The road from Kursk

This is the 4th battle with my Russian squad. Their 3rd battle is posted 4 posts ago entitled "Brick lumber yard". Go read it to get re aquanted with them, I'll wait. Good.

Lt Konerko stood in front of the company officers. We finally have a crack at the fascists! We are to take this hill there with anti tank guns guarding this road. 2nd platoon, you have the honor of the direct assualt for Mother Russia. 3rd platoon, you will strike the hill from the right. 1st platoon will protect the left flank by neutralizing the trenches and bunker guarding the road. JrLt Bessonov failed to hear anything after that. His platoon would protect the left flank! Clearly the CO did not feel he was the equal yet to his fellow platoon commanders despite all men being equal in the workers paradise. And it got worse. After the meeting the CO pulled him aside and said, " Bessonov, you are improving but I have assigned a sub machine gun squad to take out the bunker. You and Shakulo worry about the trenches." Lt Konerko didn't even think he could handle the bunker!
Characters
Lt Bressonov Scholarly/ pleasure Gr II
Sgt Shakulo 1st sq addicted alcohol Gr II
Cpl Zurvich acting 2nd sq generous/ music Gr I poor morale
Cpl Corok acting 3rd sq negative/ government Gr I
3 squads, 1 MMG, 1 SMG squad, 2 T-34s

Looking from Russian lines

Trenches top left/ bunker top right

swamp center right

What is your plan Jr Lt? You get 2 stonks of 81mm fire but no smoke

Bessonov plans to advance up to the far edge of the swamp in a line behind his one tank with the 2nd squad ( his weakest)and MMG in the swamp to anchor. From there he would human wave assault the trench. Lt Konerko order the other T-34 with the SMG sq to follow the road and take out the bunker.

The attack begins!

JrLt Bessonov in middle with pistol

The russians catch several breaks early. The pre game mortars pin the germans in the bunker and the MMG in the trench jams early on.

SMG sq moving through wire on the right flank

The stunned crew in the bunker finally gather their wits and fire their 75mm gun destroying the T-34 tank just before it moves beyond their field of fire. Their shots are not enought to disuade the SMG squad however and they eventually break through the wire. In the center the T-34 causes a Stug to withdraw out of a gun pit and Bessonov manages to keep all the men moving forward. Just as he blows the whistle to signal the final charge into the trench an 81 mm shell lands in the midst of 2nd squad as german shells begin to land.

Human wave time!

You can see the explosion of the 81mm shell center right

Bessonov charged ahead hoping that his platoon would follow. 2nd and 3rd squad did. 1st squad sustained 2 casualties in the bombardment but the men refused to move. Sgt Shakulo started physically kicking the men; 3 responded. He took those three and started his charge!

Cpl Corok meets the enemy

3rd squad reached the trenchline first. 4 Germans with a LMG. The LMG cut the russians down like wheat. 3rd squad sustained 3 casualties and Cpl Corok was wounded. The attack was stopped cold.

Sgt Shakulo meets the enemy

Sgt Shakulo reached the trench with only a 3 men and an LMG. He faltered for a second but was determined not to let JrLt Bessonov get into the trench without him! "Fire" he shouted and threw grenades at the MMG crew. It worked, their gun was not as agile and the russians entered the trench killing 2 and the others ran like beaten dogs.

JrLt Bessonov and Cpl Zuvich meet the enemy

Bessonov could not believe Shakulo was entering the trench with only 3 men! His 10 had to win! The german LMG fired and his troops temporarily halted. Bessonov swore but Zuvich started shouting out a patriotic song. The men started singing and went over the top with their Jr Lt. [had a heroic event that I used to rally the LMG team automatically] After a brief struggle 2 germans fell; 2 fled and the trench was secure!

A tiger tank showed up to shell the trench but the SMG team moved out from the bunker they had captured and the tank, without infantry support, withdrew.

Great battle! The russians did not face a lot of infantry this time so it was a little easier than normal. Hey, sometimes the dice work in your favor!!

