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Sunday, 18 August 2019

WW2 campaign - defensive line action 2

The second of this weekend's trio of games was the action at the railway bridge. Problem number one was setting up the tabletop with a lack of railway track. Once upon a time I had some track with my childhood Hornby railway kit, but that disappeared in one of my relocations. So an improvised railway track made from a cardboard box and lines drawn with a marker pen will have to do.

Tabletop waiting for the next game
The action has a British reconnaissance company and tank troop thrust into supporting their defensive line. They also have an off-table artillery section. They are defending against a Panzer Grenadier force probing into this area hoping to find a gap.

Campaign map - blue circle highlights the action being fought.
Panzer Grenadier force: 1 x assault gun unit, 1 x AA unit, 1 x armoured infantry unit, and 1 x mortar section.
British Guards force: 1 x tank troop, 1 x armoured car troop, 1 x armoured infantry platoon.
The British off-tabletop artillery section. I put the models next to or on the edge of the tabletop so I don't forget they are there and part of the game.
Both sides deployed. The Guards being the defenders get to deploy on their half of the 4x4 foot tabletop. While Panzer Grenadier units are placed within 12" of their base edge.

Units are deployed
Turn 1 - Units from both sides converge
Turn 2 - British tanks soon make their presence felt.
Turn 3 - The Panzer Grenadier assault is beginning to stall as casualties mount
Turn 4 - The assault fails
Turn 5 - The remaining attackers retire
Well, that was another very quick game. The off-table artillery proved useful, but the lack of any effective AT guns allowed the tanks to easily pick off the attacking units.
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10 comments:

  1. 'Lee.18 August 2019 at 18:21

    A really good game with small forces Peter. I'm sure you can buy railway track by the metre from model railway shops but your card pieces do the job nicely.

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    1. Peter18 August 2019 at 19:38

      Thank you. I will have to remember railway track the next time I visit the hobby shop.

      Delete
  2. Maudlin Jack Tar18 August 2019 at 18:51

    Another splendid game - your railway line works for me!

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  3. Rob18 August 2019 at 20:16

    At this rate it looks like it'll be cocktails in Berlin tonight! Cracking stuff as ever - I wonder do you follow the Tactical Painter's blog? He uses old OO/HO railway track and sourced it cheaply in Oz as he's a fellow Antipodean. Why is it that so many of the best wargaming blogs come from the wrong side of the planet? I guess all that blood going to the head stimulates creativity?

    Tactical Painter blog
    https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/

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    1. Peter18 August 2019 at 21:36

      Thank you for the link and interesting site with excellent terrain modelling. One more action to play out.

      Delete
  4. Duc de Gobin18 August 2019 at 20:32

    Now an interesting slant on the campaign. The Germans are losing too many units that can;t be replaced perhaps?

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    1. Peter18 August 2019 at 21:45

      The Germans defiantly started the campaign with more units, but losses need to be managed.

      Delete
  5. John Y20 August 2019 at 01:27

    The German commander must be at least somewhat concerned about his mounting losses.

    I rather like your train track solution - inexpensive, not difficult to make, and looks the part. Also, great idea keeping the off-table artillery next to the table or on the table edge so you don't forget about them.

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    1. Peter20 August 2019 at 07:30

      Losses are bringing to mount on both sides. The Germans have a greater number of units and can afford to push ahead. Units are only removed from the campaign if eliminated on the tabletop, those with hits are restored to full strength in the next campaign turn.

      Delete