IABSM - 'A Canadian VC'

We have noted that three hours on a club night is really not enough time to play a game of I Ain't Been Shot Mum, reckoning that four hours was probably required, we booked the function room at the White Hart for a game yesterday afternoon.

James, Mark and I decided that we would meet at 12:30 for some lunch, then get the table set up and play through to about 6PM.Wayne and Natalie joined us for some lunch, but would not be playing.

We took a little longer over lunch than expected, and then retired upstairs to set up the table for the 'A Canadian VC' scenario from the I Ain't Been Shot Mum rule book and by 14:00 everything was set up and ready to go.

The terrain is laid out and the German Blinds are ready to be placed.

James would take the British, Mark would take the Germans and I would umpire the game and push it along.

Having German blinds on a hill against Canadian troops in the open deployed on a road mean that Mark was pretty much able to spot everything as it entered the game. James elected to change the axis of attack with his initial two platoons (one Armoured and one infantry) and headed across the table.

Sherman Platoon switches the axis of attack

Mark had some good rolls for his reserves and moved up troops to support the thin screen of forces available to him.

As the Sherman troop switches the axis of attack, the Germans move up supports.

The platoon of PzIVH moved from their position on the crossroads to engage the Canadian troops moving up the road, but the shooting was poor and very little was done to stop the attack.

PzIV move out into the open

A lot of pins and a bit of shock but no casualties

Reaching the road, the Sherman platoon attempt to advance, but a blind facing them is revealed to be a Tiger and a Panther. However, due to some terrible shooting and some fantastic saving throws, it takes two long 75mm shots and two 88mm shots before a Sherman is knocked out.

The first Sherman is knocked out

On the other axis of attack, the Canadians engaged the PzIVH with their Sherman troop. The first Sherman shot of the game hit home, and the hit dice rolled - 8 hits!, the PzIVH rolled it's defence and only three saves were made. 'Kaboom' to the Shermans

'Kaboom'

The Tiger and Panther accounted for another Sherman on that flank, taking out the command tank of Captain Redden. The escorting infantry elected to move through the woodland rather than up the road but lost three men to an 88mm shot while crossing the stream. The 2" mortar was quickly deployed and a smoke screen laid.
On the other flank, the final PzIVH was dispatched by the Sherman Firefly and the Canadian infantry started to advance again, clearing the farm in front of them.

Shermans and Infantry push on.

Getting ahead of their infantry support the Shermans on the left flank push up into the village.

Shermans push on.

The same view from the other side of the table.

On the other side the smoke screen has cleared so James elects to do a 'Shoot and Scoot' with his Shermans, he'll have one shot and then bugger off out of sight. The Sherman V shoots at the Panther, it's a hit. Not only that, the 75mm gun throws its eight strike dice and scores five, the Panther rolls its ten defence dice and scores only three; 'Kaboom' again. The Sherman V moves out of the way to give the Firefly a shot at the Tiger, it misses. Everybody shouts, 'Get out of there!' but James elects to take another Aimed shot with the Firefly, 'You fool' we all shout, but he rolls the dice 'DOUBLE SIX!!!!!!' That is fifteen strike dice, the Tiger has a defence of eleven but is still brewed.

Two Shermans vs' a Tiger and a Panther, what could possibly happen?

Oh!

On the other flank, one Sherman is knocked out by a PanzerFaust shot from the building it was blithely driving by and another takes some damage from a PanzerShrek.


It was around now that James elected to use his Heroic Leader card, having had his Sherman V destroyed by a PanzerFaust, I give Captain Redden the opportunity of knocking on the door of that house and ordering the Germans to surrender. I tell him that on an 11 or 12 this will be successful. James rolls a 10, a failure, but I tell Mark to put a point of Shock on the Germans due to the sheer audacity of the man. The next card up activates the Sherman platoon and a round of HE sets fire to the building and the Germans are soon retreating.


Canadian Infantry advancing up the hill towards the objective spring a surprise close assault against a German MG42, working out the dice, the Canadians get one dice, the Germans 14, checking the rules there is no fight, the Canadians automatically fall back with six shock. However, the rest of the Canadian Rifle platoon soon see off the MG42.

After four hours play we called it a wrap but had still not fought to a conclusion, the Germans had a couple of platoons of infantry left, pretty much intact. The Canadians though still have five Shermans (one badly damaged) and their infantry although having taken hits was still in fine fettle. 

