On the Workbench: Iron Age Hillfort

There has been a lull in my gaming allowing me to concentrate on terrain in preparation for forthcoming tabletop action. An additional reason being my holiday abroad for a couple of weeks from this weekend and did not want to leave a half-completed game on the table for this duration. 

With regard to terrain. I have completed a batch of buildings for Gettysburg and I am cautiously optimistic that I have enough. All being well that will be good to go this year.

Another long overdue item is the iron-age hillfort for the next action in my Roman invasion of Britannia campaign:

I normally shy away from scratch-building terrain unless there is no other option. Mainly because of the time it takes and my limited ability in producing good looking pieces. 

The walkway behind the palisade is 15mm wide allowing for the accommodation of my 15mm deep bases. So far it is shaping up ok and miraculously without warping of the softwood base. It is being built in slow time alongside the painting of Japanese warships (in the background) to keep my sanity intact with the gluing of numerous toothpicks. It is actually quite therapeutic doing it this way!

Another priority for terrain on my return will be to add to my desert collection for both my WW2 North Africa campaign and Pony Wars. All this has meant figure painting has come to a standstill following the completion of ECW units for Edgehill. It will be a miracle if I manage to complete my target for the year! 

Defending the Malay Barrier: Force Z Sortie Part 1

Before I detail the initial action of the campaign, I will cover some of the rules contained within the book (see previous post).

There are 6 bi-weekly turns with an optional turn 0 being the Force Z sortie. I have opted to include turn 0, which as it turns out, is a useful introduction into the campaign mechanism. Anybody aware of the initial moves by Japan will understand that this is a very one-sided affair. The ABDA (America, Britain, Dutch and Australia) navies were hopelessly outgunned at this stage of the war. The allies have no hope of defeating the Japanese outright, but they do have a chance of winning the campaign by amassing victory points.

The central core of this is disrupting Japanese invasion and resupply fleets. This potentially prevents Japan achieving its historical objectives.

Each turn is broken down into a number of phases:

1. General Intelligence
2. Japanese Theatre Events
3. Allied/ABDA Theatre Events
4. Weather Forecast
5. Japanese Command Decisions
6. Allied/ABDA Intelligence
7. Allied/ABDA Command Decisions
8. Japanese Intelligence
9. Engagements
    a. Weather determination and time of day
    b. Engagements resolution (resolved in order as below)
        i     Roll for ship availability
        ii    Resolve Carrier Group vs. Carrier Group attacks
        iii   Resolve Carrier Group vs. Surface attacks
        iv   Resolve Land Based Air attacks
        v    Resolve Japanese Patrol vs. Allied/ABDA Sweeps
        vi   Resolve Allied/ABDA Sweeps vs. Japanese Convoys
        vii  Resolve IJN Carrier Group follow-up attacks vs. disabled Allied/ABDA surface groups
        viii Resolve Land Based Air follow-up attacks vs. disabled Allied/ABDA surface groups
10. Repair, Bookkeeping and Victory Determination

The book provides details of orders of battle for each turn and the events section follows historical and optional a-historical deployments. I will cover the above in more detail as the campaign progresses.

A note regarding the air element of the campaign. Originally, I intended to play any air actions using the main rules in GQ3. However, on re-reading those rules I came across the campaign air rules which I had not paid any attention to in the past. These are a simplified set of rules and allows for a speedier play-through providing more time for the naval aspect. To avoid getting too bogged down, for most air actions I intend to use this version of the rules, but may occasionally revert to the full set as the mood takes me. I may even use Bag the Hun for air-to-air combat if I get really inspired!

Continued -

Defending the Malay Barrier

After a couple of years painting the odd ship as a sideline to my main projects, I have finally decided to kickstart this campaign as a project. So as not to perpetually add to an ever-lengthening project list, I have cancelled the Kingmaker Wars of the Roses campaign. This was the only non-solo project but unfortunately my opponent found it difficult to find time when we were both available due to his job and child commitments.

The campaign is one of several from the Old Dominion Gameworks site Home (odgw.com). Although based on the General Quarters 3 rules (which I shall be using), any set of WW2 naval rules can be used.

The campaign covers the early months of the war in the Pacific over 6 bi-weekly turns plus an optional turn 0 (8th - 15th December 1941) involving the sortie by Force Z. As this is a naval campaign, the land element is dealt with in the abstract. 

My campaign will include turn 0, the sweep by Force Z attempting to intercept the IJN Malayan invasion force. 

I will cover the campaign in more detail in future posts.

Battle of Cristot 11th June 1944 - Turns 9 to Conclusion

 Turn 9

B and C companies of the E Yorks assist D company (bottom left) in clearing the woods of German infantry. D company though come under heavy fire from the woods opposite losing a platoon with the remainder suppressed.

The E Yorks 6pdr hurriedly moves off the road seeking cover as it comes under fire from the German 150mm infantry gun scoring a hit on the Lloyd Carrier.

Continued -

Battle of Cristot 11th June 1944 - Turns 1 to 8

This game is an adaption of a Rapid Fire scenario in the 'Normandy Battlegames' scenario book. It is relatively straightforward to adapt for Blitzkrieg Commander 4 with slightly more AFV's being the most obvious change.

Background to the battle.

After D-Day the 50th Infantry Division supported by the 8th Armoured Brigade pushed forward south of Bayeux in an attempt to take Tilly-sur-Suelles prior to a move on Villers Bocage with a view to outflanking the German defenders of Caen.  

