Guns of August: 1918 Scenario.

It has been over two years since we last played Guns of August. It was great to revisit the game and use the boards and miniatures that Michael had prepared. This time, at my suggestion, we decided to play the 1918 scenario. By then, Russia had already been eliminated from the game, the United States had just entered the war, and they could finally deploy tanks and aircraft on a massive scale. The game promised to be truly exciting.

1. Forces.

We played a 3-on-3 game. In our team, the Entente, Mike represented the British and Americans, I took on the role of the French, and Jimmy commanded the Italians and managing operations in Greece. On the opposing team, Ben played the Bulgarians and Turks, David represented the Austro-Hungarians, and Michael portrayed the Germans.

2. The game.

We played through five months, from January to May 1918. During this time, the Central Powers achieved some success on the Greek front, but that was about it. On the Italian and Western fronts, the Entente began to see gradual successes. The Italians managed to cut off the Austro-Hungarians from Switzerland and initiated the encirclement of Trieste. In the west, the British and Americans advanced into Belgium and started attempts to capture Antwerp. Although these attempts had not yet succeeded, the Entente's advantage was becoming increasingly apparent. The French also launched an attack in the centre of the front and moved closer to Metz.

However, the most significant event was the Royal Navy's invasion of the Baltic Sea. At a tremendous cost in terms of losses, the British defeated the German fleet and took control of the Baltic Sea. This victory allowed the US Navy to enter the area, land troops, and capture Danzig. In response, the Germans contemplated ending their occupation of Russian territories, but such a decision could have led to their ultimate defeat. Ultimately, they chose not to take this step, and the game concluded with a narrow victory for the Entente.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1102295478594449

FLICKR: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720330447237

All Hell Let Loose: Somewhere in Italy in 1915.

A return to the All Hell Let Loose rules, this time focusing on the World War I version. It is currently being tested, and we have been invited to participate in the testing. The game was played on a 6mm scale.

SCENARIO: Test scenario No. 1.
UMPIRING: Andy Valdez-Tullett

SCENERY: Michael Schneider, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Michael Schneider

1. Forces.

FRENCH & ITALIANS

(Bartek, Michael)

Italian Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

HQ

FO

4 x HMG

16 x Infantry

1st French Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

HQ

FO

2 x HMG

8 x Infantry

2nd French Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

HQ

FO

2 x HMG

8 x Infantry

3rd French Infantry Regiment (Regular)

HQ

FO

4 x HMG

16 x Infantry

1st Italian Battery (Regular)

HQ

FO

3 x Guns

2nd Italian Battery (Regular)

HQ

FO

3 x Guns

French Battery (Regular)

HQ

FO

3 x Guns

GERMANS

(Jimmy, Tim)

All Regular

1st Infantry Regiment

HQ

FO

2 x HMG

12 x Infantry

2nd Infantry Regiment

HQ

FO

2 x HMG

12 x Infantry

3rd Infantry Regiment

HQ

FO

2 x HMG

12 x Infantry

1st Battery

HQ

FO

4 x Guns

2nd Battery

HQ

FO

4 x Guns

2. The Game.

The game mechanics are very similar to those in the main rulebook, but there are a few rules that specifically adapt them for the Great War. I can't disclose those details, so for now, the game description will have to suffice. We will discuss the rules in more detail when they are released.

In our scenario, we needed to capture four villages. Although the French and Italians had more units, many of them were inexperienced. In contrast, the Germans had fewer troops but were more experienced and performed better in combat. 

We planned to defend the two southern villages: the Italians, supported by their artillery, would defend the western village, while the French would defend the eastern village and attempt to capture the northeastern village. Michael was in charge of the Italian troops, and I took command of the French forces, as usual. Tim was assigned to advance against the Italians with the German troops, while Jimmy was tasked with defending against the French.

