Smolensk: Sad Times in Smolensk

 Campaign day and I was all ready. Matt's Russians had halted the German advance last turn and thrown me back, this time I was on the defensive and faced an attack from two directions, my Operation Barbarossa, like the real thing, was having trouble around Smolensk.

I had a measly four points of support so decided I had to win this game to get my offensive back on track and pick up more support points instead of having them halved while on the back foot. I therefore decided to use four of my precious resource points to beef up my forces, at the same time I wanted to fight defensively and let the Russians come at me, there were several buildings in front of my position so I took an infantry gun to strike these with HE and also expected it to deal with any Soviet armour which turned up. Against the grain I then took Bruno the sniper and some defences for the gun. I was down five men, so ditched my little mortar and put the crew to work in my infantry squads.

Sleepy village of Miheykovo.

The game started with Matt bringing everything he could on to the table over a couple of moves, his first squad as I thought entered the big yellow house, my gun commander smiled, bang, not a great opening shot but he now had the range, things could only improve, right? I slipped up and put down a squad in the woods on my far left but they did not have enough points to go on overwatch, drat. I did not get away with it and an HMG turned up and let fly at them, I got away lightly and then returned fire and expected to wipe it out, no, not going to happen.

BT7.

My hopeless infantry gun.

Supposedly commanding view.

Sure enough a BT7 light tank turned up, I turned the infantry gun towards it but it failed to spot as shock began to build up on the crew. I desperately needed more troops on the table but failed again and again to manage to get the right command dice, I brought on a Senior Leader to reduce the shock but nearly every Russian unit on the table could fire at the gun with impunity as my other two squads looked on from off table, gunners fell and shock rose. What about Bruno the sniper you ask, don't.

Matt made good use of his mortars.

The tank moves forward.

Matt continued to cause havoc as I envied his command rolls. Then in one fell swoop I lost a team from the only squad I had on the table, the remaining gun crew broke taking my Senior Leader with them and once I had made my many rolls on Bad Things Happen my morale was reduced to 3. In despair I had to yield the battlefield to the Soviet juggernaut.

I admit I had hoped to win this one hence the use of my precious Resource points but it turned into a disaster, I fired around 32 dice and Bruno at the damn HMG and only managed one or two kills which the gun shrugged off! No matter, Matt had come down from Penrith for the game and I just wished I could have given him more time on the table before running away. He is now two tables away from the German home base, I am almost at the ropes.

While we were setting up the troops I knocked a box of vehicles on to the deck while trying to find the BT7 for Matt, there was a bit of damage but nothing major, however dropping a box must be the most feared thing for a wargamer, I have done it twice and it ruins your day, perhaps a warning for me not to play the game.

What else, well I managed to get my next unit of heavy cavalry finished and cleaned and primed the next unit, mounted arquebusiers, I still do not understand how this troop type was used in battle given the awkwardness of the weapon on foot never mind on the back of a horse. I don't expect much from them as skirmishers in Furioso as they don't tend to deal out a lot of death in my limited experience. This will leave me with a unit of Gendarmes and King Francis to do and the French are done, so my timetable of a year is going to be pretty accurate. I want to use Illustrator to do all my own banners but thought this one with the Salamander would be tricky but I am pleased with the result, I think the original was red but who is to say there was not a blue one around. The edges will be painted when finished.

I normally go to York every year but have decided against it this year, mainly because I have nothing to buy and for the first time ever have a small lead mountain in the drawer to keep me amused for now. I also find it is a bit sparse on actual wargames, great for buying stuff but not if you simply want to go and see what other people are doing, I find Partizan is far better for this albeit you will not get the same amount of traders. I am also on the fence with this show as well now, cost and the distance may kill this off for me this year.

I don't buy wargame magazines any more as I found I can 'read' them in about 15 minutes and then move on. I noticed one blog mentioning a hand wringing piece in Miniature Wargames recently about some people feeling guilty of playing wargames, quite simply if you feel that way about toy soldiers you need to find something else to occupy your time. There are a couple of things which I would find distasteful, but I am not going to whine about them or lose sleep. This is a wonderful hobby so leave the guilt out of it.

I watched 'Narvik' last weekend, not impressed, but then again what does impress me on the media front. I did give them Kudos for mentioning the French and Poles in the campaign but the almost total lack of a nod towards the Empire's contribution and the cartoon, evil Englishmen in the town a bit much to swallow as was the blurb that it was Hitler's first defeat. The latest season of 'Fauda' has been good if not up to the previous standard and leaving us, or me, with a disappointing end. 'Happy Valley' of course continues to be excellent, much as I would like to kick Ryan where the sun don't shine.

Big Day in Warton

 Big day here at Casa Anderson on Sunday, Rob was organising a large Napoleonic game and the usual venue in Grange, the Gin Pit was not available, so I volunteered to host the game in the now defunct Post Office.

