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.

Woodlands Battle - AWI Campaign

Below is an AAR (written by Will D.) of one of the games played in our 1777 AWI Sharpe’s Practice campaign. This battle day (3 games) ended the current mission, our second, with the British side holding off the American side as it tried to intimidate the local population. The American side was only able gain 40% completion. Based on the results of the previous two missions (both British success) I’ll be moving the campaign map down towards Albany, New York for our third mission.
August 28th, 1777 Major Blaine orders scouting patrols out to both the east and west in order to locate the rebels. He makes it clear to those on patrol that in no way can the rebels get past this picket line unnoticed. The major paces the camp in the late in the morning hours on edge, as he yet has to find the rebels. As the morning fog clears into the afternoon a runner arrives at the camp finally with news on the rebels. It seems that the rebels are indeed moving north, the scout reports their location and indicates they were not spotted. While the major pondered an option to march parallel to the rebels in order to get ahead of them, he is clearly tired of being subtle and decides to bring them to battle soon as possible. Though the column was ready to move out, it was going to be late in the evening when they would intercept the rebel force as the wooded terrain will impede there progress. So it is not until 7pm that the leading scout patrols contact the rebel picket line and firing rings out as they engage each other. The leading company holds up and the major sends the other companies to the left and right straight into battle.
Dearest Lady Chatterly, Despite losing some of Sgt. McUreigh’s rangers for picket duty [-6 figs], this afternoon, we met the enemy once again and fared positively.  Moving through the woods to the far right of the centre company, we were led northwards by Lisette, the half-Indian who has been a proven pathfinder, to a clearing interspersed with thick stands of trees. Lieutenant Moon and Chief Ochataquin’s Hurons [2 groups plus bruiser] soon delved under the canopies to the right while Ensign Townshend took his men [2 skirmisher groups] into the trees in front.  A line of rebel militia, supported by a cannon and some riflemen appeared in short order opposite us.  I recognized their mounted leader as the one we faced a previous day [Captain Hartwell].
Our skirmishers downed some of their gun crew [officer wounded, 10 Force Morale], who retaliated with a shot that sheared branches and sent splinters across them.  The Hurons crept through the undergrowth, and Moon suffered a sprain crossing a log [Bally, My Leg result].
Upon hearing the cannon, I ordered my men [2 regular and 1 Provincial group] to lie low on the ground and then to crawl in between the two stands of trees, and thus progress was slow [waited to also use the secondary deployment point, but no Leader 1 card came up until turn 5!] until our muskets were within 80 rods of the cannon.  With the lieutenant trailing behind, the Huron chief led his warriors to the edge of the woods and gave the Continentals a fusillade that was soon returned very quickly by them at three rounds a minute!
Townshend’s men retreated into the woods to reload and emerged back out to re-engage the cannon and rifles.  A few more of their men and ours dropped before the cannon turned to face my line, spouting fire.   The ball whistled over us [about 4 shock], we rose from crawling, and unleashed our first fire [20 shots] upon the rebels.   This discouraged their line enough that their Captain began to signal a withdrawal. The remaining two gunners understood and spirited their 3 pounder to safety, but the eight regulars in front of the Hurons must have misheard and started to cautiously approach the woods [At ‘em, boys! rolled a 3” movement].   Chief Ochataquin must have seen the opportunity and launched all of his braves from the woods in a forward rush of flung tomahawks!
Townshend’s men retreated into the woods to reload and emerged back out to re-engage the cannon and rifles.  A few more of their men and ours dropped before the cannon turned to face my line, spouting fire.   The ball whistled over us [about 4 shock], we rose from crawling, and unleashed our first fire [20 shots] upon the rebels.   This discouraged their line enough that their Captain began to signal a withdrawal. The remaining two gunners understood and spirited their 3 pounder to safety, but the eight regulars in front of the Hurons must have misheard and started to cautiously approach the woods [At ‘em, boys! rolled a 3” movement].   Chief Ochataquin must have seen the opportunity and launched all of his braves from the woods in a forward rush of flung tomahawks! The savagery of the assault threw the browncoats in disarray [after fisticuffs, Force Morale down from 10 to 6 to the British FM of 10], but exposed Ochataquin to a violent volley from the line of blue behind them, sending a couple braves reeling to the ground.   I could not halt in time the vengeful butchery that happened afterwards to the rebels left upon the field, as the rest of them retired into the growing darkness with the worst of memories [Captain Hartwell now hated enemy]. An Indian medicine man accompanied me in place of Doctor Nixon who was up to his arms in surgery at the Johannson house.  The elder quickly began tending to both Indian and English wounded with his strange poultices and herbals, particularly the revered Lieutenant Moon.   The other Indians did mourn their losses again …and collected more ghastly trophies in return for scattering the enemy off.  I have grown to respect their Chief, as his battle prowess and leadership with Lieutenant Moon has led to our growing victories in this wilderness despite their band’s ever dwindling numbers [bruiser pocket friend].   I discern that there is a dangerous fever for revenge in him. During our Company officer council, he spoke forcefully of keeping a “white man’s war” away from native villages.  His words reinforced my initial desire that our army move southward as planned to New York rather than up the Mohawk River valley. We are getting closer to succeeding in our endeavor to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies.  In due time, God willing, this rebellion will capitulate. Ever Yours, Captain Reginald Daltrey, 24th Regiment of Foot
August 29th Maj. Blaine is once again pleased with the performance of his troops as they drive off the rebels; though not many dead there were a lot of wounded in this exchange. Again with the darkness there is no opportunity to immediately pursue the rebels. The morning breaks with heavy fog that pretty much insures there will be no pursuit. Instead Maj. Blaine orders the column to march to Bennington so they can drop off there wounded and get back onto the road. Familiar with the area they easily find Bennington in the thick fog by late morning. Once the fog lifts in the afternoon, Maj. Blaine get the column in pursuit of the Rebels whom has vague reports are moving south at a fast rate. He sends off a Patrol to check on the Sutter farmstead to the southeast to see if it was burned down. By evening there is no sign of the rebels and he suspects they are fleeing to south. Once the patrol returns information them that the farmstead was intact, he decides the Rebel incursion is over. He’ll march of Pittsfield and see what damage was done in the morning however.

