20mm Modern: Operation Plymouth Rock, November 2004, Iraq

Here was a recent game that I've been wanting to run and get to use my recently completed 20mm U.K. forces.  I ran the game at a local gamesday, sponsored by the Suncoast Skirmishers gaming group in Temple Terrace, FL.

The scenario is based on the "Operation Plymouth Rock" which began in late November, 2004.   It was a joint operation between U.S. and U.K. forces to clear out any insurgency and bring stability to the norther Babil Province and the city of Yusufiya in Iraq.

In this scenario, The U.S. forces arrive amphibiously by rigid boat and AA7V's from the Eurphrates River and the U.K. forces arrive by land into Yusufiya.  The terrain is a mix of irrigation canal fed agricultural land and the built up areas of Yusufiya.  The object is for the allied troops to seek out/take possession/destroy any insurgent strong points.  The insurgents were instructed to protect their four major objectives/strong points that included a planning/operations facility, a money laundering/financing facility, a weapons cache, and a bomb making facility. Each of these were represented by a special terrain marker for each, often used for these games.

 

Here's an overview map showing what the Yusufiyah area of Iraq looks like.

 

 Here's the map board from the British 'land side'.

 

 Here's the map board from the U.S. 'river side'.  The bridge at the lower right crosses over the Euphrates River. 

 

A look at the agricultural filed side of the table.  Note the various irrigation canals feeding the fields. There are a few wooden footbridges for people to cross the canals.

 

The Marines have landed.  U.S. troops disembark their rigid boats and the AA7V comes out of the river.

 The British are clearing out the town slowly, building by building.  The troops make sure the local MaDonal's restaurant (Iraqi McDonald's) is all clear, and taking a few Big Mac's with them.

 

 The U.S. squad on the right stumbles upon a radio controlled IED. (See the insurgent behind the wall with the transmitter?) Luckily, only 1 severe wound and several minor wounds are received and are able to proceed. The severely wounded Marine is placed in the back of the AA7V until a medivac can be brought in.  The squad to the left, heads across a footbridge to clear a building on the other side of the canal. (The U.S. would suffer their first KIA trying to clear this building.)

 

All 'hell' breaks out when the British contingent hits this walled compound.  First, gunfire from the lower right corner of the building hits a U.K. soldier next to the Landrover Snatch. Second, an RPG fired at the Warrior IFV from inside the compound, misses it's target, flying off harmlessly. Third, other automatic gunfire erupts from the compound hitting the less than armored Landrovers on the street.  A couple of casualties are caused and a gunner in the Landrover Snatch is the first U.K. KIA. Lastly, in an effort to 'run the gauntlet', an insurgent technical truck rams the front gate and hits a Landrover WMIK in a glancing blow with minimal damage to each vehicle.

 

 

Now, it's the British turn. The U.K. troops return fire, killing and wounding most of the Insurgents engaged, including the RPG firer. The UK Warrior lights up the Technical truck, turning it into a piece of Swiss cheese with four wheels and forcing it out of control into a Mosque building and vehicle across the street. (Which was supposed to be one of the insurgents 'get-away' vehicles.) 2 insurgents in the vehicle are KIA and another is severely wounded.

 

On the back side of the building, three U.K. troopers decide to toss grenades in windows to finish clearing the building.  Go figure that the last trooper rolls a critical miss, the grenade bounces off the window frame and behind him. Luckily it fell just out of range to do any damage to him or the rest of the squad. (see the white puff) 

 

 The U.S. squad enters the courtyard and proceeds to clear out the building with the AA7V providing some covering fire and protection.  4 more insurgent KIA's, including the triggerman for that earlier IED.

 

In the end, the insurgents (3 players with 6 squads) were far too spaced out to support each other effectively.  Additionally, the allied troops got to see first hand why the body armor and Kevlar helmets they are wearing are so important.  There would have been numerous additional allied KIA if it weren't for the armor saves. 

 

The final tally was:

 

U.S.: 1 KIA, 2 severe wounds, and a few minor wounds.

UK.: 1 KIA and a few minor wounds.

Insurgents: 18+ KIA and several severely wounded.

   

20mm D-Day Invasion: Omaha Beach

In honor of the upcoming anniversary of the D-Day landings, our local gaming group hosted a large 20mm game, using the Brother Against Brother, WWII Variant rules.

