when the priority call from a government agent came in, requesting emergency extraction for himself and one other VIP. As there were no air assets available for the extraction, two squad cars were despatched.

As the two ‘black & whites’ cruised into the street, the undead started to pour into the road. “Hell thought the officers, what do we do now?”. The radio crackled into life and Special Agent Leon’s strained voice barked out instructions to take the squad cars into the side street, while he and Louise climbed out of a side window of the apartment. The patrol cars swerved around the overturned semi-truck (which was blocking the street) sending undead sprawling, as they ploughed on.

The officers caught sight of the agent and eased the patrol cars toward the pair. “This is going to be tight”, thought the Sergeant, as the undead closed in from all sides, but for some reason they seemed to be hesitating, again and again (get a new dice Dave!)!?. Leon reached the first squad car and thrust Louise into the spare back seat, as the undead threw themselves at the car’s nervous occupants. Whirling round, Leon discharged his pistol at the ghastly approaching ex-human forms, before sprinting for the other squad car. As he reached the car, something really hideous, sprinted from behind a nearby diner, straight for the side of the squad car opposite the agent. Before Leon could react, the officer in the back seat, thrust a pump action shotgun through the window and blasted the creature at point blank range, sending it sprawling into the gutter.

Leon had hoped to escape down the old docks road, but the officers knew that the road was blocked further ahead, so swerving around in the street, the squad cars took off back the way they came, knocking undead aside as they accelerated. However, the driver of the lead car seemed to lose his nerve, as a horde of the undead loomed up, in front of the squad car. A moment’s hesitation was all that another of the clawed demons needed. As the zombies crowded around the squad car, battering their bloodied limbs through the shattered windows, the clawed demon sprinted to the driver’s window and with a single blow, severed the officer’s head from his shoulders. It let forth a high pitch scream, in primeval bloodlust, but before it could strike again, the second squad car pulled alongside and Special Agent Leon sprayed the area with a long blast from his MP5, silencing the creature and scattering undead.

However, the damage had been done. The first car was immobilised and the undead were already clambering in through the windows. One officer was dragged from the rear door and pulled apart, screaming. This was too much for the last officer, who smashed the door into the zombie blocking his way and sprinted down the street in flight.

Although Louise put up a good fight, she too, quickly disappeared under a heap of the ghastly, thriving infected. Leon glanced out of the rear window and wondered just how he was going to explain this one? Perhaps, it was time to consider a new career?

So, another fascinating trip into the mind of the disturbed umpire and a warm welcome to George, in his first game with the club (hope you get a proper game next time!?)

Below are a few other photos, from the more normal games in progress that evening.

WW1 Naval - Initial Battle Report

2008-04-08T20:28:00.012Z

NORTH SEA BATTLE REPORT – 17:20 Onward - 13th September

Picture 1: 17:20: Beatty's four Queen Elizabeths head the British Battlecrusier line in an arc, curving round to match the heading of the German Pre-Dreadnaught line. The German predreadnaughts find the range first, hitting the British battleships. Beatty’s destroyers and light cruisers shelter behind their battleline, while the Grand fleet can be seen approaching, in the background.

Picture 2: Admiral Kevin's Powerful Queen Elizabeths finally find the the range and immediately disabled three of Admiral Ian's German pre-dreadnaughts (in the foreground), which dropped out of line. A further two more pre-dreadnaughts were then badly damaged. The superior armour of the Queen Elizabeth class fast battleships easily protects them from further damage. However, the British battlecruisers are not so fortunate. Two are badly hit and leave the line, out of control, with the unfortunate Princess Royal heading directly for the German line! While Admiral Mark's squadron of the Grand fleet moves into range, it is still masked by the battlecruisers.

Picture 3: Looking from the British battleline, Admiral Mark's squadron, comprising KGVs, Orions and Erin, is in the foreground. Admiral Chris's (Jellicoe) squadron is moving across their port rear, due to an unfortunate a command breakdown. Admiral Kevan's squadron is entering from the left of picture, and are being engaged at long range by Admiral Peter's (Scheer) lead High Seas Fleet squadron at the top of the picture, which is moving up to support the pre-dreadnaughts.

Picture 4: The German pre-dreadnaughts on the right are now attempting to disengage from the battle , with most of them having been badly mauled, disabled or dead in the water. The Queen Elizabeths, in the forground, are not letting them go and execute a sharp turn to port, to continue engaging. Princess Royal is dead in the water (uper right of shot) after sustained close range fire from the German pre-dreadnaughts. The other British battlecruisers are back under control but are now disengaging (bottom left), having suffered severe damage. The sudden appearence of Hipper's battlecruisers from the south (out of shot to the left) may have influenced their decision.
The German dreadnaughts are now engaging the entire Grand fleet, however half the British ships are masked due to continuing command breakdowns. The Koenig, Grosser Kurfurst, Kaiser and Kaiserin suffering damage, whereas on the British side, Adm. Mark's Centurion, Adm. Chris's Hercules has taken damage, as has Adm. Kevan's Superb, Bellerophon and Temeraire.
Picture 5: The remaining German pre-dreadnaughts flee northwards (bottom of shot), while the German dreadnaughts (centre left) are closely engaged, with Kaiser being heavily damaged. In the British battleline (top left), Royal Oak is disabled and has dropped out of line. Many of Adm. Chris's other ships are also damaged.
Adm. Sean's Second German battle squadron can be seen approaching from the north (centre right).
The British have launched an attack by destoyers and light cruisers on the end of the German squadron (centre of photo), while the Germans have, in return, sent their light forces to attack the British line (centre left).
The British armoured cruisers have been sailing safely to the north east (off the photo), but Commodore Jim has attacked them with his light squadron and torpedoed two of them.

Pictures 6 & 7: On the left of the image, the 2 divisions of Adm. Sean's battle squadron can be seen entering the battle. The lead division (lower left) is sailing behind the British fleet, while the rear division appears to have lost its way? Adm. Sean’s light forces can be seen successfully defending against a British torpedo attack.
At the top of the picture, the pre-dreadnaughts continue to flee. The British light squadron at the rear of the line (bottom centre of picture) is preparing to attack the end of the Adm. Pete's battle line, which is now under heavy fire from Adm. Kevan. The German battle line takes progressively more damage, with the Bayern, Kaiser, Koenig and Koenig Albert being very heavily mauled, some of them dropping out of the line. The front of Adm. Chris's British battle line has been heavily hit, with Royal Oak being crippled and the Hercules badly damaged. Admiral Mark's battleline is now under fire from Adm. Sean's battlecruisers (off picture to the right).

It appears as if the German High Seas fleet is on the verge of suffering a damaging defeat, although many of the British heavy units have suffered significant damage. Admiral Peter Shear would appear to need all his skills to extract the High Seas fleet from this predicament and escape into the welcome arms of nightfall.
Clearly both sides will claim victory over this clash and perhaps it will be in the world of the propaganda war that final “victory” will be claimed and ‘won’?

Bill Milater, US Naval Attaché, London
Note: Bill has an Irish father and a German mother. He was recruited by the German Secret Service while at University. He was then apparently “turned” by British Military Intelligence and employed sending false intelligence to the Germans. However, he seems to have had a gift for guessing what was false and what was real. Unbeknown to his German paymasters, he was equally happy to feed intelligence the other way. His sympathies were very much pro-Irish and his motivation appears to have been to cause a clash between the Grand Fleet and the High Seas Fleet, in German terms, in the hope of negating British naval supremacy and hence furthering the pro-Irish movement.
These remarkable photos were obtained from a German Zeppelin, which reached the battle site, just too late to warn Admiral Sheer.