Battle of Strausbach Farm - SP2 Campaign game

Note: the below After Action Report was written by Wil D, and was one of six games (#3 to be precise) that made up the second battle in our Sharps Practice 2 campaign.

August 12, 1777

Strausbach Farm near Hoosick, New York

Dearest Lady Chatterly,

We spent brief time recovering from the previous skirmish before ordered by Major Potter to resume column and retaliate before the enemy finds our main body. My Company was in the centre of march when the sound of musketry came upon our left a few hours down the trail.  A runner gave word to the Major, and we debarked from the trail into the woodlands to find them.

The Indians guiding us through the forest, I learned from Lieutenant Moon, were actually of the Huron Nation, larger in build and of fiercer countenance than the Mission Mohegans. They had travelled the furthest and had departed from Fort Stanwick and St. Legere’s command after sorely losing much of their personal effects in a sally by those besieged. Enraged, Moon explained that, they seek to recover their “honor” (in the savage’s sense of the word) by plunder and destruction. One among their number is rumored to receive Burgoyne’s pardon a few days ago after the unfortunate Jane McRae affair, but the Lieutenant would not candidly reveal which. I can only hope to civilly temper their lust for retribution against any further loyalist families we encounter, with the help of the Indian Department’s agents and Moon. At this time, though, they have performed very reservedly upon the battlefield, perhaps waiting opportunistically for a lone homestead rather than a militia firing line. I am hoping to receive some local loyalists from Peter’s Corps to keep them escorted during scouting duties in the future.

As for the band of Highlander's with me, I sobered them up after a fierce lecture about fire discipline and command calls after this last fiasco. I entrusted them to Ensign Townsend and the forward Skirmishers (1 group plus 1 provincial militia) who, this time, fired first as the remainder of my Company (2 regulars plus 1 skirmishes) approached between two copses of trees.

What we beheld was a strong line of numerous Militia (4 groups) emerging from tall grass, with their frontiersmen running on either wing towards the same trees holding my hidden Indian party and skirmishers. My own front men moved into the right trees so that my line would have a field of fire, while the rebel rifles started to seek targets among the left trees. (Turns 3-4) Not yet within musket’s reach, I could see that my sixteen could not withstand a face-off with the militia line.

As would have it, my left skirmishers worried by the rifles, saw seven in hunting shirts charge them brandishing hatchets. They hastily fell back into the interior (evade), but the militia sergeant fiercely harangued his six to catch them at their backs (step out, lads) that all, except one who bolted back to us, went deep to ground in the thickets for the remainder (-1 FM, but casualties recovered). The steady hand of Townshend kept the Highlanders nearby from also running. But where were Moon’s Hurons?

