On The Day, Went The Eagle's Landing Well?

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

To enhance the atmosphere of the game I purchased some hats so that each senile old bugger could remember which side he was on!   

Photo by Doug em4.

L to R: Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien (Doug em4), Staffelkapitän Peter Wilhelm Stahl (Vagabond), Captain Lord Bertram Snapcase (Mad Lord Snapcase).

[Michi]

To enhance the atmosphere of the game I purchased some hats so that each senile old bugger could remember which side he was on!   

Great idea! Admittedly the Luftwaffe hat looks most spiffing on top of that officer and gentleman!

[gamer Mac]

Why does the  Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien look photoshopped?
Looking forward to more photos

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Why does the  Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien look photoshopped?

Caught, red-handed! We spent two days playing this game, wearing our hats and forgot to take a team photo with all three of us in it. Doug photoshopped his elegant physiognomy into this one just so we had a shot of all three of us in hats at DevLAM '18.

    

Admittedly the Luftwaffe hat looks most spiffing on top of that officer and gentleman!

I'm not sure he's a gentleman!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

PART 1 – THE OPENING MOVES

With the issuing of the aforementioned orders, the game was afoot. In the photo below you can see the start positions. Bottom right is the Luftwaffe who had to link up with the Black Shorts top right behind the house with the red roof (Dame Edith FitzPilchard’s house). The Kriegsmarine situated top left, having disembarked from their narrow boat had to meet up with the 5th Column, pictured here bottom left behind the Old Mill. All figures were free to move as they wished with the proviso that the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe would be fired upon by the British if sighted as they were in uniform. The Black Shorts and the 5th Column could move with impunity until some form of offensive act was committed, then that group could come under fire. Both Axis players chose to use this advantage and it was some time before the groups revealed themselves.



A view up Piddling Street showing the Square. A Maplins bus waiting forlornly to transport happy campers to Joe Maplin’s latest venture.



The Kriegsmarine boys take a ‘selfie’ with a view of Much-Piddling in the background.



Prince Phillip and entourage have arrived at Snapcase Hall and the Prince is greeted by Captain Lord Snapcase. Lady Bracknell from the Much-Piddling Women’s Institute is about to be introduced. Sir Douglas D’Emfore, MP for Mid-Devon arrives in his Austin 7 driven by his bodyguard, Sergeant V. A. G’Bond.



The Luftwaffe move out from behind the Cricket Pavilion having decided to open the batting. Led here by Steiner.



The 5th Column start to move out from behind the Mill.



The Black Shorts move unhindered past Futtock’s Garage trying to meet up with the Luftwaffe.



Meanwhile, unaware of the impending danger, the sterling chaps of the Much-Piddling Home Guard have been left to their own devices whilst their incompetent leader entertains minor royalty in the Hall. Barliman Butterbur is serving pasties and scrumpy from his Mobile Pasty Unit, hence the NAAFI van is not doing much business with their offering of tea and ‘stickies’. Seen here are ‘Jonesy’, Walker, Godfrey, Wilson and Pike. Private Scrotum (the Snapcase families wrinkled retainer) has his ‘battle-bowler’ on and Private Michi is in the foreground trying to get the radio to work.



There was some manoeuvering to do for the Axis and not much for the Allies at this point. However, there were one or two surprises in store for the players, of which more later.

To be continued…

P.S. Most of these photos were taken by Doug em4.

[Doug ex-em4]

Why does the  Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien look photoshopped?
Looking forward to more photos

There’s always one, isn’t there.....?

Doug

[Captain Blood]

Love it.

The juxtaposition of U-boat crew and gaily painted narrowboat is hilariously brilliant 

Well done you senile old buggers!

[Michi]

Barliman Butterbur is serving pasties and scrumpy from his Mobile Pasty Unit... and Private Michi is in the foreground trying to get the radio to work.

The only explanation I can accept is that Private Michi has been filled with a proper amount of scrumpy already to even consider doing anything else than consuming pasties and the aforementioned and at the same time "trying to get the radio to work" without the slightest hint of success in his attempt. There is a reputation to loose, you know... 

[SABOT]

Tremendòus. Loving it. 👍

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Love it.

The juxtaposition of U-boat crew and gaily painted narrowboat is hilariously brilliant 

Well done you senile old buggers!

Many thanks, Captain Blood. It was indeed a hilarious four days of gaming. More eccentricities to follow...

The only explanation I can accept is that Private Michi has been filled with a proper amount of scrumpy already to even consider doing anything else than consuming pasties and the aforementioned and at the same time "trying to get the radio to work" without the slightest hint of success in his attempt. There is a reputation to loose, you know...

