The Cassinga Raid, 4th May 1978 (My Demo Game for 2019/2020)

[Jemima Fawr]

This is impressive, I'm looking forward to seeing you with it at Newark. I've tried gaming the similar Rhodesian cross border raids, the problem I found was making it interesting for the terrorists and keeping it fairly historical. Not much fun dying in droves against a seemingly invincible enemy.

Yeah, it's a tricky one.  My most comprehensive hoofing in a wargame was an Angola game, as recounted here: http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/08/12/operation-colosseum-angola-1986/

The trouble is that casualty rates like those were fairly common, so it can be difficult to create an interesting game.  I think the secret lies in VPs - it doesn't take much for an insurgent to turn a military disaster into a political victory (which was Cassinga in a nutshell - it was a military disaster for SWAPO that trashed their ability to launch raids into SWA for over a year, but politically it was one of the most disastrous PR own-goals ever scored by the South African regime).  Games such as Force on Force represent this very well and I'm just looking through FoF now to get some ideas for VP levels...

[Jemima Fawr]

Well done. I hope to see it 'in the flesh' at Reading.
I too remember the WRG paper square para drops. It does recreate the chaos
that such events would have had. My first wargaming opponent (Steve O'Leary) put on a demo
game with his younger brother (John), so I could see these 'new' rules in action.
It was his Airfix Germans trying to cross the Airfix Bailey bridge with his brother's,
you've guessed it, Airfix British. The attempted Blitzkrieg rush by two (scratch built)
sidecar combinations (Airfix didn't,& still don't do sidecars, but he used the wheels
from some spare Airfix Roman chariots & the crew were Airfix) failed & he threw in his
Paratroops (each lovingly converted, as at the time Airfix didn't do them).
The drop was with the paper squares, and was a complete failure. Some landed in the
river, some off table (and were gobbled up by the pet dog) One very unlucky individual
dropped right in front of a British trench which held a full section & LMG. Game over.
Fond memories.

Fantastic!

Yes, they've always been bloody good fun.  I've also done Pegasus Bridge games with my cadets, where they wrote on a piece of A4 paper what was being carried by a particular glider, then turned that paper into a paper-aeroplane and threw it at the table... 

[Roo]

Try an Elefun for paratroop deployment as in the Last big VBCW game in Herefordshire...

[Roo]

Oh and a fantastic set up, which is what drew me here in the first place...😉

[Jemima Fawr]

Oh and a fantastic set up, which is what drew me here in the first place...😉

Cheers Roo!  And I don't care what the Hereford lads say about you; it was never proved and you're ok with me...

Anyway... Elefun...?!

[Jemima Fawr]

Try an Elefun for paratroop deployment as in the Last big VBCW game in Herefordshire...

OK I've googled it... Very VBCW... 

Now where can I get one in time for Warfare...? 

[juergen c. olk]

Holysmokes what a setup outstanding.

[Jemima Fawr]

Cheers Juergen! 

[flatpack]

Saw this at Reading yesterday.
Fantastic presentation, very professional.
How think am I, as I’d followed your posts and hadn’t realised it was all in 15mm doh.
Well done, and keep up the good work.

[has.been]

'how THINK am I'
Been at the cider again Bob?

[Blodwin]

Saw the game at Warfare - simply beautiful 

[flatpack]

Think I’m thick

[Jemima Fawr]

You must be thick... You think I'm professional?!!!! 

[Jemima Fawr]

Saw the game at Warfare - simply beautiful 

Cheers Blodwin!  I hope we met?

I was the middle-aged, balding fat bloke...

OK, that doesn't exactly narrow it down, I know...

Anyway, it seemed to go down well...  #smug #insufferable #wifedoesntgiveasingleshit

[mjkerner]

 it doesn't take much for an insurgent to turn a military disaster into a political victory

Or Tet. 

Great game set-up!