WWII – Page 4

Bolt Action – Leyte 1944

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. It was loosely based on the efforts of the 1st Cavalry Division to secure Hill 215, southwest of Tacloban, Leyte on October 22, 1944. The setup used Scenario 3, Point Defense from the Bolt Action rule book.

In addition to the visible units, the Japanese had an infiltration squad which could chose to enter on any edge except the US rear, a hidden sniper and a hidden AT rifle.

The US mortar observer turned out to be unobservant.

The infiltration squad appears on the US right flank. It destroys a US squad and a mortar team.

The left flank US squad advances toward an objective.

This Japanese squad was pinned down by artillery for much of the game.

End of the game. The Japanese infiltration squad can be seen advancing in the upper right.

At the end of the game the US had not taken any objectives.

Here is the perspective of one of the Japanese players:

“Good game today. Given another couple of turns the US Army would have take two objectives. The Japanese victory was the result of time and they happened to kill four US Army units, two by the 47mm pop gun and the other two by Jap infiltrators. Three Jap units were destroyed. I think the 47mm Jap AT is over rated but I guess it is so for game balance. We have had several games decided by time with Bolt Action so we may have to start closer to objectives, play more aggressively or throw out the time rule for our group. Looking at the minefield rules I think they are actually deadlier than we assumed BUT you could have continued movement if you survived which would have put your tanks closer. BTW the 3rd minefield was also on the road in front of your tanks.”

Check Your Six WWII – Lone B24

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Check Your Six using 1/300 scale aircraft.

The scenario was a lone, damaged B24 bomber of the 12th Army Air Force trying to make it back to base in Naples, Italy in late 1943. The bomber was damaged by German AAA over Milan and could not keep up with the bomb group. The bomber was being harassed by six Me 109s. The scenario begins with the bomber coming into range of four P51 fighters based in southern Italy and the 109s closing in for the kill.

Two 109s were destroyed, one by a P51 and one by the bomber. The bomber was destroyed (blown apart by a critical hit) just before it could exit the battlefield.

Rapid Fire – Russian Front AAR

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a WWII east front game using the Rapid Fire rules.

The scenario is described here: Byelorussia June 1944

The Russians advance on the town.

Russian infantry advance cautiously using the woods as cover.

Russian tank and artillery fire has reduced the Fallschirmjager to about half strength.

Russian tanks enter the town with infantry close behind.

Russian tanks flank the town and take cover from the expected German reinforcements.

German armor arrives to relieve the Fallschirmjager.

When we had to quit due to time, the remaining Fallschirmjager seemed about to be overwhelmed, with the German reinforcements unable to intervene.

Bolt Action – Burma 1944

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game.

The Envelopment Scenario in the Bolt Action rule book was used. It was based on the fighting around the city of Kohmia in May 1944, between the British 2nd Division and the Japanese 15th Division. The Japanese were attempting to envelop a British position and capture a road junction behind the British lines.

The Japanese will get the most victory points for exiting units off the table behind the British lines.

Japanese troops advance rapidly all across the front.

The center units exchange fire with the British while the flank units continue to advance. Most of the early fire fights were on the Japanese center and right.

The Japanese left turns the British flank using a low hill for cover.

Units begin exiting the table. Two British squads are destroyed, one by a Banzai charge.

The tank is confined to the roads, so moves right to support the infantry assault there.

After a stalwart defense, the British left flank is driven off.

After six turns, a Japanese victory was declared.

Bolt Action AAR – Normandy 8 June 1944

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game.

The U.S. 116th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) is pushing west along the coast after breaking out of the Omaha beachhead. The 116th RCT commander has ordered B Company to take the German coastal artillery position outside the village of Maisy. The German artillery is shelling Allied shipping off of Utah beach and has thus far proven impossible for Allied aircraft and naval guns to destroy.

The German positions are defended by elements of the 914th Grenadier Regiment and the remains of several Ost companies.

US forces enter at the bottom with the objective of clearing the crossroads area of enemy troops. The minefield must also be cleared.

A lucky hit takes out the MG in the bunker, but it is replaced by a full squad of German infantry.

Mortar fire convinces German troops to shift positions in the ruins. US infantry advance on both flanks.

US infantry take loses on both flanks but keep advancing. The TD advances to within point blank range of the bunker. The Ost squad is eliminated, having fought far better than expected.

US infantry occupies some of the ruins on the right. The German squad leaves the bunker to destroy the TD by close assault.

At the end of the game (eight or nine turns) the crossroads was mostly clear of German troops, but a German half-track remained and the minefield had not been cleared.

Additional photos by another club member:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/130153196@N08/albums/72157666994060225/with/26282212591/