I could not stand to see my men in the woods overrun, so I faced my line towards the brash rebel scouts instead of the militia and loosed our first fire. This was enough to kill or send them packing back to their lines, brave as they were. (Turn 5, -2 FM). As my skirmishers and Highlanders continued to exchange with their riflemen, their second group of scouts neared the right woods in front of my other skirmishers. That is when Moon’s Indians finally revealed themselves.

Not wanting to expose themselves to the formidable line of militia, they ambuscaded instead to the rear of the trees and threw musketry at the scouts on the right in the open (2 x 12 shots) starting their eventual withdrawal as well (another -2 FM over next two turns). But the militia of 40 muskets continued its inexorable advance and I thought it better to also take my line, in columns of twos, into the woods to the right for protection. From there, we relieved Sergeant Entwhistle's front men, whom I rallied to return to the fight alongside our line, now fighting for their lives behind trunk and branch. The good Doctor Nixon also restored Entwhistle enough so that he could send his soldiers into defilade in an adjacent creek bed, though filled with muck.

Meanwhile on the left flank, the militia and Indian party had wisely also pulled back among their trees to avoid a devastating volley, only exposing themselves enough for a stray shot to the far end of the militia line. As the rebel scouts and riflemen retired, so too did the whole grand division of militia through the grass, leaving us shaken, but maintaining the field. (Final FM 7 vs. 4?). We fought more like them, quickly taking to tree, while they fought more like us.

Under Grenadier Sergeant Entwhistle who needed further treatment of his wounds and return to his home unit, I packed the Highlanders to the rear back to McClewlis with a missive that “they all earned their farm, rather than burial, plots,” and thanked Lieutenant Moon for his handling of the natives, even as they scoured the battlefield for trophies I dare not mention. We had suffered seven injuries and, surprisingly, no losses with what we had faced. Reports from the rest of the column were also good. A detachment of the Queen's Loyal Rangers, led by a Sergeant Frederic McUriegh, joined my command to bolster our ranks, depleted from many hard months of campaigning. My desire is that these Provincials will help recruit more locals to our just cause, or at least police any excesses that the Hurons are want to commit. I survive another day for the Crown, and for you.

Yours Dearest,

Lieutenant Reginald Daltrey

Battle of Hanau 1813 - After Action Report

Last Saturday, Ralph Holoway put on a game of 4th edition Napoleon's Battle at the store. He took several pictures of the game and wrote up a report on how it went. I have re-posted his AAR with his permision below. 

The initial deployments were based off of historical deployments, the Bavarians (Ronald and Daine Oldman) to the north of the Kinzig, with their cavalry and the Raiding Force of Austrian and Cossack cavalry on the far left, and the Austrian corps and cavalry south of the Kinzig Stream.

The French (Jeroen Koopman and Gary Smith) were deployed in the Puppenwald and Lamboi woods initially shielded from Bavarian and Austrian artillery and musket fire.

The action started slowly in Turn 3 with the French infantry moving forward on their right in the Puppenwald and the 2nd Guard Cavalry moving out of the Puppenwald to the open terrain on the French right. The Bavarians began to engage the French in the Puppenwald with their artillery.

The Austrian commander then chose to begin the move of two brigades of his cavalry to the left flank to aid the Bavarian cavalry and the French received the 2nd Light Cavalry Division in the Puppenwald.

As the cavalry battle was joined between the Bavarian light cavalry and the Raiding Force, and the 2nd Guard Cavalry, this seemed less necessary. The allied cavalry soundly repulsed the Guard Cavalry (three consecutive rolls of 1 by the French).

On Turn 3 the French received he 4th light Cavalry Division deploying out of the Puppenwald to aid the French cavalry on the right.

The French infantry on the left flank in the Puppenwald moved to engage and combat the Bavarian left flank infantry vicinity Neuhof Farm on Turn 4. The Bavarians abandoned their guns during the onslaught.

Meanwhile on the French left in the Lamboi Woods, the French infantry had moved forward to engage the Bavarians south of Neuhof Farm. They were fired upon by some Austrian artillery south of the Kinzig Stream as well.

