Whites and Reds

 My last game before Easter would be at Matt's Dungeon in Penrith, I couldn't face the next CoC campaign game as it looks like the British will be on another hiding to nothing. I have since found a second Abbeville campaign quite a bit different which doesn't look like a featureless French countryside, should we bite the bullet and change, I will dwell on it.

Anyway I asked Matt for something fun and interesting, he came up with a Russian Civil War bash and it looked beautiful, the terrain, the unique scatter pieces and the gorgeous figures, a treat to fight over. I took the Whites simply because that side of the table always seems to be mine while Matt takes the other, the same thing usually applies at mine. I had some pressganged peasants, officer cadets, regular forces, an armoured car, a howitzer and some Cossacks, oh, and a MMG. The bad guys, they were both bad in their own way, had two armoured cars, a gun, a MMG and again a mixture of troops with several elite units. We both had a vehicle containing a VIP which the opposite side had to capture while defending their own personality, I had a a very impressive officer (Georgy) while Matt had Babushka, this was a little unkind as the lady did not look like a grandmother. I almost forgot we both had an airplane to add to the mix, I didn't mention my Tachanka either did I?

The battlefield before the action starts.

My army, gorgeous.

Georgy.

Red air force.

Georgy was placed on my left while Babs was on Matt's right, I put most of my troops on the right to rush the objective and hoped that my cavalry would win the day, the howitzer I placed in the centre of the battlfield as it became apparent that the Reds would send some armour against my left, this was the only thing which could kill an armoured car, it was the same for Matt but he had two vehicles to my one. My first wave advanced quickly with the Peasants and Cadets along with the machine gun cart heading for a good defensive position to support Georgy, more troops ran forward on my right towards Babs, this was where I would make my main effort.

The Peasants and Cadets move up while the Tachanka fires.

The main attack on the right.

Babs and her supporters.

Matt almost mirrored my deployment and at first concentrated on getting Georgy, he managed to kill the Tachanka but my Peasants were a cut above and held their positions while dealing out death to the Commies, the Cadets took a nearby house and settled in. My defenders stalled Matt's advance supported by the White air force, but I was forced to send my armoured car down the centre to help as the howitzer couldn't hit the proverbial barn door. Things were much better on my right as the Whites surged forward over the bridge towards Babushka, a good run of the dice allowed me to get all my men to the front and weaken the defenders while the cavalry clattered forward into melee. I was helped here by some Commies deserting their duties to ransack a nearby house for vodka. My success here made the Reds pull their second double-turreted armoured car away from the battle in the centre and race to help their left and Babs. I continued to have some luck with the plane and it took out the Red artillery and then turned about to annoy Matt's right flank attack while my own armoured car made it into the enemy rear and caused mayhem to the Red attack.

A wonderful piece of armour.

Another one, mine this time.

Cossacks attack.

The Reds are overwhelmed.

A desperate struggle now began on both flanks with both sides close to gaining their objectives, my Peasants gave way at last but had held the enemy up and ensured their defeat, the Cadets charged out at the last minute and ensured Georgy would not be heading for the Gulag or worse. On the other side the shattered remains of my assault troops managed to hold on and beat off some death or glory charges from Matt's remaining troops. The Whites had won and were heading off to save the Tsar and his family.

Babs screams for help.

Georgy's stalwart defenders.

A great battle and an exciting one, my Peasants and cavalry being the men of the match for me, I did lose my airplane due to some ground fog and the pilot flying too low, but it had done splendidly. I was also quite lucky in that I managed to kill off quite a few of the Red NCO's and their LMG's while dealing out a good deal of pins which often had an affect on Red morale. We  had decided early on that armour could help but not capture an objective. A splendid day out.

Not a lot happening due to Easter but I hope to get a Chain of Command game in next Friday with Erik while I ponder on whether to give up and start the second Abbeville campaign when Matt is ready.