First Few El Cid Spanish - Work in Progress

I've been working away at the Christian Spanish for the El Cid Campaign Day that Tom and I are running in October.

I've decided that the best way to get these done is to start off with a four-point Saga war-band and add figures from there.

The figures are all from the Perry Miniatures - First Crusade range. They are lovely figures, but I'm rather concerned that the bridles do not have a strap over the end of the horses nose. I've already started adding some green-stuff straps to the next lot that I am currently preparing.

So far I have an Infante and two sets of four Caballeros that just need some finishing off and the bases doing.

Infante

Infante

8 Caballeros

Some close-ups of the Caballeros:

Next up on the painting table, being base-coated are eight Peons.

As you can probably guess I'm trying to tie the force together with red and yellow shield designs.

El Cid Event - Maelstrom Games - 14th October

Following on from our earlier Age of Arthur event, Tom and I will be hosting a similar El Cid Event at Maelstrom Games on the 14th October 2012.

More details on Toms Blog: http://tomstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/el-cid-event-141012.html

Starting my El Cid Christian Spanish

I have finally made a start on the Christian Spanish for El Cid. We are having another campaign day in October so it was about time I got cracking.

The figures are all from the fantastic Perry Miniatures First Crusade range.

Over the past few weeks, I have cleaned up all the figures and have added some green stuff 'accoutrements' such as turbans, tassled shields, spear pennants etc.

We are having a SAGA themed day in two weeks at the White Hart so I thought I should try to paint up enough figures to do a four point warband, so have sorted out the following:

Infante
8 Cabaleros
8 Peons
8 Crossbowmen

Lots of bare metal

I'll take these out and spray them later and hope to make a start on painting when I get back from visiting Dad in hospital.

Club Night - I Ain't Been Shot Mum, another go at Carentan

After the game on Tuesday where the Germans got shot to pieces in the open, I had another bash at the scenario at the White Hart with James and Mark.

As mentioned previously, this scenario was inspired by the episode of Band of Brothers where in the "Carentan" episode the US Airborne are defending one hedge-line and the Germans another until the Germans launch an attack across the field supported by armour.

The US forces remained unchanged from the earlier game:

US Airborne

Company HQ

Big Man #1 - Lvl 3

Big Man #2 - Lvl 3 

Rifle Platoon

Big Man #3 - Lvl 3

3 Rifle sections each of 8 men

60mm Mortar with 2 men

Bazooka with 2 crew

Rifle Platoon

Big Man #4 - Lvl 3

3 Rifle sections each of 8 men

60mm Mortar with 2 men

Bazooka with 2 crew

Machine-Gun Platoon

Big Man #5 - Level 2

2 MMG sections each of M1919 MMG with 5 crew

Bazooka with 2 crew

The US Airborne had the following cards added:

• Dynamic Leader
• Low on Ammo

The German forces were beefed up as follows:

German

Company HQ

Big Man #1 - Lvl 3

Big Man #2 - Lvl 1 

2 MG34 with 5 crew

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #3 - Level 3

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #4 - Level 2

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #5 - Level 3

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #6 - Level 3

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Mortar Platoon

Forward Observer

4 80mm mortar sections each with 4 crew

Tank Platoon

Big Man #6 - Level 3

2 Tiger 1E

The Germans had the following cards added:

Machine Gun Bonus

Out of Fuel

The Germans also started the game with two stonks.

As previously, the table was set up with a hedge-line for the US Airborne to defend, the right flank was covered in light woodland, a road with ditches either side ran diagonally along the table and some enclosures and standing crops littered the middle of the table. The Tiger Platoon would arrive on the third turn of the blank card.

Mark would take the Germans, James the US Airborne and I would officiate and generally get in the way.

Initial US deployment

Initial German deployment

The pre-game stonk went quite well for the Germans, one M1919 MG section was on six shock, a 60mm mortar had one dead crew and two shock and two Airborne sections were each on six shock.

