Seven Days to the River Rhine

[SJWi]

After a gap of several years I decided to dust off my 15mm moderns and run a game using Great Escape Games' ruleset. I devised a scenario set in the early 1980s with my Dutch reinforcing LANDJUT command against Polish Marines "somewhere in Jutland".

The rules are at the "beer and pretzels" end of the complexity scale, and it proved a bloody engagement. The Dutch got the better of the random "tactics cards" managing to kill some Polish vehicles, whilst Warsaw Pact airpower proved useless.

We played on a 6 x 4' table which is IMHO the minimum size playing area, as weapon ranges are unlimited. Whilst enjoying the game one of my mates still bemoans the lack of any artillery in the rules, particularly as it is a key part of Warsaw Pact doctrine.

We now plan to run a bigger game once we can find a suitable table.

[Deedles]

There are some rules for Arty and other various bits in the FB group ..

It’s something we have added in .

We get a good game on our 12x6

[SJWi]

Thanks. I'll check it out. Nice looking table!

[Lord Raglan]

It’s a cracking game for sure, I only just rediscovered it recently.

[CapnJim]

Nice looking table and minis.  Well done!

We played those rules a few years ago (in 20mm, and on an 8'x5' table), and we made up arty rules that we felt were in the spirit of the game.  Don't recall what we did though...

As I recall, it was a Soviet reinforced tank company (the advance guard) attacking US armored cav in a small town somewhere in Germany in the late 80s...the Soviets almost squeaked out a win, and it was a satisfying game.     

[Khusru2]

I recently bought these rules to use with my H&R WW2 British and Germans. Likely Seven Days to the River Thames or something similar.

[CapnJim]

Actually, Iron Cross is Great Escape Games' WW2 precursor to Seven Days to the River Rhine.  Very similar...

[Rick]

Actually, Iron Cross is Great Escape Games' WW2 precursor to Seven Days to the River Rhine.  Very similar...

They also do a very good WW1 game - 1914 with some similar mechanics, although not many vehicles!
I've had my eye on the Iron Cross rules, I really must get a copy soon.

On the subject of 7dttrR though, one change in the vehicle lists I desperately want to change is to remove 'recce' from the Spartan and add 'APC' with a 5 pt reduction - it makes more sense that way to my mind.

[SJWi]

Rick, I must admit I hadn't notices the Spartan "recce" description, but what you say makes sense. That said looking at various websites they say that it is/was used to carry specialist teams such ATGMs, AA missiles, mortar FOOS and "recce", so I guess it did have a recce function to a small degree.  I think it was developed by Alvis as an APC using the standard CVR chassis and users then had to find a use for such a small troop-carrying vehicle! 

[Rick]

Rick, I must admit I hadn't notices the Spartan "recce" description, but what you say makes sense. That said looking at various websites they say that it is/was used to carry specialist teams such ATGMs, AA missiles, mortar FOOS and "recce", so I guess it did have a recce function to a small degree.  I think it was developed by Alvis as an APC using the standard CVR chassis and users then had to find a use for such a small troop-carrying vehicle!

It was used in the Recce squadrons for the 'Assault Troop' - usually 4 Spartans (occasionally accompanied by a 5th Spartan with GSR if they were available), each with a 4-5 man infantry section which was its only infantry support in most cases. Apart from the occasional Spartan with GSR, which were as common as a Unicorn, I can't think of any role that justifies it having 'recce'. Many of the FO and AFC/MFC roles were undertaken by the Sultan, not the Spartan, as it was fitted for multiple radio and plotting boards. It does seem to be a holdover from the 'Team Yankee' rules where they had their own strange ideas of what vehicles did and did not do, often completely at odds with reality!