Rebels

 The club is back and sorted now, however I had a game organised with Matt in Penrith so did not attend, it has been a bit since I had a trip to the Dungeon and I asked Matt to do anything except WWII, I braved torrential rain and roadworks to arrive at our usual time of 1000 or ten double-O as we used to say, just as easy to say ten hundred I guess, but I digress. We were doing the American Revolution and Matt had set up the usual lovely table, he uses Rebels and Patriot rules, I have played these once before in one of my first visits to the Dungeon, maybe even the first. Normally I would play the British if given a choice but I found myself commanding the Rebels, we had to stop the British from completing a bridge they had started to build across a small stream. To this end I had a couple of regular units along with four Militia types and two Indian warbands, the British had four skirmish units, and a couple of regular battalions most of whom were Hessians, further supported by some cavalry and a cannon, recollections may vary on numbers.

Another lovely set up from Matt.

I decided to put the natives on my left flank to hopefully rush the dragoons and the engineers at the bridge, all the rest of my little army was on the right and again I hoped to rush forward and set up a firing line to overwhelm the British as they turned up. The indians were slow off the mark while the right flank surged forward, all apart from one Militia unit which would fail activation for most of the start of the game. Matt marched his regulars towards the bridge as my boys cut down the dragoons and forced the engineers to retreat, he eventually got his cavalry to join the British skirmishers on his left and he moved on my right. It was now I was thankful that my cautious battalion had not moved and with some skirmishers we stopped the cavalry and sent them packing. It did not all go my way as the Royal Artillery cut down my skirmishers and forced them back, the gun was proving to be a right nuisance and  would continue to be, I also lost one of the Indian warbands. 

My Indians moving cautiously, very cautiously forward.

Militia move forward.

Men of the match, or people of the match according to British Rugby.

The Indians rush the building site.

Nevertheless I had halted the work on the bridge despite the engineers continuing to try and return to their work (Matt needed 60 points, rolling dice every time the engineers activated at the building site), Matt huffed and puffed but for a moment he came back into the game as his gun forced a retreat on a Militia battalion which had been doing sterling work, this frightened them as their firepower seemed to fall off dramatically. I had by now given up my attempt to close the bridge and instead was relying on firepower to keep the British at bay. As the enemy wavered I sent my last Indian warband to attack some very rash skirmisher who had crossed to my side of the water, they cut through these men and continued on to take up a position to hit a second unit in the flank, to aid this I had moved my remaining damaged skirmish units from the right flank to the left in order to pressure the bridge defenders and prevent them shooting at the friendlies.

More Americans move on the centre.

It's all over as the Bridge defenders are overwhelmed.

At this juncture I managed to kill the last of the engineers and although a second unit could appear it would have to get to the bridge and run the gauntlet to get anything done, Matt handed over his sword. A nice little scenario and well balanced which could go either way, it just went mine this time. As always a pleasure to fight in the Dungeon, wargaming at its best. You can read Matt's account here.

I have 'splashed the cash' again recently. First up was a couple of 3D bombed out buildings from Highlands3D, these are excellent and full of detail which does not show up well on the photographs, there are pictures on the walls and lying on the floors, slippers, plates a carpet and all sorts, everytime I look I see somthing else. Probably too much detail for me to bother about but we will see. Secondly I felt I needed at least a couple more explosion markers as I can see the mortar barrage being used more in CoC2, I originally bought a giant tub of foliage but couldn't find one so bought a couple of packs from Woodland Scenics. This was better than the stuff in the tub but it was expensive and I only managed one explosion per bag when I had wanted three, but they will have to do. I also treated myself to the Cavalry Trilogy book as I wanted to have my own copy, but kudos for Robert for bringing it to my attention and for me to read. I am sure there was something else, oh yes, the new updated 'At The Sharp End' from Too Fat Lardies, no I probably do not need it as I have oodles of mini campaigns to try out but it scratches an itch. 

The new with one I prepared earlier.

Friend Erik asked if I could put on a CoC game as he had just bought the rules and wanted a try out. I sorted out a Probe scenario thinking this was a nice easy one, in actual fact the attacker would have to be fairly lucky to win this one, of course with differing dice rolling anything can happen but even so. Erik had a British Platoon so I took the Germans, just normal Heer so that he would not be hit by the wall of lead from panzergrenadiers etc. Erik was a bit unlucky as his smoke rounds went awry and he lost a squad to some heavy fire from the Cafe de Normandie, made more effective by several double rounds of play. In the end British morale fell to the point where there was no recovery or chance to attain the victory objectives. I can give Erik the chance to play more games hopefully. 

The British turn up.

Still they advance.

 

 

 

 

 

The Germans prepare.

More Jerries turn up.

The battlefield from the British positions.

The lynch pin of the defences.

I have sorted a game at the club this coming week, a CoC scenario against Simon's Russians, I played the same scenario against Paul a few weeks ago when 'rain stopped play' so I am hoping for bad weather. Matt will be back in the Bunker on Wednesday as he cuts a swathe through the French on his way to the Channel.

On the entertainment front 'The Last Frontier' and 'Cemetery Road' are approaching their end and I have enjoyed them but what will be up next. What about the new knitting yes knitting show on Channel Five (yes it is still there) with Tom Daley....... nope.

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 It's a funny old world, I saw a note on the Tribal Class Frigates Facebook page today about the 'crossing of the bar' of 'Soapy' Watson who served on Nubian at the same time as me. Way back in the mists of time during an exercise I was in a Wasp helicopter being ferried with two other guys to an 'incident' to reinforce our Royal Marine detachment, we had to jump from the hovering Wasp. The guy to my left went out but 'Soapy' would not, I was supposed to be last out being in the middle so I thought it was my duty to help him out by pushing him towards the open door. Above the din the pilot noticed and intimated I was to leave him alone and get out myself. RIP Soapy. If you have ever watched the movie 'Virgin Soldiers' with the tape and banner that was our job in the Internal Security platoon, lol.