Rob came and organised the table on the Saturday and with the addition of one picnic table I managed an area of 17 feet x 5 feet, anymore and we would have been out on the pavement. I also managed to provide all the mats and terrain making a mental note that I have more stuff than I need, apart from some fieldworks for Italian Wars of course, but they don't count. With the cold spell I also warned everyone to come prepared, thermals and warm jumpers. Julian volunteered to do the catering and set up a curry on the old counter bubbling away nicely, Rob provided biscuits and Trukish Delight and Paul some excellent brownies, I sorted tea and coffee, a wargaming picnic. Don't get used to it guys.

French on the left, Allies on the right. Canal turns up later.

The troops muster.

The Allied right.

The Cumbrian Chef. Well done Julian.

The game was basically a meeting engagement with the main object control of the canal in the centre of the battlefield. We all had two commands, usually an infantry and a cavalry brigade, you chose which to bring on first and the second was diced for later, these commands were also picked out of a hat so only then did you know which side you were on. I ended up on the French side and my position was on the far right flank, just to the side of the canal, I brought my infantry on first, next to me was Stuart, our CinC with the Guard, he brought on the Guard artillery in a grand battery which at the time looked to be able to control the canal to his front. Next up was Fran and then Paul on the left. I am not sure what plans everyone else had but I had to secure the flank, opposite me was Rob with British infantry, he also chose to wait on the cavalry, I decided just to move forward and anchor my line on the canal, I did siphon off one battalion and some skirmishers to support the guns as who knew when the Guard infantry would show up, it looked like a big hole to me, we were expecting a lot from the artillery.

Fran moves to the hedge line.

My troops hesitantly advance.

French light cavalry, left flank.

My boys hold their positions.

The ineffective Grand Battery.

We halved the ranges and movement as we normally have a wider table at the Gin Pit, this meant our guns were not as effective as we thought and Ed, their opponent, kept out of range. On my front Rob quickly dashed forward into range and then stopped, some of his men even went backwards, and then were discombobulated when he was reminded the canal was not a road, but that was much later as the light faded. Once the Guard battalions turned up I turned to my own front and decided to test Rob's line, by this time my lancers had turned up while Rob's cavalry decided to wait awhile, until the last minute in fact. So I mounted my assault, I dispersed one of the British battalions then fell foul of the disordered rule which meant I could never really push forward. I did manage to use the Lancers to force the British into squares but then found my infantry could not be given orders to take advantage of the situation. Rob continued to have trouble moving forward even when his cavalry did turn up, by this time I had the measure of his infantry and the honours were even between the heavy cavalry and my lancers. The Scot's Greys wandered around in the rear too late to impact on the battle.

The Guard arrive.

Rob puts pressure on my lads.

Thoughtful moments.

Ed awaits the Guard.

The French left begins to build up the pressure.

Stuart had moved across the canal but in doing so had to move the grand battery, this potentially lethal enterprise did nothing throughout the battle but run here and there trying to find a good target. The Guard were eventually fought to a standstill at the canal and took horrendous casualties withdrawing on the last turn, however the Allies opposite were also in a mess. Fran, next along, had advanced very quickly across a large cornfield to a hedge line from which he threw back the enemy and then proceeded to hold it for the rest of the game despite several ferocious assaults. Soon his cavalry swept forward and began to push the enemy horse back. Once Paul got his infantry onto the table he took the battle to James who was holding yet another hedge line, the last thing I saw over there was French flags advancing, again after some very desperate fighting. With the food gone and exhaustion setting in we called it a day and the French were granted a marginal victory.

Paul assaults the Allied right.

The Guard taking punishment.

My right wins the day.

Beautiful lancers clash with British infantry.

Probably the most bitter fighting of all in Fran and Julian's sector.

The Guard simply hold the canal.

There we go, another excellent days gaming despite the rules. I really do not understand why being shot at would cause disorder to any unit in the Napoleonic period, wouldn't they be used to it, and it only has to be one hit, not even a casualty, grrrrrrrrrrr.  There is another game being organised in the Gin Pit for February which I cannot attend as it is the Memsahibs birthday and we are off for a posh lunch.

I was supposed to be playing Italian Wars this Wednesday but it has been cancelled as Julian has other commitments now. probably for the best as I am very busy at the moment, and here I thought I was retired. I do have the next Smolensk game with Matt Crump on the 1st Feb, it might take me that long to decided what to spend my measly four support points on.

Some time ago I ordered up a 3D print of a Brummbar (Grouch) sturmpanzer from Paint and Glue Miniatures, the print was lovely but small, it did not scale with either Warlord or Rubicon. I sent the model back and Garry determined that something had gone wrong and it printed smaller than 1/56, so he offered another by return. As it was Christmas and the post was a shambles I said fine but it could wait. I got it about a week or so ago, again the print was very good and I painted it up with the 'ambush' camouflage scheme and added some oil cans, spent shell casings and a bucket. I am very happy with Paint and Glue and look forward to using it and causing fear among my enemies.

