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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: TacticalPainter on 03 September 2023, 08:27:18 AM
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Time for a new campaign with Chain of Command - in fact time for two. We plan to run two of the Pint Sized Campaigns from Too Fat Lardies that revolve around Operation Epsom in Normandy. They are not directly linked but the results of one do have implications for the second.
We start with Operation Martlet with the British attacking and then in The Scottish Corridor the roles will be reversed and the British will be attempting to fend off a German counterattack.
As always there's a bit of preparation to do and a few extras bits and pieces of terrain to pull together before we start. So, not an AAR as such, but a primer on getting ready for the campaign which you can find here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/08/getting-ready-for-operation-martlet-and.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/QpYkmg.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmQpYkmgj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/FH0NC7.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnFH0NC7j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/rbDJoV.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmrbDJoVj)
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Right, we're off and the first scenario has been played. Let's say the campaign opens with a bang, but perhaps not the sort of bang I was hoping for. The full AAR is here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/09/operation-martlet-scenario-1-probe-into.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/TJXceC.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poTJXceCj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/bEO4zE.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pobEO4zEj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/XZGyvf.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poXZGyvfj)
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Hot on the heels of the first game we played the second. Surely the British could do a better job getting through the mist this time, couldn't they? The full AAR is here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/09/operation-martlet-scenario-1-probe-at.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/pqrr2W.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnpqrr2Wj)
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Looking and sounding great!
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This looks great Tac, thank you for posting - looking forwards to how this plays out (I’m still trying to find a regular opponent!)
Andrew
BeneathALeadMountain
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Superb stuff!
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Gorgeous terrain.
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Lovely reports and battles. So the Brits are 1-1 (which of course means so are the Germans...).
It'll be interesting to see what happens next...
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Another interesting campaign. Please keep it up. :)
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We move on to Scenario 2 and the third game in the campaign. The mist has lifted and so British deployment is no longer so unpredictable while the Germans still suffer the effects of that heavy pregame barrage. Can they deploy effectively and hold back the British. Full AAR here: http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/09/operation-martlet-scenario-2-pushing-on.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1280x1024q70/922/Wu1wAW.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmWu1wAWj)
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Another interesting tactical game.
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Took us a while to get back to this campaign with a number of real life events getting in the way.
The British continue to push on into the village of Fontenay in their attempt to drive out elements of 12th SS. This is the fourth game in the campaign and you can read the full AAR of that game with many more pictures here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/01/operation-martlet-scenario-3-attack-on.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/mwmJ7s.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmmwmJ7sj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/yFR94E.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poyFR94Ej)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/3kuPkA.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pm3kuPkAj)
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Great looking games :-*
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Cracking stuff again. Appreciate the amount of effort that goes into your AAR's and the preamble on terrain along with your other blog posts has been a huge source of inspiration - thanks!
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Again a nail biter. Thanks for posting.
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Cracking stuff again. Appreciate the amount of effort that goes into your AAR's and the preamble on terrain along with your other blog posts has been a huge source of inspiration - thanks!
Got to agree. Another excellent AAR and great write up and photos. Your mortar rules sound interesting as well
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Got to agree. Another excellent AAR and great write up and photos. Your mortar rules sound interesting as well
Thanks, much appreciated.
The mortar rules are a set of play test rules that have been used by the Lardies and the players at their club, so not my rules as such. I suspect if there’s ever a 2nd edition of the CoC rule book this or some further variation of it may form a revised barrage rule.
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Cracking stuff again. Appreciate the amount of effort that goes into your AAR's and the preamble on terrain along with your other blog posts has been a huge source of inspiration - thanks!
Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say so and much appreciated. It is a bit of work, but also a labour of love, so good to know others enjoy it.
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Excellent as always, thanks for taking the time to post the AAR. :)
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Fantastic looking games! Incredible AARs!
