'Black Cat v White Tiger': The First Battle of Bishenpur (Imphal 1944)

[Jemima Fawr]

Another 'blast from the past' game on my blog today - The First Battle of Bishenpur (Imphal 1944), as played at The Tank Museum, Bovington:

http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2019/02/17/black-cat-v-white-tiger-the-1st-battle-of-bishenpur-imphal-1944/

[Truscott Trotter]

Epic looking game with many highlights but I think my favourite unit is the Elephants with spigot mortars - I have to have one in 28mm now! 

[Jemima Fawr]

Epic looking game with many highlights but I think my favourite unit is the Elephants with spigot mortars - I have to have one in 28mm now! 

Cheers!  Yeah, they're a favourite of mine as well.  Martin converted them from Chariot Miniatures Macedonian war elephants.  I couldn't find out much about the unit identity or organisation, but they were definitely on the orbat and were definitely elephant-transported.  Japanese artillery transport elephants (carrying 75mm mountain artillery) were also spotted by 50th Indian Para Brigade during the battle of Sangshak, near Kohima.  In fact in reality, a 320mm spigot-mortar scored a direct hit on a Lee during one of the Bishenpur battles, just as it did in our game.

[Jemima Fawr]

I also gave the nellies a quite impressive close-combat rating as a joke and to see if anyone was paying attention to their unit cards... They weren't... 

[Jemima Fawr]

Some close-ups of the nellies and the mortars if you're interested:

[Hang Tuah]

That's one heck of a board! I really dig the look of those paddies. R Mark Davies would have been proud.

[Truscott Trotter]

Thanks for the close up shots most impressive Nellies
If I had been playing I certainly would have looked to charge with them! 

[Jemima Fawr]

That's one heck of a board! I really dig the look of those paddies. R Mark Davies would have been proud.

Yeah, whatever happened to him?

[Jemima Fawr]

Thanks for the close up shots most impressive Nellies
If I had been playing I certainly would have looked to charge with them! 

The lack of nelly-combat was disappointing, I have to say.

[Hammers]

I am not a big game player but this was one heck of a AAR.  Very exciting and engaging game!

[Jemima Fawr]

Cheers Hammers!