ACW 2 Fire in the Valley campaign: Game 5

[Skrapwelder]

Last Friday we played our fifth game in the Second American Civil War campaign. This game was a "switch sides and re-fight". The factions fighting for the Constitutionalist side were the local chapter of Minutemen and a the Constitutionalist Militia centered around the Veterans Association of the Central Valley and the local Stalinists. On the Nationalist side were elements of the 11th Cavalry Regiment, the local Citizen's Vigilance Committee, a mechanized infantry section of Trotsky's 4th Internationale, and the first appearance of the Capay Valley Regulators. The location of the fight is a Constitutionalist ammo dump in the hills Southwest of Esparto, California.

Setup for the game:

The Constitutionalist depot was positioned at the top of a slope littered with scrub trees and loose rock. Troops attacking were limited to half movement all the way. The only real benefit would be the abundance of light cover. A switchback trail cut across the table leading to the depot.

The Nationalist forces could come on the table at the low end and by coming up the trail. The majority of the force came up the trail in an attempt to roll the Constitutionalist right flank hard and fast and then deal with any further resistance from a strong point in the rough terrain.

The Constitutionalist forces were arrayed in three sections: 2 artillery pieces defending the top of the hill, several infantry units in the light woods at the base of the hill and the bulk of the infantry positioned in the rocky hills between the depot and the trail.

Photos of the battle:


The opening move: Nate armor pushes up the trail and tries to flush out the enemy with high explosive reconnaissance by firing into what we hoped were enemy positions. The recon by fire was fairly successful in that we managed to pin an unseen unit before it had time to activate.


The Consti's artillery opens fire on the Nate tanks.


A unit of Minutemen on the Consti side dash out of cover and attempt to get into a group of trees that would be closer to the attacking Nationalists and still provide some cover.


The McClatchy Newsboys break cover and launch a very well targeted grenade attack against the Nationalist Liberty tank.


While the fire was accurate it was less than devastating. Three solid grenade hits did little but offer some smoke cover when it came to check the damage charts.


Fourth Internationale troops push up the center in a truck borne assault.


Troopers of the 11th Cavalry support the Vigilance Committee's newest acquisition: A Russian T-28 tank.


The Armored cars and light tank of the 11th took a left turn into the woods and caught the Minutemen in the open. The Scout cars made quick work of the infantry, destroying the unit in a close assault.


The newsboys press on, landing three more grenade hits on the Liberty tank. Damaging a Machine gun and making more smoke. The Liberty had a hard maiden cruise, jamming both its cannon at least once each and having similar trouble with its machine guns.


The Minutemen had two rifle squads, a heavy machine gun and a mortar team in the rough ground. The HMG took out the motor of second AC of the 11th. The crew debussed and assaulted the nearby mortar team.


A direct hit on the Consti artillery by one of the Nationalist's truck mounted field pieces. For the rest of the game the Nationalist guns tried to hit the other Consti piece positioned nearby but missed every time. All the misses managed to drift over to where the destroyed gun had been.


The Vigilance Committee sets up its machine gun and sniper in the cover of some burnt out scrub.


The left flank of the Consti's starts to come out of the woods at the base of the hill.


The Consti Commandeer made a brave attempt to blow up the ammo dump before the Nationalists could capture it. The 11th's lead AC made sure it was only an attempt.


More Constitutionalist troops expose themselves on the center hill.


The attack up the center pushes on and Constitutionalist units start surrendering rather than be gunned down.


The Lonshoremen arrive. Late for the party but in plenty of time to load crates onto trucks.


Troops of the Mexican Fourth Internationale survey the carnage.

The Constitutionalists have vowed revenge. As a precaution sentries on the boys and baggage have been doubled.

Let the armchair generalship begin!  

[postal]

very very cool man I am going to have to get into some acw2

[leadfool]

The Sacramento Soviet of the Central California Communist Party is proud to announce the award of the "Hero of the Revolution" to Comrade, Arthur Illury.  (Arty to his friends.)  Comrade Illury is awarded this medal for his valiant stand against international Fascism.  This award is unfortunately awarded Posthumously. 
 
Arthur was born in a small foundry town in England, but immigrated here as a young lead lad with many of his mates.  He went to finishing school on the East cost where he acquired his complexion and style of dress. 
 
After transferring to the West coast via little understood process known as "Historicon Flea Market" he joined the communist party of California and soon became known as a real leader, particularly with regard to the use of artillery. He achieved the rank of Veteran-3, and seemed destined for greatness.  However his luck ran out on September 3 when he was gunned down by a dastardly "Black Mouse" armored car squadron.  It took the combined efforts of 4 riflemen, a heavy machine gun and a light machine gun to bring down our comrade.  He was attempting to detonate the supply dump at the time, in order to deny it to the enemy.  For his heroic sacrifice he is awarded this Laurel, Hero of the Revolution. 
 
He will be remembered for at least a week.
 
In related new, the CCCP would like to announce openings in our field enforcement sections.  Recruits need to be fit, strong, clear of purpose and vision.  Owning your own rifle, particulrarly of large caliber a real plus, as is familiarity with explosives or having the last name of Molotov. 


Skrapwelder--great writeup, thanks as always.
 
 

[leadfool]

actually in picture 15 the troops exposeing themselves on the hill are Communists, as evidenced by the red armbands on the left arm. 

Their passion for their cause is not matched with a similar resitance to bullets.  Most of those troops were destroyed in the next turn.

[Driscoles]

Your games with all the vehicles, minis and nice terrain look always great.
I like the Dr. Pepper brewery terrain piece 
Cheers
Björn

[Alfrik]

Since my force had the law enforcement with it the "actually in picture 15 the troops exposeing themselves on the hill are Communists" are all under arrest for indecent exsposure, though during the battle they were exsposed to every size of ordenance..... 

[leadfool]

But officer, you already have them in custody, in your morgue.

[Trooper]

First rate stuff as always. Just love the way this is going, and liking all the different figure types and vehicles. Fantastic effort, I always look forward to the next battle report. Definitely has inspired me to ship out some civil war stuff to the USA and try some action there as opposed to good old Blighty.

[aircav]

Thats brilliant