Scrivsland

Wednesday, 24 December 2014

Another Action at Gran Salacias

I'd not played Spanish Civil War for months and then I get the opportunity to play two games in three weeks - result.

Yesterday evening James and I played the Attack and Defend scenario. James would use his International Brigade, selected from the Ejército Popular de la República list while I would be allowed to use my Moroccan Regulares. Rolling for our roles, James would be the attacker.

International Brigade LMG team

James rolled for his Force Supports and threw an eight, with the difference in Force Rating he had 15 additional points to spend.

His force comprised:

Teniente (Senior Leader) armed with pistol and a Fusilero armed with a rifle.
Two Rifle-Grenadier sections each of Sargento (Junior Leader) armed with SMG and three teams each of a Cabo and 4 Fusileros armed with rifles.
One Mortar section of Sargento (Junior Leader) armed with Rifle and two teams each of Cabo and 3 Fusileros armed with rifles.
One team in each of the Rifle-Grenadier squads was equipped with an LMG and one of the teams in the Mortar section was armed with a 50mm Mortar.
An adjutant and a Commissar were added to the HQ.
Ever reliant on his armoured support, this took the form of a T-26 tank and a Armoured Truck No 12 was added. A junior leader, the Commissar and twelve Cabos from one of the two Rifle-Grenadier sections were squeezed inside, leaving just the LMG armed team outside.
A preliminary bombardment would hopefully disrupt the defenders plans.

Nationalist Bilbao armoured car

James certainly had a surfeit of riches, my Regulares, with only four points of support eventually comprised:

Teniente (Senior Leader) with pistol and Sargento Primero (Senior Leader) with rifle. Two Soldados with rifles.
Two sections each of Sargento (Junior Leader) with rifle, one team of M22 LMG with 2 crew and 3 Soldados with rifles and two teams of 6 Soldados with rifles
I spent my meagre force supports on an Adjutant for the HQ and made three of the Soldatos tank-hunters.
A Bilbao armoured car provided 'heavy' support.

We both had great rolls for Force Morale, the EPR would start on an 11 and the Regulares a 10.

Table set-up and jump-off points

The terrain was laid out as the image on the left and the jump-off points are shown in white for the Nationalists and Red for the Republicans.

With the higher Force Morale the Republican took first turn. Soon one section was deployed into the town while the 50mm mortar was deployed behind the building to support them. A LMG team was deployed behind the orange grove hedge and the T-26 and Tiznao were deployed on the table.

I had decided to start 'lite' this, combined with the Republican preparatory bombardment meant that for several phases I only had a single scout team on the table heading towards the Republican jump-off in the field and the Bilbao that was deployed on the road into the village.

The T-26 took a pot-shot at the Bilbao, although a hit was scored the armoured car only took light damage (a point of shock) and in it's next phase moved out of sight behind the church.

Short lived Nationalist scouts

The Republicans continued to advance in the face of very light Nationalist opposition, however the Bilbao came into its own. A Republican team in the village square was badly shot up and broke for the orange grove, first blood to the Nationalists. Although the honours were evened as my scout team heading towards the Republican jump-off in the field were cut down by fire from the Tiznao.

The T-26 was getting a little close to comfort with my central jump-off point so I tried to deploy my section with the Tank Hunters, however they were disrupted by the preliminary bombardment so the other section of Regulares had to plug the gap.

Brigadiers advance through Gran Salacias
supported by a 50mm mortar.

The Nationalists now went through a poor patch, as the central team of the Rifle-Grenadier section had been eliminated and the other Rifle-Grenadier section had been split up between the Tiznao and defending the orange grove the Republicans had no sections to activate. They seemed to throw a lot of fours and twos meaning very little activity on their part, while I double-sixed a few phases in succession and took the initiative.

The Sergento-Primero was deployed and took one of my teams of Regulares to threaten the Republican jump-off in the field and were very close to taking the objective when the Tiznao kicked into life, disgorging troops who fired up by the words of their Commissar tore into the Moroccans leaving them all dead. Fortunately, the turn ended and the Republican bombardment ceased.

T-26 threatens my centre, but lacks infantry support

The Republican T-26 also moved on to my central jump-off point, but I used a Chain of Command dice to move it behind a building then deployed my second section of Regulares - including the tank hunters.

