Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Ignatieff on May 25, 2010, 05:35:56 PM
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This was the first battle in The League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers new African Opus – ‘Return to the Heart of Darkness’.
The campaign, which kicked off a month ago, covers East Africa from Abyssinia to the borders of South Africa, and all points inbetween (and Belgian Congo for good measure). It is set in 192?
This game takes place in north east Somalia, on a spit of land known as Ras Hafun, where an Italian garrison was under attack from a Bukharan/Somali alliance.
Bukhara in our game is a fictional central Asian state formed out of the chaos of the Russian revolution. It is a ‘what if’ Enver Pasha had realised his dream of a pan-Turkic nation. In my head it looks and feels like the Republic of Hatay as portrayed in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’.
We are still painting troops for this campaign, which culminates in a four day boon-doggle in my house in early August, so there is a lot of improvisation in this game (e.g. german mortars and british artillery crew portraying Italians and fuzzy wuzzy’s as Somalis). It will, as always, be alright on the night, and I for one cannot wait to get further south!
Hope you enjoy it!
Steve
The Attack on Ras Hafun, or Colonel Corleoni’s Last Stand Italian Brief
You are Colonel Vittorio Corleoni, soldier of the Alpini and scion of an old Piedmontese military family.
You never liked the idea of Somalia as part of the Italian Empire. Unlike say, Libya, where Italy was merely coming back home after an absence of 1,500 years, the Roman Empire never stretched to this barren, godless fly ridden strip of rock on the Indian Ocean.
And now here you are, facing an enormous army of musselmen, all with modern weaponry, and your tiny garrison with its back to the sea......
Objective
Get as many of the civilian population and garrison away on the steamboats as you can to the edge of the seaboard where they will be picked up by Italian shipping.
Three victory points per female civilian, two per male civilian and one per soldier will be awarded for each figure who makes it off the board.
Inflict as much damage of the Bukharans as you can. Rome has demanded that honour be saved by giving ‘The Beast’ a bloody nose. 2 points per enemy soldier killed, 20 points per field gun and/or HMG destroyed, 50 points per armoured car or other military vehicle or machine.
Forces
1 coy of Alpini. 10 figs, T2 M3, rifles and bombs, 1 LMG
1 coy of Arditi. 10 figs, T3 M2, ferocious , rifles and bombs. 1 LMG
1 Lancia Armoured Car T3 M3, 2 HMG’s
1 X 75mm M1911 field gun, T3 M3
2 X HMG’s T3 M3
1 X heavy mortar T3 M3
2 units of armed male civilians, each 10 figs, Irregular M4 armed with rifles, no bombs
1 unit of unarmed females 6 figures, Irregular M5
In addition there is a company of Askaris trying to break through on the Mogadishu road:
10 figs, T3 M3, rifles, bombs and 1 LMG, in trucks/vans.
They are escorting a missed unit of unarmed civilians to safety: 10 x irregular M5’s.
You can designate three buildings or objects to be wired with explosives. These can be detonated at any time there remains an Italian solider on land, and will go off on anything but a 1-2 on 1D6.
The Attack on Ras Hafun, or Colonel Corleoni’s Last Stand Bukharan Brief
Africa!
The commencement of Phase II in your dream of global domination and the implementation of a world-wide moderate Islamic state.
Objective
Secure the port of Ras Hafun which can then act as an initial supply base for your conquest of Africa.
Destroy the Italian defending forces and civilian population to teach the West a lesson.
You will receive 2 victory points for each Italian killed (military or civilian), 50 points for securing the town and 25 points each for securing the two light naval craft in the harbour intact
Forces
2 x 10 man units of Bukharan regulars, T4 M2, stubborn. No bombs
2 x 10 man units of Bukharan reservists, T4 M2. No bombs
1 x 10 man Bukharan stormtroopers, T3 M2, ferocious, bombs, 1LMG
1 X 10 man Bukharan ‘Emirs Guard’, T3 M2, bombs
24 Basmachi irregulars, M3, modern rifles
27 Somali allies, M2 single shot rifles.
2 armoured cars, T3 M3
2 field guns, T3 M3
1 HMG T3 M3
6 rounds of off table HE, tactical 4, MUST BE PREPLANNED BEFORE DEPLOYMENT.
Deployment
Field guns and static HMG’s can deploy upto 12” in. All other troops must deploy onto through the table edge.
