WWII – Page 9

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.

Western Gunfight and WWII Skirmish

Today the local HMGS-South group played two games at the Dogs of War shop.

Game 1: The Dalton Gang’s raid on Coffeyville, October 5, 1892 was fought using 25mm rules, western terrain and miniatures by Rob of Real-Terrain (RMLHM901@aol.com).

Game 2: World War II skirmish using ‘Disposable Heroes & Coffin for Seven Brothers’ rules by Iron Ivan and 25mm figures. Three US infantry squads and one paratroop squad (each of a rifle section and a BAR section) must eject two German squads (each of a rifle section and a LMG section) from the stone buildings. The action is near Turqueville, June 7, 1944. This was a revised version of the scenario played in January.

US infantry on the right at the start. US paratroopers start in the upper left corner. German infantry occupies the ruins on the left.

US rifle teams advance while the BAR teams lay down covering fire. One rifle team has been nearly wiped out.

US paratroopers in the woods exchange fire with German defenders. Both German machine guns are knocked out early in the game.

After a seven turn firefight, the last defenders are eliminated. The few remaining US troops are visible in this photo, indicating the heavy cost.

Battle of Ziegenhagen

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Rapid Fire. The scenario was based on the action at Ziegenhagen on the River Ihna, February 8th, 1945.

The German force of 3 infantry platoons, 3 Tiger IIs, 2 Elephants, 5 Stugs and several Hummels faced a Soviet force of 3 JS-1s, 5 T-34/85s, 13 T-34/76s and several AT guns. Each T-34 carried a squad of desant infantry. The Soviet needed to gain undisputed control of one of the two Ihna River bridges.

The Soviet T-34s were reinforcements, with a random number arriving each turn. The Germans chose to send the Stugs and an infantry platoon by an unmapped path to the south bridge, with the possibility of a long delay.

JS-1s hiding among the ruins of Ziegenhagen

Elephants on a hill and a Tiger II sight down the streets of Ziegenhagen. Hummels behind the hill wait for fire orders.

View of the town from the south. German infantry move to occupy the buildings near the left bridge.

German Elephant and Tiger II guns target Soviet tanks as they enter the town from the upper left. Infantry edges forward through the ruins.

A JS-1 briefly shows a flank to a Tiger II, but the shot is missed.

Soviet infantry and a JS-1 take the south (right) bridge with no Germans in sight.

The artillery scatter template. Hummel fire takes out a lot of desant troops.

Soviet Infantry and JS-1s take the south bridge with no Germans in sight.

Infantry on reaction fire (RF) ready to blast whoever shows themselves.

The long-lost Stugs and infantry arrive and take hits from waiting JS-1s.

T-34s move south trying to avoid German fire. Close range infantry firefights have taken a heavy toll on both sides.

The JS-1s and an AT gun decisively win the shootout with the Stugs. With the south bridge in Soviet hands, they achieve a hard won victory.

Napoleonic Naval, Napoleonic Land and WWII Skirmish Games

Today the local HMGS-South group played three games at our regular monthly meet.

Game 1: Napoleonic (or should that be Nelsonian?) naval using Ship of the Line rules and 1/1200 scale miniatures. An Allied 3-decker is aground and must be protected from a British force of ships-of-the-line and frigates.

Game 2: Napoleon at War rules with 15mm figures. A battle of the little known Anglo-Austrian Unpleasantness of 1805.

Game 3: World War II skirmish using ‘Disposable Heroes & Coffin for Seven Brothers’ rules by Iron Ivan and 25mm figures. Three US paratroop squads (each of a rifle section and a BAR section) must eject two German squads (each of a rifle section and a LMG section) from the stone buildings. The action is near Turqueville, June 7, 1944.