Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Westbury on February 04, 2022, 05:23:55 PM
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A large WWII skirmish with the gang this week, circa 1942, set during the German invasion and Soviet counter attack.
The city scape was pre set and each player could choose 2 elements plus option transport and arrive at one entry point per element. There were two players per side so 4 elements and the entry points were at opposite ends of the main boulevard. Objectives were secure as much of the city as possible by nightfall.
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Both sides chose identically. Both had 3 squads and both had the platoon HQ squad which enabled them to allocate support elements such as sniper teams, mmg's, medics etc. Both sides also chose one transport element to carry their HQ squad. Great minds think alike lol
The Germans allocated two squads to the suburban housing part of the city as did the opposing Soviets, on the main boulevard the remaining German squad took up positions at the barricades and the HQ & its vehicle were deployed out of sight down a side street, the Soviets boldly deployed their HQ and it's vehicle in the middle of the boulevard and the remaining infantry squad down the side street.
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The game was definitely a game of two halves lol
In the suburbs the initial deployment saw one squad each staring down an empty street at each other so not surprisingly they opened up, causing minor casualties but the Soviet casualties included the sergeant, downed as wounded so the corporal stayed to tend his wounds - a bit of a mistake here as it deprived the squad of his leadership and they scuttled off up a side street into the main boulevard, more of them later.
The second squads started in adjoining side streets and so the firing alerted them and they proceeded more cautiously, deploying lmg's and advancing carefully up the street.
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At the Soviet end of the boulevard the lease lend half track tried to keep the abandoned tram between it and the Germans at the other end which partly worked and they were able to get as far as the tram with only minor damage and then debus. The infantry squad (which also had the sniper team) took a long time getting up the street and so the HQ squad did the bulk of the fighting in the early rounds.
The Germans left their infantry squad at the barricades for the whole of the game giving fire support as their transport rounded the corner and opened up causing significant losses to the HQ squad who were pinned without support >:(
The arrival of the Soviet squad from the suburbs meant they took on the burden of the HQ squad but that wasn't quite the plan :( and when the Soviet squad loitering in the side street did arrive the now debussed German mmg hammered them into hitting the dirt temporarily suppressed :'(
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Back in the suburbs it was now two German squads against the one Soviet squad with both sides desperately trying to get into the front yards and away from 'death street' which rather favoured the Soviets. Relief for the Soviets came when the officer elements of the HQ squad darted down a side street to get off the boulevard and used the weight of fire of 3 smg's to even the odds.
Notable actions saw one German sergeant shot off the roof he had climbed 'to get a better look', a pair of Germans causing difficulties from a first floor window being swept away by the massed HQ smg fire, and the German sniper team finally finding a decent position and downing the HQ sergeant.
As night fell over the suburbs both sides held equal amounts of real estate and neither were in any position to do much more in the morning.
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On the boulevard the Soviet infantry squad finally got it's act together and advanced down the street, silencing the German vehicle mmg and deployed mmg and then taking up positions at the steps of the party building, effectively securing it.
The Soviet mess at the tram site had their mmg team either dead or wounded and the nurse also killed in the firing leaving the war photographer to give first aid while the officers exited quietly stage left to help in the suburbs ;)
The Germans at the other end had inflicted some serious damage but had not advanced beyond the barricades and abandoned vehicle thus leaving the important public records building unoccupied.
As night fell here the Soviets were in command of more of the street then the Germans, all be it somewhat battered, so a victory for the soviet motherland was declared.
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A good game in a good spirit which again showed us how difficult and bloody street fighting could be especially when the sides are fairly evenly matched.
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OMG! Brilliant! I would have loved to play in that game!
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As normal Ian a great set up.
I remember doing the barricades, including the boat, but
I had forgotten the tram. :)
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Great looking terrain! What scale? I'd guess 20mm?
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Well, that was fun to read. Wonderful terrain, and great minis. too!
Hmm. Motherland vs. Fatherland, and Motherland wins? Ain't that how it works in most such cases? :D
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Impressive. What rules did you use?
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Super amazing! :-*
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Brilliant looking setup Ian!
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Nice!
Who makes the big apartment buildings? I presume it’s all 1/72.
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Ian might take a while to reply, but in the meantime
I can tell you it is ALL 28mm stuff!
The buildings were all scratch built for him. He'll have to say
who did it as I can't remember the guy's name.
The rules will, no doubt, have been Ian's own (he is a prolific
rules writer) which were published in a series of Wargames
Illustrated some time back, again Ian can fill in the details.
I'll tell him you guys are asking. :)
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I thought the street scenery was amazing, but 28mm!! :o. That is astonishingly good and a great write-up.
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Thanks for the positive comments all and thanks to Pete for being 'official spokesman', he's right, I'm not on very much, too busy writing rules lol
So,
The rules are our own, tried and tested over many years of play, an original version was published in WI quite a few years back.
The scale is 28mm - is there any other scale? :) ;)
All the buildings and the two foot square boards they're based on were done by Dave Marshal of TM Terrain back in the day when I had a well paid job and spare cash for indulgences :) lol
As an aside, I would consider parting with the layout but it would have to be a very serious offer :)
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but it would have to be a very serious offer :)
I could give you a 'very serious offer'...
It would be VERY low, but it would be serious. lol lol lol
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Hilarious as always Pete ::)
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Just to say if any of you do fancy that terrain, it is FANTASTIC !
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Truly great looking terrain and minis to fight over and with.
Thanks for sharing your pictorial battle report.
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Those apartment blocks are very impressive Ian. I think that street fighting layout would lend itself to a multiplayer game with an umpire with lots of little actions going on at the same time.
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Those apartment blocks are very impressive Ian. I think that street fighting layout would lend itself to a multiplayer game with an umpire with lots of little actions going on at the same time.
1) They ARE impressive in 'the flesh'.
2) An easier task to Umpire would be to have a
battle script, for the overall situation, then have
several players each take a character in ONE squad.
The Umpire would tell them just what they could hear,
& show (i.e. put on the table) only what they can see.
e.g. 'You hear the sound of several AFVs moving...'
and at the same time places several German inf. coming
around the St. corner.
3) I ain't volunteering to be that Umpire lol lol lol
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Beautiful looking game Ian. Gorgeous buildings, and all integrate for a wonderful display. But what is this - feeling the need to generate some more shelf space to cater for all those phalangites that are being done up?
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That's a helluva nice gaming table! Trams are just :-* :-* :-*
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Pete/James. Yes street fighting games do lend themselves to multi player action (however you do it), we must all get together some time lol
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A moot point young Ian. :D
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A gorgeous game! Thank you so much for sharing your collection! Love the whole layout and the AAR! Seriously impressed it is 28mm. I have always thought 28mm urban games can look "cartoony" with the buildings out of scale and not cohesive. This blows that negative stereotype I have out of the water! Thank you!
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Thanks for the positive vibes all.