Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Action Over the Channel

     We got together in Dale City, Virginia, last Saturday for a game of "Check Your Six" in 1/144 scale set in 1940 over the English Channel.  Our two German players -- Ron and Brian; commanded two Heinkel He 111 medium bombers escorted by four Messerschmidt 109s.  Our two British players -- Ray and Dave, commanded two flights of three Spitfires each.

     Fighter aircraft models -- by 21st Century Toys (sadly, now out of production); bombers, and table from the collection of our host, Ron P.


August 1940 -- British Spitfires patrol the English Channel


The Luftwaffe is up early today -- Target:  England!


Me 109 providing fighter escort to the German bombers


Squadron Leader Ray Flashman, RAF, orders the attack!


Hauptmann Rolland Prill gives the alarm, "Achtung, SPITFIRE!"


German bombers -- He 111s -- bore in with their bomb loads


The Luftwaffe pilots are determined professionals


German fighters prepare to engage the Englishmen


The Spitfires flash by, guns blazing, but the bombers hit their target


Me 109s beat off the British attack


The bombers close up as the Spitfires close in


A Spitfire makes a desperate pass as the bombers turn and head for France


Leutnant Bruno Wittman's bomber under attack


Flying Officer David Smythe's Spitfire hammered by Me-109 cannon fire


The Spitfires exact their revenge on the enemy bombers


A wild aerial melee over The Channel


Belching smoke, this Messerschmidt heads for France

     We played the game in two phases.  Phase I -- the approach, was a German victory as the bombers reached and attacked their target for the loss of one escorting Me 109, while downing one Spitfire.

     Phase II saw the German players' attempt to return to France, pursued by the Spitfires.  Both bombers were lost on the return flight for the loss of a second Spitfire.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Battle for State Farm 69 -- Russian Front

     On 2 May 2015, we got together for a large-scale skirmish game set on the Russian Front, circa November 1943.  A German Panzergrenadier force moves forward to seize State Farm 69 from its Soviet defenders.  We modified the rules from BATTLEGROUND, and doubled the ranges for our game with 54mm figures.  Table, figures, and terrain from the collection of our host, Ron P.


A Russian infantry squad crosses a stream just south of the Commissar's dacha at the vital road juncture bordering State Farm 69.


The Russians must hold the Commissar's dacha and prevent the Germans from controlling the road network.


German reconnaissance reports Soviet infantry moving through the woods.


As the Germans approach, the Russian infantry moves into the woods.


The German scout reports the enemy's location.


Soviet BA-6 armored car reports "Enemy in sight!"


German panzergrenadiers arrive and begin to deploy.


The BA-6 commander prepares to engage the enemy.


The Russian infantry stands ready to meet the German onslaught.


A German Sd.Kfz. halftrack moves forward.


The Russians in the woods open fire.


German panzergrenadiers dismount and attack.


German Sd.Kfz. 250 halftrack scout car moves forward searching for hidden Russians.


German reinforcements arrive and move forward.


A second wave of panzergrenadiers takes cover before joining the assault.


A German halftrack emerges from the woods and engages the Soviet infantry.


The panzergrenadiers press forward.


Sd.Kfz. 251/9 "Stummel" arrives and engages the Russians with its 75mm gun.


Can the German armored assault be stopped?


Russian infantry defending the Commissar's dacha.


  Soviet BA-10 immobilized by German fire -- crew abandons their smoking vehicle.


The Russian armored car pours in a withering fire.


German crewman escapes his burning vehicle -- begins walking back to Germany.

     Results:  A Soviet victory -- the Germans sustained heavier casualties and were unable to seize the Commissar's dacha and dominate the road junction.

     Lessons Learned:  If we reprise the scenario, the Germans need some off-board artillery or mortar support to suppress the Russian defenders, and should be allowed multiple points of entry onto the tabletop to divide the defenders' defensive fire.