Mark had sent three platoons of Grenadiers down through the woods on his left flank. A single platoon and the two MG34 from the headquarters would draw the Americans on his right. This allowed Mark to pin the single US platoon on his right with these troops while the three platoons on his left would be able to try to overwhelm the single US platoon.

Up against the odds

The German platoon on the right, as could be expected  did suffer quite badly against the emplaced Americans, but they held in place and did prevent James from reinforcing his right flank.

The German mortars never successfully arrived, so we could not gauge their effect on the game. However, both Tigers did turn up and assisted in pinning the US Airborne left flank.

Tigers arrive to hold the right flank

We did not have time to play to a conclusion, but as we wrapped up we could see that the game was much more balanced than previously with two whole platoons on the far right lined up against a single section of paratroopers.

Club Night - I Ain't Been Shot Mum, getting it a bit wrong

Inspired by our previous games, Quinton and I had another game of I Ain't Been Shot Mum yesterday evening at Maelstrom Games.

Inspired by the episode of Band of Brothers where in the "Carentan" episode the US Airborne are defending one hedge-line and the Germans another until the Germans launch an attack across the field supported by armour I set up the following forces:

US Airborne

Company HQ

Big Man #1 - Lvl 3

Big Man #2 - Lvl 3 

Rifle Platoon

Big Man #3 - Lvl 3

3 Rifle sections each of 8 men

60mm Mortar with 2 men

Bazooka with 2 crew

Rifle Platoon

Big Man #4 - Lvl 3

3 Rifle sections each of 8 men

60mm Mortar with 2 men

Bazooka with 2 crew

Machine-Gun Platoon

Big Man #5 - Level 2

2 MMG sections each of M1919 MMG with 5 crew

Bazooka with 2 crew

US Forces

German

Company HQ

Big Man #1 - Lvl 3

Big Man #2 - Lvl 1 

2 MG34 with 5 crew

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #3 - Level 3

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #4 - Level 2

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Grenadier Platoon

Big Man #5 - Level 3

3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men

Tank Platoon

Big Man #6 - Level 3

1 Tiger 1E

Some of the Germans

The table was set up with a hedge-line for the US Airborne to defend, the right flank was covered in light woodland, a road with ditches either side ran diagonally along the table and some enclosures and standing crops littered the middle of the table. The Tiger would arrive on the fourth turn of the blank card.

Initial deployments

 Quinton started well, advancing his blinds in a concentrated attack against my left flank. I moved a flanking section of airborne that I had placed to guard the wood land to out-flank him.

The Germans were soon spotted and most of their troops took cover in the fields and roadside ditches exchanging fire with the Americans. The MG34 teams managed to drive off one of the M-1919 but suffered badly from 60mm mortar fire.

The Tiger arrived and blasted the Airborne troops from a distance but with little effect.

Every time the German Grenadiers tried to advance though they were cut down in the open by sections that had kept their actions for over-watch fire.

At the end of the game, two sections of #1 platoon along with their 60mm mortar were still on a blind, only one section (in the woods) had been revealed. US losses were approximately 6 men, whereas the Grenadiers had three platoons very badly shot up. This scenario needs a re-think, I would make the following changes:

1. Give the Germans three pre-game stonks.
2. Give the Germans another Grenadier platoon.
3. Give the Germans a battery of four 80mm mortars.
4. Change the German Tiger for either two Tigers or a PzIVH and three PzIIIL 

I'll see if the chaps are up for trying this again tomorrow night.

Quinton prepares to remove his figures

I got a bit engrossed in playing and chatting and forgot to take any more pictures.

Club Night - a couple of games of Saga

Yesterday evening, John, Tom and myself enjoyed a couple of games of Saga at Maelstrom Games.

John had not played before, and although I had a few games under my belt I had not won a game of Saga before and Tom was to be our mentor, he's even had a Saga article published in a recent issue of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy.

