Running the Gauntlet

Was invited to a friends VSF wargame - played out using the In Her Majesty's Name rules.

This was suppose to be the 'final part' of an ongoing series of scenarios - naturally things didn't turn out as expected.

The Prussians, and their 'guest', Queen Victoria are hanging out up river at a friendly Sultan's palace. They are awaiting transportation back home. The British are, naturally, attempting to rescue her.

Victoria's Carriage is 'escorted' by a Prussian Heavy Tank and a four-legged 'Walker'.

Up The Pass

It was snowy winter #wargame time again at the weekend. This year's multi-player Colonial game taking a 'Kobayashi Maru' turn.

Afghan tribal warriors, who are lying in wait in snow speckled rough terrain.

It was a replay of Elphinstone's 1842 'Retreat from Kabul' disaster, and all the players got to be British officers.

Battlegroup Torbruk

A game of Battlegroup Tobruk

The first time most of us have played a game from this rules family.
British vs Italians, but with the British constrained in the amount of ammo they had to wrestle the objective off the initially weak Italians.

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The most effective anti-tank weapon proved to be the artillery which was brought up from their original positions on the ridge. The Italian tankettes did provide some opposition, as did their heavier armour on the opposing ridge line. concentrating their fire on the artillery positions prior to their destruction as the British Matildas moved slowly forward.

The British were rapidly running out of ammo but managed to suppress all the remaining Italian armour, so effectively they would (with decent dice rolling) get a free turn to move closer, and greatly improving their chances in what would have been a final round of fire. The game got called prior to this as the Italians conceded.

The infantry didn't get to play much of a roll in this game, with only the Italian unit holding the objective being active.

The game was quick paced despite being a bit table heavy, with favourable comparisons being made by the participants to both Bolt Action and Rapid Fire.
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Very British Bridge

Something a bit different as Ben brought out his 1930's 'Very British Civil War' figures and rules which were modified from the VSF 'In Her Majesties Name'. In the VBCW setting, the country has gone to pot after the non-abdication of King Edward VIII.

A convoy of BUF vehicles are attempting to cross a bridge, the checkpoint being manned by some Bobbies, who have also called in help from some Home Defence Volunteers. To make things less one-sided there are also various units of communists lying in ambush.

Stuck Truck Ruck

Two more games of TMWWBK's, once again set in East Africa during the Great War, with the first scenario being very lopsided and over quickly, and the second lasting a bit longer and a very close finish.

The first game was already under way when I got to the Hall, A truck is stuck in the middle of the table and the two unit of British defenders have to wait for reinforcements to help them out as the enemy approaches.

Stuck in the Middle

Back to East Africa and another trial game of TMWWBK in the Great War. Set up by Dave M to test the artillery rules and to get a few more players involved.

A German led force is stuck between two British led groups ( Askari and Indian based respectively ). Naturally enough things didn't quite go as planned.

Would be African Kings

A game of The Men Who Would Be Kings, but transplanted from it's usual colonial period forward to East Africa during the Great War, an often forgotten about theatre of that war. Dave M supplied the rules and figures.

A scenario straight out of the book with two balanced forces, of British and German led troops, trying to make their way across the table and 'Just Passing By'.

Colonial Impetus

Something a bit different as Matt coverts the Baroque version of the Impetus rules to cover 19th Century action in the Sudan. Matt digs out his British and Mahdists, which are currently based for Principles of War.

Squeeze

Fistful of TOWs in an early WW2 setting. French trying to hold a river crossing from a German assault, waiting for assistance from the British who are finishing off their tea.

The Germans make swift advance down the table but the German off table artillery suffer loses from counterbattery fire, losing 2 of its three elements.

The British reinforcements turn up to the Germans rear on the right, first a couple of Recce units but soon followed by some proper armour in the shape of A10 and A13s. A French force of 6 CharBis appear on the Germans left flank, as more British armour pours in.

Just in time, the Germans get some reinforcements in the form of some self-propelled guns.

The German attack into the village becomes more frenzied with the slow crawling approach of the CharBis worrying them somewhat.