Enemy forces

roll d6 1 paratroopers 2-3 ss 4-6 regular line troops ( I rolled a 2)

1 squad with gr II leader, 1/2 squad with gr II leader 1 MMG with gr III leader

1 75mm ATG 1 Stug

1 module of 81mm Mtr with 2 pre plotted positions. 1 trench 1 bunker 4 hexes of wire

1 unit must set up behind the main line

Reinforcement on turn 4 1 Tiger (If 2 person game add 1 squad and gr III leader, I only rolled the Tiger)

Lt Konerko congratulated JrLt Bessonov after the battle on his leadership. 2nd squads morale also improved to normal. The 2 normal squad leaders for 2nd and 3rd squad are back next battle but Jr Lt Bessonov is fond of Cpl Zuvich now and would like to get him promoted into his own squad if possible. JrLt Bessonov also grudgingly admits that Sgt Shakulo is a good squad leader but still doesn't trust him. Several days later Lt Konerko informs him that Pravda wants to do a story on Sgt Shakulo and a reporter will accompany the squad next mission to see Sgt Shakulo in action. Should be interesting...

Enjoy

Joe

PS Richard Clarke is actually formatting the Platoon Forward rules. I am actually working with him on the edits. His art work and design is beautiful!! It will be worth the wait.

Channel Knife Fight

Finally collecting some 1/1250 scale ships. These babies are big and detailed!! Of course they are more expensive as well.

2 MAAS DDs Can you guess which one costs only $2?

Since I plan to play destroyer actions space and money should hold out. I will keep my 1/2400 stuff for the occasional bigger battle but once I saw the detail on these models it will be hard to go back. As you know I have never done any advertising here but I have to say Dave from

PT Dockyards was very helpful in getting me started in this scale. He pointed me to a 1/1200 forum where I found several good deals on ships. The best dealer to deal with has been John Eagan from Eagan Ships. He has not only provided guidance but great deals and lightning fast service.

So I had 5 DDs painted up and my Release the Hounds rules ready. What to do???

Commander Fitzhew stared into the night. The Admiralty had told him German naval forces were making a sortie into the Channel tonight. He didn't know if that meant TBs, DDs or even CLs but he meant to find them before he was found! He was to intercept and destroy the German force. He had 3 "J" class DDs in which to do it. The 3 boats had not worked together before but the officers seemed competent. His own crew on the HMS Jersey were well trained and eager to get a crack at Jerry!

CMDR Fitzhew 's column

Z 28 out looking for trouble

At 0134 a lookout noted at shape to port at 3+ miles moving away.

Initial sighting
Fitzhew upper left
Jerry bottom center
Squall upper right

A starshell from turret "A" reveiled a german DD. Fitzhew ordered all guns fire at will as he frantically searched for more ships.

Z 25 under a starshell

He could find no other ships but could see hits on the Jerry ship. (Unfortunatly these were from the HMS Javalin NOT Jersey; need to talk to the gunnery officer!) She started making smoke and turned to port. [Z25 had started flooding, slowed and turned to make smoke] Cmdr Fitzhew turned his column and raced in for the kill. As he did he started taking fire from his front about 4 miles away from another Jerry DD.

HMS Jersey moving up for "the kill"
Z25 flooding turns to port [center]
Z28 circling back to support [right]

Cmdr Fitzhew decided to ignore this latest foe and concentrate on the first DD. While advancing "A" turret was knocked out by the "long range" gunfire. No matter, Fitzhew was not to be thwarted, "Stay the course!" he bellowed. As HMS Jersey broke through the smoke he saw to his dismay a German DD broadside waiting for him at 500 yards. 6 in guns and 37mm rounds flew into Jersey. Damage over the next 2 minutes was substancial and the call came to the bridge that there was significant flooding midship.

HMS Jersey and Z25 toe to toe at 500 yards

Cmdr Fitzhew had no time to be disappointed. He still had a battle to win. Z25 had stopped making smoke and was speeding up [ she had stopped her flooding] HMS Javalin was 1000 yards behind still in smoke. He had no time for a coded message. He broadcast in the clear,

" Tim, am flooding; pass to my port. Kill the bastard" He hove Jersey to starboard.

LCDR Timmothy Overbrooke aboard the HMS Javalin was shocked by the message coming in over the wireless but as he broke through the smoke understood immediatley the situation. He narrowly missed the Jersey as he started to pursue the German DD.

HMS Javalin takes up the fight

After several volleys of gunfire, both DDs fired torpedoes at 1,500 yards. A British Fish struck home leaving Z 25 broke and sinking. Tim Overbrooke took his column to pursue the other Jerry destroyer but he slipped away into the chill night air.