The terrain was quickly thrown together as I hadn't constructed my Atlantic Wall terrain yet.  (Simple green sheets over stacked styrofoam, paper models of concrete bunkers, rocks, and some lichen.)  We did however try a couple of different terrain techniques, such as using real sand (about 6 pounds of it) for the beach...sort of creating a mini-sand table.  The terrain set up quickly, since I want to run this at future conventions. The Scenario is not an actual OOB, yet, but certainly gave the feel.  The terrain was meant to represent the Omaha landing, somewhere between White and Green Beach, with three fortified bunkers and two draws into the terrain.

The Allied invasion started with about 10, 12-man units ('squads') in various landing craft, two engineering Shermans, and 3x DD Shermans with engineering units.

The German defenders started with about 4, 12-man units ('squads') with plenty of MG's, 3 AT guns in the bunkers, and plenty of defensive positions.

Here are some pictures of the game and the progress of the invasion:

 Here's the initial setup form the west end of the beach. Note that the seawall was also 'formed' form the sand, so no extra terrain.  There was also some crude barbed wire coils that I made the night before.  Better barbed wire (with barbs) is coming soon. I've got lots of hedgehogs, most made with plastic-styrene angles glued at the proper angles.

 Here's a look at the beach from the east end. Note the craters in the sand, created by making a little mound of sand, and then crushing it with a golf ball to make the crater with raised sides.

 We never had to use it, but I had to take a picture of my P51's (1/72nd Corgi die cast) over the beach.  See one of my recent posts on how I made the new flight stands.  

 Here was have the landing craft making their way to the beach in relatively good order.  The middle LCM-3 is taking hits from a German mortar and causing many pains for the crew and landing party.  One of the DD Shermans at the extreme left rolled badly and began to flood, creating a water obstacle for later landing craft. The tanks crew did manage to bail out successfully and hitch a ride on a passing LCVP heading back to the LST for the second wave.

 The center units are taking a murderous fire form the German MG's above. Once DD tank is ashore  while the Engineering Sherman prepares to land. The LCM-3 in the background is now sinking and ablaze with the entire landing party as a casualty.  There were no survivors.

 Here's another view of the entire beach. Alpha and Bravo company have reached the seawall in the foreground relatively unscathed. The Engineering Sherman dozer is on the beach.  The DD Sherman that hit the beach took a critical hit to the engine from a German Pak-40.  It will veer to the left and come to a stop...a mobility kill, and sitting duck. In the background, the other engineering unit, a Sherman Crab tank is on the beach flailing away. (However, the mines are on the 'other' side of the seawall !)

 Several more units have made it to the seawall, however with fewer numbers than when they started.  The Sherman crab is advancing as well as another DD Sherman, with AT shells falling around them both.

 Another good view of the battle.  Finally, one of the Shermans successfully placed a smoke round in front of the central bunker.

On the extreme left, the troops look at the draw they have to assault.  They are keeping the dug-in Germans suppressed with gunfire.

 

On the extreme right, the troops are evaluating the draw they have to cross.  German casualties are mounting and the MG fire is slackening from the heights.

 The stationary troops along the seawall start putting together their bangalore torpedoes and strategically place them through the seawall.  There will be a big 'bang' the next turn. 

 On the left, the engineering squad blows a hole in the seawall, and the Sherman crab proceeds through the breech.  The infantry also proceeds as their exploded bangalores have created a line of rifle pits to enfilade the German rifles above.

 Another view of the Allied left. A couple of straggling landing craft make it to shore with reinforcements to take advantage of the breach.

 On the Allied right, they have blown three new breaches through the sea wall and the Sherman dozer is about ready to make a 4th.  A few well placed shots and an HE round have all but silenced the German MG fire along this draw.  Alpha and Bravo company should make it to the top of the defenses first. "Dog three is now open!"

Here's one last picture of the beach assault before the game was called as there were very few Germans left on the ridges to return fire. The Germans did well to inflict almost 70 casualties (53%), disable one DD-tank and sink one LCM-3. Fun was had by all, and with a couple of modifications, it should make for a lively convention game.

Skirmish at Thlo-no-ta-sassy River (Flintlake Creek), Take two.

(Woohoo, post #100 and counting!)

Here is another game of the Battle of "Flintlake Creek" using the Brother Against Brother (BAB) rules.

The US detachment abandons Fort Alabama (Fort Foster) and heads south along the Fort King Highway to Fort Brooke (Tampa, FL). On April 27, 1836, as the column of troops cross the Thlo-no-ta-sassy River (Flintlake Creek) and into an open prairie, Seminoles hidden in the creek bed open fire on the regulars.

 Mistake #1: The U.S. troops slow down, and deploy on the flanks, on both sides of the river, rather than keep moving to the other end of the board.

 The Seminoles are about to open a severe volley into the U.S. troops investigating the woods on the left.  The lone Florida Militia unit doesn't realize that they area about to be wiped out by a lethal round of Seminole rifle fire.