Units can deploy onto the left table edge on a throw and with a delay. For each tile add two moves and you need to throw over the units tactical factor, e.g. to deploy on the tile with the brewery, this would take till move 8 and you would have to throw over a units tactical factor.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00541.jpg)
Table view before the game kicked off. Bukharans were attacking from the left down the length of the board. Note the essential umpires malt whisky at the top left hand side of the table!
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00592.jpg)
Julio and Ernesto Bang, a.k.a. the perfidious Bang Brothers, wire a trap for the advancing Bukharans
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00554.jpg)
Opening manourves. The Bukharan plan was thrown into early disarray as 'The Beast of Bukhara' called off with a heavy cold (hardly 'Beast' like behaviour!!) However Sulemin Pasha, an able deputy, stepped into the breach. The idea was to left hook the Italian postion with his best troops, feint on the right, and use the Somali allies in the centre as machine gun fodder. However a surprise was sprung when an Italian motorsied convoy, carrying a compnay of Askaris and two van loads of civilians suddenly burst through the Bukharan lines on the Mogadishu road.
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(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00553-1.jpg)
An early success for the Bukharan off-table artillery saw the pre-planned barrage successfully anticipate that the Arditi would hide a move back from the firing line at the start of the game. First blood to the Bukarans, with 20% of the Italian unit pulverised.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00549.jpg)
The godless Somali hordes, with a little help from Messrs Krupp and Partners, surge forward.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00544.jpg)
The Italian artillery had chosen a well dug in and dominating position on their left flank. This provided essential covering fire for the convoy on the Mogadishu road which was in turn being hotly pursued by a Bukharan Austin Armoured Car.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00558.jpg)
Hot pursuit! Italian Askaris debuss (after their van was shot up) and hold the line
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Cracking stuff as ever!!
Who makes the Ernesto Bang?
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(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00557.jpg)
Things start to turn against the Bukahrans when the main left thrust gets pinned down by accurate Italian HMG, sniper and mortar fire. Here three units cling to hillside for cover
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00559.jpg)
Sulemin Pasha sends forward the Emire's Guard (in red) and a unit fo regulars to take an unoccupied house in the right centre of the Italian lines.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00561.jpg)
Meanwhile the first convoy of 'bella figuras' make it safely to the awaiting motor launch and head out to the waiting ships
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00565.jpg)
Bukharan pressure on the right appears to tell, as the Italians retreat from a key position in the face of a massive enemy surge
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00571-1.jpg)
But all is not as it seems. An Italian trap is sprung and 32 Bukharan figures are caught in a Bang Bros explosion, from which only half survive! Aaaaargh!
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(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00587.jpg)
The Italian sniper showed no mercy
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00575.jpg)
Things go from bad to worse for the Bukharans, who lose both armoured cars in one move. One from mortar fire and one from the field gun.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00568.jpg)
The Alpini await another attack on 'Hotel Mussolini'
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00567.jpg)
Italian civilians, having stalled the Bukharan left hook, slip away to awaiting boats
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00586-1.jpg)
Bukharan veterans storm the sandbagged civilian positions. By this time Italian ammo was running low and the priority was to get the remaining troops to the boats.
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(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00573.jpg)
Bukharan regulars, despite horrendous casualites, close in on the remaining Italian position, 'Hotel Mussolini'
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00574-1.jpg)
The gun crew, having ditched their piece in the ocean, make off to the boats with a gaggle of panicked civilians.
(http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh164/defoix/DSC00589.jpg)
As night fell, the remaining Italians slipped away. Colonel Corleoni had managed to get every single civilian to safety, as well as just under half of the garrison. They also inflicted heavy casualites on the Bukharans. Mussolini claimed a moral victory and vowed revenge. Blackshirt units were readied all over Italy and armoured brigades mobilised. Ras Hafun had fallen, but it was hardly a ringing endorsement of Bukharan tactical genius. The allies then fell to bickering amongst themselves. The Somalis, (understandably) unhappy about being made HMG fodder, attacked the Bukharan HQ, but were repulsed by the Emir's Guard and several hundred rounds of HMG bullets.
Next stop: Mogadishu!
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Who makes the Ernesto Bang?
I thought it was Artizan, but I cant find it on their perenially wonderful 'thrilling tales' site. So, it was either them, Pulp or Copplestone. I'll keep looking....
