Well the dust has well and truly settled, we had family visit over Christmas and we had a good time. I was very pleased with my haul from my birthday and Christmas, lots of foo foo (navy slang for perfumed body products) some sweeties (naughty of course for me) and books. I had also treated myself to a 1940's British platoon from 1st Corps which will be arriving shortly, I screwed up the Nashorn order so it too is now on the way.
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| Like my 'Army Men'? |
I had a very quiet time as I put almost everything on hold until I had recovered enough to get back to normal, I am now at that stage as the operation was not as severe as the last one, I am also back driving. In fact I took on two authors who got in touch with me as the lead in times for both projects are sufficient that I can do both these and the Atlas. I am now being overwhelmed with Atlas work as the festive season is over so it is all hands to the pumps, well mine at least.
I have been extremely lucky over the past couple of months, friend Matt Smith kindly sent me some 3D prints and Dave Bickley one of his saught after Calendars, Phil Robinson treated me to a Rubicon Pz III and 'Lucky' Jimi some sweeties, if I have forgotten anyone then put it down to old age.
I don't make New Year Resolutions, well I do but never keep them, this year I have decided on one which is utterly futile but it will keep me happy. I am giving up with the Yookay and telling anyone interested that I am a native of Great Britain, something I am proud off while the Yookay is........ well..... enough said.
Moving swiftly along I had my first game of 2026 today, Matt braved the journey from darkest Penrith through the wind and snow to lead 3rd Panzer into the Gembloux Gap. The French won the last clash but suffered severe casualties, this time I was down to two squads, the free 75mm gun and supports which included a motorcyle squad and a mortar. Matt brought a brand new platoon, an extra squad, an off table machine gun and a Henschel 123, it is a Stuka in the book but I had the plane and it was for ground attack, oh and another damn fifth columnist. We caught and hung Jean Claude but this was his brother Pierre, a despicable family.
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| The battlefield. |
The Germans have no armour for this scenario but I was not feeling too confident as I was a squad down and I heard aircraft engines approach. As it happened the Luftwaffe made no impression on the battle whatsoever, I saved my Chain of Command points and eventually used them to end the turn and the effects of Goering's boys. Matt concentrated on the same wood as the last time staying away from the open corn field but the wood soon became clogged up with German infantry vying for room, I sat and patiently waited.
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| Henschel 123. |
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| Traffic jam in the woods. |
Matt eventually lined the wood and sent one squad forward, he also set up his off-table machine gun, I now managed to get a really good command throw and managed to almost get everyone on my line of defence, Pierre stopped me from occupying the second house for several phases, sacred blue! The Jerries now began to suffer, the squad in the open was shot up, a couple of NCO's were either killed or wounded and Boche morale fell. I had remembered how smoke worked this time and closed down the off-table machine gun, my 75mm began to fire with impunity into the wood.
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| French right. |
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| A great weapon. |
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| Pierre before meeting his maker. |
I did not have everything my own way and my motorcyclists were picked on and eventually broke causing my morale to fall to 6, this was offset by my last squad turning up and despatching Pierre while hunkering down in the bombed out house. Matt now lost a squad as I concentrated all my fire on it and it broke, this left only two squads to carry on the fight, Matt withdrew.
I do not blame him as without armour and lacking a decent strike from the Luftwaffe his men were just not going to survive crossing the open ground. We are going to move on to the next game as despite French support falling to four the Germans would have the same problem as they have had for the last two games and there is no point in hitting our heads against a brick wall. This is not a well thought out scenario, there is also an opportunity for the French to lay minefields along the edge of the wood which would basically force the Germans to move into the fields or heaven forbid the French bring a tank. I am not saying things are completely impossible for the Jerries, it's a wargame, but a very tough one needing Lady Luck.
I am going to try and get back to the club next Tuesday, I have a game with Erik here next Friday and possibly a mid week game as well. My son is coming over for my third linked Fall of the West Roman game later in the month, a large clash as the Empire scrapes the barrel for one more army to throw at the Romano-British upstarts, will it be enough, we will see.
I almost forgot, how could I, mate David Bickley has seen fit to allow one of my ancestors to lead his Scots mercenaries for his Wars of the Roses collection, I give you 'Black Geordie'.