 Seminoles are swapping shots and withdrawing further into the woods. As a variant with this set of rules and Seminole tactics, the Seminoles have degrading fire (an additional -1 cumulative) each turn they fire to represent the fouled guns and lack of ammo support.  Therefore, their rifle fire is essentially useless after 3 shots, but can still fight in deadly hand-to-hand fighting.

 Again, more wasted time by the U.S. troops as they unlimber the gun, load it, and then fire it.

(A 3-turn process.) 

 A unit of hidden Seminoles rises up out of the grassland prairie to fire on the approaching 'white man'.

The only Melee of the game. After receiving casualties, the U.S. troops were able to break contact and shoot down the remainder of the Seminoles as they were relatively stuck where they were, loading and firing, while their squad leader was dead.  

A good volley fire by the U.S. troops attempts to clear the road to the front. The U.S. will end up with a marginal victory and wagons full of wounded as they make their way south towards Ft. Brooke, located adjacent to Tampa City.

Recent ACW Yankeetown Raid

As typical during the ACW, there were hundreds of small scraps and skirmishes in the state of Florida.  Most involved shore or river landings of Union Sailors, Marines, Dismounted Cavalry and sometimes Regular Infantry.  This game, run at a local 'games day', represents a typical inland skirmish as Union troops search the Rebel interior for stores of contraband and other military supplies while fighting off the local Militia or Florida reserves.

(Please excuse the unfinished ACW troops.  I'm still working on the first batch of 250+ figures, but at least the artillerymen are complete.)

 The rebels have some local militia and artillery deployed in the field of this little hamlet.  Additional Confederate troops are approaching from the left (out of picture).  The main Union force is approaching from the south (out of picture to the lower right) while the USCT troops that I was in charge of start to deploy along the road on the left.

 The Main Yankee force deploys in good order while leaving a gap for the 12lb Napoleon to shoot into the rebel troops. The infantry trade shots with the militia suffering a murderous fire.

The initial volley by my USCT squads had disastrous results for the approaching confederates. (I'm sorry Jacob.) My troops did take some casualties, but not nearly as many as the Reb's did.  I couldn't roll that good again if I tried.  After the Rebel threat on this flank was checked, the squads on the right will advance across the cabbage patch towards the barn building.

Here, a Union Company, after failing their morale check, was forced to charge the nearest enemy which was the decimated Florid militia unit behind the fence.  The Reb's were routed off the field and the Union unit didn't quite make it to the Artillery in the field. However, continued Union fire would eliminate the other Florida unit on the right and would start to mow down the CSA gunner's before they could remove the guns. A last ditch effort by a lone gunner failed to cause any additional Yankee casualties when he pulled the lanyard with his last action.

The Yanks were shot up, but there was no way for the CSA troops to retake any ground lost.  This would be a marginal victory for the Union Forces as they burn and pillage their way back to their boats while escorting captured contraband.

28mm ACW raid into North Florida/South Georgia

Here are some pictures of a recent 28mm ACW game we ran on March 22, 2012.

The Battlefield from the north end. 

The Battlefield from the south end. 

The brown house on the hill. (It was spared from the horrors of war, this night.)

A small, rebel held hamlet in North Florida.

I thought the sunlight over the field was cool, so I took a picture.

A rocky outcropping in one corner, at the request of one of our games. (The rocks are real rocks, stacked up with some trees and lichen added.) Looks pretty good to me.

The Confederate line opens withering volley on the Union blue-bellies coming up the road. (Excuse the unfinished ACW troops.  I've got about 300 of about 500 that are in various stages of painting and detailing.)

A Union squad charges out across an open area  (mistake #1) against waiting rebels behind light cover. (mistake #2)

Confederate troops attempt to hold the wheat field fence line against the attacking Union troops.

Three companies of the 2nd USCT advance down the road from the right.

A rebel artillery battery is brought to the middle of the wheat field.  Due to some orderly withdrawls by the rebels in the center, the battery would be withdrawn as well to a second line of fences.

Some Georgia Militia enter the table and form up on the confederate right.

Three Union companies march at the double-quick down the road and encounter the rebel militia.

Both sides exchange volley's with each other.

The Union boys take a couple of casualties, but the militia takes a deafening fire that drastically dwindles their ranks.

One more volley by the Union left forces the Georgia Militia to 'Skeedaddle' off the field. The Rebels who had reformed in the center and the town, prepare to withdraw off the table after their artillery battery is silenced due to effective and deadly accurate Union musket fire.

The dice gods simply weren't with the Confederate forces this night.