My Bilbao also continued its advance into Gran Salacias, machine-gunning the mortar team and taking the jump-off point when I used another Chain of Command dice to end the turn.

Our Force Morale had both taken a tumble now, James was on 5 and I was on a 6.

Bilbao finished off the 50mm mortar team.

The Tank Hunters now pounced, my first one was not so effective (only scoring a single hit), but the second made short work of the T-26, causing five unsaved hits and knocking the tank out. Te Soviet crews were summarily dealt with.

James was now running low on Command Dice, only having three now, but was certainly still in the game. He rushed his Teniente towards the focus of the action, but accurate MG fire from the Bilbao killed him and James had to use a Chain of Command dice to avoid the Force Morale test. Although both of the Tiznao riding Rifle Grenadier teams were wiped out in a suicidal charge against a Moroccan LMG team defending a barricade James only lost a single Force Morale point, he was now on two.

My own Teniente also took a couple of hits, although still in the game we were both now on Force Morale 3.

Get out of that one Rommel

The Bilbao now came into it's own, having already accounted for one Rifle-Grenadier team, one 50mm mortar team, one LMG team and the Republican Teniente he now took out the second LMG team and their accompanying Sargento.

With a taunt of 'Get out of that one Rommel.' (c.f. Rik Mayall Bottom Episode 8) James saw his Force Morale collapse, I was still on Force Morale 3 so a victory to the Nationalists.

It was a great game and we were still playing at about 10:30. I had forgotten how effective the Regulares were, every game recently seems to have been a loss for my Falangista.

Fired on by their Commissar the Republicans
attempt to take out the Moroccan LMG team.

The Bilbao had been the star of the show, breaking one rifle team, wiping out a mortar team and two LMG teams and also killing the Republican Teniente.

Looking at the losses, I had only lost my scout team and one of my rifle teams, all the other Force Morale reductions had been due to hits on my leaders.

The terrain and all the Nationalists are from my collection, as is the T-26 and the 50mm mortar. The remainder of the Republicans are from James collection.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

Friday, 12 December 2014

“They Shall Not Pass!” - SCW using Chain of Command

Yesterday evening I had my first Spanish Civil War game since we played at Partizan at the beginning of September. Over three months and I have been ready to get the figures out for quite some time now.

Fortunately, James agreed to a game yesterday evening at the White Hart and I was able to oblige.

We pitted a Centuria of Falange Espanol against a Republican Militia column.

My initial Nationalist force of Falangists was:

Jefe de Centuria and Subjefe plus 3 Falangistas
Two sections each: Jefe de Falange and 4 Falangistas, two teams each 5 Falangistas

James would be using the UGT Workers Militia:

Jefe de Centuria
Four sections each 10 Milicianos

To balance the forces James took an Army Officer Advisor, an LMG and a Sniper.

Rolling for Force Morale we both threw a six and were Force Morale: 9.

We would play the Delaying Action scenario, using his 'No Pasaran!' rule James elected to defend. After the Patrol phase the Jump-off Points were as per the image on the left. Republican in red and Nationalist in white. My objective would be the red jump-off point on the right of the image in the olive grove.

I rolled a 7 for Force Support adding a Hotchkiss M1914 MMG, and making my Jefe de Centuria a 'proper' Senior Leader, James elected to add three sections of light cover barricades.

The Nationalists went first and deployed their HQ scouts and MMG team up against the hedgerow. Taking the bait James deployed pretty much all his troops while I left the remainder of mine off.

The MMG started a very one sided exchange of fire with Milicianos deployed behind their barricades behind the shack opposite and soon it was running out of targets to engage. I had even hit the Jefe de Centuria twice - you can see him taking a rest in the image.

The two sections of Falange deployed behind the rough ground on the right and out of sight of the enemy started to head towards the enclosed field. The militia defending the gap between the house and the Taberna gave some desultory opportunity fire and my first section was in the field, the other was taking cover from enemy fire behind the building.

The Republicans then decided to deploy their 'ace' sniper on the roof of the Taberna. It was obvious from the effect that the chap had turned up with an expensive hunting rifle and tales of derring-do. He was pathetic! Every time he took a shot, needing a 3+ to hit, he missed. When he finally did score a hit he failed to even cause a point of shock. Big Game Hunter indeed!

