Tanks, but no tanks.

Today, we tried a couple of different vehicles with my Arab-Israeli tanker variant of the excellent 'What a Tanker' rules.
Today, we also decided to try being the Syrians rather than the Israelis, to see if the solo system AI could run AI tanks as well as the WW2!

The terrain for today. 

The Israelis had an M51... 

...An AMX-13... 

...and another AMX-13! 

Funny looking vehicle! 

Phil had an SU-100. 

I tried a BMP-1 - with its Sagger (AT3 Malyutska) ATGM. 

 On the other flank, Lawrence had another SU. 

As per normal with Syrian vehicles, as per Soviet policy they stayed 'Buttoned up' all game! 

My BMP got a poor set of Command Dice, and had to retreat into deep cover to avoid being picked off!

One of the AMX-13's advanced quickly to try and engage us. 

Lawrence managed to acquire it, and got a shot off... 

...the light armour of the AMX was no match for the big 100mm  gun of the SU.

 The M51 moved to engage Lawrence.

Phil moved off his hill... 

 ...and began moving towards the other AMX.

He fired, getting a very accurately aimed shot... 

...the shot managed to glance off the French tank! 

Panicked the crew a bit though! 

The AMX rapidly recovered and returned to cover before shooting (a miss!). 

 My BMP advanced to observe the M51, and fired a Sagger missile.

Phil got off another shot at the remaining AMX. 

 ..but only managed to hit the terrain.

The AMX moved close to the rocky outcrop. 

 ...but missed the SU.

 The M51, oblivious to the flight of the AT3, continued firing at Lawrence's SU.

 Lawrence tried to get closer to the Israeli.

 This allowed him to acquire the M51 and engage it.

 My Sagger wobbled its way towards the M51...

...but missed!

 Phil tried a multiple shoot at the AMX, he had a near perfect command die roll!

As he shot, however, he got the dreaded double 1! 

 ..and zeroed his SU!

The M51 was still ignoring my BMP. 

 He fired his 105mm gun...

...and destroyed Lawrence's SU-100. 

All the brave crew were killed 

 On the other flank, the AMX took advantage of Phil's stalled SU. 

3 hits! With a 7 dice defence, Phil must surely survive? 

Nope! Not a single save!!!!

 My BMP made a hasty retreat! - First game to the Israelis and the AI!

2nd game.

 The Israelis had 2 M51's this time.

 I had an SU-100.

 Phil had an SU-100.

 ...and Lawrence had an SU-100!

Lawrence advanced. 

 ...as did one of the Israelis.

It fired. 

My SU survived! 

I moved off my hill, but not very fast! 

Lawrence's SU was unable to move, seemingly mesmerised. 

 The Israeli facing me advanced closer.

 I actually saw the M51, but couldn't Aim! 

 Lawrence got a spot on the SU in the centre, but threw the second double one of the day! 

 He was 'Zeroed!'

 He soon had his SU moving again and tried to go round the flank... 

 ...he didnt get very far though and ended with his flank to the enemy.

 Not a good idea!

 To hit...(minus the misses)

 ...Lawrence's Armour roll (- 1 dice, a 1)

 Lawrence's SU-100 died again!!! 

 I was being pinned by the M51 opposite me.

My crew backed up in alarm... 

...before getting their mojo back and advancing to cover. 

My shot seriously upset the M51's crew.

Phil was facing the other M51. 

...and advanced to cover behind a wall... 

 ...before engaging it. 

 His shot got a near miss on the M51...

 ...which only lost 1 command die temporarily 

At this point, the Isherman facing me got another shot... 

 I was destroyed!

 Phil was forced to turn and make his escape...

 ...another victory for the Israelis!

Don't worry, the third game is not featured here, beyond a few pics!

A Sho't meteor...Phil sooo wanted to use one!

 I used an M51.

Lawrence was using a Jordanian M48 from his collection. 

Phil's Sho't got a shot.