Between 12:30 hrs. and 1330 hrs. the 1st Old Guard Division, the 2nd Old Guard Division and Guard Artillery arrive arrived via road in the Lamboi Woods. The Guard moved forward to engage and combat the Bavarians and Austrians south of the Neuhof Farm.

On the French right, the cavalry battle continues with mixed results for the French. The Bavarian light cavalry is forced to withdraw, but Austrian cavalry arrived to reinforce the flank.

The game ended on Turn 8 or 13:30 hrs. after approximately five hours of play.

Conclusions I drew from the play of the scenario as written:

- Need to start battle later,11:00 hrs. versus 9:00 hrs. This will start that fight earlier in game play and give the French cavalry on the right two more light cavalry divisions for the cavalry fight on the right.

- Also, would probably preclude Austrian cavalry from south of Kinzig Stream affecting that fight. This is more historical in outcome, as the French cavalry threatened the Bavarian infantry after their defeat of the allied cavalry. Also, this would bring the main fight of the Old Guard to clear the north of the Kinzig Stream earlier in play.

- Need to give more depth to the French deployment area in the woods for Imperial Guard deployment.

1944 Eastern Front - Chain of Command

This last Saturday, a friend of mine showed up at the store with some time to kill. So I decided on a pick up game of Chain of Command.

Even though Tim had never played CoC, let alone any type of WW2 skirmish game and I had only played once several years ago, I was keen on throwing together a game. Mainly because I had recently reread the rules and had moderated over a half dozen games in the last couple of months as CoC is getting very popular at the store these days.

I pulled out my Russians (Tim) and Germans (John) and made up a simple force for both sides, both being Regular Rifle Platoons with a tank as support (Sherman 76mm for the Russians and Pz IV H for the Germans).

We rolled up our force morale (Germans 10 and Russians 9) and the scenario (Attack & Defend), then started the Patrol phase with the Germans attacking and making several free patrol moves (four in this case).

I essentially only had two usable deployment points, one located in the woods (center) and the other in a field (far left). My tank would arrive at the road.

Tim would have one in the ruined building, one in a field on his left and a final one at the board edge on his right (covered by the woods). Of course his tank would also arrive at the road as well.


For the Germans I had also brought a preliminary bombardment to start off the battle. I was hoping to deploy a squad or two in the woods and field, so as to get a jump on moving forward before the Russians could. As it happened, the Russians always have a heavy preliminary bombardment and between the two bombardments, neither one of us were able to successfully deploy any troops on the first turn!

Over the next few turns I was able to get a squad into the woods in the center and the tall crop field on my left. Tim was able to get a squad Russians upto the fence next to the ruined building, which pretty much covered the whole center area.

Once my squad moved to the edge of the woods, we began to exchange fire with the Russians behind the fence. And for pretty much for the rest of the battle, both squads exchange fire, though at one point tried to assault the Russian position and succeeded in only moving out into the open! After the M4 Sherman tank arrived, Tim brought on his senior leader to bolster this squad and this kept them in the fire fight. I also was able to bring my Pz IV tank on the phase after the Russian tank arrived. We both moved up the road, then both tanks stopped to exchange gunfire.

Well that was what we thought was going to happen, in fact I had the first shot, scored a hit, five hits got through and rolled a six for the effect ... blew the Sherman to smithereens! Not very enjoyable for either side, so I just told him to put a couple of points of shock on it and then moved the Pz IV towards a large field on my right.

On my left I had deployed a squad, that was able to move its rifle section to the edge of a small woods before any Russians were deployed in the area. I decided to leave the LMG team behind so as to provide covering fire. It was looking like I was going to easily get my riflemen into the woods before any Russians showed up... Then Tim rolled a double phase, a single phase for me, and another double phase for Tim. Needless to say Tim rushed a squad all the way into the edge of the woods and blasted my riflemen still located in the open. What was left of my rifle team (and the Panzerschreck team that unwisely showed up in the middle of this) fled back to the tall crop field!

I too deployed my senior leader into firefight going on in the center. He was able to stabilize the situation (and my hot dice). So we then turned to Tim's left flank, where he had finally deployed his last Russian squad to deal with my Pz IV ... of course we soon realized that infantry cannot attack tanks with regular grenades, they need to have a special AT "grenade", such as the satchel charge that I talked Tim out of taking! I was going to let him have one, but events elsewhere took up our attention.