The Nationalist LMG was set up in the field and soon engaging the Republicans defending the gap between the Taberna and the house with very effective fire. The second section broke cover from behind the building and soon had taken the barricades and were bayoneting the survivors.

The Nationalist LMG was moved up to the barricades and started to engage the Republicans near the objective while a section of Falangista went into the Taberna and set fire to the roof beams to flush out that sniper, although given his effectiveness they could have probably left him there all day!

Seeing the threat developing and already two sections down James rushed one team to take up positions behind the tree-line on his right. This was a very good move, as I was now in a position to threaten two very exposed Jump-off points on opposite corners of the Taberna.

Dead-eyed Republican marksmen

The Falangist section in the field jumped the hedgerow to advance on the closest Jump-off as the newly re-deployed Republicans took up their positions and opened fire. from 10 rifle shots I took two casualties including the Sub-Jefe and six points of shock!

My troops went to ground (Tactical) but the fusillade continued and I was soon broken and running to the rear despite the best efforts Jefe de Centuria I was soon broken and running to the rear.

However, another team of Falangista had cautiously contacted the other Jump-off point and ending the turn with a Chain of Command dice I had captured it.

Nationalists advancing along the shack are about to get some!

I started to move the MMG team to take advantage of the lack of Republican troops.

Things were looking good, despite two hits on his Jefe and two broken/destroyed sections James Force Morale was still at a very reasonable 5 while I was on a 7 and seemed to be in a very good place.

However, having ended the turn my troops who had just captured the Jump-off point lost their tactical and were in a very exposed position. The Republican sharp-shooters behind the tree line soon killed three and inflicted two shock, the remaining Falangista broke for the rear.

Manning - and womanming - the barricades

It was still good though, the Republicans were down to a ten-man section on the tree-line and a handful of men defending the objective with the badly wounded Jefe, while my Hotchkiss was being redeployed to take them apart.

Disaster struck! The Republicans in the tree-line charged towards the Taberna. This should be easy for me, my Jefe de Centuria, a Jefe and six men in hard cover to defend against ten militia. How wrong could I be. Some how, we drew the first round of combat taking four casualties each and in the next round I was killed to a man! Throwing for Force Moral I threw high for each roll and collapsed to a zero!

Game over because my chaps seemed more interesting in looting the Taberna than destroying the Republicans trying to take it.

A great game that I though was in the bag but was snatched at the end. However, I don't think the Falangista are ever allowed to win a game, they have not yet while we have been playing.

All the figures and terrain are from my own collection. The figures are from Empress Miniatures, painted by myself and the buildings are scratch built.

Taberna

House

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Longstreet (at last)

On Tuesday evening James, Lee and myself had a game of Longstreet. I must admit that I have had the rules since they were released about a year ago and apart from a cursory glance have not opened the rule book since.

However, James is currently smitten by the American Civil War - hence my lack of opportunity for Spanish Civil War games of late - and has spent his hard earned on two matched Confederate and Union forces ideal for Longstreet, Fire and Fury, Black Powder, etc.

We decided to play the river crossing scenario set in 1863. I would play the Union and Lee the Confederates with my troops attacking. Lee had to leave after about an hour so James would then jump in.

Both sides had a General, four ten-stand Infantry units, a ten-stand Cavalry unit and a battery of two Napoleons and a Howitzer.

Lee deployed his troops on a broad front, my deployment area had a large wooded area in the centre so I would have to go either left or right. so I went left. My four infantry units rushed towards the ford while my artillery and cavalry attempted to prevent the Confederates from re-deploying.

My cavalry got pretty shot up in the process, as was to be expected, but my Infantry made it to the river crossing with little ill effect and were soon trading musketry with the sole Confederate infantry unit and cavalry unit deployed there.

The blood was up and one of my units tried to force a crossing, here I found out that attacking across difficult terrain against a large unit is not really a good idea! My troops were soon reeling back across the ford.

By now more Confederate infantry were joining the fight at the ford so my troops deployed in extended line and started blazing away at the Rebs. The Union certainly had the upper hand in this fight.

James tried to bring his guns into the fight, bust as he limbered the, the Union cavalry mounted up, crossed the bridge and soon had despatched them.

