Friday Night Games: WW2 Eastern Front

Words by Mark, Mat & Steve.

Photos by Mark & Mat

Friday 11th April saw Mark put on a WW2 game from his Eastern front series of linked games, all models and rules are his and ark umpired the game at Rupert's house.

Mark's Narrative for Scenario

The scenario is during the breakthrough in the Crimea as a Russian  column commanded by Steve & Rupert  attempts to get to Kerch and safety. 

The Romanian persuers, commanded by Dave and Mat are out not only to stop them but also secure the last airfield in the area. 

So far, the column has suffered from air attack and the NKVD "suggesting" they stand. 

All the Romanian troops - mostly infantry are on the table and engaging rear elements. 

Russian equipment is a mix of units with some odd stuff for eye candy. Thanks to Rupert for hosting.

Mat's Romanian Commentary

This is a very biased narrative by the umpire. A more even handed account is below:

When German units stalled in the Crimea, dashing Romanian forces staged a breakthrough that smashed overwhelming Russian forces. Knowing they could not face such iron will, the Russians fled, desperate to reach Kerch. 

Romanian forces have pursued, and though outgunned and massively outnumbered, they use guile, courage and pure vim to overcome their foe. Cleverly manoeuvring their light tankettes the brave Romanians have destroyed the Russian's Odessa Super-tank…

... a land leviathan that had held the SS at bay for weeks. Now heroic infantry units are chasing Communist armoured divisions across the bare Crimean landscape towards the cowering airfield. Ceaseless bombing missions and strafing sorties are smashing the Russians…

... there can be no escape!

Steve's Russian perspective

Very bias narrative from both Mark and Matt, here's the truth from the  latest issue of PRAVDA.

Unbeknown to the Rumanians they bombed the last, and only, supply depot housing LSV, bottles of "Last Stand Vodka", (Break cap in an emergency).

The now alcohol deprived Russians are flinging caution to the wind and confronting the real enemy, the NKVD, in order to reach "Yeltsins bar" in the village at the end of the table and use it as a "hache queue" for the next stage of the operation.

Rumour has it that a cargo plane full of LSV is being flown in to the airfield and then delivered to the bar so the airfield must be liberated before the Russian army starts suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The game is not about a retreating Russian army but one pushing backwards towards the rear, bravely tackling the NKDV, best of luck to the Romainians when they reach their road block, and then getting the LSV off the table.

Friday Night Games: Battle of Hastings, October 1066 (Week Two)

Friday 4th April saw us continue the Battle of Hastings game at Mikey's house. We had a slight change in the teams, in that John & Nigel were unavailable, so that left Steve to hold the Anglo-Danish fort, abley supported by guest player, Jimmy.

The battlelines seen from behind the Anglo-Danish left flank, where Leofwine's forces opposed those of Count Eustace

The centre line, where Harold faced off William and his half-brother Odo

And the right of the Anglo-Danish line, where Gyrth's forces faced Alan of Breton's men.

The Normans continued their assault on the hill, with massed bow fire at short range but ended up with little to show for it.

Meanwhile, their infantry units closed to assault the defended hill. Theae assaults were generally met witha shower od throwing weapons and then ashirt sharp fight before the Norman units backed away.

Normans, lead by Odo attack the Anglo-Danish center

Eustace's men attack the hill

In the center one such fight became a prolonged affair, with a unit of armoured Nirman infantry, slogging it out with a unit of armoured Select Fryd. This struggle continued through out this week's game.

As do Alan's...

Else where on the flanks, Eustace and Alan Sent in units with varying degrees of success, all ultimately being pushed back.

The battle rages on

Surprisingly, in the Norman centre, Odo was deployed to lead the infantry assaults on the hill. He battled for several rounds before taking a hit that he could not recover from. Odo  fell  along with his white horse and one of the central Norman units recoiled from the fight in disorder, to be followed the next turn by two other units, relieving the pressure on the Anglo-Danish lined.

More glimpses of Odo fighting in the centre

The Normans played a tactical card and forced one of Leofwine's Select Fryd units to impetuous charge down the hill, chasing a retiring Norman unit. They were quickly pounced upon by nearby Cavalry units and a melee ensued.