I had finally looked up the stats of the Panzerschreck and found out it has a max range of 48"! So even though the team (single guy actually) had a point of shock, I moved him out in the open to take an obstructed pop shot at the Sherman 32" away ... and proceeded to roll an 11 which is what I needed to get a hit. I then rolled the impressive thirteen armour penetration dice, which turned into six hits to the front. Of course Tim rolled no saves for this tank and it once again was brewed up :)

We called the game at this point (it was getting late), the Russians had seen their morale drop to five while the German morale was at eight. So a minor German victory, though reading the rules again that night, I of course found several rule mistakes made, most of which advantaged the German side.

I really like CoC, enough so that I am thinking about painting up a new platoon for the game (perhaps British Para's). I'll still play Battlegroup as it lets you play with larger forces, but pretty sure wont be playing Bolt Action anymore.

Battle of Hoosick Falls 1777

Thanks to Wil for writing up the text and taking the pictures. He is tracking how his command does in the Sharps Practice campaign we are running at the store in the form of a journal letter from Lieutenant Reginald Daltrey of the 24th Regiment of Foot to his sweetheart in England.

Battle of Hoosick Falls, New York August 11, 1777

Dear Lady Chatterly,

Dr. Nixon

The fortunes of war are fickle, as our folly today proved justly so.  I write this while recuperating under the ministrations of Dr. Nixon, who has been so good to accompany us in the field and assist our regimental surgeon.  He assures me a quick recovery so that I may rejoin my soldiers, as with the fall of Major Grant at Hubbarton, our officership is a precious commodity to be shuffled as needed.

Speaking of, I have now been made field captain of the whole Light Company of the 24th (Ldr 2, with three groups of regulars), with Ensign Townshend (Ldr 2, with 2 groups of skirmishers) as my capable subaltern, and the experienced Sergeant Entwistle (Ldr 1) transferring from the grenadiers to  assist me.

Our company in it's current assignment has been joined by a large party of Mohawks (2 groups of Indian Allies) led by a liaison officer of the 9th, Lieutenant Moon (Ldr 2, a "Kurtz" guy), or "Moondrummer" as he is has introduced himself. By his non-regulation adornment, he looks to have spent much time among the savages... perhaps too much.

Primary Deployment Point diorama

They have brought news of the Oriskany battle and remain among the most vengeance-thirsty among the tribes to have then travelled east seeking common cause of us. A half-bred, most likely the camp wife of Moon, and a mangy dog follow them everywhere.

On our rotation to the baggage train for munitions resupply, I ran into my father's friend, Angus MacLewlis, an aging codger who recruited for the recently founded 84th Regiment of Scottish Emigrants in Montreal.  His small detachment, bedecked in new highlander finery, had been assigned to guard the artillery park, but he kept insisting that I talk to my command and allow 10 of his men (1 group of loyalist militia, I really wanted just some ne'er-do-well frontier types, but these were the only figs at hand) to join our Advanced Corps "...so that they get a thorough bloodying!" in his words, "...to earn their plot of land."  And that is where the afternoon's mishap begins.

On the approach to Bennington, our company has led the screening of the main column eastwards for the past days.  Major Potter only had sent a few dragoons further beyond us to mark a road, and ordered us to form line facing south.  Just as we had begun to anchor the left wing, we heard the first reports of muskets to our southwest, battle had been joined.

We deployed behind a hedge in a plowed field with the militia attaching on the right and Townshend's skirmish screen watching the front.  A group with Sergeant Entwistle were returning from scouting a gully further out between us and the 20th Lancaster.  Then we saw the column of
Massachusetts regulars approach with a field piece from behind a barn.  Meanwhile, Moon's war party behind us awaited the signal of their scouts.  All went fairly well, but the skirmishers began to take a few hits from riflemen appearing on the barn's right and began to fall back behind us.

A cannonball gave my left squad a shake as one of them fell,  but our position was still stronger than the approaching bluecoats and their second ball was less effective. With the cannonade and rifles worrying them, the highlander's excitement and lack of drill got the better of them and they did not await my order to present. Our whole line commenced firing at will onto the enemy's field piece and bluecoats to some effect, though I yelled above the din twice to stop the firing.  Their column then deployed in line facing us at just over close range, blocking any further fire from their cannon. 

Our superior cover should lead to besting them, and I saw Moon's party rush the woods to protect our left as new groups of militia appeared and attempted to rush that flank.
However, things went badly at this point. The Mohawks let out furious war whoops and ambuscaded towards their scouts, but the rain-soaked ground slowed the Indians enough so that they could not see the approaching enemy through the woods.  At least, our left was covered as the Mohegan began to shoot from behind the trees, sending a party of militia running back to their own lines.