It was now a chance to see if the Confederates had been broken, unfortunately, I rolled a one - same old story - and they were still in the fight.

Next turn, my cavalry were destroyed and it was James' time to check my army status, he rolled a lot better than I had and the Union forces were broken.

It's my first game of Longstreet, but I think we will certainly be trying them out again.

Sunday, 7 December 2014

More Republican Romans and some re-based Punics

I've been slowly working my way through this box of Victrix Republican Romans* and this week finished off my second unit of five Velites and a unit of seven Triarii.

This pretty much completes my first Alae, I just plan to add another unit of Velites in Wolf-skin and a command stand - these are on my painting table at the moment.

*Actually, two half boxes, James and I split a box each of the mail armoured and bronze armoured ones.

I have also been busy re-basing the existing Carthaginian collection. So far thsi past couple of weeks I have done eight stands of African Spearmen / Veterans.

Two Elephants along with Hannibal himself.

Plus another general, a unit of Numidian skirmishers and two Bolt Throwers.

I am pretty close to getting all the Carthaginians re-based now. I think a couple more units of African Spearmen, three or four units of Numidian Horse and five or six units of Skirmishers should see it through.

Sorry for the shoddy photos, pretty low light levels this morning.

Verdun 1916 - This may be the start of a new project

During our time at Crisis, James and I discussed a new Verdun 1916 project that we could work on over the coming months.
James will be doing some French and I will do the Germans.

Once back, I spoke to Nick at Northstar and ordered a half dozen samples packs from the Great War Miniatures World War One - German Army 1916-1918 range.

I cleaned up the figures and stuck on Renedra bases, 30mm for the Officers and NCOs and 25mm for the rest. They were given a blast of Halfords grey primer and then it was on to painting.

The uniform jacket and puttees were painted Field Grey, the trousers Neutral Grey and the helmets, mess tins and gas mask cases German Grey. I then painted the haversack, flesh and water bottle Beige Brown and the pack German Camouflage Beige. The rifles, slings, bayonet handles and some straps were painted Saddle Brown, while the remainder of the straps were painted Black, along with the Boots, weapon fittings, bayonet sheath, wire cutters etc.

The whole lot was given a coat of Sepia Wash and then highlighted:

Field Grey was highlighted Field Grey then adding a small amount of Dark Sand
Neutral Grey was highlighted with Neutral Grey
German Grey was highlighted with German Grey then adding a small amount of Neutral Grey
Beige Brown was highlighted with Beige Brown then adding a small amount of Dark Sand
Beige Brown was highlighted with Mediun Fleshtone then adding a small amount of Ivory
Saddle Brown was highlighted with Saddle Brown then adding a small amount of Dark Sand
Black was highlighted with Black Grey
The rifle fittings, wire cutters, etc. were highlighted in very watered down Gunmetal Grey

The shoulder tabs were given Flat Red unit markings then these and the NCO collars were picked out in Ivory. Finally, the detail was picked out in Peat Brown ink. The boots, puttees and trousers are then weathered with Tamiya Model Master mud.

The bases are a mix of pumice gel, sharp sand and static grass mixed into a paste with Flat Earth and applied to the bases.

The pictures are pretty shonky due to the dismal light levels currently being suffered.

GHQ T-10M

I've not played Cold War Commander in the three years that the blog has been running, However, I had a little hankering and have arranged a game with Mick in a couple of weeks time.

It will be a 1967 Arab-Israeli clash and I'll be using the troops from my Iran-Iraq War collection. I knew though that I had some blisters of GHQ stuff lying around and I found a pack with three T-10M in it so I gave then a quick paint job ready for our game.

They are Army Painter Desert Yellow, Vallejo Beige Brown for the camouflage patterns, Black for the tracks and a quick dry-brush with Pale Sand. I then washed with Sepia Wash mixed with Glaze Medium.

The bases are US Tan Earth dry-brushed with Iraqi Sand and then Pale Sand.

Poor pictures taken in the morning gloom that filtered through our windows.

For Sale: Flames of War Supplements

I have listed a load of items on eBay: thatchapscrivs

However, there is still a load to list and I have run out of free listings for the month. So I also have the following (All prices include UK Postage):