Full colour versions of the above images can be found at;

http://b.imagehost.org/0419/NSC1.jpg
http://b.imagehost.org/0419/NSC2.jpg
http://b.imagehost.org/0419/NSC3.jpg
http://b.imagehost.org/0419/NSC4.jpg
http://b.imagehost.org/0420/NSC5.jpg
http://b.imagehost.org/0426/NSC10.jpg
http://b.imagehost.org/0426/NSC9.jpg

“The Trenches” – 1 Day WW1 Sites Tour

2008-04-06T11:57:00.001Z

Kevin asked me to put something up on the blog concerning a possible group outing to “The Trenches”. Sovereign War Tours, run a one day WW1 sites tour, for £90. I have copied their description below;

“Leaving the UK we will travel via the channel Tunnel to Calais .
From Calais the Tour takes us into Belgium and the outskirts of Ypres.
Here will make our first stop at Sanctuary wood and its preserved trenches.
Sanctuary wood is said to have earned its name in October 1914 when it was used as a sanctuary to stragglers waiting to rejoin their units . At this time Sanctuary wood was a relatively quiet area but this was to be short lived and it’s name deemed most inappropriate from November 1914 . Today Sanctuary Wood is considered by many to offer the finest preserved trenches on the Western front .
From Sanctuary wood we will travel the short distance to Sanctuary wood CWGC cemetery containing over 2000 burials .
Our 3rd stop will be the Hooge Crater Museum , because of it’s unique valuable collections housed inside a carefully renovated chapel within peaceful surroundings this museum is considered one of the best private museums on the Ypres Salient . After visiting the Museum you will have time to stop in the adjoining café and enjoy a drink and something to eat .
We will now leave Belgium and make our way into Northern France and the town of Arras here we will make our final stop at Vimy Ridge .
Here you will see the preserved trench lines and monuments that make Vimy Ridge a must for any visit . You will be given the option to experience life underground in one of the preserved underground bunkers and view the hugh bomb craters and front lines
From Vimy we will make our way back to the tunnel before making our way home."

Tour Includes;
- Hill 60
- Hill 62 Canadian Memorial
- The site of Hooge Chateau
- Hooge Crater
- Hooge Crater Cemetery

Sovereign War Tours are based in Eastbourne. Each trip appears to be run using a Ford Galaxy, taking 5 to 6 people. Kevin was wondering what interest there was in arranging a group outing from the club?
I have no personal experience of these people. More info can be found on their web site;
http://www.soverignwartours.com/index_files/Page396.htm
Rather spookily, shortly before Kevin asked me to post this, I was contemplating a ‘self drive’ outing, but over 2 days (1 night away). I may do some more research now and post it later. The Sovereign trip has the advantage of their experience. I think my only reservation would be that they are in Eastbourne, so an early start from Eastbourne, would be an even earlier start from Hitchin!?
If you are interested, juts let Kevin know, so we can gauge numbers? I am certainly interested.

Phil T

INTELLIGENGE REPORT - 1710 - 13th September

2008-04-01T19:54:00.003Z

The British Grand Fleet and German High Seas Fleet are reported to very close to a major engagement, at a postion 3 deg, 55 min East, 55 deg, 40 min North.
The German High Seas Fleet, now some 70 miles NNE of Dogger Bank, was apparently sailing Westward, while the Grand Fleet was initially sailing ESE. Battlecruisers from both sides were in action between 1200 and 1300, before the British turned NE, as shown in the attached plot reconstruction (British Battlecruisers being the most Southerly group). Following the initial action, where a number of Torpedo Boats and Light Cruisers are reported as being sunk, the heading of the German battlecruisers is not yet known.
With visibility already down to 10 miles and still deteriorating and with dusk expected at 1830 and nightfall one hour later, it seems increasingly unlikely that any major action between the Dreadnaughts will occur before first light. There is however the risk that a major melee could ensure in the fading light, which is almost certainly going to favour the High Seas Fleet. One hopes that Jellicoe can now keep his head?

Bill Milater, US Naval Attaché, London
Note: The plot reconstruction was obtained from sources in the Admiralty. Discrepancies between the plot and radio traffic reports is of concern and probably reflects British intelligence skills!?

INTELLIGENGE REPORT - 1600 - 13th September

2008-03-30T15:31:00.001Z

British and German battlecruiser fleets have clashed 25 miles north of Dogger Bank. Both sides have claimed to have sunk a number of Torpedo Boats, but now appear to have separated again. With the deteriorating weather reducing visibility it is not sure whether Beatty and Hipper will find each other again. From following the signal reports and intelligence sources, the plots below have been reconstructed. Reports from seaplanes and Zeppelins have been intercepted from the same area.

Bill Milater, US Naval Attaché, London

INTELLIGENGE REPORT, 12:00, 13th September

2008-03-23T18:25:00.002Z

Reports are coming of clashes between British and German light units in the Channel, as well as to the North of Dogger Bank. The British have claimed that their Torpedo Boats have scored a number of successes in the action north of Dogger Bank, even claiming to have damaged a Zeppelin, although similar Zeppelin sightings near Harwich may contradict such claims? It is thought that both sides have capital ships in the vicinity, so things look like escalating further in this sector. It appears as if the rumours of a British convoy from Norway were true, as a neutral merchantman reported seeing significant smoke, mid-way between Scapa Flow and Jade Anchorage.
The anchorage at Scapa Flow is reported as being empty, so appears that the Grand Fleet is at sea. With the confirmed sailing of the High Seas Fleet, from Jade Bay, it looks as if a major clash is increasingly likely, somewhere toward the Northern end of Dogger Bank.
The disturbing absence of reports regarding the whereabouts of the enigmatic Beatty has led to rumours of damage to his flagship, as a result of a mine or submarine attack.

Bill Milater, US Naval Attaché, London

Chicago Herald, 21st March 1929

2008-03-21T11:40:00.004Z

3 of Chicago’s Finest Slain in Gunbattle

Today Chicago mourns three of its finest serving officers, brutally killed in the line of duty, facing down a major Gang turf war. Witness reports are confused, but it appears that gang boss “Bugs” Moran was seen, with rival gang boss deputy, “Fingers” Finigan, leaving the dockside branch of the US bank, carrying a large bag. Things were tense, as “Bugs” had his hoods waiting in cars outside the bank, while rival boss Frank Malone, drew up, with another load of hoods, on the opposite side of the street.
Despite the obvious danger, Detective Sean Fagen approached and challenged “Bugs” Moran and “Fingers”. All hell then seems to have broken loose. Clearly unnerved by first, , the appearance of Frank Malone and his men, then the escape of Babs Brennigan from the back of the van, then finally the challenge of the police, “Bug’s” henceman opened fire with his tommy gun, spraying Frank and his men with lead.
Jess James, “Bugs” Moran’s sidekick, then floored the accelerator of the Talbot van, sending it careering toward Detective Fagen and Officer Uno. As they scattered out of the way, “Bugs” leaped onto the running board of the van and Jess accelerated toward the police van and the waiting Officer Duo. Jess appears to have misjudged his run however and instead of striking Officer Duo, he glanced off the side of the police van, knocking Duo off his feet and dislodging the unfortunate “Bugs” Moran. Officer Duo wasted no time and after recovering his feet, sent blasts from his pump action, into the retreating form of “Bugs”, almost blowing him in half, as he tried to jump into the back of the van!
Officer Duo then calmly turned his attention to Moran’s thug, still spraying tommy gun lead, from the window of the Cadillac, toward Frank Malone and his men across the street. A blast from Duo’s pump action missed the thug, but wrecked the engine of the big Cadillac.