The Germans still hold the crossroads and are the winners, but another concerted effort by the Canadians would likely see them pushed back.

Maybe we need even more time to play a game of I Ain't Been Shot Mum

The earlier pictures were all taken by me, here are some photos that James took.

The setup and deployment

Sherman troop supported by a Rifle platoon

Big cats move to defend the left flank

Initial shots are ineffective

But eventually the Shermans start to fall

Canadian infantry cross the hedge line and start to advance

Knocked out Shermans

On the other flank the PzIVH are accounted for

Canadian infantry are caught crossing the stream

Scratch one Panther and one Tiger

This is the work of two Shermans!!!!

German infantry try to stem the advance of the Shermans

Action Shot - turret blown off the Sherman V by a PanzerFaust from the building next to it

Canadians section stumble upon a MG42 nest and rush to the rear, but the machine-gun is soon silenced

Lt. Redden prepares to demand their surrender

At the end of the game

15mm Plastic Soldier Company German Heavy Weapons

I previously painted some Plastic Soldier Company German Infantry for our I Ain't Been Shot Mum games. They can be found in this earlier blog post. I recently purchased a box of the new Heavy Weapons from Maelstrom Games to use in our I Ain't Been Shot Mum games.

I cleaned up and assembled the machine-gun teams and stuck them onto tongue depressors. I then spray with Halfords grey primer and once dried give them a wash of black paint with Vallejo Glaze Medium. They are then painted as follows:

1. Paint overall with Vallejo German Uniform
2. Paint the helmets, ponchos and gas capes in Vallejo Green Ochre
3. Add camouflage to the helmets and ponchos with Vallejo Flat Green and Saddle Brown
4. Paint the rifle butts, entrenching tool handles and Water Bottles with Vallejo Saddle Brown
5. Paint the gaiters, bread bags and MP40 magazine holders with Vallejo German Camo Beige
6. Paint some helmets and MG34/42 ammo boxes in Vallejo German Grey
7. Paint the gaiters and MG34/42 ammo belts with Vallejo Khaki
8. Paint the flesh Vallejo Basic Flesh Tone
9. Paint the boots, MP40, MG42 and Kar98 barrels, webbing, etc. with Vallejo Black
10. Give the whole thing a light dry-brush with Vallejo Pale Sand
11. When dry wash with Windsor and Newton Peat Brown ink.

This method takes less than 10 minutes per figure and is good for churning the smaller scale stuff out.

The figures are then stuck onto the bases and a layer of Pumice Gel mixed with Vallejo Field Drab applied. The bases are then dry-brushed with Vallejo Dark Sand and washed with Vallejo Sepia Wash. Tufts are then stuck on with PVA glue.

I need to give them a spray of matt varnish, but here are some pictures of the finished figures.

Hail Cid

Tom, James, John and myself had a recent discussion about how well we thought Hail Caesar would work for our big El Cid games.

As we knew it would be a quiet night at the White Hart club we decided that we would take the opportunity to set up a 12ft x 6ft table set up a game of  Almoravid  against a Spanish Christian and Al Andalus force and go at it hammer and tongues.

The forces are from recollection, so there may be a few mistakes.

The Almohavid Moors

Ben Yusuf - leadership 8 - one reroll can be used per turn by any one commander in the Almoravid force.

First Command - leadership 8
1 unit of Medium cavalry camel riders (as Hasham Medium Cavalry, but enemy horse cannot charge them on initiative and count as reluctant if trying to charge them.)
2 small units of Light cavalry Berbers

Second Command - leadership 8
1 unit of Black Guard
4 units of Berber infantry with spears and bows
3 small units of Skirmishers


Third Command - leadership 8
1 large unit of Black Guard
3 large units of Berber infantry with spears and bows
3 small units of Skirmishers

Fourth Command - leadership 8
2 units of Hasham medium cavalty
3 small units of Light cavalry Berbers


Fifth  Command - leadership 8
2 units of Hasham medium cavalty
3 small units of Light cavalry Berbers


There were deployed as listed from right to left.
James and Tom assisted by Cameron would be the Almohavids.