 Lawrence lost his THIRD tank!

The other one, used by James, a visitor to our club (He is at University). 

Rather sadly, and despite some clever manoeuvering, he also fell victim to the Sho't's 105mm gun!

Definitely a good day for the Israelis!!! 

Frederick back in the saddle!

Today, we returned to the Seven Years War after a couple of weeks, I left my Russians at home licking their wounds from their last defeat, and dug my Prussians out again.

Typically, I won the initiative and a greater deployment area (- my Russians always seemed to be defending!!!!), so my Austrian opponent Lawrence had the choice of side to defend in. With reverse slopes and woodland on his flanks, he could hide a good part of his troops...

Our deployments, Prussians to the right.

 I had Frederick, and on my left, a Prussian cavalry brigade of Hussars and Kuirassiers, supported heavily with light and medium guns.

 Next to them I had two brigades of musketeers.

Phil, on my right had a musketeer brigade, and a grenadier brigade, supported by a heavy gun. 

 On his right, he had two Kuirassier regiments, two dragoon regiments and a battalion of Frei Korps.

 The Austrians opposite only displayed 4 brigades of infantry, and four medium guns.

Von Seydlitz, my cavalry commander, sent forward his light gun covered by the hussars, who scouted ahead for the Austrian flank. 

My infantry failed to move as a group, one of my brigadiers must have been having a nap! 

Only my big battery of medium guns advanced, cautiously. 

 I had Frederick help the incompetent brigadier in Phil's half of the army, so he could advance on the Austrian centre.

 His cavalry probed forward.

 Even his Frei Korps left the relative safety of the hill! - the Austrians must have been shaking in their boots!

 My Hussars triggered a massed Austrian cavalry advance from their hidden deployment area.

 Most of the Austrian infantry advanced on my infantry.

 The Reichs infantry advanced on Phil's brigades.

The Reichs Kavalrie sent a Kuirassier regiment forward to chase my Hussars away. My heavy cavalry were heavily outnumbered by theirs, would I be able to hold them? 

Three of the four Austrian regiments advanced on my infantry, the fourth failed to move. 

By this time, the Reichs infantry were almost in musket range of Phil's line. 

The Bretlach Kuirassiers emerged from the wood, and advanced on Phil's Kuirassiers and Frei Korps, who fell back.

More Austrian horse waited behind them. 

 My brigades engaged the Austrian infantry, and rapidly gained the upper hand.

 The Reichs infantry were doing the same to Phil's Grenadiers, who brushed off the casualties!

 Phil's Kuirassiers smashed into Regiment Bretlach... 

...who routed them in short order! 

Bretlach pursued into Kuirassier regiment 7...

...but were routed in turn by a brisk countercharge!

On my wing, my Kuirassiers were allowing their supporting artillery to soften up the advancing Reichs Kuirassiers.

They only managed to cause a little disorder though. 

 The Reichs Kuirassiers charged and my Kuirassiers flinched, being caught at the halt and routed! - Ignominy!

My second line drove them away under Seydlitz's direction...the survivors could not outrun my men, and surrendered.

My infantry were continuing to win in their fire fight with the Austrians. 

Indeed, the Austrian line was looking fragile now. 

Soon, a regiment broke off, falling back through their second line. 

The other was still resisting the heavy Prussian fire, bravely. 

The Austrian second line advanced on my victorious infantry, who were still recovering from their long musket exchange. 

Phil's grenadiers were still failing to break through! 

 ...but the rest of the Austrian front line had collapsed.

 Regiment Trautmannsdorf - apparently seeing the way things were going, failed to charge the pursuing Prussian Kuirassiers.

 With his line in disorder, Lawrence now ceded the battle and withdrew.

Poor Lawrence, he had several incompetent brigadiers and some awful combat dice, and this sealed the Austrian's fate. I definitely felt it wasn't my stellar generalship which won the day, but rather the stout Prussian infantry!