Meanwhile Officer Uno had sprinted after the scantily clad form of the retreating Babs Brennigan, manfully wrestling her to the ground. It is not exactly sure why Babs was running away from her beau, “Fingers” Finigan, by this time with Frank Malone, but there seems to have been some kind of communication breakdown. Frank was heard to yell “check out the dame in her underwear”, but the thugs thought he said “take out the dame, get her underwear”, and after exchanging puzzled looks, they discharged a fusillade of shots in her direction, causing her to flee!
“Fingers” Finigan furiously threw the cash bag at Frank and strode across the street, pulling out his .45 and aiming it at Officer Uno. Uno, calmly kneeling on the prostrate form of Babs, glanced between the approaching “Fingers” and the thug spraying lead from the big Cadillac. Unable to get a clear shot at the thug, Uno pumped a couple of rounds into the big Cadillac’s gas tank, sending it up in a ball of flame, killing the tommy gunner and knocking “Fingers” off his feet. “Fingers” struggled to his feet and with a murderous look in his eyes, advanced on officer Uno, yelling “get off my gal”, pumping round after round, into brave Uno. “Fingers” did not have long to gloat, because as he stepped up to the fallen Uno, Officer Duo blasted him in the back with the overworked pump-action. Having grabbed the cash, Frank and his men piled into their big delivery van and pulled out into the street. Detective Fagen, seeing Frank about to make his get-away, leaped into the police van and swung it out into the street, trying to block the path of Frank’s truck. However, Fagen had not seen Frank’s hoods in the big Duesenberg, and as he drove past, .45 slugs smashed into his body, killing him outright. Frank smiled and thought he had got away, but had not bargained on Officer Duo’s ubiquitous pump-action. As the van sped past, Duo calmly blew-out the rear tyre. The van ground to a halt, a short distance from Jess James’s Talbot van, now resting against the wall of the warehouse on the corner of the street. Jess had been aiming to head-off Frank’s truck, but a combination of a glancing blow from the huge Duesenburg, driven by Frank’s deputy, Curtis McElroy, and well aimed shots from Frank, had caused it to swerve out of control and into the warehouse wall. With the three vehicles now stationary, there followed a murderous exchange of fire, between Frank, Curtis and Jess’s men. Into this hell strode the fearless Officer Duo. Smashing the muzzle of his pump-action through the rear window of the Duesenburg, he blasted at the two thugs in the rear seat. Amazingly he only seems to have grazed both of them, and they turned their guns on him, cruelly cutting him down. Frank’s gang then turned their attentions back to Jess. Jess sensing the game was up, stepped from the Talbot and calmly walked through the flying .45 slugs, toward Frank in the truck. Frank smiled inwardly at such bravado, then emptied his .45 into Jess’s crumpling form.
This tragic shoot-out, here in our own fair town, clearly marks the end of a major chapter in the gang wars of Chicago, but it is with greatest regret that it has cost the lives of three of Chicago’s finest. Their names and deserved citations were honoured today, in a moving speech by Mayor Kevin.

Cast;
Frank Moran – Colin
Curtis McElroy – William
“Fingers” Finigan – Kieran
“Bugs” Moran – Tony, “How many 1’s are on this d8?”
Detective Sean Fagen – Kevin, “Straight aces all the way”
GM – Phil

Rules: Savage World. Genre: 28mm Gangster skirmish.

Note: None of the Herald’s photographers were at the scene of the shootings. The pictures appearing above were wired to the Herald by freelance reporter, Colin Beermaker, using the new teleostereograph, the invention of Edouard Belin of Paris. Apparently these pictures were captured Colin’s telephonic device, by a process which completely mystifies the editor!?

NAVAL INTELLIGENGE REPORT - 0900 - 13th September

2008-03-21T08:39:00.003Z

The weather here in London is improving, with visibility at about 12nm. It is believed that the High Seas Fleet sailed early yesterday evening, after minesweepers were seen at work during the day. There have also been reports of German light surface units off Great Yarmouth.
The British are clearly nervous, with a large critical convoy believed to be headed from Norway. Indeed the “Wobbly Eights” have been seen preparing to sail from the Thames and the British Battlecruisers were rumoured to have sailed at noon yesterday.
German submarine activity seems high, with sightings near Dogger Bank and radio transmissions detected and decoded, reporting capital ship sightings at 4E, 54.30N. Zeppelins have also been sighted.
Things seem to be stacking us for a major show-down in the North Sea, but curiously there are no reportings yet as to the whereabouts of the Fleet commanders?
Bill Milater, US Naval Attaché, London

WW1 Naval Game Intelligence Report

2008-03-18T20:29:00.003Z

US Naval London Attaché Report 1
Since the indecisive battle at Jutland at the end of May, both the British Grand Fleet and German High Seas Fleet have been frantically repairing their ships in readiness for another fateful clash. During the action at Jutland, the British lost the battlecruisers Invincible, Indefatigable and Queen Mary, the armoured cruisers Black Prince, Warrior and Defence and eight destroyers. The battleship Marlborough was torpedoed. The Germans lost the pre-dreadnaught Pommern, the battlecruiser Lutzow, four light cruisers and eight destroyers. Despite claiming victory, Both Admiral Jellicoe and Admiral Scheer have been heavily criticised for the indecisive outcome.
Both commanders need a decisive victory, but for different reasons and both sides appear to be making preparations for a future clash.
Minesweepers have been at work clearing channels through Jade Bay, presaging a sortie by major elements of the High Seas fleet. The Germans have also warned the US government that its merchant ships should avoid the North Sea for the next few days due to an unusually large number of submarines deployed in the area.
The impetuous Admiral Beatty is known to be eager to exercise the seven British battlecruisers under his command, based at Rosyth.
The main British battle fleet of 33 dreadnought battleships based at Scapa under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe with Vice-Admiral Walker as his 2nd in command, is known to be at a high state of readiness and may have set sail on a major exercise. It is also thought that a separate group of King Edward VII class pre-dreadnaughts have been moved to the Channel area.
A number of key dreadnaughts are know to be refitting, including the torpedoed Marlborough and the battlecruiser Australia recently damaged in collision.

URGENT FLASH MESSAGE
The attached message was obtained via contacts in the Berlin embassy. This must be forwarded to Washington. It must not be transmitted with the above signal report.

Salamanca July 1812 - March 2008

2008-03-11T20:37:00.003Z

Introduction

Wellington was the British general to be feared. He could spot a defensive position usually a ridge, where he would position his troops on the reverse slope to protect them from French bombardment. The French would attack in fast moving columns protected by skirmishers, but Wellington would position his own skirmishers to counter their debilitating fire. The French column would get to effective range of the British, and deploy into line. However before the manouevre was complete the British would fire a well-aimed volley and charge in - scattering the deploying French.

Marmont was well aware of Wellington’s abilities. He was also aware that Wellington utterly relied upon his line of supply. The Anglo-Iberians did not live off the land but paid their way.

After following each other along the River Tormes in the hot summer of July 1812, near Salamanca, Marmont managed to cross the river unmolested. If he expedited his army he could out-flank the Anglo-Iberians. The ground around Salamanca favoured the French, gentle rolling grassland with almost no high ground. Specifically: no ridge. Better, Marmont does not even need to attack the Anglo-Iberians, he just needs to march to their Line of Supply and Wellington is forced to retreat back to Portugal.

The Battle March 9th 2008

The re-fight of the Battle of Salamanca starts with the French moving quickly in front of the British position. There are some features on the battlefield of tactical importance, a small hill: The Greater Arapiles needs to be occupied and the village of Los Arapiles will provide some flank protection for the French. Opposite the Greater Arapiles lies a smaller hill which the British have occupied. Los Arapiles is being attacked by the 4th Division.

The wargame begins with Marmont carefully directing Bonnet’s Division against the 6th Division. The British counter by directing Gardiner’s and Greene’s artillery toward Bonnet’s Division. Marmont is wounded instantly. The Light Division and Foy skirmish with each other. There is some desultory firing along the British front. Wellington quickly orders the 5th Division, Le Machants Cavalry, the 1st Division, and the 7th Division to attack.

The French, leaderless are thrown into confusion. Thomieres attacks the British LoS and deploys his Division. Maucaune tries to outshoot the 4th Division in Los Arapiles. Bonnet starts to trade skirmishers with the 6th. Boyer, Sarrut, Foy, and Ferey continue on their orders.

