Anti-Partisan scenario in Yugoslavia

[Sakura]

Now that the regulations and rules relating to the pandemic are being relaxed it has become possible to stage games involving more than two players.  The game this week was a Bolt Action 28mm scenario with a mixed Axis force attempting to eliminate a group of partisans somewhere in Yugoslavia in 1943.  The table was at least 75% wooded and an elevated plateau dominated the centre of the table.  A single road ran around three sides of the plateau.  Victory points would be achieved by eliminating enemy units.

Both sides had the option of holding back part of their force as a reserve in the case of the partisans or as a flank march in the case of the Axis.  Partisans could begin Hidden and unlike others were allowed to Run in the woods.  Rather strangely, Bolt Action rules would have you place Hidden units on the table,  but I prefer to maintain some "fog of war" by keeping them off until spotted.

In the event all the partisans were marked on a map and many of them were placed in Ambush near the edge of the woods.  The Axis armour, a Bulgarian R35 tank and a German Sdkfz 222 set off cautiously along the road, the cavalry flank marched and the infantry headed for the plateau.  Here the Gebirgsjager were expected to be in their element.  They scaled the heights quickly enough but were then engaged in a firefight which saw their numbers dwindling faster than the partisans who became confident enough to charge their opponents and see them off.  Elsewhere on the plateau two companies of Bulgarians engaged one of partisan companies and eventually defeated it.

The armour delayed its advance to assist the Italians who were pinned down by a partisan MMG and were therefore unavailable to support the cavalry when they completed their flank march.  The leading Cossack company was duly ambushed and destroyed but the partisan AT team were also destroyed after they failed to hit the armoured car.  The demise of the armoured car was delayed only briefly as the victorious partizan company assaulted it.

At this point the Axis players admitted defeat as they were running out of troops while the partisans still had reserves to call upon.  On reflection either the partisans had too many units or the Axis forces had too few.  The main thing was that all the players had enjoyed their evening.

Figures from Warlord, Crusader, Great Escape Games and West Wind.  Tank from Solido.  Armoured car from Warlord.  Buildings from Sarissa.

[has.been]

Nice looking game.

reflection either the partisans had too many units or the Axis forces had too few

Every commander thinks he is out-numbered.
Abraham Lincoln was once asked if he had any idea as
to the number of troops the Confederates had. He said
that he knew for a fact that they had two million men
under arms. When asked how could he be so certain,
he replied that I know we have one million, & every one
of my commanders tells me that he is out-numbered
two to one.

[MaleGriffin]

Nicely done!