WWII – Page 6

Bolt Action – Normandy 1944

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. German forces defend three objectives against a British assault. The terrain table was by Real Terrain.

Elements of the British 185th Brigade push south toward Caen from Sword Beach just after D-Day on June 8th 1944. The Germans are troops from the 716th Infantry Division.

The two British tanks can only cross using this bridge.

After surviving lots of fire, the Churchill is knocked out.

British infantry on the left clear one objective of defenders, but the attack in the center fails as most of the infantry and both British tanks are eliminated.

Bolt Action – Eastern Front Again

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. German infantry defend a bridge against Soviet tanks, infantry and mortars. The terrain table was by Real Terrain.

Russians on the left must cross the frozen river to take buildings on the right guarding the bridge.

A close range firefight near the bunker results in heavy casualties to both sides.

Russian infantry and a tank cross the bridge, but fail to take the objective buildings.

In spite of their AT gun being blocked by smoke for the entire game, the Germans hold the objectives.

Bolt Action – Eastern Front AAR

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. German infantry and AT guns, reinforced later by a Tiger, defend a crossroads against Soviet tanks, infantry and mortars. Our host provided a great terrain table as usual.

The Soviets in the foreground need to capture buildings around the crossroads at the upper left.

Soviet infantry advance through snowy woods.

Germans hold high ground beyond the crossroads.

A German AT gun is destroyed after taking out just one Soviet tank.

A German MG crew and an officer hold off the Soviet left flank.

Rapid Fire – Eastern Front Battle

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Rapid Fire game. German and Soviet forces, mostly armor, race to take a crossroads and set up AT guns.

German tanks take up positions using the stone walls for cover.

Tigers lurk, looking for targets.

Soviets reach the road across from the German positions and a bloody exchange of fire begins.

Casualties and failed morale checks cause the advantage to shift back and forth.

The Soviets have the crossroads, but have few tanks left. Gunning down the last of the German AT crews wins them the game by a hair.

Rapid Fire Photos

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Rapid Fire scenario based on Soviet efforts to retake the Baltic States in the Fall of 1944.

Before deploying the Russian forces, the players plan their attack. The main objective is the fortified artillery position at the end of the table. Cutting the road to the right is a secondary objective.

The Russians advance across the rail line.

Russian troops attack through the woods.

The gully provides temporary cover in the advance.

The first defense line (StuGs and infantry) is taken.

A lone Sherman reaches the main defense position.

The main objective is never threatened by the Russian attack.

The Russian attacks got near the secondary objective, but German reinforcements were positioned to stop them when we ended the game. A difficult but fun scenario, with lots of tactical choices for the players.