My vanity project, an Italian Wars camp setting is finished, I might still add the odd barrel or box or some such when the mood takes me, I have some little dogs which might be nice. I have not put heraldry or flags in the camp so that it can be used by any side. I have to say the Warlord vignettes, the dice players, the minister and camp scribe along with the rest were a pleasure to paint and really bring the scene to life. I was very pleased with the tents which I got from Slovakia, the table and chairs were Ainsty Castings. Apart from more soldiers all I need now are some field fortifications, especially gun pits, but these will have to wait.

Vapnartak at York is approaching but I have just about decided to give it a miss this year, which will be the first an a long while. I have a small mountain of troops to paint and a couple of Wargames Foundry vouchers to spend so I really do not need anything and I find York to be mainly a traders show. I also feel that a two hour drive and petrol prices being what they are mitigate against it. I will keep myself  for Partizan in May, but that too might be a show too far for this mean old codger, we will see once the gloom of January/February lifts.

My dream of a wargame room is back on hold with my planning permission being refused, I now move to an appeal. The gist is that despite there being no business to sell the room is looked at as a business first and has to be marketed according to some (*&&^^%**%£$ on the council. Missus is out of hospital and improving but a long way to go, right, clean fire, take in washing, fill coal bucket, make tea and toast and then shopping, sigh.

On a happier note while we were pondering our moves a dog walker banged on the now closed PO door, opening the real door the chap informed me that there was a box of soldiers under a nearby car a bit further up the road and suspected they had something to do with me. Rob ran to retrieve his box. It can be useful being known as the village armchair general.

Oh Woe is Me

 More on the title anon. This week at the club it was back to the Ambush scenario but this time the Jerries were up against British Paras with some help from the Yanks.

In my third attempt at taking the crossroads I wanted to push most of my troops along the right flank and across the iron bridge, the 222 armoured car and the kubelwagen with my command along with one MMG and a squad would do what they could on the left. Michael, who is fairly new to Bolt Action kept his men as far back as he could which allowed me to advance almost to the outskirts of the hamlet. He did take his chances with the PIAT, anti-tank gun and his machine guns but these all fell to overpowering return fire, once again the Allied anti-tank was ineffective and was soon removed from the game. I once again got a FUBAR and a squad ran to the rear upsetting my timetable. More and more enemy squads now turned up around the village and despite being cut up by my armour it seemed to take forever to damage them while my own infantry began to take losses.

Although I had taken seven dice from the Allied total and only lost three the remaining Paras had an iron grip on the crossroads as we approached move ten, these defending squads also were replete with molotov cocktails so still managed to be a danger to my vehicles. Michael's tactic of keeping his forces as far back as possible was a good move, the Germans spent almost half their turns simply getting to a point where they could begin to take on the main enemy position, which of course proved too strong to overcome.

Once again the result was a draw and although this scenario gives a good fight and always extends that elusive chance of a German victory it simply is never going to happen. I have been very lucky in my games that the enemy anti-tank fire was ineffective and that keeping my armour intact and dealing a good amount of hurt helped me get as far as I could, this is not something I am sure that would continue. This is a good scenario and one which deserves a little more thought, I don't think bigger tanks are the answer and I like the thought of a reconnaissance unit probing forward, but I do think perhaps one more German squad and have all of them in transports although I would keep the speed of off-road movement to advance only. We will see.

I won't be at the club next week as my wife has an op on the Monday and should be home on the Tuesday so it would be bad form to leave her and put my own fortunes first. Not only will I be running after her every whim for the next three months but I have had my own troubles with health over the past four days and despite being on antibiotics the things are not working fast enough for me. It really is no fun getting old.

Just to top things off the planning wallah at the Council has decided I need to put my now defunct Post Office up for sale before I can get planning permission to take down the old shop front and put up a lovely new wall and garden. The old PO is just a room, with no amenities at all, it was part of the original cottage, there is nothing to sell, but the young gent would rather have me spend a fortune and carry out needless marketing research to sell something which does not exist. It looks like I shall have to appeal his upcoming decision, yes, you have guessed it, more sheckles for the Council coffers.

Enough of real life, my camp is well on the way to completion, I suspect I will manage to complete it by tomorrow before I start my three month sentence. The little vignettes from Warlord Games have been a joy to paint. Next up is another sidetrack back to WWII and a lovely 3D vehicle from Paint and Glue Miniatures, more on this when I complete it. It will then be back to Italian Wars cavalry, I received yet another bunch of TAG figures yesterday so now have all the French cavalry I need for now, even with my quick method of horse painting I am not a fan of painting cavalry no matter how good they look so this might become a bit of a chore.

We have a large Napoleonic game here on the 22nd and I believe Julian and I are back to Italy on the 25th. With all my other jobs I now have a full book of map projects to work through as well, so much for retirement.

Foreign Legion fort in Rif Mountains.

 

1806-1807 Russia.

 

That's it for now I am going back to wallowing in my despair. Oh, I forgot about the new comedy being streamed on one of the channels, "The Rig", having worked offshore on three different platforms over twenty years I see nothing familiar in this dreamt up nonsense, and please do not get the impression it has any base in reality.

A real Radio Op at work, not a tool or a beard in sight.