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Amazing table and a very good script. I´ll keep in touch with the following events...
Somewhere are my askaris..got to paint some more..........
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This was good stuff. Great all around, wonderful pictures, and I love the Mosque and other buildings.
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Another fantastic report on a great battle set up. I am always so impressed by the detail of you instructions and the terrain of your battlefields!
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A great report of a seesaw battle! The figures, vehicles and terrain are excellent!
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Ernesto Bang is by Copplestone, in his High Adventure range, the dinosaur-bone-hunting palaeontologist.
http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/range.php?range=HA
TRULY a WONDERFUL looking table. Great stuff.
Chick
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Ernesto Bang is by Copplestone, in his High Adventure range, the dinosaur-bone-hunting palaeontologist.
http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/range.php?range=HA
TRULY a WONDERFUL looking table. Great stuff.
Chick
I think Svennn means the other mini, of which I am curious to... Could it be an old HLBS figure?
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Great stuff!
Nice courtyard too. Reminds me of Mexico.
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Great Stuff as always. This is the first loss for "The Beast" after a string of victories, right? I guess the only way to beat him is biological warfare!
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Great Stuff as always. This is the first loss for "The Beast" after a string of victories, right? I guess the only way to beat him is biological warfare!
Correct. We'll have to see how extended supply lines take their toll as well!!
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an excellent, once again, post and literature.
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Love the new buildings - and the armed civilians.
No doubt will be seeing more of both in August.
Stauffenberg
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Some lovely eye candy on show as usual. :-* :-* :-*
The buildings are great are they scratch built?
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Table view before the game kicked off. [...] Note the essential umpires malt whisky at the top left hand side of the table!
I say! Sometimes whisky is the umpire.
Another masterpiece from Ignatieff.
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I say! Sometimes whisky is the umpire.
Never a truer word!
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Love the new buildings - and the armed civilians.
No doubt will be seeing more of both in August.
Stauffenberg
Only new thing on show here was the brewery, everything else has been blooded before.
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The buildings are great are they scratch built?
All the arabic style buildings are off of e-bay. The tin roof brewery is Empress miniatures, the mosque on the hill is Hovels, and the white enabssy building is a Gary Chalk scratch build.
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Cracking stuff as ever!!
Who makes the Ernesto Bang?
He's Pulp. Part of 'Cappy Boyd's' crew....
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That's a really fine looking game! :-*
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simply excellent
lots of inspiration o_o
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Spectacular stuff 8)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
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are "Hovels" still producing?
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Perfection Sir :-* 8)
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are "Hovels" still producing?
I hope so, I've just ordered a load of mud huts and palm trees from them!
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Quality, cinematic scenery as ever,
like the idea of the Bhukarans, what style of figures did you use.
dodge
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like the idea of the Bhukarans, what style of figures did you use.
dodge
Mixture of Turks in regular outfits (Copplestone), Turks with fez's (Woodbine) and irregular tribesmen types - infantry and cavalry (Foundry NW frontier and zanzibar types), all led by Alexei Sayle playing 'The Beast of Bukhara' (Pulp 'Istanbul Constabulary')
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He's Pulp. Part of 'Cappy Boyd's' crew....
here it is:
http://www.pulpfigures.com/catcode.php?range=Personalities&code=PHP&number=7&custID=791661961191274881212
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Mixture of Turks in regular outfits (Copplestone), Turks with fez's (Woodbine) and irregular tribesmen types - infantry and cavalry (Foundry NW frontier and zanzibar types), all led by Alexei Sayle playing 'The Beast of Bukhara' (Pulp 'Istanbul Constabulary')
cheers
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Cracking stuff Steve, a joy to read and to go 'Ooo, pretty :-* :-* '
cheers
James
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I say! Sometimes whisky is the umpire.
I was under the assumption that gin, not whisk(e)y, was the Empire, sir.
And this game is another awesome over-the-top piece of work. I die of envy by inches.
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absolutely amazing. Don´t have words. Really top class game and miniatures!!!!! ;D ;D :o
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I was under the assumption that gin, not whisk(e)y, was the Empire, sir.
Not for a Scotsman sir, and we'll be dropping the 'e' thank you very much...
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Not for a Scotsman sir, and we'll be dropping the 'e' thank you very much...
lol
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Cool battlefield,cool figures,and cool report......just cool! 8) 8) 8) 8)
Christopher