15mm Miniatures

Fox Gap – ACW Black Powder

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Black Powder at the Dogs of War shop. The ACW scenario was based loosely on the action at Fox Gap, South Mountain on September 14, 1862. The scenario was adjusted to accommodate the available 15mm units and the variable number of players expected to show up.

Two Union brigades look across the fields at the defending Confederate brigade

The Union objectives are the confederate position (upper right) and the road junction (lower right).

The left Union brigade moves out rapidly.

The Union advance on the left has stalled just inside the range of Confederate guns. The center brigade moves slowly through the standing corn.

A third Union brigade rushes down the turnpike to block an arriving Confederate brigade.

The center Union brigade advances rapidly to catch up with the left.

Marauding Confederate cavalry threaten the Union guns.

Union infantry charges into the Confederate position.

The left Union brigade losses three regiments and is broken. The center brigade tears a hole in the Confederate lines.

On the turnpike, troops of both sides extend the firing line as they come up.

After four hours of play we had to adjourn. The Union had managed to break into the Confederate position in the center, but with one Union brigade broken and the Confederates strongly holding the turnpike objective, we called this a Confederate win.

Rapid Fire AAR and Photos

Last month the local HMGS-South group played a Rapid Fire scenario based on the action near Arendorff (25 miles SE of Berlin) on April 18-19 1945. Three Tiger-IIs of the 503rd Heavy Tank battalion (schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 503) and a collection of other units were attempting to cover the retreat of civilians by delaying the advance of the Soviet army.

The Russian forces moving in from the left need to take the bridges and fuel dump (upper right), and destroy any Tiger-IIs.

One or more of the IL-2s may attack each turn based on a die roll.

Mortars with little ammo and a group of armed civilians.

T-34s swarm across the bridges. The mortars try to destroy one of these bridges, but fail.

Russian infantry takes losses attacking the German right, but keeps coming.

Tiger-IIs moving to the fuel dump to refuel.

The German line on the right is overrun.

T-34s use point blank fire to clear the buildings on the German left.

The fuel dump is destroyed by German fire to deny it to the Russians.

Russian tanks have taken heavy losses on the German left, but there is little to stop the Russian infantry.

German fuel trucks are burning, but the Tiger-IIs escape.

The Russians received points for capturing bridges and the fuel dump, and for destroyed Tiger-IIs. The Germans received points for getting fuel trucks and Tiger-IIs out of town, and for destroying Russian tanks. The Russians got the bridges, but the fuel dump was blown and the Tiger-IIs and a few fuel trucks escaped. The game was close with the Germans winning on points.

Johnny Reb III – Antietam

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Johnny Reb III, based on the action near Burnside’s Bridge at the battle of Antietam. Several Federal brigades attempt to take two bridges and find a ford over Antietam Creek.

Confederate position overlooking the southern bridge

Federal approach to the southern bridge and ford

Federal losses pile up on the southern bridge

Federal troops get across the southern bridge, but cannot hold there

Federal cavalry ready to cross the northern bridge after the defenders have been cleared

The ford is taken, but Confederate troops still cover the southern bridge

Operation Cobra – Rapid Fire Game Photos

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Rapid Fire. The scenario was July 28, 1944 (three days after the start of Cobra) and involved efforts of the U.S. 3rd and 4th Armored Divisions to take Coutances as the American breakout of Normandy begins. The Americans were opposed by elements of the 353rd Infantry, 17th SS Panzer Grenadier and 2nd SS Panzer Divisions.

The terrain and buildings are made by Rob of Real-Terrain (RMLHM901@aol.com).

Order of Battle

WW2 Market-Garden Blitzkrieg Commander Game

On Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a WW2 Market-Garden game using Blitzkrieg Commander at the Dogs of War shop. In this semi-historical scenario, two battalions of the 502nd Paratroop Infantry Regiment attempt to hold off the 107th Panzer Brigade untill the arrival of a Coldstream Guards armored force.

Two paratroop battalions dropped on the north-south road and moved to occupy the towns to the north-east and south. A German security company and two platoons of flak units defended the two northern towns. The security company was eventually overwhelmed and the north-east town taken.

On turn 5, German tanks and panzer grenadiers entered from the east and occupied the woods, covering both roads heading north. The panzer grenadiers assaulted the north-east town. The attack was stopped at the edge of town by a combination of mortar fire and bazookas.

On turn 9 British tanks and armored infantry entered from the south and raced north to relieve the airborne troops. Since Blitzkrieg Commander uses die rolls for orders, ‘racing’ can be very fast or very slow. The force moving up the east side of the table made good rolls and got into action against a flank guard of PzIVs and Stugs.

The game was ended due to time constraints with the Germans still in a strong defensive position.