HMGS – Page 9

Check Your Six WWII Air Game Photos

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Check Your Six at the Dogs of War shop. The 1/300 scale planes involved were:

3 B26
2 P38
4 P47

2 FW190
4 Me109
2 Me110

The bombers were to cross the table and bomb some military installations in France prior to D Day. None made it. Two 110s were lost. Two 109s and a 190 were damaged.

B26s escorted by P47s

The 110s felt a bit out of place in this fight.

The target

P47s

The 109s slip right to get at the bombers and the P47 turn in to cover.

An ace in a FW190 takes down another bomber.

The remaining 110 takes out the last bomber before being destroyed itself.

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.

Yazoo River ACW Naval AAR

Today a few members of the local HMGS-South group played out the historical action on the Yazoo River, July 15th, 1862. The Confederate ironclad Arkansas encountered the Union ironclad Carondelet, the gunboat Tyler and the ram Queen of the West. In this case, the Arkansas easily out-shot and ran past the Carondelet and Tyler, leaving the latter dead in the water. The Queen of the West then managed a perfect ram on the Arkansas and sank her.

The rules used were “Sail and Steam Navies: Naval Battle System 1840 to 1880.” The ship models were Thoroughbred 1/600 scale.

USS Tyler

The Union ships fail to stop the Arkansas with gunfire.

Tyler immobile and Carondelet trying to turn around.

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

Gutshot Game – Tombstone Arizona 1881

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Gutshot, with additional role-playing elements, at the Dogs of War shop.

The game was set in Tombstone Arizona in the days leading up to the Gunfight at the OK Corral. Three factions (the Earps, the Clantons and the Cowboys) contest control of the town’s business (mostly illicit) in order to raise cash. The two leading factions will shoot it out at the OK Corral to determine the winner.

In this game the Earps made a bit of money on bets, but were otherwise law-abiding and fell behind financially. The Clantons and the Cowboys tried shaking down the local merchants in a protection racket, but were not making much. Johnny Ringo got shot by an irate merchant, which did not help his reputation. The Clantons did well in the entertainment business and stage coach robbery. The Cowboys ambushed some local bandits and cleaned up betting against one of their own in a boxing match. The final shootout was won by the Clantons, although both McLaurys died (a historical result).