RAF - Daily Log

I have been playing RAF by Decision Games of late and pretty much have the rules down now. I am using all the optional and advanced rules and have started to play the entire campaign as the British player (Lion). I thought I might log each raid day down with the number of raids and their effect. While I would have liked to have the squadron and gruppe names/number that is just too much detail for me to right down with my poor eyesight!

Below are the definitions of each of the abbreviations I use. I may take pics of the counters so you can see the stats as well. I might even add in a few pics of the game play, but honestly just a stack of cardboard does not make for very interesting pictures.

British Fighters	German Fighters	German Bombers
Sp = Spitfire Hu = Hurricane Bl = Blenheim	Me = ME-109 Bf = BF-110 CP = Coastal Patrol	He = He-111 Ju = Ju-88	Do = Do-17 St = Ju-87 ‘Stuka’

I have finished two raid days and below is the first raid day results. I think this is the outline I’ll use for each day but open to suggestions if you think more information would be useful. I may fudge the time of the raids by 15 minutes give or take just so it does seem like "perfect" hour timing each day.

 

Raid Day One (-3VP)
August 11th		Luftflotte 2 has Clear Skies					Luftflotte 3 has Clear Skies
0800hrs	Major raid on Biggins Hill Airfield
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
3Sp/1Hu				4Me(CP)		1Bf			1Ju/2St
Interception Dogfight sees German fighters driven off, with light losses to a gruppe of 109’s.										+1VP
Over Target Several dozen Spitfires get through the fighters and escorts and inflict heavy losses on the German bombers.										+7VP
Raid Assessment No bombing damage.										+0VP
1200hrs			Minor raid on the Radar Net at Worth
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
1Sp/3Hu				1Me		1Bf			1Ju
Interception Several Hurricane squadrons bypass the German fighter group to engage the bombers. The remaining fighters cause few losses to either side.										+0VP
Over Target The British fighters easily slip past the escorts and inflict heavy damage on the JU-88’s before they can reach their target.										+2VP
Raid Assessment No bombing.										+0VP
1400hrs			Fighter Sweep over Tangmere Airfield
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
1Sp/1Bl				5Me		-			-
Interception A couple of Squadrons engaged the small horde of ME-109’s suffering light losses.										-1VP
Over Target With so many 109’s a couple dozen of them pressed onto the Airfield.										+0VP
Raid Assessment A couple dozen ME-109’s strafed the airfield destroying a few planes on the Ground.										-1VP
1800hrs			Major raid over the Airfield at Hornchurch
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
3Sp/5Hu/2Bl				4Me(CP)		1Bf			2Do/1Ju
Interception While the bulk of the Spitfires and Hurricanes intercepted the ME-109’s, both Blenheim Squadrons and A hurricane Squadron broke off and headed directly to the bombers. The swirling dogfight saw several light losses on the spits and ME-109’s										-2VP/+1VP
Over Target One of the Hurricane squadrons raced towards the bombers joining the other three as they engaged the bombers and close escorts over the airfield. The machine gun fire from the bombers and escorts was highly accurate, with all four British squadrons suffering losses! Though they were able to inflict losses on two of the bomber gruppen.										-4VP/+2VP
Raid Assessment Several of the bombers were able to drop their bombs and inflicted some damage on the airfield, and destroying a few planes on the ground.										-1VP
1800hrs			Major raid over Biggin airfield
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
1S/2H				4ME(CP)		4Bf			3He/2Do
Interception The three squadrons fight through thru the German fighter cover losing several planes before they get to the large formation of bombers and escorts.										-1VP
Over Target Flak from the Airfield scatters a couple of the gruppe, before a reduced squadron of Hurricane dives upon them. Both sides suffer light losses from air combat and flak, but many of the bombers are untouched as they release their load of bombs.										+1VP/-1VP
Raid Assessment The German bombers were very accurate and caused extensive damage to the airfield, its facilities and planes on the ground. Light Damage to Airfield.										-3VP
1800hrs			Follow up raid on the Biggin airfield
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
-				-		3Bf			2He
Interception Air command had no squadrons to respond with.										-1VP
Over Target Radio confusion amongst the German bombers saw one on the Heinkel Gruppe not form up and return to base.										-
Raid Assessment Several of the bombers were able to drop their bombs and inflicted some damage on the airfield, as well as destroying a few planes on the ground.										-2VP
1800hrs			False raid on London
Interceptors				Fighters		Escorts			Bombers
-				-		-			-
Raid Assessment Reports of German planes heading towards London turned out to be false.										-
2400hrs			Night Raids
Interceptors					LF2			LF3
2Bl					2He			1He
Interception None										-
Raid Assessment Bombing was ineffectual.										-0VP