I had bought my very early Saxons with me that would do duty as Anglo-Danish, John had bought his recycled Vikings, these had been painted years ago and had been put away in a box for many a moon. John had dug them out this week and had re-based on round bases for the game.

As we were beginners, we opted for a four point war-band each. Both sides had a Warlord, two Hearth-guard and two Warriors.

All the scenery is from my collection.

Game 1

John and I took the first game. Basically we deployed opposite each other and just went for it.

The Hand of John and a large yellow tape

Two units of warriors contested a small village on my right, despite initial gains by the Ceorls they were eventually repulsed by the Viking Bondi.

Ceorls are repulse, or revolting, or something like that

On my left a unit of Hirdmen charged into my other Ceorl unit, but after some fluky dice rolling on my part they were beaten off with only one survivor.

The Hirdmen attempt to take on some Ceorls

My unit of Huscarles and Warlord soon saw the remaining Hirdman and also accounted for a unit of Bondi. Johjn retaliated by mopping up the Ceorls on my left and taking off my other unit of Huscarles, I picked off his last Hirdmen.

At the end of the game I had my Warlord, one Huscarl and three Ceorls left, John had his Warlord and two Bondi left. A small win to myself.

Game 2

This time it was Toms turn to use my Anglo-Danis against Johns Vikings

Tom and John prepare for battle

This time John fared much better, despite his Hirdmen on the right launching a similarly disastrous charge against a unit of Ceorls John was able to isolate the Anglo-Danish Warlord and cut him down.

More action in that village, this time the Vikings are victorious

John has borrowed my rules to have a read so that he can prepare for our up-coming Saga day at the White Hart on 3rd May.

Soviet Forces for I Ain't Been Shot Mum

Today we were playing an Eastern Front Game of IABSM, given that there are no IABSM3 supplements for the Eastern Front yet, I put together the following .

Organising Your Soviet Forces

Company Headquarters
One Big Man Level III or IV
One Big Man Level I or II
Three 50mm Mortars with 2 crew each
One PTRD Anti-tank rifle with 2 crew

First Rifle Platoon
One Big Man Level II or III
Three Rifle sections of 9 men


Second Rifle Platoon
One Big Man Level II or III
Three Rifle sections of 9 men



Third Rifle Platoon
One Big Man Level II or III
Three Rifle sections of 9 men



Machine Gun Platoon
One Big Man Level II or III
Three Maxim HMG with 5 crew each

Additional Big Men
Each Company HQ and each Platoon should roll a D6, on a 6 they should get an additional Level I Big Man.

Cards
A Soviet Rifle Company may have the following Bonus Cards:

• TBD

Support Platoon Options

Machine Gun Platoon

One Big Man Level II or III
Three Maxim HMG with 5 crew each



Machine Gun Platoon

One Big Man Level II or Forward Observer
Six 82mm Mortar with 5 crew each


Anti-Tank Platoon (option 1)

One Big Man Level II or III
Six 45mm obr 1942 with 5 crew each


Anti-Tank Platoon (option 2)

One Big Man Level II or III
Four 57mm ZIS-2 with 5 crew each


Anti-Tank Platoon (option 3)

One Big Man Level II or III
Four 76mm ZIS-3 with 5 crew each

Tank Platoon (option 1)

One Big Man Level II or III
Five T-34 obr 1942




Tank Platoon (option 2)

One Big Man Level II or III
Seven T-70 obr 1943



Tank Platoon (option 3)

One Big Man Level II or III
Three KV-1e


Radio Net
None

Rating Your Soviet Forces

Infantry

Troops / Actions	0	1	2	3	4
Veteran Infantry	1,2,3	4	5	6,7,8	9
Regular Infantry	1,2,3,4	5	6,7	8,9
Poor Regular Infantry	1,2,3,4	5,6	7,8	9

Anti-Tank Weapons

Weapon	Weapon Strike
45mm obr 1942	6
57mm ZIS-2	7
76mm ZIS-3	9
Infantry Anti-tank Weapons	0-4”	4-8”	8-12”	12-16”	16-24”
Infantry Close Quarters	3	-	-	-	-
PTRD Anti-tank Rifle	4	4	4	3	3