Michi, I did omit to mention that Private Michi had already won the Home Guard Pasty-Eating Competition and was quietly consuming the gallon of scrumpy that was the prize for the competition! Unfortunately the radio, which could have called for reinforcements from Captain Square (Loose-Chippings Home Guard) was never going to work in this game. The Much-Piddling Home Guard are on their own, facing down the might of the Luftwaffe.

Tremendòus. Loving it.

Cheers, SABOT. "We shall fight in the fields and in the streets".

[Vagabond]

Great idea! Admittedly the Luftwaffe hat looks most spiffing on top of that officer and gentleman!

Michi you are quite right about the officer and gentleman, just ignore the Mad Lord. And I'm sorry I shot you.  At least I think I did.

Gamer Mac - I think you'll find this is a Zaphod Beeblebrox moment rather than Doug's dissembodied head floating in the ether.

[Doug ex-em4]

Michi you are quite right about the officer and gentleman, just ignore the Mad Lord. And I'm sorry I shot you.  At least I think I did.

Gamer Mac - I think you'll find this is a Zaphod Beeblebrox moment rather than Doug's dissembodied head floating in the ether.

OK - that’s enough of the rude comments about my photoshopping - it was hurried job, ok? And all because Vagabond (Officer and Gentleman? - pshwaw and tsk...!) was distraught at the lack of a group show with hats.

Here’s a much better group shot, unphotoshopped and giving due prominence to the correct person:

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Here’s a much better group shot, unphotoshopped and giving due prominence to the correct person

Can't remember why I had stuffed that cushion up the front of me weskit?

PART 2 – THE LUFTWAFFE GET A SURPRISE

The players had spotted a mysterious part of the scenery at the start of the game. The rules stated that they could not lift the roofs of buildings without a figure going inside and scenery could not be examined without a figure in base to base contact. At this point the Pickett-Hamilton forts were in the lowered position but I can only find a photo of mine in the raised position.



The Pickett-Hamilton was designed to be lowered into the ground when not in use. Norman Pickett (one of the designers) was a friend of Donald Campbell and gained permission to build the prototype at Campbell’s workshops.



For this game I had placed two Pickett-Hamiltons and invented an underground stay-behind Auxiliary Unit base of which the Pickett-Hamilton was only a part.



There would be an Auxiliary Unit sniper in each pillbox, activated as follows; the AU sniper has a +1 Shooting and a -1 for cover at all times, even when not in cover. If the sniper is in cover the minus for this accumulates. Moves as normal. The sniper will activate after a uniformed German passes within 5” of the Pickett-Hamilton pill box. If not activated after 6 turns, the sniper will activate anyway.

The Auxiliary Units or GHQ Auxiliary Units were specially trained, highly secret units created by the United Kingdom government during the Second World War, with the aim of using irregular warfare to help combat any invasion of the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany, which the Germans codenamed Operation Sealion. With the advantage of having witnessed the rapid fall of several continental nations, the United Kingdom was the only country during the war that was able to create a multi-layered guerrilla and resistance movement in anticipation of an invasion. The Auxiliary Units would fight as uniformed guerrillas during the military campaign. Service in the Auxiliary Units was expected to be highly dangerous, with a projected life expectancy of just 12 days for its members; along with orders to either shoot each other or use explosives to kill themselves if capture by an enemy force seemed likely. The two best known officers from this period were Captain Peter Fleming of the Grenadier Guards and Captain Mike Calvert of the Royal Engineers.

The first sniper to be activated was Private Seth Starkadder from Cold Comfort Farm as the Luftwaffe contingent moved within 5” of the pillbox. Seth stealthily crept from cover and opened fire. By some very lucky dice-throws, Seth managed to kill Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch and Oberfähnrich Franz Lizst outright.



The Pickett-Hamilton fort can be seen under the tree, top right of the photo. Starkadder is in the ghillie suit, bottom right.

The first two shots of the game and two Luftwaffe down, unfortunately this display of marksmanship was not how the Auxiliary Units continued the fight but more of that later. The Luftwaffe player seemed to take this to heart and there was some gratuitous violence to follow.

To be continued…

[Vagabond]

The players had spotted a mysterious part of the scenery at the start of the game. The rules stated that they could not lift the roofs of buildings without a figure going inside and scenery could not be examined without a figure in base to base contact. At this point the Pickett-Hamilton forts were in the lowered position
The Pickett-Hamilton fort can be seen under the tree, top right of the photo. Starkadder is in the ghillie suit, bottom right.

