Back to 1944 - Rescue the Colonel

As it was a really miserable day here in the North of England we decided to set up and play the second scenario from Airfix Battles. Where the allies have to try and rescue a wounded and stranded Colonel before the Germans can capture him.

Briefing:

"Captain Wilson! Listen up. Colonel 'H''s command post got overrun by the Jerries, and the Colonel's believed to be seriously wounded. You're the nearest unit, so get in there, patch him up best you can and I'll send help along to get him out of there"

Both players are aiming to capture the ruined farm house in the centre of the battlefield and hold it for two consecutive Clean-ups.

Captain Wilson's unit consists of his command section which is him and a squad of 4 veterans armed with sub machine guns. A section of Snipers armed with sniper rifles and a section of Tommies armed with rifles and light machine guns.

Against them is Hauptmann Muller. his unit consits of a command gruppe including himself and 4 veterans armed with assault rifles, a gruppe of Pioneers armed with assault rifles and a gruppe of MG 34's

Report

18 May 1944

To: Lt Col Jenkins CO 8th Bn Border Rgt

From: Capt Wilson 2IC A Coy 8th Bn Border Rgt

Report:

We approach Colonel 'H's command post from the west. The area was densely wooded and the house itself had been heavily shelled leaving rough ground all around. 1 Section took position to the NW of the house whilst 2 Section were directly W and 3 section to the SW. I could just make out a force of Jerries in amongst the trees to the East.

Initial setup. British on the left and Germans on the right. Germans have command gruppe in the north, Pioneer Gruppe in the centre and MG 34 Gruppe in the south. British have Command Section to the north, Snipers and then centre and then Tommies (standard infantry) to the south

Colonel 'H' in the Farm house with his rescuers in the background

Captain Wilson and his section

The Snipers

British forces at the start line with 3 Section closest.

The Germans ready for the off.

The German Pioneers were quick carrying out a text book Infantry assualt toward the farm house but they were slowed down by the rough terrain to their front. 3 Section carried out a Lightening Strike until they too were bogged down by the rough terrain to the south of the farm house. This did however place them in an ideal position to engage the German Pioneers. Corporal Rudd reported 2 Germans taken out. 

The German MG's on their left flank then engaged 3 Section but the stone wall and poor aim meant that only private Thompson fell. 

I called in an artillery strike and targeted the German unit to the north on their right flank which took out two of their number and sent the remainder scuttling into cover behind a stone wall to the south near to 3 section. Corporal Rudd interrupted their move with sustained fire and reported taking down another.

2 Section then carried out a rapid advance toward the objective ending in the rough terrain to the west of the Farmhouse.

Pioneers advance into the rough ground outside the farm house

3 Section advance to the rough ground to the south of the farm house

3 Section fire on the German Pioneers killing 2 but the pioneers hold their nerve and pass their morale check

The MG 34 Gruppe fire on 3 Section but only kill 1!

British Artillery take out two of the German Veterans

Hauptmann Muller moves south to take cover benhind a stone wall 

but 3 Section interrupt his move with heavy fire and take out another veteran.

2 Section rapid advance into the rough terrain to the west of the house.

2 Section then advanced into the house and secured Colonel 'H' their medic began to patch him up ready for evac. The German MG 34's fired into the farm house and hit two of the snipers but their medic patched them up and had them back in the fight in no time. At the same time the Pioneers fired on the farmhouse and took out 2 Snipers. 2 Section are then pinned by the heavy sustained German fire. 

3 Section then came under grenade attack from the German command Gruppe this took out privates Jones, Elliot, Graham, Johnson and McMaster and left the section at half strength. but to his credit Corporal Rudd displayed great Valour and kept his section in the fray.

I advanced toward the farmhouse to provide support to 2 section.

2 section advance into the Farm house

3 Section display superb teamwork by advancing and then firing on the German pioneers

The German Hauptmann and his last veteran throw grenades at 3 Section

wiping out half the squad!

1 section advance to support 2 section

The MG 34's then wiped out 2 section in the farm house so I carried out a lightening strike with my section to secure Colonel 'H'. we fired upon the Pioneers outside and wiped them out.

The German command gruppe again threw grenades at 3 section killing private Turnbull but Cpl Rudd kept his section firm and took out the last remaining veteran and pinned the German Hauptmann.

With this the Germans withdrew and we were able to evac Colonel 'H'

2 section were wiped out.

1 section then secure Colonel 'H'

1 section wipe out the Pioneers.

3 section lose private Turnbull to a German grenade.

3 section retaliate by taking down the last veteran.

Da Green tide!

Lumbering along behind Nashrak is Sid, the dim witted hill giant lured out of his comfortable life by Morzug.

A size comparison shot for Sid. On the left side is Slugdrool the troll from the Battle for Blood Pass Warhammer boxed set. A normal Barbarian orc on the right.

Another comparison shot this time with Gorburg and Nazshak.

Da green tide!

Following on from the arrival of Gorburg Oathbreaker we have his Chief Lieutenant  Nashrak Stunt chopper the arch overlord of the big bone clan of Savage orcs.

Following Nashrak is the deranged Morzug boggle eye the shaman of the big bone clan

Also accompanying Nashrak are his body guard Nashrak's crusha's a unit of savage orcs with hand weapons and shields.

All of these minis are from Black Tree Design fantasy range and they're their Barbarian Orcs. The full unit is 20 strong so still 10 to paint. They will be getting warpaint just haven't yet decided whether to do red or blue, any recommendations?

I've also got a regiment of Barbarian Orc boar riders and a unit of Barbarian Orc archers on order with BTD which should hopefully arrive soon.

Back to 1944 again!

I've been feverishly trying to get a British Infantry platoon painted up for our Airfix Battles games and last night I finally got them varnished. Unfortunately I've ran out of Matt varnish so these guys are a bit old school!

Hopefully after lock down I can resupply.

So here is 1st Platoon, A company, 8th Battalion (West Cumberland) The Border Regiment. (a real regiment but the 8th battalion was disbanded in 1918)

The whole platoon minus their 2" mortar team.

HQ section led by Lt Beattie with Sgt Armstrong as 2iC

In Airfix Battles this is section will consist of an Officer (choice of Lt, Capt or Maj) a sergeant and a squad of veterans

1 section led by Cpl Johnston with LCpl Elliot as 2iC. The section includes a PIAT and a Bren team with the Cpl and LCpl both having sub machine guns. In Airfix Battles this will be a section of Tommies.

Cpl Johnson and LCpl Elliot

1st platoon advance over open ground supported by a Vickers machine gun section. A German MG section lie in wait hidden by the reeds and bushes. ( not sure why the Brits are advancing as though it's WW1!)

For Airfix Battles I need another PIAT for 3 section but the boy wants to paint that along with the 2" mortar team.

The figures are the old ESCI British Infantry now sold by Italeri and they're pretty good. I think the main error is that the PIATs have a bipod whereas in reality it was a monopod underneath. I may change them one day. It's also a shame that there are loads of Thompson sub machine guns and the only Stens are on the wounded figures!

I also want to add a pistol to the PIAT firer as well as a number two carrying the spare rounds.

I'm also planning to add extra ammo pouches to the Bren number 2s so they are more correct. And I might try giving the officers more kit and a Sten sub machine gun.

I've got a Vickers machine gun section and a Signaller with radio still to base up then that's everything in the box painted (except the wounded.)

Oh and here are the completed German MG section