Twenty minutes later, flooding had stopped on the Jersey and Cmdr Fitzhew had his victory.

When he met LCdr Overbrooke later that morning he said, " Tim remember, when it comes to radio discipline it is do as I say, not do as I do!"

Great battle and I really enjoyed the ships. Got some more Japanese and US ships from John and have an order of German and British stuff pending from the San Diego Ship Man. Rules played well though I still have to work on torpedoes.

Scenario Encouter 1940

visability 3 miles wind none sea state calm

3 "J" class DDs vrs 2 Narvik class DDs

Roll for position start

Enjoy

Joe

Barent Sea AAR/ Release the Hounds Playtest

The first miniatures I ever bought were ships. They were cheap and I didn't need terrain. I soon moved on because all the rulesets I played were either too simple or too complicated. I wanted detail down to individual turrets and AA mounts but I wanted the games to be relatively quick; didn't want to keep track of hull boxes and wanted to play with my favorite ship, the destroyers! Command at Sea was a little too slow for my taste though their scenario books are still the best. I thought I had it with GHQs "The Game". Great rule set but destroyers are too easily taken out and PT boats are an afterthought. Have toyed with my own rules from time to time but could not figure out how to do realistic damage without "counting boxes" yet keeping the fidelity of individual turrets. Had a eureka moment on a plane to Sacramento 2 weeks ago. Ran up some charts and did dice playtests and it seemed to work. Time to try it out for real!
Scenario is heavily modified ( I don't have many ships) out of the Command at Sea Group Nord book. Basically the germans are trying to break through a british escort to a small convoy. The German's are petrified of losing their pocket battleship as usual.

Capt Sherebrooke was uneasy. Then again he was always uneasy out at sea during this war. He was senior officer of this small band of ships escorting 7 merchants. His crew on the HMS Onslaw were good as were the rest of the escort. They just might make it to Russia despite the storm. The weather was bad with visability about 4 miles and this promised to get worse. His thoughts were suddenly interupted by the officer of the day. " HMS Rhododendrom has sighted a german destroyer dead astern about 3.5 miles back. "

The Convoy

Very well. Tell HMS Orwell that we will execute a simultaneous 180 degree turn and she should find this destroyer. Tell Obdurate [with Obediant] that she should meet us behind the convoy. Capt Sherebrooke knew he did not need to tell the corvette to start making smoke nor the merchantman commodore to radio the light cruiser HMS Jamaica.

Fred moving up. He didn't see

anything until Orwell started shooting

The situation while orders are transmitted,

decoded and executed. The 3rd german DD is

off picture to the south

Straining eyes on the bridges of both british DDs were finally rewarded at 5 miles when the shape of a german DD hove into view. Orwell starts to fire but misses. Fred, thinking he has found the convoy alters course to starboard and the ships close. A gun duel erupts and both sides take damage. Orwell settles the argument when she hits Fred with a torpedo that leaves her flooding and on fire.

Lutzow hears the commotion and speeds up

HMS Orwell is so engaged in the fight she fails to spot the german CB. Lutzow fires at 5.5 miles hits Orwell. Orwell staggards and moves off stage. Lutzow, seeing enemy DDs close, calls back her destroyer screen and starts a lazy 180 turn. Capt Sherebrooke coutermands his last order to Obdurate telling them to close with Theo Reidel on the right and instead orders a torpedo attack on the Lutzow. Meanwhile he will turn and chase after the Richard Beltzen on the british left that has sailed right by them and is still searching for the convoy.

Time during Sherebrooke's orders

Beltzen top of picture. Fred in center on fire

Theo off picture to the bottom

Onslow starting turn for Beltzen upper right

Orwell under fire from Lutzow

Obdurate/Obedient still carrying out order to

go after Theo

Theo turns around failing to spot the convoy and roughs up Obdurate and Obdient slowing them down enough they are unable to carry out a torpedo attack.

2 British destroyers roughed up

Richard Beltzen does spot the convoy and makes a very lazy turn back towards the Lutzow. This allows her to get several shots off. One hits the bridge of the SS Pontfield. Thus confused she does not steer away from the 4 german tordedoes. One hits and sinks her.

HMS Onslow catches up at this time and the 2 destroyers trade torpedo shots as they pass.

