On Saturday the local HMGS-South group played an American Civil War game at the Dogs of War shop. The rules were Black Powder and the scenario (modified from Johnny Reb) was based on the action at Salem Church during the battle of Chancellorsville.
The 15mm figures used were generously donated to several Florida HMGS groups.
Initial positions with the Union on the right on Toll House ridge and Confederates on the left split between the Salem Church ridge and the valley below. The entire valley floor is scrub providing light cover.
Union troops around the Toll House.
Brown’s Brigade has advanced rapidly to the Confederate skirmish lines, forcing them back. Bartlett’s Brigade moves slower on the Union left. Artillery advances down the turnpike. Confederate reinforcements (Semmes’ Brigade, to be followed by Mahoone’s) are slowed by the congestion on the turnpike.
Confederate fire from Wilcox and Semmes, and a flank threat by skirmishing dismounted cavalry have halted Brown’s Brigade, but Bartlett continues to sweep forward through the woods on the Union left.
After several turns of sitting idle on Toll House ridge, Russell’s Brigade rushes across the valley to extend the Union right. This ends the threat to Brown by Semmes’ Brigade and forces the enfilading Confederate battery to retreat. Bartlett has reached Salem Church ridge on the Union left. Mahone’s Brigade has arrived and is deploying on the Confederate left.
Tactically, the action ends with a stalemate at nightfall like the historic action, but for the overall battle that is all the Confederates needed. The Union VI Corps will not be able to move on Chancellorsville.
Game 1: The Dalton Gang’s raid on Coffeyville, October 5, 1892 was fought using 25mm rules, western terrain and miniatures by Rob of Real-Terrain (RMLHM901@aol.com).
Game 2: World War II skirmish using ‘Disposable Heroes & Coffin for Seven Brothers’ rules by Iron Ivan and 25mm figures. Three US infantry squads and one paratroop squad (each of a rifle section and a BAR section) must eject two German squads (each of a rifle section and a LMG section) from the stone buildings. The action is near Turqueville, June 7, 1944. This was a revised version of the scenario played in January.
US infantry on the right at the start. US paratroopers start in the upper left corner. German infantry occupies the ruins on the left.
US rifle teams advance while the BAR teams lay down covering fire. One rifle team has been nearly wiped out.
US paratroopers in the woods exchange fire with German defenders. Both German machine guns are knocked out early in the game.
After a seven turn firefight, the last defenders are eliminated. The few remaining US troops are visible in this photo, indicating the heavy cost.
Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Rapid Fire. The scenario was based on the action at Ziegenhagen on the River Ihna, February 8th, 1945.
The German force of 3 infantry platoons, 3 Tiger IIs, 2 Elephants, 5 Stugs and several Hummels faced a Soviet force of 3 JS-1s, 5 T-34/85s, 13 T-34/76s and several AT guns. Each T-34 carried a squad of desant infantry. The Soviet needed to gain undisputed control of one of the two Ihna River bridges.
The Soviet T-34s were reinforcements, with a random number arriving each turn. The Germans chose to send the Stugs and an infantry platoon by an unmapped path to the south bridge, with the possibility of a long delay.
JS-1s hiding among the ruins of Ziegenhagen
JS-1s and AT guns await the Germans
Elephants on a hill and a Tiger II sight down the streets of Ziegenhagen. Hummels behind the hill wait for fire orders.
View of the town from the south. German infantry move to occupy the buildings near the left bridge.
German Elephant and Tiger II guns target Soviet tanks as they enter the town from the upper left. Infantry edges forward through the ruins.
A JS-1 briefly shows a flank to a Tiger II, but the shot is missed.
Soviet infantry and a JS-1 take the south (right) bridge with no Germans in sight.
The artillery scatter template. Hummel fire takes out a lot of desant troops.
Soviet Infantry and JS-1s take the south bridge with no Germans in sight.
Infantry on reaction fire (RF) ready to blast whoever shows themselves.
The long-lost Stugs and infantry arrive and take hits from waiting JS-1s.
T-34s move south trying to avoid German fire. Close range infantry firefights have taken a heavy toll on both sides.
The JS-1s and an AT gun decisively win the shootout with the Stugs. With the south bridge in Soviet hands, they achieve a hard won victory.
Today the local HMGS-South group played three games at our regular monthly meet.
Game 1: Napoleonic (or should that be Nelsonian?) naval using Ship of the Line rules and 1/1200 scale miniatures. An Allied 3-decker is aground and must be protected from a British force of ships-of-the-line and frigates.
Game 2: Napoleon at War rules with 15mm figures. A battle of the little known Anglo-Austrian Unpleasantness of 1805.
Game 3: World War II skirmish using ‘Disposable Heroes & Coffin for Seven Brothers’ rules by Iron Ivan and 25mm figures. Three US paratroop squads (each of a rifle section and a BAR section) must eject two German squads (each of a rifle section and a LMG section) from the stone buildings. The action is near Turqueville, June 7, 1944.
The grounded 3-decker
The field from the German side. The Americans start at the stone wall at the far end and must take the stone ruins in 10 turns.
LMG on the upper floor and riflemen below.
Initial positions with the British entering from the upper right. The white line indicates shallow water.
The Allied fleet defending the grounded ship.
The British in the Nelsonian two parallel lines-ahead.
At the end, the Americans still had plenty of time, but not enough men.
Don’t ask me what happened. I was busy in another game.
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