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.

Annual Big Game: Battle of Lutzen 1813 - Day Four

By Rupert

During the course of the last day's play, Blucher took the four central villages swiftly for little loss, in addition Souham and Brenier forces were broken. This resulted in eth French having to exercise the   'Napoleon Option'  but the Emperorwas wounded and command devolved to Ney. However, on a mor epositive note for the french, Ricard and Girard held on west of Kaja for most of the day.

The Young Guard were sent out on a loop west around Starseidel [an error in my opinion, too many turns not fighting - discuss] with the army guns and guard horse. The guard foot were busy between Starseidel and Rahna, contributing to the rout of Bergs grenadiers and Eugenes division.

As fighting continued, the Russian cavalry broke one of Marmont's divisions on the west flank, before crumbling when the guard cav came to assist Marmont.

MacDonald retook Eisdorf, but could make no more progress. Likewise Marchand could do little. there being plenty of allied reserves on the east side.

Bertrand advanced [from the west] but with limited space to make numbers count, was stopped by Russian guards.

In the last hour before dusk,the French amassed a grand battery [6batts] but they were less effective than expected, the guard heavies being late into action, and the allies responding with 4 of their own batteries Ricard and Girards divisions finally broke.

 

The last turns on sat morning. The French guard were broken by artillery and Prussian musketry. The Russian Guard held on under pressure from the Young guard, being saved by nightfall.

RESULTS

The French score: 2 villages, 1 allied tile occupied,3 allied divs broken.  6 points

The Allies: 4 villages, 3 tiles, 5 fr divs, French Guard broken.                   14 points

Scenario maybe too weighted against the French?

Friday Night Games: Battle of Frankfurt

 On the nights of 23rd February & 1st March, Mark put on the next installment of his epic WW2 Battle for Frankfurt game, at Rupert's venue. The game is set in 1945 and the last days of the Reich, with the inexorable advance of the Red Army that was being opposed by series of small, disperate units of Germans.

This game featured a German Armoured train, along with Volkstrum veterans and German trainer aircraft fitted with Panzerfausts for ground attack roles!

Highp oints and low points of the second week's fighting involved the destruction of much of the German Armoured Train, routing of a Russian T34 unit from long range fire from said train and a combined infantry attack with Panzerfausts! 

As ever I'll leave the photos to do the talking, just to add that the Rssians were played by Steve, Mat, Rupert and Phil whilst eth Germans were hered about by Dave, John, Mike N & Mike W, with Mark providing excellent umpire services as usual.

German Luftwaffe Ground Attack unit, plane on the right had Panzerfausts fitted for ground attack, the fighter n eth left was unarmed and acting as a decoy. It dod not end well for these guys!

Advancing Red Armuy units

German 2cm Flak 38 SdKfz 7/2,
one of two such vehicles attempting to support the armoured train

The armoured train, early in the game before taking a real battering!

Exiting Rusisna aircraft

Overgead view of the battlefield, Russians attacking from eth top of the picture

Another view of the above looking from behind Russian lines

More advancing Russian Heavy Armour

The big success of teh evenng for the Germans. T34, top centre knocked out by a long range shot from the Armoured Train, whilst simultaniously the lead T34 bottom right, is knocked out by Volkstrum infantry close assault. THe nit's crews panicked and fled teh field leaving their vehicles behind.

A view of the Russian infantry attack going in, on their left flank

More shots of Red Army Armour

and same advance from their right flank.

Mark is yet to declare the evening's outcome, late in the day the German command was mysteriously whisked away in secret to report to the 'Bunker in Berlin'. Question is just how lcky is thi smove for teh German leadership and what happened to the defenders left behind in Frankfurt!?

Battle of Frankfurt

Friday, 28th April saw Mark putting on game 4 in his series of the Battle for Frankfurt, set in the dying days of the second World War.

 

German forces struggled all evening to pin a hit on the attacking Russians but in the lat minutes of the first week of the game, the Germans managed to knock out an SU152!

This was achieved by a very cunningly concealed 88mm PAK gun.

Meanwhile German paramilitary firefighters were holding a line of tank traps awiting waves of Russian infantry attacks.

Below are additional  earlier shots of the table-top.