Just then, on my right, one of the damned highlanders drew his heirloom claymore and pointed forward!  ("Charge them to Hell!" result) The clamor and smoke confused my whole line enough to think I had ordered a general charge, over the hedge!! (lose lowest move dice)

On that, the Continentals loosed deadly fire at just close range and many of us fell as we stumbled across the brambles. As I went to the front to prevent a disastrous charge, a ball struck my shoulder.  Corporal Chaucer pulled me back over the hedge. Though the doctor rushed to aid me, I waved him off and began urging the shattered remains of my line to retreat at quickpace.  We fell back just as Entwistle's six returned and joined the other skirmishers in time to cover our backs. Dusk, by then, had settled in and the noise further down the battlefield had subsided to an occasional musket crack.

I heard that Lieutenant Moon was also hit and had to retire his natives, leading me to believe in the rumors of ungentlemanly conduct among the sharpshooters of the enemy.  The diligent Quaker doctor and the half-French Indian worked busily through the next hours, keeping two out of four of my men alive, while one Mohegan would be mourned by their number.  And I remain alive to fight again, and eventually to return to you.   Although discretion is the better of valor, I am still stung that my debut of command allowed the rebels to almost turn our left flank.  I question my decision to take on MacLewles's men, who will need much more drill and less highland battle cries to match the discipline of a true British redcoat.  Though a stray claymore be drawn in the heat of battle , I pray that my own won't get fooled again.

Yours Always,

Lieutenant Daltrey

24th Regiment of Foot

Russia 1943 - KGCII

Mark drove up from Olympia last Saturday to host a game of Kampfgruppe Commander II. He has an extensive collection of 15mm WWII Germans and Soviets so it was no surprise that the scenario pitted four battalions of Germans assaulting a russian fortified line. Well ok it was only one battalion of very good Germans and three battalions of not so good Hungarians attacking so so russian infantry regiments.

The axis force had to clear the center lane and capture the Village sitting astride the road. The Soviet main line of defense sat along an east west road, centered on a fortified hamlet at the crossroads, though they had refused their right flank.



The Axis plan was to have the German battalion sweep wide left and outflank the soviet line, they were to be supported by a battalion of Hungarian infantry. Two other Hungarian battalions would attack down the center to keep the Russians from reinforcing the flank. The Soviet plan was just to hold up in their field works and wait for the tanks to arrive.

Soviet strongpoint in the center. This proved to hard of a nut to crack for the Hungarians.

Two Hungarian battalions preparing to attack.

German Bn crossing its start line.

Supporting Hungarian infantry companies.

The Axis attack on the soviet right flank got off to a slow start. Terrain disrupted the movements and the Hungarians supporting attack stalled out quickly. However after massive artillery and mortar fire on the hilltop location, the Germans eventually got around the flank (covered by a woods) and forced the remnants of the defending Russian battalion to retire.

Hungarian infantry moving forward to attack.

The Germans were supported by a veteran StuG III company.

Hungarians finally move up and occupy the vacant hilltop fortifications.

By this time the Hungarian commander called off the attack on the hamlet. There were just too many russians to make an assault, and russians had moved down to flank them on the right. Soviet tanks also showed up at this time.

This small hamlet was bombarded extensively. The Soviet defends dug in and could not be dislodge.

Relief is coming!

T-34's finally show up.

 As it became clear there was no threat in the center, most of the Russian tank regiment moved to counter the Germans flanking the Russian line. While the Germans got the better of the Russians, and had completely turned the flank, they did not have enough troops to push the reformed flank back onto the village.

Most of the tank regiment moved to stem the Soviet right flank.

Though battered Soviet infantry holds on in the hamlet.

The Germans just about to turn right and attack the Soviet flank.

T-70's raced to cover the flank ... went into action and were knocked out quickly.

T-34's with infantry support cover the open area. They were later driven off from Stug and mortar fire.

We called the game after several hours of gaming. The axis side felt they did not have enough troops to effectively continue the attack, even though they had turned the flank and the German battalion was in relatively good shape.

We all thought it would be a cool idea to take this result, adjust the table somewhat and game out a follow up attack by the axis side. We'll see if that comes to fruition, as I suspect Ken will be hosting the next game and there was talk of British...