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All my rule sets are freely downloadable from our club website's Downloads page





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Saturday 27 May 2023

Can Washington do it again?

 Today we had 4 of us playing at the club, Lawrence, Phil, Phillip and myself, and we did another American Revolution game, to see if General Washington could repeat the success of the last game.

In a repeat of the last game, I got Initiative, but not enough to be able to deploy in the flank sectors of the table.

Phillip (left) and Lawrence (well, his beard at least!)

My right had some Riflemen, New Jersey Continentals backed up with Militia.
In my centre I had my Maryland Continentals, again backed up with Militia.
My left, under Phillip, had two lines of Virginia Continentals at their core.
The British left was Light Dragoons, Light Infantry and Grenadiers, the best in the army.
Their centre was 2 lines of regular regiments.
Lawrence on their right had the Hessians.
My right only got the Riflemen moving at first.
Phillip got both his light infantry units and his Artillery moving. 
The British left deployed out to the table edge.
The Hessians put their Feldjägers into the woods.
The Hessian Artillery went forward unsupported, were they going to beat the Americans on their own?
I surprised Phil, by having some Light Dragoons (I had hidden behind the hill) advance toward his deploying light troops, 
I decided to try a solid line advance on the British.
Phillip was held back and sent his Light Infantry to deal with the Feldjägers.
Phil had his Light troops advance on my Riflemen, while the rest moved to deal with my Continental horse.
My Light Dragoons fell back, their presence would hamper the British Light Dragoons' freedom of action, I hoped!
The Jägers were trying to occupy the wood edges.
A brisk charge by the whoopin' and Hollerin' Americans Routed one unit, but the other threatened their flank!
My Heavy guns were not having much effect today...
The British guns were even upsetting my Riflemen, a much harder target.
Keeping his Dragoons back, Phil was able to start enveloping my flank.
The Hessian gun had retreated from the advancing American Riflemen, and now was harrying my advancing line.
Phil charged his elite Light Infantry on my Riflemen, who foolishly decided to stand and shoot.
The rifle fire was ineffective and the British cut them to pieces.
They followed up into my New Jersey Continentals, surely they would hold?
Nope! some great rolls again from Phil got him the win, even though he lost most of his troops.
Two regiments broke and disrupted the Militia behind.
This disaster so close to the British line would have opened my men to a counter attack, and heavy losses. My Americans are pre Von Steuben reforms and were unlikely to be able to maneuver to plug the big hole in my line, so reluctantly I signalled the retreat.

Ah well, never mind!!!!

Saturday 20 May 2023

Back in 1967

 Today at the club, I had no-one to play! Phil was away, and Lawrence was doing a game of 'Baroque' which looked like a display game at a show, not much happening!!!


Either way, there has been a reason for my penchant for doing solo rules...and as L isn't a great fan of it, I did a solo 'What a Tanker' - Arab-Israeli variant game.

I used 3 AMX-13s, I commanded one and let the solo rules run the others.

The Egyptian IS-3M was also run by the system!
I set up a simple terrain....
...more would be too heavy for me to carry to the club!
I diced up a 'Fat Man' side to side engagement.
The IS-3 got the first Acquisition-Aim-Shoot combination...
It missed the centre AMX, but only just!
The left hand AMX was now being run by a young lad, Aloysius, the son of another player at the club. I gave him some guidance as it was his first game!
My AMX on our right now raced forward trying to outflank 'The Beast'.
The said 'Beast' got another shot off...
...A hit! - But the AMX was lucky, most hits from a D-25T 122 mm main gun would smash an AMX-13, but this shot only... 
damaged its drive train...Not too bad!
The wounded AMX still got a shot back...
...but missed!
'Al' moved his AMX onto the IS's flank. 
The AMX with damage had a couple of turns where it couldn't do anything!
Fortunately, the Egyptian was having the same problem! shots were pinging off its armour but it didn't seem to bother it!
I had got onto its right flank and was firing as fast as I could.
'Al' got forward to a good firing position.
The IS got 'bounced' by a shot from my gun, and it turned to engage me!
I was sooo lucky, I got 2 saves with my 3 Armour dice and the IS only got 2 5,6s out of 9 dice!!!, I bounced back 5"!
Aloysius (which means 'Famous Warrior' in old German) now got the dreaded double 1 when shooting, which shut his tank down for a turn.
The damaged AMX was shooting again.
This covered me as a second shot had caused 2 temporary damage on my tank, I was lucky again!, but I used my 'Fast' ability to get behind a dune.
The IS lumbered forward to cover, as if it needed any!!!
'Al' fired again...
...then moved BEHIND the IS with some great move rolls.
My tank rested, as I tried to get my Control dice back.
I got 2 6's, and was back in full working order!
The IS did a 180 turn to engage 'Al'...but didn't get a shot.
Aloysius used a move to get past the IS, and broke its Acquisition again.
A shot from the AMX made the IS back up.
The damaged AMX also came forward.
I poked my head over the dune to see if it was safe!
Both other AMX's closed to get round the rear of the 'Beast', it seemed to be the only way we would damage it!
I had arrived, but my shot again made the IS back into Aloysius' AMX, both taking temp. damage.
My next shot actually damaged its optics!
The IS now fired at the damaged AMX...
..It shot 3 times but failed to hit!
We were firing into it too though, and got several hits...
...The IS was taking little bites from our guns, until in one turn we got several hits which made the crew bale out! Aloysius had the glory of getting the final damaging hit!

Sometimes, solo gaming can almost be as much fun as playing with friends!!!