Russian Roulette torpedo style

Unfortunaltly for Capt Sherebrooke, he loses this time as a german torpedo hits the Onslow.

The german destroyers recalled, the germans retire.

Forces and Fate

German

Lutzow CB fine

Richard Beltzen DD 5 turret out

Theo Reidel DD moderate damage

Friedrick Edkold DD heavy damage difficult to control scuttled

British

Onslow DD heavy damaged limped to port

Orwell DD heavy damage limped to port

Obedient DD moderrate damage continued escort

Obdurate moderate damage engines damaged; had to be towed; decision to scuttle

Rhododendrom Corvette fine

Pontifield tanker sunk

give victory to the Kreigsmarine

Great game and I liked the system. Have decided I like it enough that I will invest in some 1/1200 scale destroyers and smaller ships. For the bigger stuff will stick with 1/2400 but I really like the smaller boats. Once I get the smaller boats will post another playtest.

Realize this was a different post than what I normally do but thought it would prove interesting and hopefully provide an entertaining scenario.

Enjoy

Joe

FAAR mission #5

I have been working on Squadron Forward for about 6 months. I have the character interaction pretty well set and the in game events. Am now starting the scenarios. I play 90% solitaire so am working on a force generator that will give a balanced game where I don't know what I am facing until I am in it. One of my few critisms of BTH2 is there are way too many blinds on the board so I don't wnat to know where the enemy is coming from but don't want 25 counters on the board either. Lastly both sides need a realistic chance to be able to affect a "bounce". So ready to try my first scenario; escort. We call upon one of my favorites, my Romanian IAR-80 squadron. This is there 5th mission and since this is 1942 they will be flying the "B" model.

Captain Sandru put down the phone. "Crap." The group commander Pomut had decided to fly with them tomorrow. Worse he did not want Sandru to go because he wanted to get to know the men. They were suppose to escort some JU-87s to attack a river convoy moving towards Stalingrad. Sandru had planned to allocate 4 planes to the mission but now he had better allocate 6 and place his best pilots on it to protect the group commander. To have him shot down would be embarresing; to have him wounded and land pissed would be a disaster!

Major Pomut coarse average skill (dislikes SQ)
Lt Macri Pleasant average

Lt Hapaina aggressive average
SLt Alexia Pessimistic average (avoids combat when able)

Adj Sef Ionescu Cultured Veteran skill
Adj Stag Toma Obnoxious average 1 kill

The day dawned clear and the Romanians found their charges without problems despite the language differences. The germans were prompt if nothing else. The Stukas flew at 16K feet so flak over the flont lines was not a problem.

In bound Ionescu smiles for the camera

4 minutes to target the Stukas called out bandits bearing down on them from 4 o'clock. Pomut leaves Hapania high and the other 4 race down. [my picture of the russian fighters is lost, sorry!] One stuka explodes as 3 LA-5s race through the formation. Major Pomut snaps off a high deflection shot that catches the new russian fighter in the engine and it explodes! Just as quick a 4th russian fighter appears on the Major's tail. Adj Sef Ionescus rushes to help as Captain Sandru gave him explicit instructions to bring the Major home alive. The Major starts a series of tight turns while losing altitude that his wingman and the russian can not follow. "The old man can fly!" thinks Ionescu.

1 more Stuka is destroyed and 1 damaged. Adj Stag Toma shoots an assaliant off Ionescu's tail and Ivan leaves the field trailing petrol. At this point the Stukas are commencing their dives. With 3 fighters against 6 IAR-80s the russians leave.

Stuka starting its run on a Fugas class minesweeper

Stukas on the attack The barges are camouflaged to
look like Command at Sea markers.
The MO-4 boat is the tiny one upstream

Direct hit! 500lb bombs make big holes

The Fugas class boat is destroyed by a direct hit. 2 barges are sunk. 2 Stukas miss completely.

The return trip is uneventful. The battle is considered a draw.

Post mission The squadron is awarded no cool points. Major Pomut's attitude improves to neutral towards the squadron. Adj Stag Toma's skill improves to veteran. Adj Bacui [did not fly but has a kill] is promoted to Adj Stag [Sgt]. Finally a new rookie pilot Adj Dusescu joins the squadron.