Italian Alpini Platoon

Starting a new platoon for Chain of Command ... I decided on an Italian platoon but wanted to do the eastern front Italians instead of the desert. I saw the Great Escape Games released some Alpini troops and read that those soldiers were sent to Russia. So I set out to do that platoon, using the list from the 1940s book. I'll check on any differences for Barbarossa but at first blush does not seem like it.

The Italians sent three Alpini Divisions to Russia, the 2nd Tridentina, the 3rd Julia, and the 4th Cuneense, which together formed the Alipin Corps. They fought with the Italian II corps forming the 8th Italian Army.

This is a big platoon with 47 men in it as each of the three squads are 15 men and there is a two man hq squad. I'll add in an HMG and a couple of light mortars to use as the "main" force, but will also have a 45mm AT Gun and L6 Light tank to use depending on the game.I'll also paint up an FO, Medic & perhaps an ATR.

This will be my test squad for painting.

I then test painted up half a dozen figures using Vallejo Model Color Olive Grey for the base uniform color. The color works well, though I have noticed that sitting on the game table, the uniform color looks suspiciously like the German uniform color!

I primed the figures using Vallejo Air Color Olive Grey with my airbrush, as I happen to be spraying up some German vehicles for CoC:

SdKfz 10/5 with 20mm AA gun.

One of two SdKfz 184 elefant tank destroyer!

Pz V 'Panther' medium tank

Pz IV H no zimmeret

SdKfz 251/1D Halftrack

I must admit that at first I was not impressed with the Great Escape figures, both with the posing and quality of the casting. After painting them though the quality of the casting turns out to be much better than I thought and I did enjoy painting the figures. The detail was easy to get at and clearly delineated so did not take to long to finish the six figures. 

That said, the posing of the figures suck! GEG made the cardinal wargame foul of mixing postures within a squad. I am not doing up a diorama, these are wargame figures, so all I need is advancing figures for my squad (as opposed to a prone/kneeling squad). Also please do not have any crazy action/running figures mixed in with walking figures. I just don't get how companies that sell GAME figures (even for the own games) can't figure this out.

I have nine more figures for the squad and will get them painted up in the next week so as to have one complete squad. Still waiting on the figures for other two other squads, so may work on the MMG and AT gun while I wait on them. Once complete will update the blog to show the complete platoon.

Napoleonic Dutch Infantry Company, part 2

I have finally got around to posting part two of my French Allied force for Sharp Practice and I am happy to say it is done! I was even able to finish a gun for for the company so I can swap out one of the other units to add a little variety to the force or use it for larger games. I might go back and craft a few items, like fixing the commanders sword but the below figures are game ready.

3rd Company, 2nd Battalion of the 4th 'Dutch' Line Regiment. 

Up first is the main portion of the company commanded directly by Captain Reynst. The platoon of line soldiers are covered by a detachment from the battalions light company. In reserve, Captain Reynst has been given a small group of men from the battalions grenadier company. To help manage these men Sgt. Goosen paces the rear of the formation keeping the men motivated and in line.

Capt. Reynst (Lvl III)
Sgt. Goossen (Lvl I)
  "French" Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French" Grenadiers, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French" Voltigeur Skirmishers, 1809‐1812 (6 figures)

The second platoon of the company is commanded by Lieutenant Houtman and is of similar compositions as the first platoon sans the Grenadiers. Houtmans' platoon will support the captain typically to the left. That said it is not unheard of that the Captain will send the Lieutenants command on its own side mission.