Finally, the French battalion breaks giving the Germans victory.

(This has been retroactively published a few years after the event based on an old draft, hence no images and scant details)
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Battle of Presque Isle

It was time for this years St Georges Day (or thereabouts) game. This time its Naval as the Royal Navy take on the US on Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The British objective is to destroy the two currently unarmed American warships, the Lawrence and the Niagara, at anchor near Presque Isle. Both had been unladen of weaponry to enable them to cross the shallows to entry the lake.

Game is being played with Martin's Naval Rules for 1812, which he's been refining for the last couple of years.

Sharpe's 'Sharp Practice' Practice

Matt breaks out his skirmish troops from his Napoleonic forces again, but this time to play a rule set that he's just bought, 'Sharp Practice' by Too Fat Lardies, rather than his home-brewed ones. It's a character driven set of rules, with the 'Big Men' being all important in managing the troops.

From Furness Wargamers in Shakos

Tel, Dave M and Jim are the Honourable French. Keiron, Tony and S.O.Else, the Perfidious Rosbifs. A 'Big Man' each, plus one extra to command the forces, Kieron and Dave M doubling up respectively.

With only Matt having the rules, and himself having never played them, he took on the role of referee\rules lawyer. A simple scenario, capture and hold the four buildings on the table, with those holding the most winning.

Sharpe's Shooters

Another trial of the Skirmish rules after last weeks first run through.

Once again a 'find the lady' scenario, but with the British defending a village and the French assaulting.

The hiding place of the Lady was chosen so as to only have one way in or out. With an internal barricade and Harper with his volley gun at the ready, any Frenchman trying to seize her would be in for some unpleasantness.

French moved in from one side in a two pronged attack. This forced the Riflemen to rush across the village to help out the regulars holding two of the buildings on that side.

A couple of shots from the upper windows of hard-point took down a Frenchman who had previously survived a volley from three others.

After a couple of bad turns of melee, that saw the regulars forced away from the walls they were defending, it looked like the British had chance for revenge. The Riflemen could now pile in and change the odds, bashing the French back in what was the last act of the game.
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Sharpe's Standoff

It's nearing dawn in a Spanish village, and the French commander is interrogating a young lady, believed to be a spy for the nearby British. Little are they both aware of a daring rescue attempt being orchestrated outside by a certain Captain Sharpe.

From Furness Wargamers in Shakos

Terrain, figures and rules supplied by Matt, who has spun off these rules from his home-brew Napoleonic big battle rules so that he can make use of his singly based skirmisher figures. Tel leading the British as Tony plays the defenders.

Blitz Again

A 1940 scenario, with the familiar story of a German assault to try a split the French and British lines. Tony and Tel are the Germans, Jim is the defending British, with Mark as B.E.F. reinforcements and Matt as the French.

Played out at 6mm and using the hex based system as devised by Dave M. This was used extensively in the past, but long enough ago so that everybody had by now forgotten how to play. In these homebrew rules units are rarely lost forever, but it takes time to regroup and at 1/3rd losses no offensive actions can be taken till back up to strength.

From Furness Wargamers in Tanks

Sepoy Siege

A siege scenario as the British and their Sepoys try to force their way into a city before native reinforcements can turn up. Most of the game consisted of bombardment and digging defences. Jim as the defenders, Tel as the attackers.

From Furness Wargamers in Shakos

After a period of battery on battery artillery duelling, which eventually forced the Indian heavy guns off the wall, the building of the siege lines outside the city began in earnest, with the first line constructed just within range of the walls as the British attempt to create a breach.

Road to Waterloo

Another test game of the proposed 'Waterloo' rules, with the French, consisting of Tel and Tony, assaulting a village defended by the British and Spanish of Martin and Jim. The village spans a river, crossable by troops but with a bridge in place for easier crossing.

Victory conditions are simple... who ever holds the village at the end of the game is the winner.



From Furness Wargamers in Shakos

St George's Talavera

The annual big near St. Georges Day game. This year was the Battle of Talavera in 28mm.
All figures provided by Matt.

From Talavera 2012