5 russian fighters were generated in one group. It seemed to work well; there were no in game events. For those of you using my LAAF anti aircraft rules the

Fugas MS is size 2 speed 3 [ can't go that fast in a river though] hvy 1 lt 1+

MO-4 motor launch size 1 speed 3 hvy -- lt 1+

Should be a good sceanario for BTH2 or Mustanges. A little large for CY6.

Enjoy

Joe

The brick lumber mill

This is a platoon that has had 2 other battles. I will take some time here to illustrates some of the "off board" interaction of Platoon Forward that can affect how the battle plays out. Just to remind everyone, I don't make stuff up for this blog; I really report what I play out on the campaigns and games.

Junior Lt Bessonov was unhappy as he walked to company HQ. His platoon was performing poorly, morale was dropping and 2 of his squad leaders were out with wounds. His uninjuried squad leader, Sergant Shakulo, was his biggest problem. Not only was he an alcoholic but his first battle he had charged recklessly ahead [failed a leadership check] and lost most of the 1st sq. Bessonov asked the the company comander to pull Shakulo from the platoon and give him a new NCO. " Bessonov, you are new here. Half our NCOs are alcoholics. A good officer will teach Sergant Shakulo when to use his spirit in battle." Last battle Shakulo's performance had risen to below average but the platoon had again failed it's mission. Somehow a report had gotten to the company commander that Shakulo had performed well during the attack. Bessonov had even seen the two laughing and talking the other day! [ event showed that Konerko notices Shakulo] He had better watch Shakulo carefully or he might be getting the boot.

The company commander, Lt Konerko, greeted Bessonov cooly. Jr Lt Bessonov, mother russia needs victories! When do you plan to contribute?
Our lines have stabalized while we wait for supplies to continue the defeat of fascism. Reconnasance believes that the Germanskiis are using a lumber mill as an observation post during the day to observe our lines. Tomorrow I want you to take 2 squads and infiltrate up there. Capture a prisoner or at least disrupt the OP. I will send a MMG with you {pre game reinforcement} and issue some SMGs from other platoons. Bessonov, I know you are new here but don't make me wonder if you will ever get the hang of this. Dismissed

Jr LT Bessonov Scholarly/pleasure Gr II
Sgt Shakulo 1st sq SL addicted/ alcohol Gr I 1st squad with low morale
Cpl Zurich acting 3rd SL Gr I
1st squad with 2 LMGs for this mission. 3rd squad armed with 1 LMG, 2 rifles and 7 SMGs.
1 MMG with Gr I leader that is hesitant

The brick lumber mill

Russians will enter from bottom left

German OP

Very early figures I painted up

Bessonov moved through the woods with his most dependable squad forward (3rd) followed by 1st sq. Since this is the Russian army the platoon leader leads. As they neared the clearing he moved the MMG towards the left to provide covering fire. 20 yards before the clearing they heard rifle shots.

Bessonov runs into sentries

As third squad laid down fire he ordered Shakulo to move right to support. The 4 german sentires, noting a large force started their getaway. The russians managed to pin them down however. Shakulo moved right in, killing 3 and capturing 1. Bessonov was elated and horrified at the same time. He decided he would go for broke and attack the OP directly.

He directed both squads to move foward past the mill on the right to a clump of trees. From there they would make the final assault.

Bessonov's charge

3rd squad on left

3rd squad took heavier fire and started to retreat. Bessonov had to stop to rally them.

The men proved difficult to rally as bullets continued to kick up around them. Suddenly to Bressonov's horror he hear the russian battle cry of "Urra" as Sergant Shakulo was leading his squad into the mill. Bressonov quickly grabbed the few rallied men around him (the LMG team) and raced to the mill in time to join (lead) the final assault.

Sergant Shakulo leads the final assault

The Germanskiis were not keen on defending the position and gave way quickly. JrLt Bressonov and the platoon had their victory albiet with a great deal of help from Sgt Shakulo. After the battle Sgt Shakulo stated he was just following orders. Bressonov wondered whose orders?

After it's great showing in 2 hand to hand combats 1st squad's morale improved to normal. In addition, Sgt Shakulo beat the odds (30%) and is upgraded to a grade II leader. [There are normally 3 events after every battle.]

Great battle! I really like these small ones. They play fast and are loads of fun. I could not believe Sgt Shakulo; his card draws and rolls were amazing. As a gr I leader he only had a 50% chance of initiating that final assault. When he could, even though a russian NCO would not show that much initaitve, I said why not!