The French advanced swiftly toward their objective and soon began shelling the village, which forced the German troops to retreat and regroup. In addition, they captured the hill west of the village, creating a breach in the German lines. Jimmy, the commander of the German forces there, was compelled to advance on the hill to flush the enemy out. This action weakened the troops defending his village, which was under attack from the best French regiment.

Tim's offensive against an Italian village came to a standstill at the river. The Germans, facing intense fire from the Italians, could not make any progress. The Italians, bolstered by artillery support, were causing significant damage to the German lines. It was clear that the Germans would not capture the village.

Fierce hand-to-hand combat raged on the hill as the Germans slowly began to push the French back, though they suffered heavy losses in the process. The French were preparing to assault the village, but unfortunately, time ran out. In the end, the Entente powers achieved a minor victory, as they were much closer to securing their objectives.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1066474725509858

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329643519

All Hell Let Loose: Crossing the Dnieper – south-east of Kremenchuk 31.08.1941

Andy is preparing a set of scenarios for the All Hell Let Loose rules, focusing on the actions of German Army Group Centre during Operation Barbarossa. Before publishing them, he wants to test the scenarios for playability. This time, the focus is on the German landings that established a bridgehead on the Dnieper River near Kremenchuk. This bridgehead later enabled an attack that completed the encirclement of Kiev from the south, ultimately leading to its capture by the Germans.

SCENARIO: Andy Valdez-Tullett
UMPIRING: Andy Valdez-Tullett

SCENERY: Andy Valdez-Tullett, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Andy Valdez-Tullett

1. Forces.

SOVIETS

(Bartek, Jimmy, Michael)

1st Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

4 x Infantry

1 x MMG

2nd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

4 x Infantry

1 x MMG

3rd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

6 x Infantry

1 x MMG

2 x Mortar

4th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

6 x Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Mortar

2 x Gun Battery (Off table)

REINFORCEMENTS:

5th Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

1 x CO

10 x Infantry

6th Infantry Regiment (Inexperienced)

1 x CO

10 x Infantry

GERMANS

(Andy, Mike, Tim)

1st Infantry Regiment (Veteran)

1 x CO

1 x FO

10 x Infantry

2nd Infantry Regiment (Veteran)

1 x CO

1 x FO

10 x Infantry

3rd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

4th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

5th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

6th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

7th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FO

9 x Infantry

1 x MMG

Engineer Regiment (Veteran)

1 x CO

5 x Engieer

1 x Gun Battery (Off Table)

48 boats

2. The Game.

The Germans advanced across the river, but they faced a significant disadvantage: they had only 48 boats, each capable of carrying just one unit. It took the Germans three rounds to successfully cross the river. Mike moved downstream, Andy positioned himself in the middle, and Tim took up a position upstream. Opposite Mike, Michael's forces occupied the island, while my forces held the opposite island, and Jimmy stationed his troops between us.

We initially decided to keep Jimmy's forces in reserve to guard the central bank on the river. This would allow them to support either side's actions if necessary. Additionally, another challenge for the Germans was the unclear suitability of the opposite bank of the Dnieper for landing at the time of their approach.

As the first wave of the landing force crossed the Dnieper, they were met with precise Soviet artillery fire. Mike, unfortunately, faced significant losses, and his troops were largely decimated on the river. Additionally, some of his units were swept away by the strong current. As a result, Michael's positions remained secure and were not under threat.

The situation was different in the lower reaches of the upper river, where Tim successfully landed the first wave of troops on the riverbank. There, he engaged my infantry, which managed to repel the initial attack. However, subsequent waves of landing forces, this time from Andy's troops, began to push my forces out of the positions I had secured on the island. Ultimately, the Germans captured the island and established a bridgehead, but losses in the boats delayed the arrival of additional troops to support the advancing Germans.

