'The Tank war' - Mark Urban

I've just finished reading this remarkable book.

Urban has written two similar histories - 'Fusilier' (or 'how the British Army lost North America and learned how to fight'), and 'Rifles' (the story of the 95th Rifles ... think Richard Sharpe .. in the Napoleonic Wars). Urban writes the most delightful history, gathering together what is most often never before accessed archival material to offer a very personal view of war from the point of view of the individual men who fought (think private soldiers, not generals).

In this case it is the story of the 5th Royal Tank Regiment through World war 2. He chose the regiment not because he thought it was something special (although it was a part of 7th Armoured Division, the famous 'Desert Rats') but because if offered the richest source of surviving archival material.

Urban pulls no punches. There re tories of men abandoning tanks out of fear, buy so too there are stories of citizen soldiers who learn how to fight. He offers the second robust rebuttal of the old fable that British Armoured units were inferior in both hardware and 'software', without glossing over the failings of the unit in combat in the desert and Europe.

This review does the book justice - highly recommended if you have an interest in WW2, or in historiography (or BOTH!!).

Thanks for the 'heads up' on the documentary:

Volley and Bayonet 1813

I managed my first largish game for many months when invited to the relaunch of Keith's Wargames Room on Friday night, and 'dang, it felt good'!!! We fought a Volley and Bayonet game using 1813 Prussian and French lists, and Keith's 6mm armies. It reminded me that even though I am a Spearhead fan, VnB is still my all time favourite games system. Here are just a few random shots.

Keith's commentary on the relaunch of his games room, and this battle, can be found here.

More introductory 'gaming goodness

These boys are keen. Having shown them what is possible with Crossfire and Spearhead, this week it was 'how to play fantasy games without spending $600. So nI brought along four HotT (Hordes of the Things) armies to give them a taste for the game system, and an eye for what can be done with very little outlay. One of the boys had previously played HotT, and so had set out to create a 'greeblie (honestly, it's the only word that comes to mind) army using modelling clay.

The used the 'greeblies, and my spiders, VSF, and Lost Worlds armies. Some general views.

They loved the games system and the army building potential. We are heading towards a 12 hour 'paint-a-thon', the goal of which is to teach them how to paint, and get them well down the path to creating their own armies. They now have several choices, and it would be fair to say that several of them are torn between WW2 and Fantasy.

Intensive Spearhead action

After an introductory Spearhead WW2 game last week, this week we broke down into two games with one player per side, and slightly larger forces on each side. Each side saw a reinforced German battalion battling a small allied regiment reinforce with armour.

Both tables set up amidst a hush as plans were drawn

Initial deployment and first moves on each table

Game 1:

In this game the German battalion had been reinforced with a company of StuG IIIs in support. The opposing American forces consisted of two infantry battalions supported with artillery and an armoured battalion.

The German advance on the left was focussed on the his right flank, but this meant that the German left was open to the American player's plan to attack with armour. This did however leave the American armour without immediate infantry support.

The American armour was given new orders from reserve to hook around onto the German left

Meanwhile the American infantry battalions were caught in the open and came under fire from German infantry that had taken up ambush positions in the wooded areas

The American infantry were taking heavy casualties when time ran out. The American armour was on the verge of appearing on the German left. It had been lucky not to run into any German infantry as it forced its way through the woods.

Game 2:

In this game a German infantry battalion with two platoons of PzkwIVs attached was trying to force it's way forward against a British force of two battalions supported by a company of Cromwell VIIs

The German plan had failed to consider the movements of any enemy armour and so as it swept across the centre it took flank fire for the Cromwells. This was never going to end well for the German forces, with both platoons of PzkwIVs destroyed. They did manage to destroy one squadron of Cromwells in the short bloody fire fight.

The German player used a very unconventional manoeuvre to shift to his left to take position on the ridge line upper left on the photo

The British player meanwhile had made a very conservative plan. His infantry were stalled (lower right) while his armour manoeuvred unsupported to try to apply pressure on the new German position

The German infantry began to take casualties from tank fire but sent AT teams forward to apply pressure on the British armour. 

At this stage this game had also run out of time. There was plenty of learning here. As with Crossfire, the allied players had not made effective use of their supporting artillery, and they had also failed to think through plans about where the enemy might be, and how best to manoeuvre to try to defeat him. This meant that support weapons generally were not well deployed.

I suspect that these lessons were well learned. They won't make those same mistakes again. An awesome morning's 'gaming.

Quarter of a mill.. wow!!

This blog has just clocked over a quarter if a million views. Slow progress, but I hope that those who've bothered to call by have found something of interest.

The posts reflect my eclectic tastes, my 'butterfly' disposition, my general inability to remain focussed on any one thing for long.

Of course, this is our hobby. We pursue it for enjoyment. Too much single minded focus may well mean less enjoyment.. counter-productive, yes?

Go with me here as I attempt self justification for my wayward habits.

In the meantime, enjoy your hobby!!!

Mantic Insider 06 - Why You Should Play Kings of War

I've been playing Kings of War (the massed fantasy battle game from Mantic) since it first came out. I bought the 1st edition rule book, and have always enjoyed games using those rules. So impressed have I been that I supported the Kickstarter for the publication of the 2nd Edition. My copy is due within a week or so. Here is a lovely intro to the rules.

Armour armour armour.....

While looking over the 6mm WW2 Spearhead forces, I realised that I've accumulated  a few gems over the years. While not game breaking vehicles, Valentines and M3 Grants are very characterful vehicles, and there in the drawer with the other unbased and seemingly unloved 'kit' were 6 of each. I'd presumably acquired them for some long since forgotten project (do you have any of those?).

I had the bases cut and prepared for the vehicles (actually for the 1940 British vehicles that arrived last week), but I couldn't help myself. So, a wash with an ink, a dry brush highlight and, well .. 'Bob's yer uncle' .. apparently.

Valentines

M3 Grants

And I already have some air support with two Fairy Battle light bombers (painted up by friend Andy G. again more years ago than I care to remember).

According to my Spearhead rules book OOBs Valentine IXs served in Normandy 1944, albeit briefly. I've been trying to find corroborating evidence - I'm not sure I believe that. No luck so far, so they may just have to serve either on the eastern front, or in Italy.

Now... where's that 1940 British kit? Oh, I have to cut some more bases.. 'RATS!!'