Another excellent, though shorter WW2 bash today, with a scenario borrowed from the old Rapid Fire 1st ed (green book). Op Archery was the first real test of the new British Commando concept, and met with great success.
'Reservation? Sorry, we seem to be full at the moment...'
A good test also of FoB/Battle Command WW2 spotting, smoke, platoon level version rules and objectives added to normal attrition rules.
The lighthouse, made from loo roll, with a tea-light inside, to make it totally realistic...
The Commandos despite being met with resistance on Maaloy Island, had great success on the mainland, taking the German HQ and causing horrendous casualties, whilst clearing and blowing objectives - but still a great game.
'Welcome to Vaagso. our lighthouse is actually a loo roll!'
Commandos blow the light-house
Commandos landing on Maaloy Island have a much tougher time
...and YES - the old Airfix coastal defence installation finally gets some use...
As the main groups move inland...
Reserve group is committed very early, to take down the armed trawler and the first of the Fish Oil factories
Some resistance, but eventually makes its way in
Going is slow (bad cards and rolls at the start) but steady
Maaloy becomes a stalemate, though does prevent the coastal guns from firing inland
As German defenders give further resistance - scattered across the village
A factory taken, but not blown yet
German defenders overwhelmed in the centre of town
The single Panzer had its work cut out, and is forced back to defend the HQ/Hotel
...but the commandos, with superb shooting, manage to take down much of the resisting garrison
...and start taking down the factories
Maaloy becomes a massive distraction for both sides, but the German garrison ends up losing too much morale..and is eventually defeated upon the mainland...a great game once more.
Many thanks Neil. Luckily the Health & Safety Department carried out a 40 page Risk Assessment at tax-payer expense, and forced me to use a 'Faux Plastic Battery Driven Tea-Light (Pat Pending...Made in Chy-Na)'. They did not however, issue a suitable method statement and i got a paper cut on the packaging. They are receiving suitably worded claim very soon.
No loo rolls were harmed in the making of this post. ;)
Many thanks Martin. I did think of many varied ways to build it, but as time pressure became a thing on the weekend of battle... well, necessity is the mother of wargames invention ;)
It only took decades to get it on the table with rules that make it work. Now to get the two gun coastal gun set on the table - with Pointe du Hoc or similar (sans guns of course...or at least, lying in an MDF ditch...off table)
HA! Excellent Jonathan. It must be one of the most used plastic moulds ever! I have debated cutting the centre out of it to allow infantry stands to sit inside, though every time I get the saw ready, it's hard to butcher such an old piece of model kit.
Another ripper and a vastly smaller scale engagement for you. Pleased that your favoured rules were up to it. Like everyone else I was extremely taken by seeing the gun emplacement—all the more when you highlight that it has had or will soon have its golden anniversary. You must have oversized bog rolls in UK if everyone is leaning to that as the source for the lighthouse. Must be a good 50 mm diam. isn't it?! Best wishes, James
Many thanks James. The rules work on variable scales - with one base being squad, platoon, or company...with some rules variants for each scale. This game was platoon scale, and yes, quite a ripper :) First time in action for the whole gun emplacement, though bits of it (the gun and hut) have been in old North Africa (Safi) games. AHA...the loo roll is 47mm o.dia, or about 1"7/8 in old money . Makes a good lighthouse with appropriate printed medium glued to it ;)
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Fascinating game. Good to see the old Airfix gun emplacement in action.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'd trust a tea light in a cardboard loo roll! ☺
Neil
Many thanks Neil. Luckily the Health & Safety Department carried out a 40 page Risk Assessment at tax-payer expense, and forced me to use a 'Faux Plastic Battery Driven Tea-Light (Pat Pending...Made in Chy-Na)'. They did not however, issue a suitable method statement and i got a paper cut on the packaging. They are receiving suitably worded claim very soon.
DeleteNo loo rolls were harmed in the making of this post.
;)
Good to see the Airfix gun emplacement still being useful! The lighthouse is a bog-standard conversion, though.
ReplyDeleteLOL see what you did there?
DeleteBog rolls are not what they used to be - clearly cowboy lighthouse builders.
...and I have wanting to get that emplacement onto a wargames table for 40 years...In fact, the plastic may be turning 50 this year :O
A staple of 70s art lessons… Avoid the Cushelle tubeless rolls. Nothing left to make rockets with and it’s like sandpaper on your farmers.
DeleteThe last thing I need on my farmers is sandpaper, to be fair...
DeleteGreat stuff, the lighthouse is a work of genius.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Martin. I did think of many varied ways to build it, but as time pressure became a thing on the weekend of battle... well, necessity is the mother of wargames invention ;)
DeleteEvery boy worth his salt in Britain had that gun emplacement ? :-)
ReplyDeleteIt only took decades to get it on the table with rules that make it work. Now to get the two gun coastal gun set on the table - with Pointe du Hoc or similar (sans guns of course...or at least, lying in an MDF ditch...off table)
DeleteA few were seen in America too!
DeleteHA! Excellent Jonathan. It must be one of the most used plastic moulds ever! I have debated cutting the centre out of it to allow infantry stands to sit inside, though every time I get the saw ready, it's hard to butcher such an old piece of model kit.
DeleteHighly original game, 20mm plastics are excellent
ReplyDeleteAnother ripper and a vastly smaller scale engagement for you. Pleased that your favoured rules were up to it.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else I was extremely taken by seeing the gun emplacement—all the more when you highlight that it has had or will soon have its golden anniversary.
You must have oversized bog rolls in UK if everyone is leaning to that as the source for the lighthouse. Must be a good 50 mm diam. isn't it?!
Best wishes, James
Many thanks James. The rules work on variable scales - with one base being squad, platoon, or company...with some rules variants for each scale. This game was platoon scale, and yes, quite a ripper :)
DeleteFirst time in action for the whole gun emplacement, though bits of it (the gun and hut) have been in old North Africa (Safi) games.
AHA...the loo roll is 47mm o.dia, or about 1"7/8 in old money .
Makes a good lighthouse with appropriate printed medium glued to it ;)