I'm a MuG for a MiG

One of my long standing fascinations was with early jet aircraft. In this regard I have also had a long and unsatisfied interest in the Korean conflict. So I have been accumulating additions to my existing late war allied and Russian armies to fight actions in Korea, but also in some possible 'cold war gone hot' scenarios set between 1945 abnd .. say .. 1955), all using my fav Spearhead rules. So it all started with some later armour (a Centurion that I'd bought a LOOOONG time ago for some long forgotten project, to which such things as late model Sherman Easy Eights have been added), all to pit themselves against the ubiquitous T34/85 and hopefully a host of other late war and post war armour (I'm on the look out). This project is a continuation of the 20mm Spearhead armies as distinct from the 6mm armies with which I more usually fight. Look on it as an excuse to make late model 1/72 scale tanks and aircraft AND have a use for them. After all, collecting and making models just to trap dust wouldn't be the done thing, would it.

Here is the first bit of modelling to bring these interests in early jets, and post WW2conflict, together: a MiG 15 jet. I do need to paint the framing on the canopy in order to say it's complete.

Now before anyone says anything, yes I know that the MiG was a fighter designed to fight for air superiority, while Spearhead is a ground action set of rules. So realistically MiGs shouldn't appear over the table in ground support roles. But .. frankly I don't care, these are just such awesome looking aircraft, how could I resist? Awaiting assembly are a DH Vampire (much more likely to be used in a ground support role as it was, flown by Kiwis, in the Malayan crisis) and an F86 Sabre.

In the meantime here is some video footage of a MiG 15 today. Enjoy!!!

Falk's advance at Gumbinnen: a true war gamer's challenge

For a little Friday night amusement Jon and Andrew came across and we played Falk's advance against the Russian invaders on Prussian soil, the first engagement of what is now know as the Battle of Gumbinnen in 1914. This was the first outing for the new 6mm Russian forces, mostly Irregular troops with Ros Heroics artillery. The German army is all Irregular Miniatures. The scenario comes from the files section of the Great War Spearhead Yahoo group, and the battle was fought using the Great War Spearhead II rules set.

The battlefield seen from behind the German entry edge.

The German plan has concentrated on the left, with two regiments attacking and two held in reserve

The Russian right flank defensive position. All Russian troops start the battle in light entrenchments.

The Russian reserve regiment hunkered down in safety.

The Russian defenders spend the first two moves suppressed to reflect their state of disorganisation as the German attack begins. There us a dense fog across the battlefield.

The German attack on the leading Russian regiment's left flank. Attackers are attempting to work their way around the open flank while others engage in a frontal firefight.

Another German regiment on their left advances on the Russian defences

The firefight begins

The opening salvoes include initial artillery fire from Russian guns dug in behind the defending infantry

Fire opens all along the front.

Casualties are heavy on both sides.

 The German left wing regiment fails its morale check and falls back from the action. The German commander commits his reserve regiments.

One German reserve regiment advances to take the high ground in order to bring more fire down on the defenders

Meanwhile the initial German right wing regiment has outflanked that lead Russian regiment, tackling an MMG position in the woods.

The Russian commander begins to move artillery batteries across to his centre in anticipation of the attack that he sees building

Still the firefight on the German left continues with a new regiment attempting to shift the defenders. The Russian regiment survives its first morale check

The Russian defenders in their forward lone are decimated, as are the German attackers.

We called the game at this point. The German attackers lacked the strength to tackle the man Russian defences. Falk's advance had failed, as it did historically. The game was a lot of fun, on heck of a challenge for the German attacker. It deserves to sit in the gallery of 'Hard as' scenarios that sit on 'The Great Adventure' under 'The War gamer's Challenge'.

Another generous donation gratefully received

When around for a game last week, Andy brought me a delightful surprise box. Generosity is a trait I value, try to maintain in myself, and am always grateful for when on the receiving end. So what did the box bring for me?

Two Pzkw Is, a Kubelwagon, an Sdkfz 7 &, and a command halftrack (250?).

But wait, there was more: A Tiger II, a Panther, a PzkwIV F2, and a couple of StuGs.

And, again painted for the early war project, an 88 flak gun, something I've lacked altogether, a truck and another Sdkfz 7. There was also a 75mm AT gun in there.

Fin ally some assorted infantry painted in early war field grey.

What a haul. The real challenge is finding the time to get the games that use these on the table.

A bit of Argy bargy on the Dwarf/Human border

Things had not sat easy between the Dwarfs and their human neighbours. It had begun with crowds pushing and jostling at the weekly markets and finally erupted into open warfare as each tried to push the other away from their shared border. Humans and Dwarfs each pushed a small raiding force across the border into each other's territory, more of a show of force than anything, but one thing was for sure, blood would be spilled.

