Italian v. Americans - 1943

Another attempt at Flames of War 4th Edition.  This time a friendly "grudge match" between Paul's mid-war Americans and my Italians.  Using the mid-war point system and new Avanti book for the Italians, we agreed upon 150 points.  I came up short with my Italians.  Probably could have made it but between things I own but not included in the book and things needing rebasing (yuck!) I had to incorporate a small platoon of Afrika Korps panzers.

Italians had two formations, one of "tanks" and one a Bersaglieri Weapons company.  The Americans had everything in one armor formation.  Shermans, Lees, Wolverines, Priests and armored infantry.  Oh boy!

Initial deployment with "Spearhead" moves made.

American halftracks with 75mm guns, Wolverines with 76mm guns,
mortar halftracks and the command Shermans.  And that's just in
the foreground!

Italians put the Bersaglieri and Panzers on the left, "tanks" on
the right.

Italians win the roll-off and have the first move.  Hits and kills
are exchanged.  The Italian 88s continue their reputation as killers.

The village/town annoyingly split the field so my two 88s, in which I depended upon so much, were limited in their field of fire.  Most of my other weapons couldn't kill American tanks.

On my left a cat and mouse game between Lees and Priests and
the Axis forces.

The mission is Annihilation, so the Italians are very aggressive.

This is a fight we will lose, but it will hopefully take a long time.

A vicious firefight develops in town, that with the 100mm
artillery, the Italians are winning.

On the left the panzers are dead or run off but the Italians have
given their licks and hold on.

Sadly, we had to declare it a draw.  The Americans could/would not advance in the face of the 88s and the Italians had shot their offensive bolt.  Losses on both sides were heavy.  Aircraft weren't particularly effective.  Italian AA helped hold off the P-40s and the Falco isn't much of a ground-attack plane.  Maybe next time I'll pay to upgrade to a Stuka.

Blitzkrieg Commander II Intro Game

In a special introductory game, three players new to Blitzkrieg Commander II and three experienced but not recently players gathered to get sand in our shoes.  Set as a early 1943 game, we had roughly 4000 points of Germans and Italians against British.  You can read the remarks of Der Alte Fritz on his blog here.  The game was set with four turns of recon so the Germans and Italians dutifully drove armored cars on table looking for trouble.

BKCII uses 2d6 to activate formations and was significantly modified to accommodate our tastes for the game.  Who wants to see their pretty toys just sit and do nothing?  The game was played lengthwise on a 16x6' table.

Such a peaceful arena as the recon drives on table.

My AB-41 armored cars with German SdKfz 222s in the distance.

We engage in a lively duel with Marmon-Herrington armoured cars.

 We had three full turns of recon work, then on the fourth turn each side drove their heavy units on table.  Heavy being a comparative term for the Italians.

Now that's a heavy!  A Tiger heads some Mk. III tanks.

We used dust clouds till spotted.  In this case a formation of M14
tanks followed by Semovente self-propelled guns.

The Germans waste no time coming into action.

Initially things seemed to go our way.  The British armoured cars had to give up ground in the face of all the armor, we didn't find any ambushes, and the Germans started exacting a heavy toll right away.  At first it seemed we were "just" facing Crusader III tanks with 6 pdrs as their main gun.

My M14s were willing to fight Crusaders till the Grants showed
up.  Time to play "chase me, chase me."

Oops.  After some poor shooting on my part and some average to slightly better by the British I could do the math.  Twelve shots to twenty-four, with them having a better gun and needing more hits to kill.  So the Italians beat a hasty retreat back to nearly their starting positions.

Grants seem to be particularly nasty in BKC II.

More Germans I hope.

Back at one of the starting ridges.

 Much like the back and forth movements of Rommel and his adversaries across Africa, so too our forces went forward and back over the same ridges all day.

The Crusaders advance ahead of the Grants while on the other
flank more are being shot to pieces by the Tiger and company.

Too ambitious in the end, engaging without the Grants.  All the
Crusaders are quickly burning.

 I joked about drawing them onto our line of anti-tank guns, not really knowing what was in the German arsenal.  As it turns out I was right.  A pair of 88s and the panzers made short work of the Crusaders, even though they were in a good hull-down position.

You can see the reorganized Italians and formidable array of Germans.

A Stuka appeared and help take out part of the other Crusader batch.

Some Hurricanes returned the favor, I think killing a panzer.

With the Crusaders eliminated the Germans and Italians begin
to pursue.  Germans aided by their superior command ratings
pull ahead.

Over the top boys, charge!

My might Falco CR-42 finally puts in an appearance.

And is promptly shot down.  Can truck mounted Bofors really
fire on the move?

A nasty surprise awaits us.

And promptly takes out a panzer company.

Being smarter than the average rabbit, my Semoventes use the
depression and move to town and our exit path.

So much wreckage strewn across the field.

Axis players are Jim, John and myself; British players Bob, Bill
and Keith.

