Author Topic: 28mm BOLT ACTION: RIVER DON 1943 (Read 4091 times)

bill5549 · « **on:** March 22, 2014, 08:27:39 PM »

On Thursday I went to Hugh Wilson’s for our latest 28mm Bolt Action game. This game is set along the Don River in early 1943 with the Germans and Italians defending against the Soviet Operation Little Saturn. Campbell Hardie and Colin Jack provided most of the figures. Campbell provided the scenario and Hugh Wilson built the excellent terrain.

Soviet airpower over the river

The Soviet army supported by naval troops are attacking across the river. Bart Zynda, Dave O’Brien and I commanded the Soviet troops and Hugh Wilson, Colin Jack and Tim Watson the Axis. Amazingly the game on this first evening was comparatively bloodless. My tank attack on the southern end of the table was seriously delayed by an artillery strike which disrupted most of my troops but at the end of the evening I had suffered no casualties. Dave O’Brien’s armour attack on the northern bank was delayed by abandoned German transport blocking the river road only got into action late in the evening. Bart commanding the Soviet naval troops launched them across the river and they suffered some casualties from the defenders.

River tank in action

Campbell has scratch built a wonderful looking Soviet river tank (armoured gunboat) and this provided the centre point of the game. It was quickly immobilised by an Italian manned 88 on the far bank. However the crew may well repair it as we are using the rules I developed for Vietnam river monitors for the river tank. The Soviet highlight was an air attack which knocked out a PZIII. That was the only AFV knocked out so far in the game.

Soviet infantry and armour regroup

At the end of the evening the game was still very far from decided and we have decided to continue it in 2 weeks time. Once again thanks to Suzanne Wilson for the catering on the evening. All my photos with descriptions at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157642738745305/
Link to my blog at
http://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/28mm-bolt-action-don-river-1943-game.html

pixelgeek · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2014, 08:36:52 PM »

Looks like a fun game

URL to the post for future reference

http://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/28mm-bolt-action-don-river-1943-game.html

von Lucky · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2014, 10:46:18 PM »

Very nice - thanks for sharing. Good to see that Soviet gun boat out for a game.

Gothic Line · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2014, 10:51:24 PM »

Really great!

Asienieboje · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2014, 07:43:14 PM »

And mine relation to the same game:
http://asienieboje.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/river-don-1943.html

Marine0846 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2014, 08:08:59 PM »

Love your setup.
Cool to see the gunboat.

bill5549 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2014, 07:59:26 PM »

This week we played our River Don game to a conclusion. It proved to be a Soviet victory despite the heroic efforts of the Red Airforce who inflicted more damage on their side than the Axis!

Large view of the action. For the River tank we used the damage result chart I developed for Vietnam River monitors. The crew repaired the damage from the first evenings play and got her back into action.

Urragh - an exploding Panzer III at the other end of the table

Fuller report on my blog at
http://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/28mm-bolt-action-don-river-1943-part-2.html

Hugh Wilson will be adapting the terrain for a Vietnam action next. So lots of river craft and helicopters next time.

Mark McDaniel · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2014, 08:29:26 PM »

Very nice!

soldieroftheline · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2014, 09:30:45 AM »

What are those shell splashes made of? Wire wool? (The river ones, not the explosions on land)

Asienieboje · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2014, 02:38:44 PM »

Hugh doing them by himself and I think that they are made of wire wool.

bill5549 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2014, 08:06:19 PM »

Yes the white shell bursts are made from wire wool by Hugh Wilson. They were originally intended for Arctic warfare but they are more normally used as water shell splashes.