It quickly became clear that German troops could only land on a very narrow section of the riverbank, which allowed us to concentrate our defences in just two locations. Mike, positioned downstream, didn't pose much of a threat, while Michael, with support from artillery and mortars, effectively kept the Germans at bay on the river. Meanwhile, my defences could be strengthened by Jimmei's troops, as my own reinforcements failed to arrive. I needed to roll a 6 to bring them in, but I wasn’t able to manage that throughout the entire game.

As a result, the Germans established a weak bridgehead upstream, which was effectively bombarded by Soviet artillery and mortars. Germans were unable to relocate their artillery observers, who, unfortunately, drowned in the river. As a consequence, the German troops on the opposite side lacked artillery support. To make matters worse, the engineers were still on the western bank of the river and could not begin constructing a bridge to facilitate the crossing of reinforcements to support the Germans trying to secure the bridgehead. The game concluded with another Soviet victory.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1066474725509858

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720328878442

All Hell Let Loose: Defenders of the Vodka Factory, 1941

After a long break for recovery, I'm back with reports from our weekly games. This time, Andy organised a game set during the Plan Barbarossa era using his 6mm collection and the All Hell Let Loose rules.

SCENARIO: Andy Valdez-Tullett
UMPIRING: Andy Valdez-Tullett

SCENERY: Andy Valdez-Tullett, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Andy Valdez-Tullett

1. Forces.

SOVIETS

(Bartek, Michael)

1st Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

5 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

2nd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

5 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Mortar

3rd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

5 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

4th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

5 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Mortar

Tank Regiment

2 x BT-7

2 x T-26

2 x T-34

1st Otpost

2 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x FOO

2nd Outpost

2 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1st AT Battalion

2 x 45mm ATG

2nd AT Battalion

2 x 45mm ATG

Engineering Battalion

2 x Engineers

GERMANS

(Andy, Ben)

Westkampfgruppe

1st Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

1 x Sd.Kfz. 222

6 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Mortar

1 x PaK 36

1st Tank Regiment

2 x Pz.Kpfw. III

2 x Pz.Kpfw. 38(t)

2 x Pz.Kpfw. IV

Nordkampfgruppe

2nd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

6 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Mortar

1 x PaK 36

Südkampfgruppe

3rd Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x StuG III

6 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x PaK 36

REINFORCEMENTS

4th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

8 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

5th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

8 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

6th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

6 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Nebelwerther

7th Infantry Regiment

1 x CO

1 x FOO

6 x Rifle Infantry

1 x MMG

1 x Nebelwerther

1 x StuG III

2nd Tank Regiment

2 x Pz.Kpfw. III

2 x Pz.Kpfw. IV

2 x Pz.Kpfw. II

2. The Game.

In our game, the Germans were tasked with capturing a city defended by the Soviets. The main objective within this city was a crucial Soviet factory located in the northeastern part. Andy permitted us to deploy our forces, which we placed along what we believed were the main avenues of attack for the German units. Ben had to accept this deployment, but during the game, he received a new unit each turn that he could use to launch attacks on the city.

Ben initially concentrated on weakening our first line of defence by slowing his movements. We decided to take advantage of this by increasing the number of units on his attack front. Additionally, we chose to leave our engineers at the factory, which turned out to be a crucial decision as the game progressed.

Our concentrated firepower inflicted significant casualties on the attacking German forces, but the continuous influx of reinforcements for the Germans began to weaken our front line. Additionally, to the north, the Germans approached the city in a threatening manner. Nonetheless, the Soviet defence remained steadfast and showed no signs of collapsing anytime soon.

At last, the first German tanks forced their way into the city. Soon after, an order arrived from headquarters: destroy the factory and withdraw our forces to the east. We chose to ignore the second part of the command, but the demolition itself was carried out flawlessly. The factory never fell into German hands—the blast claimed the lives of many attackers, as well as many of our own defenders. But in the Red Army, there was an unspoken rule: men were plentiful. The Soviet defenders held their ground until the very end, earning the title of Heroes of the Soviet Union—posthumously, of course. The mission was accomplished.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1066474725509858

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720328726407