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We now reach scenario 4 and the farm at St Nicholas. Historically this is a far as the attack got, can my British do any better and try to evict the Germans? It's a tough looking table for an attacker with a lot of open ground and few covered approaches. The full AAR is here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/01/operation-martlet-scenario-3-striking.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/szackO.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmszackOj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/Z8NyqM.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmZ8NyqMj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/4XCknE.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/po4XCknEj)
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Lovely stuff as always - a fine Sunday morning read with a cup of coffee.
Thank you for these reports and all the effort that goes in to them.
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Lovely stuff as always - a fine Sunday morning read with a cup of coffee.
Thank you for these reports and all the effort that goes in to them.
Thanks, glad you are enjoying them.
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Very interesting. Good (and smart) tactics by the British won the field, but they'll have to deal with that German platoon at some point...
Looking forward to the next installment!
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Very interesting. Good (and smart) tactics by the British won the field, but they'll have to deal with that German platoon at some point...
Well, yes and no. British mission is to get to Rauray quickly, so technically fighting them is not compulsory, but yes, you’re absolutely right, at some point they’re going to have to dig their heels in and try to stop me. I think one of the key issue for the Germans is the brittleness of their platoon, they really can’t afford too many casualties unless there’s a significant pay off in terms of damaging the British or delaying them.
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Excellent AAR once again, I really enjoy reading them and imagining how things would go!
Great to see that the Germans deployed very quickly for once and they really put up an impressive line of fire. I kept wondering how much support they had, committing their assets all to the orchard. Had my fingers crossed for a Pak40 appearing on the "empty" flank to deal with the Firefly!
It's an interesting campaign, because as you said, Germans feel really brittle and close to being overwhelmed by massive British support choices, but it still can go either way on the tactical level!
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Excellent AAR once again, I really enjoy reading them and imagining how things would go!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
Great to see that the Germans deployed very quickly for once and they really put up an impressive line of fire. I kept wondering how much support they had, committing their assets all to the orchard. Had my fingers crossed for a Pak40 appearing on the "empty" flank to deal with the Firefly!
It's an interesting campaign, because as you said, Germans feel really brittle and close to being overwhelmed by massive British support choices, but it still can go either way on the tactical level!
Dave made an interesting choice with his support relying almost exclusively on fortifications - four entrenchments for his LMG teams, a tank scrape for the PzIV and he strengthened the farmhouse. Had it been me I would have gone for another PzIV or a Pak 40 and then had one to cover each side of the road. It was what I was expecting, but once I realised he had committed everything to the farm I was prepared to go out around the flank.
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Great looking tables
Cheers
Matt
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The Germans launch the Punch from Wunsche, an armoured counterattack from 12th SS Panzer Regt in an attempt to drive the British from St Nicholas farm. This puts the British on the defensive for a change. Can they hold off Wunsche's Panthers? It won't be easy. Full game report here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/02/operation-martlet-punch-from-wunsche.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/QMnxzQ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnQMnxzQj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/Sruniw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnSruniwj)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/9MzXNK.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pn9MzXNKj)
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Another nail-biter! :o
I don't think my nerves can take much more of this, but please keep on posting.
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Fantastic AAR once again, it's absolutely great to read and watch as things unfold, always wondering what oneself would have done différently!
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Another nail-biter! :o
I don't think my nerves can take much more of this, but please keep on posting.
LOL, to be honest my blood pressure was definitely higher towards the end (in the best possible way), a very tense game.
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Fantastic AAR once again, it's absolutely great to read and watch as things unfold, always wondering what oneself would have done différently!
Thanks, that’s a very satisfying comment to read as my main aim has always been for the reader to be able to follow the action and decision making, and perhaps ponder what they might have done differently. When I started writing the AARs it was partly in response to my frustration at reading other AARs where I couldn’t follow what’s happened and end up none the wiser, other than knowing which side won.
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These are great AARs. Really tense and show the narrative strength of the CoC rules off very well. Table looks excellent as well. Very impressive 👍
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Oy! Now that was a fight! Well done, lads!