Vehicles

AFV	Armour Value	Weapon Strike	Speed	Notes
T-70 obr 1943	4	5	Fast
T-34 obr 1942	6	8	Fast
KV-1e	10	8	Slow

Some German Vehicles for 1943

AFV	Armour Value	Weapon Strike	Speed	Notes
PzIIIL	6	7	Average
PzIVH	6	9	Average

Club Night - Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation

Following their success at the Battle of Kursk, the Soviets followed up with the Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive, this is the report of an I Ain't Been Shot Mum scenario that I devised in a quick 'back of a fag packet' over lunch-time for playing this evening at Maelstrom Games.

This would be the biggest game of IABSM that we had tried so far and the first time that we had added both armour and artillery support.Quinton and I had played before, but this would be the first game if IABSM for both Steve and Kev.Quint and Steve would play the Germans while Kev and I would play the Soviets.

The figures were all from my collection, while the terrain was from the Maelstrom Games collection.

The Soviets would advance through the woodlands to take the German held crossroads while the Germans attempted to prevent them.

The forces were:

Soviet

Company HQ
Big Man #1 - Lvl 3
Big Man #2 - Lvl 2 
1 PTRD Anti-tank Rifle with 2 crew
1 50mm Mortar with 2 crew
Rifle Platoon
Big Man #3 - Level 3
3 Rifle sections each of 9 men
Rifle Platoon
Big Man #4 - Level 2
3 Rifle sections each of 9 men
Rifle Platoon
Big Man #5 - Level 2
3 Rifle sections each of 9 men
Machine-Gun Platoon
Big Man #6 - Level 3
3 MMG sections each of Maxim MMG with 5 crew
Tank Company
Big Man #7 - Level 2
5 T34 obr 1942

The Soviet forces

German

Company HQ
Big Man #1 - Lvl 3
Big Man #2 - Lvl 1 
1 Panzershrek with 2 crew
2 MG34 with 5 crew
Grenadier Platoon
Big Man #3 - Level 3
3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men with 1 PanzerFaust
Grenadier Platoon
Big Man #4 - Level 2
3 Grenadier sections each of 8 men with 1 PanzerFaust
Mortar Platoon
Forward Observer
4 sections each of  80mm mortar with 5 crew
Tank Platoon
Big Man #5 - Level 2
1 PzIVH
2 PzIIIL

The German forces

The German armour would start off table, these are reacting to the reports of the Soviet breakthrough, the remainder of the Germans were deployed within 6" of any building. Apart from the village and the roads, the entire table was open woodland. Troops in the woods were spotted on a slightly obstructed and would be subject to okay shots, the troops in the buildings would be spotted on badly obstructed and subject to poor shots, finally troops on the road were in the open for spotting and were shot at as good shots.

I had only done four blinds each, so the US Airborne markers that I made for last weeks game were pressed into service.

German initial positions

Soviet initial positions

The first four turns saw the Allied Blinds come up three times and the Axis Blinds not at all.

Soviet advance in turn one

 The unopposed Allied Blinds meant that the Soviets got very close to the village before any troops were revealed. Then all hell broke loose, a PanzerFaust from one of the hoses immediately accounted for a T34, but in retaliation a bit of superb Soviet shooting from another T-34 accounted for the PzIVH. The Soviet riflemen took four of the buildings at bayonet point dispersing the German defenders.

I counted that we played through ten Tea Breaks and by the end of the game each side had lost a single tank and the best part of a platoon of infantry each. The Soviets were holding one side of the crossroads and the Germans the other. If I am being honest I think we probably had rather too much stuff on the table for our level of experience with IABSM.

Here are a few shots of the game.

There they are.

The German defenders are revealed

Take them with the bayonet

Soviets take the first few buildings

L-R Kev, Steve, Quint