The Germans had been reinforced by the Panzer Lehr Division who launched an attack towards Bayeux on the 9th June advancing to within 3 miles before being pulled back. On 11th June the 69th Brigade of the 50th Division attacked SS units defending the villages of Brouay and Cristot with the particular aim of capturing Hill 102, a slight rise giving commanding views over the area.

This scenario covers that assault by the 69th Brigade. 

Continued -

Nap Campaign: Map Moves 3rd - 13th April 1808

There follows a lull in the fighting as all 3 French thrusts are held. The French had enjoyed a significant amount of success until these simultaneous setbacks. Had any one of them achieved victory freeing up resources for the other two, the allies may well have been facing defeat in the campaign. Victory is not assured for the allies yet though with the French switching to defence.

I will begin with the strategic maps giving an overview before zooming in one each theatre for more detail. I have not included every day's movements to avoid being swamped in maps, but it should be sufficient to indicate what has happened. 

3rd April

Continued -

Wargaming - An Update

The hiatus in my wargaming has unfortunately, extended into the new year. Having moved into a newbuild house last year I was fully aware that I would need deal with cracking caused by the house drying out and settling. The new year was my target to complete this work believing 2 or 3 days should sort it. How wrong I was. After a week of recaulking, filling and sanding I have still not lifted a paint brush!

Cristot is gathering dust (and cobwebs) in the garage although I did manage to complete Usher's dragoons, the last unit for Edgehill. Even figure painting is now suspended.

All being well normal service will be resumed in a few days. The Napoleonic campaign map moves have been completed leading to the next battle and will be the next blog post as soon as I have prepped it. I hope to have Edgehill on the board after Cristot but there will be a brief interlude while I insulate the garage door. The cold snap we had in December defeated my heaters and insulating the door is a fairly easy upgrade to improve the temperature. I have received a garage door insulation kit designed for the purpose and hopefully will do the job.

In the meantime, back to the rather less exciting task of sanding and painting.

Plans for 2023

As the new year approaches it is time to think about what I shall do over the next 12 months. Although I have had mixed results in sticking to previous years plans, I do tend to find it helps in focussing my attention rather than bursting off in all directions which I have been known to do!

As in previous years I will break down my plans into Battles, Campaigns, Painting/Modelling.

So without further ado, onto the plans:

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 2nd Augusta Legion v Ancient British Durotriges tribe in the west country.

ECW:

Edgehill - Almost ready to play this and will be a priority in the new year.

NAPOLEONIC:

Peninsular War project - Battle of Busaco 27th September 1810. There are a fair number of figures to paint before this game will be ready so probably 50:50 if this will be on the table in 2023.

Napoleonic Campaign - At the time of writing this I am still completing campaign map moves. There will certainly be at least one battle played out this coming year.

ACW:

Gettysburg Day 2 - I have been intending for several years to play this game but for a variety of reasons has fallen by the wayside. There is no excuse though as my available gaming area is now sufficient for a battle of this size. There are terrain pieces that have yet to be painted but I simply have to get this up on the tabletop this coming year.

COLONIAL:

Rorkes Drift - Most of the figures have now been painted with just the terrain to be completed.

PONY WARS:

A priority to get the figures painted followed by terrain. I intend to make this one of the targets this year but unsure as to whether I will complete all the collection required. Hopefully though I will get something on the table even if only a test game.

WW2:

Cristot (Normandy 1944) - Already on the board with an AAR due to be posted within the next few weeks.

Battle south of Nibeiwa - Operation Compass campaign and another priority for the year.

Groesbeek Heights - Op Market Garden. Another target but dependant on being able to get the figures painted in time.

Continued -

Review of 2022

My wargaming has slowed to a crawl since my last blog posting. A host of reasons intruded on my available time not least a downturn in my wargaming mojo! Over a month ago I set up a WW2 game, the battle of Cristot, and so far have only completed a half dozen turns. I did though manage to keep up a reasonably steady amounting of painting, more of that below.

So with the end of year approaching, it is time to review what I have completed over the past 12 months. As in previous years I will republish my plans for the year and update them as to what has been accomplished. Text in italics are taken from those plans.

BATTLES

ANCIENTS:

Early Imperial Roman 2nd Augusta Legion v Ancient British Durotriges tribe in the west country.

Unfortunately, no further forward. It was my intention to construct an iron age hillfort, and although tempted to forsake that just to get the game done, decided I really should complete the construction given the location of the action. I have completed the base and some test palisade and hope to progress this early in the new year.

ECW:

Stoke Lane 1st July 1643.

Completed - https://grymauch.blogspot.com/2022/09/ecw-battle-of-stoke-lane-1st-july-1643.html

Edgehill - a considerable number of figures need to be painted. I have included this battle as a possible although probably a long-shot for this year.

Definitely on course to be played next year. 

Continued - 

Nap Campaign: Battle of Holbrook 3rd April 1808 - Turns 25 to Conclusion

 Turn 25

Squares are formed as the great mass of Guard cavalry swarm over the river. The lancers temporarily halt to form up. The only allied cavalry in a position to intercept them is a lone troop of Brunswick lancers (lower middle left).

The view from behind the allied lines. One square is caught between the cavalry and an approaching Young Guard battalion column. They open fire on both but fail to make much of an impact. The green micro-dice indicate which units will need to test morale the next turn as a result of a dispersing 33rd Line and an artillery battery. 

Continued -