Lt. Houtman (Lvl II)
  "French" Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
   "French" Voltigeur Skirmishers, 1809‐1812 (6 figures)

Accompany 3rd company is a detachment of lancers from the corps cavalry brigade. The Westphalian Chevau-léger's were placed under the command of Lieutenant Trocke. He mostly acts as an liaison officer between Captain Reynst and Westphalians to insure they understands his orders, as he just happens to be the only one in the company that knows German fluently! Lt. Trocke is a decent horseman in his own right, and because of this the lancers have grown to respect the lieutenant and now trust him to lead them into the battle. 

Lt. Trocke (Lvl II)
  "French" Lancers to 1812 (8 figures)

In some situations a 6lb cannon and crew from Captains Trips 3rd Dutch Horse Artillery Battery is tasked to Captain Reynst company. Being horse gunners they typically deploy with the lancers and Lt. Trocke. As the guns crews are regularly rotated from the battery they lack familiarity with other solders of the company, so they tend to operate independently once combat commences.

"French" Medium Artillery (4 figures + 1 Cannon)

We usually play around 70 to 75 point games, and this force is 67 points without the gun and 74 points with the gun, so I generally have a few points to get support options as well.

This force of miniatures also breaks down well for our games of Napoleonic Rebels & Patriots, in particular when we play with our modifications. Even without the modifications, I painted a few extra figures so that the group sizes match to those in R&P.

As of now, I am leaning towards a Spanish force as my next SP2 project, but have to finish my Italian Alpini Chain of Command platoon and General d'Armee Russians before I start it.  

Battle of Gilly, 1815 Belgium

It goes without saying that gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult endeavor to accomplish these days. That said, our small group did get a game of General d'Armee in last Sunday (the day the store is closed). We played on the large 6' x 12' table which made it easier to social distance while gaming.

The scenario was inspired by the rearguard action on June 15th 1815 near the town of Gilly, between Pirch II division and Lefol’s division from Vandamme's III corps leading the french advance. While control of the town was helpful (cavalry and artillery could only cross here), the Prussian objective was to hold off the French for an unknown number of turns. The French needed to aggressively engage and disperse two of the Prussian brigades to claim victory.

The Prussian 28th Regiment awaits the assault of the French 37th Regiment.

Holding the village was our best regiment, the 6th Infantry Regiment.
Well behind the village, we put the Prussian 2nd Westphalian Landwehr Regiment in reserve.

The Prussian left was held by the Cavalry brigade comprised of the 2nd Dragoon regiment,
a Westphalian Landwehr Cavalry regiment and a 6lb horse battery.

The French right flank with the five battalion of 12th and 56th Ligne,
supported by the 1st & 4th Hussar Regiments and a 6lb Horse Battery.

The four battalions of the 37th and 64th Ligne attack on the French left.
Behind them is the Empress Dragoon Regiment of the Old Guard!

It is difficult to see but the five battalions of the 15th Léger and 23rd Ligne have begun their assault on the village held by 1st battalion of the 6th Prussian Regiment. The veteran fusilier battalion of the 6th Regiment was in support just to the rear of the village.

It should be noted that this was the point in the game that a major fight for the village started. The initial French assault ended in a draw, but both sides added more battalions to the fight before the Prussians had to retire...

The 6th regrouped and immediately counter attacked ... which once again led to a drawn combat. And again both sides threw more battalions into the fray, until the worn French had to retreat leaving the village once more in Prussian hands. The hour long fight involved nine battalions of infantry between both sides.

While 1st/37th Ligne was heavily mauled by the fighting in front of the stream,
the other French battalions were able to force back the battalions of the 28^th Infantry Regiment.

Reduced, the remnants of the 28th regiment reform on the small rise with orders to stop the onslaught of the French ...
they failed and were dispersed from the battlefield!

Though it was at this moment that the Prussian high command felt the Major General Pirch II had delayed the French long enough and allowed his division to begin an orderly retreat from the battlefield claiming victory over the French.

All in all another good game of GdA, and we are already planning our next battle (La Rothiere 1814). We have played so many games now that we are starting to add in house rules to "fix" issues that crop up. For this game the terrain rules (very lacking in GdA) caused some grief and delays in the game, so we are looking at the terrain rules in General de Brigade and incorporating some of them into our GdA games.