The British react by sending the 5th Division to Thomieres in a piecemeal fashion. Le Marchant saddles up his horses and readies himself for action, D’Urban likewise starts to sharpen sabres. Inexplicably Wellington ignores the 3rd Division with the most powerful Division in the army but prefers to dally with some German troopers about 5 miles from the action.

Thomieres organizes himself on Mount Azon on the British LoS. Maucune attempts to capture the village by a coup de main but is repulsed. Bonnet starts to move forward. Clausel is now in command, but the French chain of command is in disarray. Boyer with his cavalry, and the infantry Divisions of Sarrut and Foy continue to move to the enemy LoS.

Whilst Thomieres organized his artillery and infantry into cleverly designed kill zones the British 5th Division decided to check that kit was adjusted and webbing was whiter than white. The 4th Division begun to trade blows with Maucunes Division in Los Arapiles but the ‘City fighting’ ability of the French was showing its worth. The 6th Division readied itself to attack the French but began to realise that its guns so cleverly sited to wound Marmont were now vulnerable to a flank attack. Wellington had yet to lose an artillery piece in battle: today was not going to be the day. Wellington now sends an order to Packenham (with the most powerful Division in the army) and tries to get the Portuguese and Spanish reserve moving. The First Division, the Guards, bolt from their position to threaten the French.

Thomieres now has a particularly strong position on Mount Azon and starts to assault the disorganized 5th Division. Clausel, reorganizes Boyers Dragoons. Bonnet’s Division exerts more pressure on the 6th Division. Maucune succeeds in attacking the 4th Division in the village but the battle ebbs and flows. Foy starts to see success against the Light Division, primarily from his clever location of his artillery.

The 5th Division finally get themselves organized to inflict a volley fire on Thomieres Division. Le Marchant arrives with the Heavy Dragoons, but Thomieres clever disposition means that they are ineffective. The 4th Division are still pressing the bayonet in the village, but Macaunes veterans are easily holding the British. With the tactical nous of a rugby forward Cole continues to push forward from the front without a thought for using his superior numbers and outflanking Maucune. The 1st Division now race to confront Sarrut’s and Ferey’s Divisions who are both in March column – the worst possible formation. The Light Division starts to suffer from Foy’s well-placed artillery, and the Portuguese break.

D’Urbans cavalry are ready to help out the 5th Division, whilst Packenham (with the most powerful Division in the army) is left to make sense of Wellingtons orders (Attack the Arapiles. Lesser? Greater? Village? More clarification is needed.). If only Wellington had come over and delivered the orders himself.

The French reaction is brilliant. Thomieres attacks rather than defends and scatters Ellis’s Brigade of the 5th Division. The British run through D’Urbans recently arrived cavalry. Thomieres personally leads his infantry against this new disorganized foe scattering more horsemen. Maucune struggles against the 4th Division in the village, things are going against the French but their tenacity is keeping them in the village. ‘Anyway – isn’t Curto with the Cavalry and Taupin meant to have arrived by now? Bonnet is exerting pressure on the 6th Division, Clausel has got hold of the situation in the centre, his Division is now exerting pressure on the 7th Division. Wellington’s carefully sited artillery is now looking vulnerable. Sarrut is still strung out in march column with the Guards ready to attack them in the flank. Sarrut calmly deploys every brigade and artillery into line, none are left vulnerable to attack. Perhaps the moment to beat the French by this bold move has gone.

The 5th Division , Le Marchant and Durban finally organize themselves into an attack formation. Thomieres Division starts to disintigrate. Thomieres himself is killed by a Portuguese sabre cut. Maucunes Division is getting worsted by the British and requests help from Bonnet’s Division. The French reserve of Curtos Cavalry Division and Taupins Infantry Division are starting to look threatening. The British Guard volley fire against Sarrutts Division but the French hold firm. This fight will be decided by the bayonet. The Light Division continue to take casualties from the well directed artillery of Foy. Foy notices that his men are taking very few casualties and releases two regiments to attack the increasing isolated Guard Division. The artillery of the 6th Division is overrun, the Scots assaulting the Greater Arapiles break, the host of retreating men shake nearly every unit of the 5th and 7th Divisions.

Boyer delivers his cavalry charge into the flank of Wheatley’s brigade who immediately surrender. A third of the 1st Division is now in enemy hands. Can Anson ride up to rescue the remaining two thirds? In Los Arapiles Maucune gets shot and his Division starts to retreat from the village. Le Marchant and the 5th Division mop up the remaining elements of Thomieres Division on Mont Azon. In the centre Clausel is pushing the 6th and 7th backwards.

Curto wakes up to the danger as Le Marchant (now on badly blown horses) attacks him. Curto’s Cavalry force Le Marchant back and chase him to Lisbon. The remaining heavy cavalry have out-ridden their infantry supports and are badly mauled by Taupin’s infantry. Anson’s Light dragoons attack Clausel’s Infantry and Boyer’s Cavalry but are easily beaten off and retreat. The 1st Division is now completely isolated, and the King’s German Legion surrender, another 2,500 men in the bag. The 6th and 7th Division take heavy casualties and are forced off the Lesser Arapiles. Packenham (with the strongest Division in the army) arrives at the Lesser Arapiles to cover the inevitable retreat.

The French have won a magnificent victory.

French
Marmont (wounded), Thomieres (dead), Maucune (dead), Curto and Taupin – Peter Day
Clausel, Bonnet and Boyer – Chris Fitall
Foy, Sarrut, Ferey , and 15th Cavalry – Jim Cornish

British
Wellington, Leith (5th), Cole (4th) Le Marchant and D’Urban – Ian Rawlings
Campbell (1st), Clinton (6th), Hope (7th), Alten (Light) and Brock – Colin Brewer
Packenham (3rd), Sanchez (Spanish), Anson, Pack (Ind. Portuguese) – Seán Slater

2008-03-10T14:54:00.007Z

NORTH SEA CLASH 1916

Sunday 6th April
The game is based on a possible naval battle in 1916, involving over 200 ships.
Each player will command a portion of the fleet and will receive individual briefings and objectives. The initial map moves will be carried out before the Sunday. Small actions, if any, will be resolved by the umpire or fought on a Thursday. Players will write orders and receive sighting and intelligence reports upon which they can act.
Merchant ships, zeppelins, submarines, radio intercepts, minefields and aircraft will be represented.

This is the next large WW1 naval battle to be fought as a Sunday all day game. It is to be fought on April 6th. Please let Jim know asap if you want to join in.

A Day At The Races - Circus Maximus

2008-03-07T19:46:00.003Z

Please Note: Engraving from earlier practice session as the scribe had his tablet stolen during the actual race.

