Bolt Action

Bolt Action – Aslito Airfield, Saipan

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game set during the Battle of Saipan. The scenario was based on the Japanese counterattack on Aslito airfield on the night of 16-17 June 1944 and pitted the 23rd Marine Regiment against the Japanese 118th Infantry Regiment.

After about four hours of play, the Japanese failed to achieve the required victory conditions. As a result, the airfield was held by the Marines.

Bolt Action – Edson’s Ridge

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. The scenario was based on the second night of the Battle of Edson’s Ridge, which occurred on the night of 13-14 September 1942. The ridge was part of the defenses of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. This game involved the position of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, attacked by Kokusho’s and Tamura’s battalions of the Japanese 124th Infantry Regiment.

Lunga Ridge, afterwards known as Edson’s Ridge.

The right end of the Marine position.

The Japanese have broken into the left end of the Marine line and destroyed a MG unit.

The Japanese attack on the right is ‘supported’ by miss-directed Marine artillery fire.

A second wave of Japanese infantry appears.

The Japanese attack on the right goes in and is wiped out.

The left of the Marine position has been cleared of defenders.

Sewers of Stalingrad

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a WWII game set in the underground sewers of Stalingrad. The command activation and weapon fire rules from Bolt Action were combined with the movement system from Space Hulk. Three German squads and a heavy weapon team were tasked with clearing four Russian squads and a heavy weapon team from the sewers. They were also to locate and destroy a munitions cache. The result was a bloodbath, with only five surviving Germans and no Russians.

Here is a reference sheet for the rules (with some post-game modifications) :Skirmish Test revised

Bolt Action – Marines Land Again

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. This was a similar scenario to the previous Bolt Action game. US Marines landed on a beach defended by the Imperial Japanese Army. Six LVTs, each carrying an infantry squad and several small support units attempted to land in the first wave. Several grounded on a reef for a turn, but by the second turn all troops were safely ashore. Two LVTs were destroyed on the beach by a Japanese tank. The marines and the remaining LVTs moved inland against hidden or dug in defenders. When the game ended the Japanese still held 2 of the 3 objective strong-points.

After the initial naval bombardment, the Japanese wait for the landing.

… and land the troops.

The left flank LVT is destroyed by the Japanese tank while the Marines use cover to advance.

An LVT survives damage to close with the central Japanese bunker.

The second wave includes an engineer squad.

The second LVT is destroyed by the Japanese tank.

LVTs and a Sherman advance in the center.

Bolt Action Marine Landing

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. This was the largest Bolt Action game the group has played, with about 60 units. US Marines landed on a beach defended by the Imperial Japanese Army.