With the annual Christmas bash of the Glorious Bast*rds due, there was much discussion over period and rules, an ACW Field of Battle game narrowly being beaten out by Modern Spearhead - yet another set of 90s rules that I bought and shelved.
So with 3 (very) patriotic Soviet players and 2 West German, a scenario based on the Red Storm game in the rule-book was in the offing.
The Luneberg Heath, south of Hamburg...and a lot of open ground to cross.
Motor Rifle Regiments deploy east of the Dorito.
One regiment, recently returned from Syrian front, has not even had time to renew its livery for the European front. Hard bast*rds!
West German units will have a hard time covering the front, but will prove hard to shift.
...especially those Leopard 2s.
Startline Dorito. Awaiting the signal to advance.
Here they come!
18th Guards will take on the twin villages. Quantity has a quality all its own, though that doesn't make things any quicker.
German Air makes an appearance, though the air is thick with SAMs and ZSU fire.
Nervous German players point out the problem? No...perhaps just another random target.
The Soviet right - preventing a drive to the objective. Some Hind discipline required.
Objective Beer.
The centre can be reduced, though at a a heavy cost. ATGMs are flying (and I forgot my damned pipe cleaners).
The Leopards start to dish out some Ambush Fire hurt at ranges which the Soviets can't hope to match. DRIVE FORWARD!
The Soviets pass Objective Chocolate Orange.
The Soviet drive in the centre...who can stop this? Surely?
...as the left engages the twin villages as per orders.
Leopard 1s on the Soviet left. They remain safe througout the drive.
Soviet armour is pushed back the way it has come on the left, past Objective Guinness.
The centre holds. Right and left are weakened, but still holding. Soviet reinforcements are desperately required to punch through the Germans. Some Leopard 2s are brewed up, but not enough.
The twin villages are taken, but at what cost?
In the end, the Germans hold, and the Russians cry that they did not have enough forces. The Socialist Peoples demand that they be given the full TO&E next time ;)
A nice set of rules, with some nuances and simple, but not simplistic, mechanics.
More play required.
And finally, were we lost in Germany?
As Ski reminded me - there was of course a relevant song that I'd missed out...
