Draw, Lose, Win

 I returned to the club for a game this week, for something different I offered Simon a game of War and Conquest, Romans vs Romans so that I could command the new army, Simon chose to lead the Thunderbolts. My troops were well balanced with an infatry core, skirmishers and light cavalry on both wings, Simon had pretty much the same but he also added Praetorians and two boltshooters for some extra oomph, he took more command than required so I hinted at dropping some and getting some foot skirmishers. 

The battle was a straight forward clash, I did not use my light cavalry and skirmishers very well added to which was the fact I only won the initiative on the very last turn so was on the back foot most of the time. I also managed to forget that my Auxiliaries were Regulars instead of Light which cost me dear in combats which I should have won, I had forgotten to bring my typed up list, it is always something these days, duh. As the curtain descended we had one more turn to play which we could not manage, I think I had the measure of the Twelfth albeit it only just, but there you go, in the end it was good to have the troops on the table. Simon also helped greatly by making an effort and getting to the club early, setting up the table and then helping me get the boxes from the car as I still find heavy weights a drag (see what I did there).

Thunderbolts.

7

Thrax.

 Thursday comes and we are back fighting in the Gembloux Gap, an interesting scenario as I have to dice for my deployment, and of course I get the side with the open fields to my front, I do however get a new platoon, which is just as well as the last one needed to be withdrawn due to losses. Because I only dealt out a few scratches last time Matt just about has a full platoon with lots of support points to ensure his men have every advantage, and this time he gets armour. I have to take something to deal with the Panzers and opted for a Panhard armoured car as it was pretty cheap and more mobile that an anti-tank gun, my other choices were a Francs Tireur saboteur and a light machine gun team. Matt on the other hand brought an infantry gun, a Pz II and a Pz I.

Fifth column, get her!

Forward menschen.

Clank, clank.

The battlefield.

The German advance was slow as Matt deliberated on his options and I kept my powder dry, he did however advance his armour, I brought on my Panhard and started a duel with the approaching Panzer I, this was frustrating, it was almost impossible to hit, it was obscured, had a low profile and was small, I got it in the end but it took a lot of time. The Panzer II now pushed to break the French line while German infantry moved on my left, I shot up the infantry but more were on the way, I intended to have the Panhard catch the panzer in the flank but with a wounded officer and shock I could not get it to obey my orders. 

German support.

French centre.

French support.

Gotcha!

Sigh.

The fortunes of war had turned against me, although I managed to close down a German Jump Off Point with the Francs Tireur and get a decent 10 for morale with the wounding or killing of three NCO's and throwing high for Bad Things Happen I plumetted to 4, then something else happened which left me with 3 and no future. Although I had made the Boche infantry suffer the difference in morale meant that as night approached I had dished out no more than a headache as they held the field.

I simply cannot win the campaign now, there are three turns left and one map, I have no new forces coming and Matt still has one unengaged platoon with the chance of reinforcements if he needs them while French support dwindles. We have had some very good games with Gembloux Gap but I doubt the French (as in real life) can hold off the Jerries for even a small win.

Some time ago in the distant past I fought a War and Conquest game against Ed, I turned it into a number of connected battles. The history went like this, a Romano British leader invaded Gaul once the Romans left Britain, he defeated local forces and Rome sent the Western Field Army to sort things out, enroute they fought off a Barbarian invasion, maybe this weakened them as they were defeated fighting the British, the British leader was killed and the Roman general murdered by his disgruntled troops, many of whom deserted to the victors. The wife of the British leader took up the reins but was thwarted by her Nobles and sent to a convent. Rome meanwhile with some help from the East scrapped together another army which moved against the enemy meeting them on the plains of Northern Italy.

 My son Stewart (Stuartus Brito) took charge of the invaders and led an army of the surviving British and deserters from the last defeated Roman force, I (Maximus Scotus) would lead my new Roman army, the last troops standing between Rome and its ruin. Stewart lined up with his British on his left and his Romans on the right, I put some heavy cavalry and light troops on my right while the infantry line contained legionaries in the centre and lanciarii on the wings.

Good guys on right, bad guys on left.

Maximus Scotus.

Stuartus Brito.

I moved my right flank skirmishers forward quickly hoping to sweep away the enemy light troops but this did not go to plan, the Huns proved difficult to kill and my own troops had to evade several times but luckily kept rallying. I was then forced to move my Clibinarii forward to meet the British heavy cavalry, both these forces were heavily armoured and would continue to flail at each other until the very end adding nothing to the battle. I had decided my right looked weak so eventually began to move my left flank infantry forward hoping the right would hold, the deserters opposite moved against me quite aggressively.

German Nobles attack.

Loyalist right flank.

Centre.

Loyalist left.

 

Eventually the centre of both armies were in melee along the line, Stewart was hoping to sweep my boys away while I was hoping they would hold. In the end the loyalists won through and it was the Rebels who were pushed onto the back foot, as the combat continued the Roman element of the enemy army fled for their lives knowing no mercy would be given. On the left the British looked on in dismay, insult added to injury as their heavy cavalry also ran for the rear, Stuartus suffered a personal tragedy as his standard bearer fell.

British close on my right.

Battle in the centre.

The British surge forward.

British heavy cavalry about to break.

 

The end to the threat.

Hoping once again for a quick breakthrough the British general did not count on the desperate defence put up by the lanciarii to his front, with the Roman left now beginning to move on the remains of his forces the British leader knew his dream of conquering Rome would remain a dream. A great day of Old School, proper wargaming thanks to my son for making the journey from darkest Darlington, a thoroughly enjoyable battle.