The first two shots of the game and two Luftwaffe down, unfortunately this display of marksmanship was not how the Auxiliary Units continued the fight but more of that later. The Luftwaffe player seemed to take this to heart and there was some gratuitous violence to follow.

I think you will find that the rules also stated and I quote "All Englishmen are expected to keep a straight bat to the wicket and maintain a stiff upper lip at all times"
There was also some thing about cucumbers but as this is a family forum we needn't go into that now.

Your Goon in a Silly Suit shot poor charming Hanna Reitsch in the back, without provocation or warning, I think it's quite right that the Luftwaffe should wish to extract revenge for this dastardly cowardly and vicious deed. 

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

PART 3 – TRAGEDY FOR THE HOME GUARD

Meanwhile, the Kriegsmarine were out for a lovely stroll along the tow path of the Much-Piddling to Market Snodsbury Canal.



The 5th Column, staying in disguise, move cautiously through the woods towards their rendezvous with Prien and his men. Another Pickett-Hamilton has activated to their left. The occupant, Captain Peter Fleming is waiting until they have passed in order to cause more mayhem.



Unwittingly, I had made the link-up between the 5th Column and the Kriegsmarine somewhat easier than that for the Luftwaffe and the Black Shorts. The Luftwaffe had Cold Comfort Farm between them and the Black Shorts. Cold Comfort Farm was occupied by the Women’s Land Army who were, I hoped, to provide a formidable obstacle. The Kriegsmarine route behind the back of Snapcase Hall back-passages was pretty much out of sight all the way.

The Luftwaffe come up behind the sheep.



The Black Shorts advance through Cold Comfort Farm, much to the disgust of ‘Stiffy’ Pinker and the other girls of the Women’s Land Army.



All is quiet outside Futtock’s Motor Services.



Hearing rifle shots, Sergeant Wilson of the Much-Piddling Home Guard snaps out a crisp order to Private Walker, “I say Joe, would you mind awfully stepping over to that wall and having a look to see what the devil’s going on?” Joe reports back, “Blimey, Germans coming up the main road!”





Zimmermann with his MG-15 takes up position behind the tree with a good view of the road and the approaches to Snapcase Hall. This turned out to be a very useful strategic placing for the MG-15 and caused me no end of trouble.



Zimmermann opens up with his machine gun and the fire proves to be very effective against the stout-hearted boys of the Home Guard. Over a few turns the scene around the MPU turns to carnage as the brave defenders are mown down. Private Michi is the only soldier to have survived the onslaught and is seen here giving return fire. For this solitary delaying action, Private Michi has been recommended for the Military Medal. Barliman Butterbur remains glued to the MPU and is cowering in fear behind his cast iron ovens. Leutenant Sabartovski can be seen on the left sneaking behind a wall trying to get a shot at Michi. In the background, members of the 5th Column are using the confusion to approach the Hall.



Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien makes contact with Joanna Grey, Otto Skorzeny and Liam Devlin. The 5th Column hand over the vital intelligence and the Kriegsmarine are now free to attempt to carry out their mission of kidnapping Prince Phillip from Snapcase Hall.



After disposing of Seth Starkadder in a particularly brutal fashion the Luftwaffe make contact with the Black Shorts. Oberleutenant Schimmel hands over the secret code book to Roderick Spode in the pig sty. In return, he receives the startling news that Spode needs the Ancient Charter of Piddling to become Reichsprotektor.  Currently, the charter is in the safe, located on the top floor of Snapcase Hall. Staffelkapitän Stahl now realises that he must penetrate the interior of the Hall to succeed in his mission.



The Ancient Charter of Piddling.



A rough translation of this ancient document runs as follows:

Do not make me work. The holder of this document has certain rights. The lord's right is his. This allows the holder to have sexual relations with peasant women on their wedding nights. The holder has the right to rule the fiefdom of Much-Piddling. The holder has the right to drive his cows through Market Snodsbury on a Sunday. At Easter the holder may promenade without his nether garments and wave his private parts at spinsters. The holder may wear a leather apron, roll up his trouser leg and dance the pavane at Muckletide. During the time of the Spurge the holder may wear odd socks and extend his cod piece. In July the holder can demand beer from any dwelling whilst the daughter of the house combs his beard. Given under our hand the above named and many others being witnesses, in the meadow which is called Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines, on the fifteenth day of June, in the seventeenth year of our reign. King John.

To be continued…