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The British are within two games of a major campaign victory but can they pull it off? They have a tough table to attack and the Germans are bound to have a say in the matter. This is game seven in the campaign and the full AAR is here https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/02/operation-martlet-scenario-5-winning.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/iipCNZ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poiipCNZj)
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Thanks for posting, another enjoyable read. Look forward to the next instalment. :)
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Great report as always. With the terrain as open as it is, could the British launch a night attack? If not how about some air support.
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Always great fun reading your reports.
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Man, tough nut for those Brits. Great report, in any event!
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Great report as always. With the terrain as open as it is, could the British launch a night attack? If not how about some air support.
Historically time was of the essence, they had to reach Rauray before Operation Epsom started. As for air cover, the table is approx 240 yds long so danger close would prevent that. They have now outrun their artillery support to some degree other than the battalion mortars.
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Great campaign I'm enjoying each little segment :)
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After seizing the initiative after their victory in the last game the Germans mount a local counterattack and so we return to St Nicholas Farm. The Germans will succeed in delaying the British for at least one campaign turn which makes their chance of an outright campaign victory less likely (but not impossible). The full game report at the link http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/03/operation-martlet-german-counterattack.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/vh43Yd.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnvh43Ydj)
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Great result for the German commander. Another good AAR. Thanks guys.
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Another great write up!
I’d have thought you’d have learned your lesson from the last game in gambling on your supports. Don’t play Dave at poker whatever you do!
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I was starting to miss your battle reports, thanks, a nice display of power by the Panzergrenadieren!
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Thanks for posting - not the quick show of force you thought then.
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Thanks for posting - not the quick show of force you thought then.
Nope, got that one completely wrong, didn’t I? D’oh!
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Oh my gosh that was devastating. :o The German Commander totally second guessed you. Good luck next game!
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The Germans continue their counterattack and the British find themselves back at Fontenay desperately trying to recover their momentum in this campaign. Can they beat back the Germans and return to the attack to salvage what they can from the campaign? Full report here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/04/operation-martlet-german-counterattack.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/vdAgVf.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnvdAgVfj)
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Really nice looking table!
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Agreed, gorgeous game!
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Great table & great AARs. Well done on both fronts. :)
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We now reach the penultimate game in the campaign. The British return to the offensive and must try to drive the Germans from St Nicholas farm. If successful by the end of the campaign they will have at least salvaged something. So we return to the farm, the scene of much fighting already. The full game report is here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/05/operation-martlet-return-to-st-nicholas.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/BLyJD4.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poBLyJD4j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/EcO3BX.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnEcO3BXj)
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Excellent as always, thanks for taking time and posting AAR
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Wow! More thrilling stuff. :)
And it all started so well for the Brits. :?
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Man, it seems the British can't catch a break, can they? Oh well. If I read it right, they get one more crack at salvation?
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The final game of Operation Martlet sees the campaign finish with a bang (several in fact) and ends on a high note. It's been very engaging with more than a few twists and turns. Here's the AAR of the final game:
http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/06/operation-martlet-last-push-for-st.html
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/le41QW.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pole41QWj)
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Wow! Knife edge stuff sure enough. Thanks for posting.
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I was getting very tense in my seat reading that.
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Fantastic AAR with the outcome poised to go either way until the very end. Good luck with the next campaign.
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Excellent and inspiring stuff as always. Many thanks for posting these. Looking forward to the next one.
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What a hard fought battle. Very nice battle report. You really convey how tense the game was.
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wonderful battle report, fought to the last man!!
I already saw it in some older posts of yours, but the model of the collapsed building is a touch of class 8)
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Holy crap! The British squeaked one out... :o
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Thanks to everyone who followed along and took the time to post comments here, hopefully you enjoyed the ride. It was quite a campaign with plenty of twists and turns right up to the last game, you can’t ask for more than that!
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Enjoyable read as always and looking forward to next AAR. Thanks yet again for taking the time to write these reports up.
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What a fantastic campaing, I think my favourite so far! The attention to detail and the very athmospheric way of telling the stories of these battles is what got me into reading these in the first place and I enjoy it so much.
I love the way you set up these pictures for us to see and the home made markers are such a nice touch (the medic pouch with bloody rools of bandages for example) :-*