The Christian Spanish and Al Andalusians

El Scrivs - leadership 8

First Command - leadership 8
2 units of Caballeros Hildagos
1 unit of Caballeros
2 units of Jinetes

Second Command - leadership 8
1 unit of Guard Spears
2 units of Peones with spears and bows
1 unit of Aqueros with crossbows
3 units of Skirmishers


Third Command - leadership 8
1 unit of Guard Spears
1 unit of Peones with spears and bows
1 unit of Andalusians with spears and bows
1 unit of  Andalusians with crossbows
3 units of Skirmishers


Fourth Command - leadership 8
2 units of Caballeros Hildagos

Fifth Command - leadership 9
1 unit of Andalusian Knights
2 small units of Andalusian Jinetes



These were deployed as listed from left to right, so each command was pretty much opposite corresponding number.
John and I would be the Christian Spanish and Andalusians assisted by Matt.

How did it play

We were all rather rusty with the rules but the game played out very well. I'll not attempt a full report, but some highlights:

The Almohavid infantry was far superior to the Christians and Andalusians and pushed them back all along the center.
The Christian Knights performed well, as could be expected, but the mounted men of the match were the Medium cavalry camel riders who destroyed both a unit of Caballeros and a unit of Jinetes.


After three hours no command had been broken, the Almohavid infantry were victorious in the centre but the 


I forgot to take my camera with me, but did get some snaps on the phone. Expect much better images to appear soon on Toms Toy Soldiers.

A long view, Christains and Andalusians on the left, Almohavids on the right

The second Spanish Command  does not fare well against its Almohavid opponents

The third Almohavid command prepares to fall upon the Christaians and Andalusians

Battle to be joined

Another long view

The large units of Berber spears take their toll.

Getting down to eye-level

Probyn's Horse Sherman V

This morning I finished off painting the Sherman V from BlitzKreig Miniatures as it will be supporting my 14th Army Infantry I have painted it in the markings of Probyn's Horse

The earlier post can be found here.

The vehicle was really easy to paint, I did the following:

1/ Spray with Halfords grey Primer
2/ Base-coat all over in a mix of 50:50 Vallejo Brown Violet and Vallejo Khaki
3/ Paint the tracks in a mix of 50:50 Vallejo Saddle Brown and Vallejo Gunmetal Grey
4/ Paint the road wheels in Vallejo Black
5/ Paint the tools, machine guns, aerial, etc. in Vallejo Black, Vallejo Saddle Brown or Vallejo Gunmetal Grey as appropriate.
6/ Wash all over with Vallejo Sepia wash
7/ Highlight the tank again with a mix of 50:50 Vallejo Brown Violet and Vallejo Khaki
8/ Paint on the tactical markings, divisional symbols etc.
9/ Weather using Tamiya weathering powders.

Here are a few shots of the beast, including an Assault Group 14th Army rifle section to give an idea of scale.

Saga - Sacred Ground Battle Report

Tom and I had a cracking game of Saga on Tuesday at Maelstrom Games.

We randomised the scenario and would be playing the 'Sacred Ground' mission. A hill was placed in the center, Tom placed a wood to the right and I placed some broken ground to the left.

The sacred ground

My Spanish did double duty as Normans and I used:
Mounted Warlord, Three Knights organised into 2 units of 6, One unit of 8 Mounted Sergeants, One unit of 8 Sergeants, One unit of 8 Sergeants with Crossbows

Tom used his Anglo-Danish:
Warlord with Dane-axe, one unit of 4 Huscarles with Dane-axe, two units of 4 Huscarles and three units of 8 Ceorls.

The game started well for the Normans, I established a bastion atop the hill and was driving back any Anglo-Danish troops that ventured near, at one point I was stacking up 36 victory points per turn.Tom eventually secured the rough ground and we both had a unit of Warriors in the woods.

Normans rush to take the hill

Hesitant Saxon dogs

Any Saxons coming near the hill were soon driven back

Die you Saxon dogs

Things were looking good for the Normans who had a comfortable lead, however, the Anglo-Danish Warlord led charge with his Dane-axe armed warriors onto the hill. Although the attack was broken up and the Anglo-Danish Warlord was put to the sword my numbers on the hill were thinned considerably and I was suddenly scoring less points than Tom per turn.

The Saxon Lord goes down

My Sergeants were driven from the woods in disarray so a unit of Knights intervened only to be driven off by a stout shield-wall.

More Saxon Scum

By the end of the game Tom was scoring more points per turn than me and in the end Tom won by 152pts to 144pts.

Tom has also done a report from the Anglo-Danish perspective: http://tomstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-battle-of-misgewidere-hill-saga.html but of course it is all Saxon propaganda so should be taken with a pinch of salt.