A Day at the Races

Clearly anticipating the nature of the race to come, Speedus Sneekius sprinted away from the start line, skimming the outside wall all the way. Meanwhile havoc was being wrought behind him. First Bicarus, then Crassus, were weaving wildly about, looking for someone, anyone, to attack! Crassus nicked a couple of the other charioteer’s teams, before in turn, suffering the crushing attack from the scythe blades of Anon Too’s chariot, which cut all four legs from Crassus’s right-hand horse. This set the tone for the rest of the race, with chariots weaving back and forth alternately attacking and evading attack, while all the time, Speedus was steadily opening his lead, all the time skimming along the outside wall. Indeed some of the crowd began to wonder whether Speedus had a wheel stuck in gutter!?
The back of the field was very hotly contested, almost as if the race lead didn’t matter at all!? Crassus, having now cut his dead horse free, set off in true ‘Steptoe & Son’ style, lashing out at any passing chariots and indeed starting a small whip collection! Bicarus appeared to be a man possessed, darting from one side of the track, to other, attempting ram anything coming remotely within reach. Maximus seemed to be suffering from the weight penalty of a rather violent back-seat driver!
In a final attempt to close with Speedus, Colarnium was tempted into a rash piece of cornering and was severely punished, by a dramatic upending of his chariot. Colarnium, despite being dragged around the corner, succeeded in cutting himself free. However, as he rose to his feet, to the rapturous applause of the crowd, Anon Too callously ran him over!
The last leg of the race saw a very dramatic twist of fate. Speedus was dismayed to survey the motley crowd of chariots waiting ahead of him, all cruising up the last straight, just itching to try to stop his victorious sprint down to the finish line. Clearly something then snapped in Speedus’s head, as he found himself in the unfamiliar territory of the middle lane, going too fast. However, rather than brake, he lashed his team faster and faster. The resulting crash saw the chariot hurled almost 50 paces along the track! The crowd went quiet, “Speedus is done for” they cried. However, this crash was either a moment of madness or pure genius, as the startled, bloodthirsty backmarkers, were dismayed to see Speedus being dragged by his thundering team, straight past them all!. Indeed, so stunned were they, that not one of them could get remotely close to the dragged form of Speedus, as he swept onward, to the finish line, in this rather undignified manner! Speedus slithered over the finish line, very dusty, but suffering only a few cuts and bruises!! The most dramatic win in years, although the stewards are now looking into whether the deliberate jettisoning of a chariot should be an offence under the Circus Maximus racing rules!?

Colours & Drivers:
Green – Speedus Sneekius (Chris)
Purple – Aardvark Maximus (Chris)
Blue – Arsus Major (Sean)
Yellow – Colarnium (Colin)
Red – Bicarus Lotticus (Pete)
Black – Crassus (Jim)
White – Anon (Alistair)
Grey – Anon Too (Kieran)

Games Diary, 26th Feb

2008-02-26T21:04:00.009Z

Day	Date	Game	Organiser	Players	Slots Left
Thurs	28/2	AWI*	Tony M	?	?
		Ancients	Paul / Colin	2	-
Thurs	6/3	Circus Maximus Chariot Racing	Phil T	8	8
		Kingmaker	Pete	6	6
Thurs	13/3	Disposable Heros	Chris B	4	4
Sun	6/4	WW1 Naval, 1/3000 (Big Game)	Pete / Jim	6	2
Thurs	27/3	All Things Zombie	Phil T	5-6	5-6

Thurs	tbd	Gangster Skirmish	Phil T	5+	5+

Circus Maximus Comes to Hitchin

2008-02-24T13:53:00.009Z

The thrill & spectacle of Roman chariot racing comes to Hitchin, on Thursday night (6th Mar). The old Avalon Hill favourite Circus Maximus, transformed to 15mm miniatures.

15mm chariots supplied by Outpost Wargame Services.
http://www.outpostwargameservices.co.uk/
More after the races.

Gladiatorial Contest - Xmas Bash

2007-12-21T10:33:00.000Z

Last night, the Gore & Spectacle of the Coliseum came to Hitchin! The Games opened with the usual parade of gladiators, but perhaps surprisingly there was first a beauty parade! The owners had lavished time and money on their best gladiators and they wanted someone to see them! Emperor Pete presided and the plebes voted. The winner of the adult section was Ian and Ryan took the Junior prize. Pleasantries over, the gladiators headed for the arena (specially constructed by May enterprises). Emperor Pete’s gladiator seemed a little confused by the proceedings and took centre stage for what he thought was a karaoke contest!? However, his rather unpleasant warbling was quickly cut short, as three gladiators closed for the kill.
The overall contest quickly broke down into a fight in four quarters, the crowd being highly amused as three gladiators took in turns to bash Ryan’s gladiator on the helmet, leaving him somewhat dazed and confused, if not seriously hurt!?
By now, the dead were beginning to mount and the owners of the dead gladiators were permitted to release wild animals into the arena. Emperor Pete’s lion bounded into the arena, bravely going straight for the first prone gladiator he could see! However, Steve’s prone gladiator, although already wounded, savagely smashed his shield into the beast’s mouth. Then with some deft strokes, he then hamstrung the bewildered beast. The reminder of the contest was then spent with lion and gladiator lying side-by-side, half heartedly slapping at each other, to the jeers of the crowd. At this point, the author was called away by urgent business in the forum. However, he invites others to submit their memories of the evening.
Phil T

The Standard Bearer

2007-11-28T20:57:00.000Z

NEWSLETTER OF THE BLACKWOLF WARGAMES CLUB.
NOVEMBER 2007.
EDITOR: Mr Peter Day,Walnut Way, Ickleford.HITCHIN. Herts. SG5 3XZ

Hi all,
Well it's been a busy Autumn so far at the club with a lot happening.
Firstly many thanks to all those that turned up at the Quiz evening. I hope you had a good time and look forward to next years quiz! Paul raised a total of £114 for the Poppy appeal so a big thanks to all those that contributed items for sale and also to those that bought.
Many thanks to Jim and lan for arranging big Sunday games of late and of course thanks to those that turned up to game on those days and also my own big Sunday ECW game and Roman Civil War WAB game.
Also many thanks to John Dixon for helping out at the Letchworth Model Show. If you attended I hope you had an enjoyable day or few hours at the show. Also thanks to all those that helped run/play practice games before hand.
We welcome to the club Simon Thedy who some of you have met over the last few Thursdays. Simons contact phone number is 01462 ######, which can be added to the phone list I provided at the beginning of the year.
Once again I need to know if you are rejoining the club so that I can work out the cost for membership. If you could let me know as soon as possible that would be helpful.
Also I would like to update my phone contact numbers list and also make sure that I have your correct Mobile number for use in emergencies etc.
As Christmas is fast approaching we have organised a club Xmas meal, or I should more correctly say Colin has. The meal will be held at the Millstream pub, Hitchin as in previous years. The date for the diary is Tuesday December 18th. Please see Colin as soon as possible if you would like to come along.
We continue to run the Kit Swop evenings once a month now. The next one is December 15th. Remember the idea behind these is to bring in any odd unwanted items to see if there are any takers at the club before selling them off elsewhere. Remember to price them and put your name on them.
Chris Fitall has managed to procure a number of playing boards for the club. These are propped up behind the 'Lancers' grey storage boxes and spare chairs. These should allow us to have larger table tops without using three tables. Many thanks to Chris for his efforts in obtaining these. I think now we are safe for table tops and playing spaces.
Chris Banks and David Buchanan have delayed the Big Flames of war game for a bit whilst they work round the rules to allow a more playable game. More news as and when I get it and a re-planned date hopefully soon.
Tony May is organising a fan Xmas game to be played out on the December 20th Meeting. This is to be a 'Gladiator' contest with a prize for the best painted figure. Tony has figures available that he would like you to paint up and bring along on the evening. Figures should be based on a 2p coin sized base or similar (please note The Blackwolf Club does not actively encourage defacing the British Coinage!!) Expect lots of cheering, thumb waving and lots of Frankisms! (if you don't know what I'm on about try watching Up Pompeii ). Please see Tony if you haven't got a figure yet and would like to take part.
Talking of the Last meet of the year. So far we have booked the hall up to the 20th December. If you would like to attend on the 27th December please let me know (or better still add your name to the poster on the notice board). If I don't get more than 7 people interested in attending then I personally don't think it worth booking the hall. Let me know if you want to wargame between Xmas and New Year please thanks.
Don't forget we also have two slots left for Big Sunday games if anyone is interested in putting on one before Xmas. The dates are 2nd December and 16th December.
Well that's all for this newsletter, if you could let me know as soon as possible if you are rejoining the merry band of wargamers that would be helpful. I expect next years hall hire to be the same costing and going by the numbers of people we have at the club at present I'd say the cost to each member would be about £45 approx.
Cheers all see you at the club soon.

