Just a quick update. I managed to have a WWII 28mm Skirmish game last night in Brampton Ont. It was I believe based on the rules called "Rules of engagement" ?. Matched up were the Queens own rifles of Canada vs some 12th SS Hitler youth.
The QOR had (from memory) A HMG, 3" Mortar, 2" Mortar, Piat team, HQ squad and 3 squads of troopers. The HJ had a 3" mortar (?) a Half track, HQ squad and 3 SS squads.
I did not take allot of pics as I was enjoying the game and below is a basic overview of what happened.
The odd thing about this game is that my 1's and 2's took some time off last night and I managed to roll average for once. Average dice plus 4 MG42's in the hands of SS meant that I managed to do fairly well.
Pic 1:- This is turn 2. At the bottom of the pic my half track is racing off to the left of the table to support squad 1. My goal is to get to a house set up my MG teams and suppress any advance on the center. Squad 2 is setting up in the bocage in the lower right hand of the pic. They are to defend and just spot/slow the Canadian advance which is turning out to be 2 full squads of QOR coming right up the middle.
A pic of 2nd squad setting up. (MG42 team at the bottom of the pic) The first and 2nd turns were fun, as both our 3" mortars dueled it out in counter fire. I managed to kill 2 of his 3 men manning his mortar, but he in turn killed my spotter which meant I needed to have direct line of sight on any targets (which I did not).
The pic below shows what my 3rd squad was busy doing on the right flank. They ran full out on turns 1 and 2 to get to a large farm house in the middle of the map. When they got there the MG team set up in the top floor of the house, while the rest of the squad set up on the first floor to protect my right.
This pic shows my half track setting up facing a scary sight. A Canadian HMG team (which had just killed 2/3rds of my MG42 squad while they ran between a couple of houses) a 2" mortar, 3" mortar and a PIAT team !! If I don't kill the HMG and Piat team this flank is gonna get it bad.
Below we see my first two causalities from Davids HMG. I managed to pickup the MG42 and run for cover in the house and lay some fire down on the Piat team thankfully... but that HURT ! I did not even realise the HMG team did not move the turn before, so when he started looking for targets I just about pooped my pants.
Below is turn 3 and my MG on my half track has laid waste to the HMG and the 2" mortar.. This was a turning point in the game I think as by now most of Davids support squads were destroyed. Only his Piat team and one lone Canadian manning the 3" mortar were left. With my MG42 team in the house I managed to kill his Piat team right after he lost his HMG and 2" mortar.. not a good turn for David on the left flank. He still has a squad advancing here tho.
The MG team on the top floor of the farm house (on my right) opens up on some Canadians sneaking through an orchard. 3 brave lads went down, and the return fire was saved.
My half track backs up and fires into the Canadian squad advancing into the center of the table and manages 3 more quick kills. In his turn Davids remaining full strength squad on the left ran out from behind his building and opened up everything it had on my half track killing the MG team and ending that threat plus getting some revenge ! David did like getting revenge on Hitlers buzz saws as 9 of my 13 causalities were MG42 crewmen.
German turn 5:- After watching 8 Canadians jump out into the street and riddle my half track with fire and kill its MG team I had to think fast. I had 2 men manning a MG42 in the building just off frame to the right and 3 men inside defending them. I instantly had them charge out throwing grenades into the pile of Canadians whilst the MG team retreated out of the building and got into the half track to take over the MG mount. I actually thought I was sacrificing my 3 men to buy time for my half track and MG team to retreat back down the road to protect my left, but they managed to kill 5 guys with 3 grenades. David and I were both shocked but the threat to this flank was almost over.
The MG team and Halftrack start backing off. If any Canadians are left on this side, the half track will deal more MG42 death....
After a couple of more MG42 shots and a few more downed men the 2 Canadian squads in the center start to withdraw. I realise that once out of my field of fire I will have to advance and chase them. Below we see my 3rd squad on the right flank moving out of the farm house to give chance to the Canadians.
The center squad join the advance.
I did not manage to take any more pics, but on the left, the 3 remaining Canadians managed to throw their own grenades at my 3 Germans, but somehow I managed to save two of them...only to have the Canadian spotter who hid from the MG42 kill zones snipe one of the guys who moments before survived a grenade to the face.
It was on this high note that we called the game. A German victory (although I think David let me win :P). The rules are very bloody and MG's and grenades are just deadly !! Once the firing started models dropped super quickly.
I don't remember the causalities on the Canadian side fully, but my SS took 13, 9 MG crewmen, my spotter, a NCO from the command squad and 2 riflemen.
Davids Canadians took 14 on this right flank and I think 9 in the center advance and 4 men to my Mortar attack.. so I think it was 27 (although I cannot recall exactly).
David was a great player and a great guy... thanks allot for the game.... allot of fun ! The awesome models and terrain were all his.