I was asked a bit ago my opinion on the book Tunisgrad by Saul David, it is basically all about Operation Torch and the thrust on Tunis along the coast, I was expecting some info on the Eighth Army's part in it all but there didn't seem to be much (I gave up). Rick Atkinson's An Army at Dawn is far better.

Unbelievably there are people, mainly young, who are terrified to talk on a phone preferrring texting. Luckily for them a woman (in the US of course) The Phone Lady will help you with this ailment for $195 an hour or $3000 for half a day. And yes, it is all done on the PHONE!

Fickle Luck

Nothing going at the club for me last week so I set up an Arnhem scenario from Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy magazine written by Nick Skinner, it looked interesting and had some Paratroopers holding a defence perimeter against some Waffen-SS with two old Char B1’s in support, one of which was a flammpanzer. The British had two small squads supported by some PIAT teams and a 6 pdr anti-tank gun, they had a special rule to use a ‘PIAT Hero’ once during the game on any leader they wished.

The battlefield.

 Erik turned up, I explained the terrain which was quite busy with trees and copses all over the place. Erik was aggressive with his Patrol Phase, I got to put some Jump Off Points halfway up the table and one where I could set up a MMG to close down the large open area on my left. I managed to get one squad down in the middle of what we termed an Orchard while Erik managed to oppose this with one squad behind entrenchments and another dug in on the left of this covering my right flank, two brave moves for defenders. I responded by putting down another squad which gave me a good base of fire on his forward squad in the trees, very soon it was shot up and had to withdraw, I now turned most of my attention to the last one on my right.

The Paras dig in.

 

Flammpanzer.

 I brought on the Flammpanzer and was looking forward to using it, I had built up three squads now which took the remaining Paras under fire, but it was slow going, I was also having difficulty getting the right command dice in order to push further forward. Luckily for me Erik had left his lucky charm at home and his responses to my shooting were dire. I pushed up the panzer in order to get in range with my flamethrower and the driver did not listen and went hell for leather up the road and left his infantry supports behind. Erik ambushed and missed, he then played his ‘PIAT Hero’ and missed again, I sighed with relief, I cannot remember the exact chain of events but he deployed his 6 pdr which also missed then either the gun or a PIAT got another shot at the Char B1 and this time it blew up. I was gutted as I really wanted to try the flamer.

Paras under fire, notice the stretcher.

Support.

Ambush, oops.

Try again.

Third time lucky.

 It was now down to my infantry and the one remaining tank which had now arrived. Erik by now had lost his anti-tank gun and a full squad and his defenders were now a beat up Bren team and the remnants of his first squad holed up in a house to my front, no matter these had two Brens and were still picking away at my right hand squad which lost their LMG and became pinned. Erik now laid a long line of smoke which hid the house and stopped most of my shooting. I took the opportunity to redeploy my MMG, tank and two squads to be ready to end the turn, lift the smoke and fire everything along with the kitchen sink at the defenders. It took time but I eventually got a CoC die and played it at the beginning of the move ending the turn. Just to annoy me the gods allowed me to throw three sixes which again ended the turn! No matter my plan went ahead, everything that could opened up on the house, death and destruction followed and the game belonged to the Jerries.

Ha, ha, can't see anything, said in British accent.

 

Ooops.

A good start and end, but in between the game was frustrating for the Jerries, I had only one Senior leader but threw loads of 4’s, and each turn a useless 6, I did get quite a few 5’s but used them time and again to hit the dirt. Erik was not helped by his bad luck. I would like to play it again but take the British this time. There was the usual couple of rule questions so I am back to reading and checking the FB page.

My Nashorn and M3 turned up. They are very nice kits, a wee bit of cleaning up to do and I got off to a bad start by dropping the bag containing the M3 but did some quick repairs. The tank riders are also very nice as are the crew figures for the Nashorn, I now have some crew spare as I did not read the small print and got extra, duh. I also managed to finish my first BEF squad for the new platoon, the second is now on the paint tray, I do like these figures from 1st Corps and they sell a whole platoon ready to go.

The Atlas author has finished his holidays so I have several new maps in various stages of completion at the moment. I have knocked back several authors looking for maps but took on a small project for John Hussey who is an amateur historian with a few books to his name, John is 92 and putting together some of his essays into a book, for, as he says, a last hurrah. How could I refuse. Mate Charles is also looking for some work but I have yet to think about this.

I needed some new super glue so popped in to Tesco this morning and got some, seven quid! I don't normally register the price but I did get a brain freeze with this, what makes it worse is that you get just less than 50% of what the bottle could actually hold, much like buying a bag of ready salted air, sorry, crisps.

I have come late to the controversy surrounding the newly refurbished Redcoat Cafe in Edinburgh Castle, one of the usual suspects, taking time off from gluing herself to the highways or throwing beans at art, was arrested for annoying the patrons enjoying their coffee and cake. How long before it gets changed? Oh and the protestors, Action for Scotland, Scottish Republican Socialist Movement and, wait for it, the Scottish Resistance, shades of the People's Front of Judea there?

It's 2026 not 1314.

 Anyway, I should make my return to the club this Tuesday and a run out for my new Roman army, then the next game in the Gembloux Gap campaign with Matt on Thursday and a big War and Conquest duel with everything to play for with my son on Saturday, will Rome collapse at last?

2026, Onwards and Upwards

 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. 

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.

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.

Henschel 123.

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.

French right.

A great weapon.

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'.