Seven Days to the River Rhine - part deux, the game

We eventually got around to the game, and there are some really nice mechanics here.

Take-away features are:

• Like 'Iron Cross', there is no mucking about with all of the features that make mechanised combat / wargaming so 'finicky' and complex in rules systems. No artillery plotting, smoothbore WarPac missiles are handled via a card, infantry units have intrinsic AT and AA values etc. 
• The game is more concerned with the to and fro of the turn sequence and making you think about how to manage your resources - whilst leaving enough in reserve to react, rather than thinking about how to manage the Quick Ref sheet. That's a real bonus.
• In one case, the Soviets expended all of their command tokens. This allowed the British to pull out and form a second defensive line. You don't always see that in other rules. Well, you probably can do it in other systems - but it's a pain to do normally.
• So, given that, you would think that it would lose the flavour of a modern battle - since all of the minutiae and 'tech' aren't there in terms of game mechanics, but we were pleasantly surprised.
• ATGWs are deadly when they interrupt, and infantry get good cover, but can be exposed fairly easily by a canny opponent. We certainly got a feel for how they would be used on the north German plain so extensively, whilst still also getting a feel for why their crew's life expectancy in 'the Zone' was only 72 hours.

• LAD and Blowpipe/Stinger are subsumed into a defensive roll that is the same for all sides. This is far more preferable to me than looking up a table to see how the writers have overestimated the effectiveness of the 'Blowpipe' AA missiles ... (on which more later) .

 

• The Soviets need quantity. I thought 2 or 3 steps of difference in the armour rating was wrong at first - until playing. The difference between a Challenger's 19 armour and 16 on a T64 makes a BIG difference, and yet still seems right. It took a Soviet Hind to even things up on the British flank. 
• There are lots of little nuances in the rules, such as recovering via pulling troops back for rally etc., which all make sense, and will come out with further plays I think.

 A good set of rules, and I can see how they would work so well for WWII (Iron Cross).  Absolutely perfect for multi player bashes.

...and so to battle. Kit is all Skytrex 10mm/1:200. My Timecast infantry has not arrived yet..

Soviet Battlegroup is: 2 platoons T64, 1 company BMPs plus Recce, 1 x Hind
British Battlegroup: 1 reduced platoon Challenger I, 1 platoon MICVs, Striker + Recce platoon.

Soviet start line. There is a lot of British armour hidden up there.

 

 It's not long until Soviet recce elements run into trouble on the highway.

 MILAN action against the infantry company, which taken the British right, while armoured thrust goes in on the British left - completely against doctrine!

The Soviet right...will get hit particularly badly.

Lurking British Recon elements.

Whoosh SPANG! (It's the best MILAN impression I can do at short notice).

 ATGWs slow down the armoured advance.

The Challengers haven't fired a shot yet, and there are still plenty of command tokens in their turn.

 'Ready mate? Here they come...'

 Red Air comes in...it's not going to be pretty.

 Blowpipe action from the infantry in cover. Predictably, Blowpipe misses.
(I have spoken to one of the engineers (Retired) who worked on it believe it or not, who tells me that the government budget meant that Blowpipe wasn't properly tested and had to be swiftly replaced by Starstreak/Javelin etc. Its record in the Falklands speaks for itself. Granted, it's just like any other AA missile here - so it's ok for these rules). Oh yes...it misses...

 ...a Challenger suffers the consequences.

 Infantry assault on the British right.

 This time Blowpipe hits however, and the Hind goes down.

 ...confounding what remains of the armoured assault.

The Russians had run out of command tokens however. To watch the British pull back from their forward positions, which were now under considerable threat from Russian infantry, and form a second sustainable position, was a thing of beauty...and really showed me how you can exploit your opponent overstretching his force. Very good.

Having recoivered and found new positions, the MILANs are back at it.

Russian armour can not sustain the assault against Challengers on the British left.

 The British right too, was able to hold, after the infantry pulled back. The Russian attack was stalling as we drew matters to a close.

 As night falls, all is quiet.

Great game. Really nice rules. Just what we needed.


(Obligatory DM3 track attached...Radio Gobin presents: 'Do Wrong Right' ...that about sums up the rules right?)