More fighting, a Norman unit is forced to retire (yellow marker)

Alan begins re-organising his lines as units break off the attack

On the Anglo-Danish right  things were getting tight as well, Alan was lining up his Bretons to make a co-ordated attack and in the fighting leading up to this, one of Gyrth Godwinson's commanders, Edward, was slain but the defenders held their nerve.

The fighting in the centre continues apace

An impetuous charge by an Anglo-Danish unit off the hill ...

...and Norman Cavalry edge in to attack...

Odo falls in the centre and Norman units react accordingly

The Norman horse pounce upon the impetuous Anglo-Danes

Alan's archers & crossbowmenmass on the extreme right of the Anglo-Danish lines

View of the fighting line form the Anglo-Danish right flank

The same from a higher view point

So all to play for in Week Three, scheduled for 25th April, next two weeks we journey to Rupert's for a WW2 game being put on by Mark.

Friday Night Games: Battle of Hastings, October 1066 (Week One)

Friday 28th March saw us conviene at Mikey's to fight out the Battle of Hastings in 28mm scale. The game was organised by Mike W, using his figure collection and rules, Mike also umpired the game.

Anglo-Danish General Fryd on th right of their line

The Anglo-Danes were led by John (Harold Godwinson), Steve (Gyrth Godwinson) and Nigel (Leofeine Godwinson). Pitted against them, leading ghe Norma's were Mat (William 'the Badtsrd'), Dave (Bishop Odo aka 'Knuckles') , Rupert (Count Eustace 'the Useless') and Mikey (Alan of Breton aka 'Alan the Bumkin'). Note Mat really got into the role of William and ruled his team with a rod of iron and a Savage tongue! 😀

The Anglo-Danish line

The Norman left

Both sides lined out their troops, Anglo-Danes first, as they held the defensive lines on the hill. Harold in the centre, Garth to his right and Leofwine to his left. Troops were in shieldwall formation with reserves to the rear over the crest of the hill.

Norman Centre

Normans advance - blue counters are ammunition supply for missile men

Norman Archers prepare to fire

William took the centre  commanding the army and the Normsn Cavalry. Odo commanded the central infantry whilst Alan placed his Bretons to the left and Rupert placed his Feench to the right.

Alan and his cavalry contingent

As expected the Normans lined up with Archers and Crossbows to the front, followed by infantry and with Cavalry to the rear.

A view of the general Norman advance along their lines

Normans archers reach the foot of the defendeed hill

Norman foot closing behnd the archers

The Normans had 36 turns to destroy the Anglo Danush Army and kill or captur Harold and his brothers. If William was killed or captured  the Anglo-Danes win. Any other result is a draw  leading to a possible final showdown at the Medway Crossings or at Pevancy Bay  depending on who did best in the draw results above.

Anglo-Danes ready to receive

Archers pour fire on the defenders but to little effect

Week One started with a Norman advance followed by their infantry. Norman missile fire started at long range but then closed to short range but achieved little, other than driving off some Anglo-Danish skirmishers. A final full volley of arrows did drive a unit of General Fryd off the hill  before the Normans ran out of arrows

Archers in action

On game turn 5, William called a time out and pulled his lines back to the base line  resupplying the archers and assessing the impact of his fire power.

Normans call time out and reset to base positions to re-supply archers

The advance begins again 

Anglo-Danes re-aligned and waiting again

The Anglo Danes took the opportunity to reorganise and replace the unit of General Fryd in the line.

More Anglo-Danes

More missile fire

The Normans started over again  this time marching their archers and crossbowmen in to short range before letting rip with their missiles. This proved quite effective, and as a result drove Gryth's General Fryd shueld wall off tge far left of the hill linse by turn 12.

Norman infantry close for second time

Manwhile on the Norman right the French, began ascending the frontal slopes and trying to directly engage enemy skirmishes.

Another view...

At this point, 1/3 through the battle we broke off until next week.....

20mm WW2 Axis vehicles

By Mark.

 l'm painting the last of my leftovers l have in my odds and sods box most of which are late 19th cent. So will have to have a big victorian civil war battle at some point but the rate that l'm painting at the moment will probably be in 2 years time!

Russian tank pressed into German service

Anti-Aircraft half track

Above tank is generally known as P40-painted as used by Germans in anti-partisan actions and at least once against Brits in 1945, originally an Italian vehicle.