German forces generated were as follows:

1 squad and 2 half squads 1 Gr III leader (officer) and 2 gr II leaders

1 squad must set up on the second floor of the mill with the officer acting as an observer. The other squad can be split into 2 half squads to act as sentries. If it is one half should be towards the woods and one half in the boxes on the other side of the board watching that half of the board. The germans can not move or fire until fired upon or they spot russians. The german officer can take no action for the first 3 turns as he is collecting his gear in case they have to retreat. There is a 30% chance of a squad and/ or halftrack coming in as a reinforcement 4 turns after the shooting starts. This did not happen for me but would have made for a different game! If they come in the russian need not take the mill, just disrupt its operations, perferably from the inside. You still need to capture a prisoner.

If playing 2 person the german should not know the russian objective. For the "Raid" scenario there is only a 33% chance that it is a prisoner snatch otherwise it is just to disrupt the opreation for at least 4 turns of fire and give more casualties than taken.

Enjoy

Joe

LZ Hotel

Just finished reading Charlie Don't Surf. Wanted to try out Di Di Mau and Critical wounds so stopped my "3 battles for Hue" and went with a standard sweep. The standard sweep scenario will actually be in "Middle of Nowhere" which will be the asymetrical warfare expansion to Platoon Forward. This platoon was used 2 posts ago if you want to catch up.

Platoon

Lt McSwain optomisitc Gr II leader

SSgt Davis 1st sq meek Gr III leader and brilliant leader

Cpl Lawrence 2nd sq gambler Gr II

Sgt Colton 3rd sq cunning Gr I

1st and 2nd squad are up morale and 3rd squad is down morale. Also one of the M60 MMGs normally assigned is broken.



Lt McSwain looked at Lt Jaroze with relief as he spoke. " I know you were beat up last battle and lost one of your hogs so I have an easy one for you tomorrow, Ted. All you have to do is secure a small LZ, advance into a hamlet and wait. The rest of the battalion should do the heavy lifting on this one. " The only glitch is you can only land 2 squads at once. There will be one gunship overhead if you need it. There is a buddist school to the left of the hamlet; don't destroy it please. You shouldn't run into too much. Couple of snipers and maybe a VC squad or two.

Battlefield. LZ Hotel is at bottom.

Buddist school is white building upper left

What is your plan LT????

McSwain would land his 2 best squads with his one M60 in tandem. They would quickly advance north with 2nd squad going towards the jungle and 1st squad securing the school. 3rd squad would then land and reinforce whoever needed it.

1st & 2nd squad move out as planned

As the squads advance just like at Benning a MMG opened up from the hill from behind the school. This slowed SSgt Davis' advance. Worse, 2nd squad ran into VC when only 20 yards from the jungle and started taking casualties.

Cpl Lawrence 20 yards from the jungle runs into Charlie
In addition, 3rd squad was delayed for some reason. Lt McSwain got on the horn to Jarose. " Sir, we are taking MMG fire as well as from at least a squad in the jungle. I have WIA. Request the Cobra and my 3rd squad." [ At this point got a random event that brought in a new squad. So Lt Jarose decided to tag along and see what was going on for himself.]

Lt Jaroze arrives and speaks with 1st platoon

Lt Jaroze arrived with not only 3rd squad but with an addiitonal squad as well. The cobra suppressed the MMG allowing 1st squad to advance towards the school. Jaroze suggested that 3rd squad trail 1st and the other 2 squads advance on the treeline. During these discussions the VC advanced on the shaken 2nd squad and killed 2 before Cpl Lawrence hid the survivors in some bamboo.

VC attacking 2nd squad

Jaroze next request artillery to work the jungle over and this was granted. 3rd squad was slow so Lt McSwain moved to speed Sgt Colton up. SSgt Davis made it up the hill but the MMG managed to Di Di Ma and escape. 3rd squad with the LT took up positions in the schoolyard which was unoccupied.

3rd squad in the school yard

1st squad emerges from the hill and scatters VC in the village

After the artillery, 2nd squad and the extra squad entered the treeline again. The VC where still there but had taken 2 casualties. In addition, their LMG jammed.