Magazine Article Summaries

2007-11-10T22:06:00.000Z

My idea of a wargames publication 'syndicate', has sort of fallen on stoney ground!? Only Colin and Alistair showing any interest. So, how about a cheaper version?
I have taken to scanning interesting articles from magazines, to make it easier to store them. So, I thought 'why not post a short summary on the blog?', then if anyone else is interested, I will happily send them a copy of the article. I hope that if anyone else comes across an article of interest, then they can just send me a short summary, which I will post on the blog, along with the name of the submitter. That way any interested folks can ask them for more information (no full names used).

Phil T

This batch of articles includes;

“Firefight”, Historical Miniature Gamer #7
Simple 6 page set of WW2 skirmish rules. Uses activation chits to control the turn sequence, drawn at random. A typical squad gets 3 chits, whereas a veteran squad may get 4. The chits are drawn to determine the turn sequence, but the drawn chits are kept in view, so you have some idea what may happen next. Each chit allows the player to activate one soldier, or group of soldiers under an NCO. Each activated soldier gets 4 ‘Action Points’ (AP), which are used to complete actions, eg, 2AP for aimed shot, etc. Looks simple, but I like the multi-chit activation idea.

“Quickdraw”, Western Skirmish, Battlegames Issue 9.
Looks like a nice simple set of Western skirmish rules (6 pages). Initiative is controlled by the drawing of playing cards. Each character is allocated 2 cards and the joker causes a reshuffle of the deck. A nice touch is the need for a “guts” test, if a character wants to move toward an enemy, or leave cover, etc. Looks like a nice simple, but sensible set of rules.

“Skulking in the Rear”, Historical Miniature Gamer #7
Simple 2 page skirmish game initiative system, for use in gangster / pulp games, etc. Each ‘team’ / faction, gets 7 cards (ace, 1, 2, 10, jack, queen, king). The ace, 1, 2 allow one character to move (including characters within 2 inches), the jack, queen, king, allow all of a player’s characters to move. The “10” allows civilians to act in the player’s favour. A card can be used to allow a character to take up to two actions, or “hold” one action in order to interrupt another player (but this too can then be interrupted by a held action).
There are also two jokers in the pack, drawing the first is just a warning (or can invoke some pre-planned random event). The second joker ends the turn and the deck is reshuffled. Using cards like this, allows up to 4 factions to play, which is good for gangster, or ‘pulp’ type games.

BATTLE OF GUADELOUPE

2007-11-02T11:42:00.000Z

The Battle of Guadeloupe was a Napoloenic naval battle fought on 21st October 2007 between the Black Wolf club (British) and the Guildford Wargames club (French) at Hitchin.

8th May, 6pm (3 hours to dusk) - The French
The French Admiral L'Hospitalier Villemadran (Andrew F) is in command of the French Caribbean fleet. He has has been raiding British possessions and is now preparing to join with the Spanish for an invasion of British-held Jamaica. In Fort Royal, Martinique, he has 1x 120 gun, 2x 110 gun and 26x 74/80 gun ships-of-the-line plus 5 frigates.
On May 8, he departed from Martinique with his entire fleet and headed south for a rendezvous at a minor anchorage with 10 Spanish ships-of-line commanded by Admiral Don Louis de Flores and 15,000 troops for the invasion. His priority is the Spanish fleet which, should it be captured by the British, would defeat the invasion.
Nearing the rendezvous, late in the afternoon at 8 knots, his frigates spotted a large fleet. Thinking it to be the Spanish, he approached, only to discover it is the British fleet of about 30 sail, about 15 miles distant to the south west. The wind is brisk, from the north, variable.
Villemadran decided to turn the fleet by Squadrons to the WNW, hoping to draw the British away from the Spaniards.

8th May, 6pm - The British
Admiral James Hargood (Kevin P) is in command of the British Caribbean fleet. The French have been raiding British possessions so his spies and frigates have kept watch on the French fleet. Learning of its departure from Martinique on May 8, he set off in pursuit with 4x 100 gun and 25x 74 gun ships-of-line plus 5 frigates to destroy the French fleet.
Late in the afternoon, his frigates discovered the French fleet about 15 miles distant to the north east. He decided to continue on his current course but slowing to 4 knots.

8th May, 7.30pm
Villemadran now presumed that the British were aware of the Spaniards, so he turned the squadrons to the SSW and increased speed to 8 knots.

Hargood observed these manoeuvres but maintained his slow SE course, waiting for the French to manoeuvre again and unaware of the Spanish presence.

The frigates of both sides were given orders to engage the enemy frigates to hide a manoeuvre both intended to carry out at dusk. Each side had one frigate badly damaged, forcing them to return to port. Under cover of darkness, the French turned SE as the British turned south, both slowing to a few knots so as to maintain formation during the night.

9th May, 6am

The British were surprised to find a large number of Spanish ships at the island, mainly transports. Not yet appreciating their significance, Hargood continued slowly south, awaiting developments and news of the French.

The Spanish were also surprised to see a British fleet a few miles away. All the ships prepared to depart in considerable panic while a frigate reported the British presence to the French.

Villemadran, learning that the Spanish were at the island and that the British were to the SW, immediately reformed his line to the SSW and increased speed to get between the British and the transports.

9th May, 7am

The Spanish transports began to leave the anchorage while the Spanish warships made a 'demonstration' towards the rear of the British line.

A confused Villemadran, wondering why the British weren't attacking the transports, turned WSW to support the Spanish attack on the tail of the British line.

Observing the French movements, Hargood turned east and increased speed.

9th May, 7.30am

The battle started with the three French squadrons turning ESE on a converging course with the British line. The Spanish joined the tail of the forming French line.

The first French squadron (Pete D) cuts across the front of the British line.

The lead British squadron (Chris F) has engaged the French van closely (top right). The centre French squadron (Andrew F) is passing in front of the centre British squadron (Kevin P) which has become separated from the van.

The lead squadrons are mauling each other off top left. The centre French squadron has turned round the starboard side of the British centre, meanwhile the rear French squadron (Chris R) engages its port side. The Spanish squadron (Jim C) is about to engage the rear British squadron (Colin B).

1st Nov 2007

2007-11-01T21:53:00.000Z

Warhammer Ancients

A mixed force of Carthaginian, African and Spanish mercenaries, take on a mixed force of Spanish and African mercenaries!?

Ancient Britains vs Romans

The British chariots try to turn the Roman left flank......

....while the British warbands crawl up the centre.

Flames of War

German armour starts the advance to the British positions.

20th Sept 2007

2007-09-20T20:50:00.000Z

John's fleet sets sail in the Action Stations game.

Battle is joined!

Not strictly part of the action, but they do look nice.

Wings of War derivative game and Jim gets Steve in his sights!

All Things Zombie - Where is Professor Hyde?

2007-09-07T20:26:00.000Z

As agent Smith glided the black BMW shooting break in alongside the seemingly deserted patrol car, agent Jones surveyed the burned-out remains of Professor Hyde’s residence. While the two contemplated their next move, a large blue Porsche SUV appeared from no-where and careered into the side of the agent’s car. Agent Jones sprang from the passenger seat and ran round to the other vehicle, but the young woman driver appeared to be dead. Agent Smith struggled out of the disabled BMW and made his way to the gaping doorway of the smouldering Hyde residence. He wasn’t prepared for the sight that met his eyes. Seemingly before him, was a deputy sheriff, pulling out the intestines of a fellow officer and stuffing them into his mouth! Before he could stop himself, his pistol was out and firing, but the sheriff, although hit by the automatic pistol bullets, only appeared to stagger a bit. Agent Jones reacted in similar style, but only succeeded in knocking down the bloody form of the sheriff. It was left to SWAT officer Frank Brewer, to despatch the ghastly form of the sheriff, with a long burst of fire from his MP5 machine pistol.

