As part of our holiday festivities we put together a large battle inspired by Turtldove's
How Few Remain.
British and Canadian troops on one side and Americans on the other. The objectives were simple: The British needed to get as many units across the table as possible. A Briitsh unit thet got off the table on the enemy held side was worth twice the victory points that a defeated American unit would garner. The Americans recieved credit for each British unit destroyed or routed back off the table.
We used the Martian Empires rules, converted to 28mm scale.
We had quite a few people attend and everyone had a good time. The battle's outcome remained hard to predict throughout the evening. Just as one side looked about done they would manage a serious reversal and turn the tide of the battle.
In the end the British managed to get less than a third of their force across the table and while they managed to destroy some of the American units it was not enough to claim a victory.
Some pictures from the evening:
The lay of the land. The Americans would start in dug in positions in the hills on the left.
American Regular troops
The less formal troops of the Unauthorized Battalion and their tank,
Bear.British Light Steam tanks, with the Postal Service Rifles close behind, assault the American center.
British latecomers arrive: Cavalry and a Gatling armed velocipede...
...as well as the Heavy steam tank
Hank SancBritish lancers charge the line.
The unauthorized battalion starts moving to roll the British flank
Neither the American infantry nor British lancers prove capable of harm. A condition that will go on for several turns. Meanwhile, the Postal Service rifle units in support of the light tanks get pushed back by rifle fire from the Americans. They reformed quickly and continue to pressure the American line.
The Americans receive some some much needed support from the Liftwood Gun Cutter
Alma GarrettThe British Heavy Tank suffers a steering malfunction and rather than wander aimlessly the commander brings it to a halt to effect repairs. This would prove his undoing as he became the target of heavy fire from the gun cutter, the tank and the remaining Gatling gun.
One British column manages to muscle its way off the board, destroying its American opposition. The remainder of the regiment was having a lie down.
The lancers finally manage to break the infantry, creating a hole through which the remnants of the British force was able to escape.
Thanks everyone for showing up, especially to LAF'er joekano who was in town and came out to play. Always nice to put a face to a name.
Thanks for looking,
Mike