2nd squad re enters the jungle

With the americans in good cover and artillery available, the VC chose to withdraw. The americans sustained 3 KIA and 6 WIA. The VC 4 KIA and 4 WIA. I called it a draw because the VC were stronger than expected.

After the battle Cpl Lawrence is finally promoted to Sgt. SSgt Davis made an off handed comment about Lawrence taking casualties and the now Sgt Lawrence has taken offense. Consequently Sgt Lawrence dislikes SSgt Davis. This will not help the platoon. Furthermore, due to the heavy casualties the platoon will go short next battle by 2 men. Such is life in the Middle of Nowhere!

Fun game. The VC had 2 random reinforcements which made them stronger than expected. I had 5 random events this game to include a human wave by a VC squad. Most games I get 1 or 2.

US forces as above Only 2 squads land 1st turn. Last squad lands on turn 3 or on the second turn of the reinforcement card. 1 addiitonal squad with a Gr II leader was generated as a random reinforcement. In addtion the Company CO came in; a Gr IV brilliant leader

VC forces that were generated were

1 MMG (50% of starting in a bunker; mine didn't)

3 VC squads (1 with poor morale)

1 LMG (50% of starting in a bunker; mine didn't)

1 gr III leader 1 gr II leader 1 gr I leadre who was hesitant

2 reinforcements were generated to include and additional vc squad with gr II leader and a LMG They entered through the hamlet

Enjoy

Joe

Costly day for the USAAF

Sorry it has been a month since any postings. Had a family reunion and started a new job which has kept me busy. Played several small TW&T games and BTH2 games but took few to no pictures. Did play one B-17 raid this weekend though...

The men of Bomber squadron 222 "Iron Men" shuffled into the briefing hut. Target Kiel. Ingress over land to fool Jerry and egress over water; brilliant thinking?!?! Worst news was BS 222 was to be the low squadron for the group today. Only good news was plenty of P-51s and a smattering of P-47s to cover.

SQ lead Hell's Bell's Ace
Dangerous Curves
Belle of the Ball Rookie
2nd element
Return Ticket Veteran
Queen of the Skies
Miss Jane Rookie

Escort was 6 P-51Ds with 1 ace, 2 veterans, 2 average and 1 rookie
Random event added 2 P-47Ds with 2 Average pilots

Germans spotted US first and came in undetected. P47s trailing and P-51s echeloned to the left of the formation.

German force consisted of
6 FW 190 A8 R6s (the armored guys with 30mm cannons 3 Vets 1 Avg and 2 green covered by 2 ME 109Ks both average.

Iron Men flying with escort

Unfortunatly the first sign of trouble was when Sgt Singleton, the tail gunner of Miss Jane, called out bandits 6 o'clock high closing in fast!

4 P51s quickly split S'ed to engaged the 3 fighters attacking Miss Jane while 2 provided top cover.

Embarresed P-51s come roaring in!

Miss Jane took enough wing damage that she fell out of formation. The P-51s drove 1 of the armored attackers off but Jane was now in trouble. She next lost her top turret and waist gunner. Finally her number 3 engine exploded; 4 parachutes were counted.

The other 3 FW 190s fell upon Queen of the Skies. Their cannon were too much and she succumbed before fighters could show up with 8 parachutes counted. They then moved onto Return Ticket. Cannon fire also managed to knock her out of formation. But by this time the P-51s were making things too hot for the FW 190s and they decided 2 bombers was good enough for today and left. 4 of the 6 FW 190As had significant damage but none were shot down. 1 ME 109K fell to a P-47s guns. No US fighters were lost. On the bomb run Dangerous Curves took a direct hit into the gas tank and exploded with no survivors. The 3 shaken survivors of 222 scored no hits on the harbor. A costly day for the USAAF!

Fun game but pretty one sided. The bounce by the germans set the stage. I also upgraded the FW 190A8 to ROB 3. Will play several more games to see it this works. I used a modified damaged table based on my variant damage table for BTH found in a TFL special. I also used characteristics for fighters that I hope to pen in a future article.

Below are just a smattering of other pictures I have taken receintly

Inspired by Chris' latest Sharp's Practice

Supplement I played a British Pirate game

Had 6 IL-2s bomb some bunkers

The Bomb run

Earlier escort mission; this one in Tunisia.

All 4 P-38s shot down!

Thanks!

Enjoy

Joe