The Axis mission was to exit along the road next to town (away from the Italians).  At point we wondered, "where did the Tiger go?"  Slipped off table with its escorting Panzers.  So with most of the British armour destroyed and our tanks moved or moving off table, an Axis victory was declared.

There are things about Blitzkrieg Commander that I really like and other aspects that are beyond goofy.  We'll keep tinkering with it and see if something can be created that play to the system strengths and minimize the impact of weaknesses.  So we'll just have to play more often!

"What news from court?"

A small diversion:

SOMEWHERE ON THE BATTLEMENTS OF FORTRESS VILNIUS, MID-MORNING

"Sasha Davidov, this was an excellent idea.  The morning could not be better."

"Da Professor Markovitz, is good.  I myself prefer to be, um, active in the morning."

"So Sasha, what is the latest news from court?  I have been away far too long."
"The biggest news professor is that we are receiving a delegation from Venaria at court!"
"Venaria!? (as a dramatic murmur/gasp runs through those present.)  "We are to take up diplomatic relations with Turks?!"
"Is true" said Vladimir Odoevsky, shifting uncomfortably because of his gout.  "Messengers have indicated they will arrive shortly."

Odoevsky added, "They intend to make it a permanent mission.  Quarters for their special needs are being prepared near to court."
"I suppose it is a necessary evil, given that Latveria and Odessinau seems to be getting very close.  But the Turks have been the peril of Europe for centuries" said the professor with a sigh.

Adopting a soothing tone Davidov said, "All very true, but these are Ottomans and have even gained a sense of understanding with Mother Russia.  It is said true Russians even serve alongside them."
"Oh what is the world coming to" sighed Kara Milovy as she brought a kerchief to her delicate features.  "And can't we do something about the noise and smell those soldiers are creating?"

"I fear not my dear.  They must repair any damages that occurred during the winter.  For your protection."  Leaning in such a way that he almost displaced the servant perched on his leg Davidov leered, "If you prefer we could retire to other, quarters?"
"Shame on you Sasha Davidov, you know I am with General Koskov" she responded, feigning insult by vigorously fanning herself.
"Ah well, they are in addition laying in fresh supplies.  All in anticipation of more mischief from Latveria.  Sales to the military have been good."

"Well, we shall have to be prepared to make sacrifices and persevere in spite of whatever hardship may develop" avowed Odoevsky.

"Oh look, it is Lenkin, Count Lippe's diplomatic aide, and it appears he brings news."

Vignettes are by Eureka with Old Glory and Blue Moon making up the rest of the civilians.  Pioneers are primarily RSM figures.  The fortress was 3D printed and painted by me.  Certain liberties have obviously been taken with the map and history of Europe.  The map is provided to you some sense of what we are up to these days.

Germany 1989

The next game in the loosely strung-together NATO vs. Warsaw Pact WWIII series was played last  Sunday.  Despite a bloody reverse at a river crossing early on, the Soviets have made good progress although they have burned out a large part of their front-line troops.  Sensing the opportunity and need, the Americans have mustered two battalions of M1 Abram tanks with artillery and air support to fall upon a Soviet mechanized regiment of three battalions and a T-64 battalion.  Limited artillery and air support was also available.  Except for the prepared positions everyone on both sides had to be spotted so the Soviets prepared a deployment map.

The game system is based upon Epic Armageddon and we are using micro armor.  I make no claim to be an authority on modern warfare so if my description doesn't do it for the veterans or tread heads out there I'm sorry.

Looking over Dan's beautiful new table cloth mat.  Hills beneath it.

Soviet deployment, two battalions with vehicles could be dug
into prepped positions.

After some recon Humvees were scattered the big boys came on.

The game is d6 based.  Hits aren't hard to get but Abrams save on a 2+ so we need a lot of hits to have a realistic chance to taking one out.  T-72s by comparison save on a 3+.

A look going the other way, hits are already piling up.

After a few turns each side got air support.  The Mig and Eagle flights took each other out.  The Soviets called for ground support which winged its way on table.

And was promptly shot down.

I should have taken more pictures.  The Soviets had a breath of hope when they eliminated a company of Abrams but that left five more to go.  Todd "Crap a 1" Chirhart was spectacular saving his BMPs on a six only against incoming fire, which was only granted because of the tank pits.

More Soviet air as Apaches also appear, along with a Warthog.

An attempt to outflank the ridge meant another Abrams company
lost to ambushing T-64s.

The hits and firepower markers are piling up on both Soviet battalions.

In the game you get markers for hits received and units firing at you.  In the case of Soviets when the markers outnumber the surviving stands they rout.  For small American units you need twice as many markers.

Suddenly the right flank breaks and runs.

Followed quickly by the left flank.

With a requirement that the Soviets preserve their force everyone breaks off.  The third battalion and tanks and artillery are intact so we figure the pursuit will be limited.  For the cost of seven Abram platoons (stands) the objectives were met.  The evolution of the rules is a work in progress but progress is made in each of our rare games.