The Kingdoms of men advance for the right, expecting their dominant archery to cut down any impertinent Dwarfs that dared stand in their way. The Dwarfs have however deployed some firepower of their own, including two troops of their Ironwatch, and one of their rare organ guns,

Footguard advance on the human right, supported by a white wizard

The local Dwarven royalty is out supporting the Dwarven Ironclad

The humans take the initiative on their right, and charge into the woods taking a regiment of Dwarf Shieldbreakers by surprise.

This doesn't end well for the Shieldbreakers, and they are themselves broken. The Ironwatch troop on the hill is feeling a little nervous about now.

 The battle isn't one sided however, and a troop of Ironwatch sends a foot archer regiment fleeing form the field on the dwarf right.

The human left is open, but there are no Dwarven units free to exploit the gap

 The Dwarf centre charges forward. There was another unit of foot archers sitting in front of the regiment of Dwarf Ironclad.. after a quick assault the archers flee.

The human commander, finding himself lone after the loss of his accompanying archers, heads over the centre to see what he can do

 The human right has assaulted the Dwarf left, removing the Ironwatch who had been the last vestiges of a left flank. This left just the army standard bearer who as feeling very much alone.

The Dwarven Ironclad advanced menacingly towards the arquebusiers who are the only thing holding the human centre.

The Dwarf army standard bearer goes toe to toe with the white wizard on the Dwarf left, hoping to clear him out of the way.

 The Dwarf army standard bearer bounces off the wizard .. ouch. Meanwhile the Dwarf attack in the centre doesn't go to plan. The two regiments of Ironclad assault front and flank, causing a lot of casualties. This looked like a dead cert for a Dwarf victory, but . the nerve test roll is a double 1.. snake eyes.. the arquebusiers hold firm and the Dwarfs bounce back.. agghhh.

The human general attacks the Dwarf organ gun but bounces off... whew.

The action has ended

The victory goes to the humans. This was a 1000 point game, played (in case you hadn't guessed) using Mantic's Kings of War rules (we've been playing these for larger fantasy games since the original alpha test version came out several years ago). The human army under Andy's command had managed to work units with a points value in the Dwarf half of the board more than a 100 points greater than the Dwarf points in the human half.

While only a small game, it felt like a truly epic encounter, and anyway there was much beer, and many sausage rolls (well savouries actually) consumed.. a great night's 'gaming.

Pushing ahead on the Italian mainland ...

Italy, 1943, and the Italian army is still fighting. British forces are pushing slowly inland, looking for advantage amidst the broken Italian countryside. A piece of high round that dominates a round junction must be taken and a company of infantry have been tasked with pushing forward to take the position. The advance begins late in the afternoon.

The ground as the English major saw it, his objective upper left.

 The English push forward probing the position. An Italian machine gun opens up.

The English advance at the bottom, the Italian machine gun revealing itself from the objective upper left

The English infantry open up fire from their covered positions

The Italian machine gun is suppressed by return fire

 As the English continue to push forward more Italian infantry, and another machine gun, reveal themselves from positions covering the objective.

Italian infantry, supported by a machine gun, reveal themselves from the woods covering the objective

An English Vickers MMG crew have pushed forward to provide covering fire for the infantry that are taking a lot of fire from the Italians

More Italian infantry reveal themselves as they open reactive fire from positions on the objective. However no fire results provide the opportunity for the English to push their advance.

The left wing platoon is hung up amidst Italian suppressive fire.

So now the forces appear to have squared off.

Italian mortar fire falls on the English left wing platoon

An English section from the centre right is eliminated by the mortar fire

The English company commander commits a part of his reserve platoon to a striking advance down his right flank.

The English right flanking move can be seen top right of the photo, the troops pinned by Italian fire from the centre

 With movement temporarily stopped the English engage in a vigorous fire fight in their attempts to suppress the Italian defenders.

Fire on the Italian centre covering the objective from the woods begins to have an effect, the machine gun crew suppressed taking cover.

Suppressed Italian machine gun

The English infantry right flanking manage to make it to cover and their fire, combined with that from the Italian front and supporting mortar fire, begins to have an effect as the Italians take casualties. However the last light is falling and while there is no longer any fire coming from the objective, the Italian forces have the position well covered. The attack will need to be renewed in the morning.

The game was played using Art Conliffe's Crossfire rules. The Italians were Andy's newly completed first platoon in their first outing on the table. As always with Crossfire games, the action accelerates with frequent changes of initiative as the forces close, making for an exciting encounter. There will be more as the English work to push the defenders on the Italian mainland back from the beaches.