A brief search of the burned-out house revealed little, except that clearly there had been a gun fight here, before the house was set alight. Turning to Professor Hyde’s burned out Mercedes, the agent’s only clue, was some partly burned papers, showing that the professor had some equipment stored in a nearby compound. As the bodies of the family were not here, then perhaps they had taken refuge there?

Mean while, the gunfire had appeared to attract more of these “crazies”. Officer Chuck Jugs tried to warn off a pair of “crazies”, who were coming down the side street, straight toward the officers, but they just kept coming! A blast from the pump-action, felled one, but it just got up again. Chuck then discharged a series of blasts from the pump-action and finally the pair had stopped moving, but there appeared to be more behind them!

“Get that wreckage out of the road”, commanded Agent Smith to Sergeant John Banks, pointing to the smashed cars and the abandoned patrol car. Then turning to the two SWAT team members, he growled, “follow me”, before storming down the street, toward the storage compound. Half way down the street, Smith was distracted by a dull thudding, emanating from the bank on his left. However, before the team could investigate further, three zombies appeared at the end of the street ahead of them, shambling straight toward them, with what looked like even more behind them.

Quickly eliminating these first three zombies, the team moved up the road, toward the storage compound, steadily thinning the approaching zombie procession in the street, with an appalling barrage of gunfire, but yet more seemed to be appearing behind them. Just as the team reached the gates of the storage compound, three zombies burst from left hand most of the large brown ISO containers inside the compound.

The team were now trapped in the entrance way of the compound and a desperate melee and ‘point blank’ gun battle erupted, during which Officer Dan Hops, of the SWAT team was badly injured , when he was smashed into one of the container doors by the charge of an unseen zombie.

For some inexplicable reason, for just a couple of crucial moments, the zombie onslaught seemed to slacken (bad karma on the dice!) and the team gained the upper hand sufficiently, to risk clearing the pile of corpses blocking the door to the second ISO container.

Just as Agent Jones pulled the last of the bodies clear of the container doors, out burst a man, dressed in a lab coat, a smartly dressed woman and a small girl, all snarling and trying to sink their teeth into the surprised agents. Although almost caught unawares, the two agents succeeded in pushing the three zombies back into the mouth of the open container, where they were dropped by a deafening burst of MP5 automatic fire from SWAT officer Frank. While the macabre forms struggled to regain their feet, agents Smith and Jones, quickly stepped in, to finish the three ex-members of the Hyde family, Agent Jones sadly observing that the youngest daughter appeared to be among the unfortunates before them.

Agent Smith gathered-up the Professor’s bag, noting with some satisfaction, that the Professor’s well known ‘little black book’ was still tucked inside, but where was the eldest daughter? They would need someone to help them understand the notebook.

Back in the street, there was now further commotion and gunfire, as yet more zombies were attracted to the compound. The agents looked desperately at one another, and hopelessly toward another grotesque wave of zombie forms, staggering toward them, blood lust across their decaying lips. Just then, the blue form of the large Chevrolet police SUV roared past the compound gates, smashing two of the zombies into a pulp, with barely a pause in its deadly progression.

While the agents and SWAT pair, had been fighting for their lives in the compound, Sergeant John Banks had managed to release the parking brake of the patrol car, which had been blocking the street. He had then succeeded in using the heavy bulk of the SUV, to barge the patrol car out of the way. All this time Officer Chuck Jugs had been covering John, with a murderous series of blasts from his deadly pump action shotgun. Sadly, as Sergeant Banks roared off down the street, to the aid of the stranded FBI Agents, Chuck’s attention was distracted just for a moment and he was grabbed from behind, by cold, rotting fingers. Sergeant Banks glanced in the rear-view mirror, only to glimpse Chuck disappearing under the bloody clutches of a baying zombie mob.
There was no time to grieve however, John slewed the SUV round in a ‘U’ turn in the street and ploughed back into the zombie mob, gathered at the compound gates, crushing one and knocking another to one side, where it was quickly finished off by agent Jones. Then Frank dragged the unconscious Dan to the SUV, where they bundled him into the back of the Chevrolet, before taking off down the street, toward the zombie mob, feasting on the downed form of Chuck. With a grim look of determination, John floored the accelerator of the SUV, sending it careering through the bloody mob. An entailed smeared hand smashed in, through the passenger window, only to be beaten out again by Frank, before the SUV succeeded in smashing its way through to the other side of the putrid mob, swerving down the street, spewing a hail of bullets at the hapless zombies.

John brought the big police SUV to a stop behind the garage, as the agents argued that they had to go back and look for the other daughter. Before John could argue, the agents had thrown the door open and charged in through the back door of the garage. John gave a resigned shrug and swung the SUV around, keeping his eyes on the distant zombie mob, now ambling slowly his way, “come on” he muttered under his breath!!

There was a burst of pistol shots, closely followed by a burst of MP5 machine gun fire, from the garage, after which the agents and the SWAT officer bundled out of the back door and into the waiting SUV. “Get us to the bank, but not the direct route” ordered agent Smith.

John manoeuvred the SUV out into the side street, making sure that the zombie mob could clearly see him. He then crawled up the alleyway opposite, all the time watching to make sure that the zombie mob were following, but not getting too close. As the SUV pulled past the back of the block of flats,opposite the bank, the heads of two zombies, disturbed from feasting on a corpse, appeared from behind a dumpster, only to disintegrate in mess of bone and brains, in response to a fusillade of shots, discharged from the SUV windows.

John then swung the SUV around the block, back down the main street, screeching to a stop across the front door of the bank. Under the cover of the big SUV, the agents and SWAT officer jumped from the vehicle and in through the front door of the bank. Once inside the agents could clearly see the source of the dull thudding, which they had heard earlier from the street. A group of three zombies were beating on the strong room door, one using the severed, half eaten leg of the ex-bank manager. The first round of shots appeared to do little to the zombies, until a blast of automatic fire from Frank’s MP5, knocked one down, then the other two were quickly felled and rapidly finished off, by point-blank pistol shots from the agents. The agents and SWAT officer stepped back and surveyed themselves, realising what a sorry sight they made, covered in congealed blood and gore. Agent Smith tried to calm his voice and call-out to reassure, as best he could, whoever was inside the strong room. After a pause for what seemed like a life-time, the lock on the door clicked open and a pretty young face peered out round a crack in the door. The agents quickly pushed inside the strong room and carefully avoiding the very large silver plated .44 magnum clutched in the girls right hand, guided her and her stuffed cuddly rabbit, out of the back door and into the waiting SUV.

Agent Smith barely had to utter the words “go, go, go”, before the SUV sped off down the street. As they drove off, Agent Smith glanced mournfully at the notebook and then at the beautiful young girl beside him and hoped the cost had been worth it? On the plus side, while there was blood all over Dan’s head, there did not seem to be any bite marks, which was more than could be said for Chuck, when they had last seen him spread out, all over the street. The world was falling apart!?

Cast:
Agent Smith & Agent Jones – Tony
Sgt. John Banks and Officer Chuck Jugs – Chris
SWAT Team, Frank Brewer and Dan Hops – Colin
Zombie Controller – KieranDirector – Phil

Glorious First June - the aftermath

2007-04-13T16:05:00.000Z

After the first 10 turns Admiral "Colin" Bouvet had taken a hammering, and Admiral "Sean" Barrade had failed to hit anything.
Then Admiral "Peter" Graves split his squadron in half, allowing Barrade to concentrate on half his ships leaving the other half unengaged, they escaped the battle unharmed. This left Admiral "Kevin" Howe running the complete gauntlet apart from his Flagship, losing a lot of ships, as did Admiral "Tony" Villaret-Joyeuse.

Emerging from the firefight, Admiral Bouvet fought half of Admiral "Kevan" Hood's squadron with his whole squadron while Admiral Barrade picked off Admiral Howe's remaining ships.

The end of the battle with disabled and burning ships scattered over the ocean while individual squadrons pursue the remnants of their foes.

While the French lost slightly more ships, the battle was deemed a minor French victory because the massive damage to the British fleet would most likely prevent it intercepting the French convoy. This didn't stop Admiral Howe claiming a significant British victory - his flagship was one of the few undamaged British ships!

Glorious First June - the battle

2007-03-12T17:36:00.000Z

Left of picture are the lead ships of Admiral "Sean" Barrade. Next in line is the squadron of Admiral "Tony" Villaret-Joyeuse and in the lead is that of Admiral "Colin" Bouvet. The lead British squadron of Admiral "Peter" Graves is top centre followed by Admiral "Kevin" Howe, top right. Admiral "Kevan" Hood's squadron is following just off picture.

The lead French squadron, commanded by Admiral "Colin" Bouvet continued on its course, taking on the lead British squadron of Admiral "Peter" Graves, then Admiral "Kevin" Howe, by which time he had sustained considerable damage. Admiral Graves and Howe attempted to break through the French centre commanded by Admiral "Tony" Villaret-Joyeuse without much success, however Admiral Villaret's squadron was heavily engaged and suffered accordingly. Meanwhile Admiral "Kevan" Hood split his squadron to cover the French ships approaching from the north.

Glorious First June 8.15am

2007-02-22T12:59:00.000Z

8.15am. The wind remains NNE. A squadron of five French SOLS has been spotted to the north making 9 knots.

The French fleet carried out a preplanned 180 degree turn to port in succession. At the same time, the British fleet turned west at 6 knots. The French are in considerable disorder after making the turn and are attempting to reorder their line, heading ESE at 4 knots.

The fleets are about to engage.

Glorious First June 8am

2007-02-18T17:14:00.000Z

8am. The wind is still increasing but remains NNE. The French fleet turned WNW into a single line, its frigates moving to the south of the line. Meanwhile the British fleet turned west then WNW on a parallel course. The French are making 4 knots, the British 4.6 knots. The separation between the fleets is now only just over one mile.

.......Don't forget, your chance, Sunday 25th Feb!?

Glorious First June 6am

2007-02-16T15:06:00.000Z

Both fleets continued sailing NNW until dusk, at which point the British fleet reformed into a single line. They continued cautiously during the night, the British slowly overhauling the French and the frigates becoming somewhat detached. By dawn on May 29th the separation between the fleets had decreased to 2.5 miles. The wind is freshening and has veered to NNE.

Glorious 1st June, 6pm

2007-02-14T22:31:00.000Z

6pm: Both fleets are continuing NNW with the wind remaining light NE. The separation between the fleets has decreased to 7 miles.

Glorious 1st of June 1pm

2007-02-13T22:24:00.000Z

The French fleet continued to the NNW while the frigate Seine was ordered back towards the fleet. The Latona, Niger and Phaeton began to push the Bellone back towards the French fleet. Admiral Lord Howe ordered the fleet to turn N, then NNW. He also ordered Rear Admiral Pasley to rejoin the main fleet. At 1pm, the wind veered back to the NE, so decreasing the ships' speed. The separation between the fleets at this time is 9.5 miles.

Glorious 1st of June - Don't forget, Sunday 25th Feb!?

2007-02-12T07:44:00.000Z

At dawn on May 28th, the wind was light, from the NE but changeable.
The British fleet was sailing slowly WNW in one line. The lead British frigate, the Latona, had just spotted the French fleet in 3 columns to the NW, sailing WNW, about 10 miles distant.

Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse ordered the French fleet to turn to the NNW into the wind, slowing considerably. He also ordered the frigates Bellone and Seine to drop back to chase off the Latona and look for the British fleet.
Admiral Lord Howe (Black Dick) ordered the fleet to turn to the NW and four 74s detached under Rear Admiral Pasley to close on the rear of the French line.
The frigates Phaeton and Niger were detailed to act between the two groups.

The Latona dropped back from the Bellone and Seine while the Niger and Phaeton moved up to assist. The Bellone and Seine pulled ahead again maintaining a separation of about one mile.

At 10am, the wind veered round to the ENE, so increasing the ships' speed. The French fleet is heading NNW at 3 knots. The frigates are 4 miles from the French fleet, heading NNW. Admiral Pasley is 2 miles from the frigates heading NW at 6 knots. Admiral Howe is 4 miles from Pasley heading NW at 5 knots.

.......Don't forget, your chance, Sunday 25th Feb!?

THE GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE - Sunday 25th Feb

2007-01-29T19:19:00.000Z

It is 1794. The French people are suffering much distress from the bad harvest of the previous year, and a great convoy of 117 merchant ships laden with corn is expected from America. This convoy is critical as the new Republican government faces unrest if it doesn't arrive.
On the 2nd May, the British force designed to intercept the convoy, under Admiral Lord Howe, then in command of the channel fleet, sailed from Spithead. The force under Lord Howe's immediate command was 26 sail of the line and 5 frigates.
On 5th May Lord Howe was off Ushant and sent frigates to reconnoitre the harbour of Brest. They reported that the main French fleet, under the command of Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse, 26 sail of the line, was lying at anchor in the roads. Howe then sailed to the latitude on which the convoy was likely to be met with, knowing that if the French admiral came out it would be to meet the convoy and cover them from attack. To seek the convoy was therefore the most sure way of forcing Villaret-Joyeuse to action.
On 16th May Villaret-Joyeuse sailed with his whole force. On 17th May Villaret-Joyeuse's force passed close to the British fleet, unseen in a fog. Lord Howe returned to Ushant and again reconnoitred Brest, revealing Villaret-Joyeuse's departure.
On 21st May Lord Howe learnt the position and course of the French fleet as of the 19th. He decided to pursue it. It was not till the 28th of May at 6.30 am that the British fleet caught sight of the enemy. The battle is about to begin.

This is the next large Napoleonic naval battle to be fought as a Sunday all day game. It is to be fought on February 25th. Note that this is the same date as Cavalier.Please let Jim know asap if you want to join in.
Jim Cornish

Location Map

2007-01-21T21:34:00.000Z

The club meets most Thursday evenings at the Scout hut, King George's Playing Fields, Old Hale Way, Hitchin, from 6.30pm-11.30pm.

Map:

Player Profile - Phil T

2007-01-21T18:49:00.000Z

Likes: Simple rules (but realistic), with plenty of player interaction. Nicely presented games. Skirmish games.

Dislikes: Complicated rules / long games.

Periods of Interest / Games owned:

Zombies: I now have a collection of 28mm figures, vehicles and buildings. I love the simplicity of the All Things Zombies, by Two Hour Wargames and hope to adapt the sister publication, Chain Reaction 2, for modern / sci-fi skirmish games. I also now have a copy of All Flesh Must Be Eaten, role playing game, which I'm eager to try out.

Naval: I have a selection of 1:3000 and 1:6000 scale WW1 and WW2 ships. I have just purchased a set of the new rules, Stations Manned and Ready, which look very good. I also have a small selection 1:1200 Napoleonic naval ships, as well as a slightly larger fleet of 1:2400 scale ships. I used to love AH's Wooden Ships & Iron Men, and thus are still looking for a set of tabletop rules which have this level of playability.

1:200 WW2: I have a half painted set of 1940 British and German armies and the Blitzkrieg Commander rules.

15mm Napoleonics, Peninsular: Although yet to find a set of rules I like. I own AH's "Napoleon's Battles" and "Valmy to Waterloo". Napoleon's Battles has a nice playability / realism balance, but the game scale is just a bit too big for the Peninsular. Valmy to Waterloo has a good game scale, and realism feel, but took me too long to try to learn the rules!

I also have a set of 28mm Western figures (inspired by the The Old West) and some Gladiator figures, using a home grown set of rules.

Well thats enough for a start....more later. Phil T

Welcome to the new Blog

2007-01-21T18:31:00.000Z

Hello out there to all the Black Wolf wargamers. This is a test of the new Blog, to see if I can get things going?