A pair of M3s and More

Along with the two M10s, I was also short two M3s for the Stolberg Corridor campaign game.  I took my time, but they are now ready for the next session (coming soon).

While tempting to go for uniformity,

I went for variety.

Late War

Mid War

But wait, there's more...

The Zvedza scout car was damaged in the previous game, 

or rather it proved too delicate 

for the rough and tumble of the table top: 

its wheels fell off.  

So, it was best to base it.

These next lot of models are Peter Pig and were part of a collection acquired from Dave.  I've just done a little work on the basing and an odd bit of painting here and there.

Just painted the canvas tilts.

And the little straps.

Brrrm!

Interesting to contrast this M3 with the Battlefront one.

Personally, I have a soft spot for the Airfix halftrack.

I did repaint this Sherman and applied decals/transfers.

As with the two M3s,

applying the transfers

is the hardest part.

This guy certainly feels the part, being solid metal.

Again, brings back memories of the Airfix Sherman.

Pyrrhic Campaign - Turn One

This is the first turn of the Little Wars created Pyrrhic Campaign 

(see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zzYJY4Jg9s) 

Instead of using their battle rules, we went with Basic Impetus, but we stuck close to their campaign rules.

Simon and I started with coffee in what was a wonderful bit of serendipity: themed cups. 

I was Rome and Simon Pyrrhus.

The beautiful map box is all Simon's work.

The Carthaginian army advanced to Syracuse and unsuccessfully but repeatedly tried to get them to join the Roman coalition.

Pyrrhus had advanced to Venusia, but had a hard time talking to the Samites.  His other army he had sent to Paistos.  In an impressive march a Roman army arrived under their first consol.  The Greeks called up some allies and prepared for battle.

The tactical situation saw the Greeks out scouted and on the defensive.

The armies were straight from the Basic Impetus lists,

although the Romans had one extra skirmish unit

as their army outnumbered the Greeks slightly.

The Roman legions stay put, but their skirmishers swarm forward on the wings.

Battle commences on the Roman right.

The Greeks don't seem to care that their flanks have been enveloped.

The elephants receive a rude shock from the Roman pila.

A charge by the Gauls has been repulsed, but now the pike are about to charge.

On both flanks the combats seem stuck.

The pikes go right through the Roman centre.

Ouch!

But the Greek cavalry has been routed and enough other damage done to break the Greek's morale.

It was a near run thing!

End of the Turn, both sides have added a city to their alliance,

and the Romans get to celebrate a victory.

Barbarossa Turn 45 and 46

In our last session we were able to fit in two turns covering 18 to 21 September 1941.  There was bad weather that started in the centre and moved to the south.

While the good weather lasted AGS continued with its assaults on Kiev and Odessa as well as launching a massive attack towards Poltava on the way the Kharkov.

The attack on Kiev did little, but it must have shaken the Soviet defenders.

The attack around Odessa was successful, but there is still lots to do.

This was the big attack!

Ten of them.

The north at the end of each day.

The centre at the end of the 19th when the rain stopped.

Poltava and the Soviets have pulled back after the German attack.

There are two different shades of Strongpoint counters, 

but they are the same, just different editions.

Kiev.  

Note there are two armoured divisions being sent north,

but they are out of fuel.

The advance on the Crimea has come to a halt.

The engineers need to be in supply before then can repair the bridges.

That is about a week or two away on current progress.

With clear weather AGC strikes north against advancing Soviets.

AGS stuck in the mud before Poltava.

Another attack on Kiev achieves nothing, but wait, is that a white flag?

Another attack.  This one cleared the hex.

At the end of 21 September, AGC has broken through to the north.

This could lead to the encirclement of Rzhev.

There are not enough Soviets to plug holes and exploit opportunities.

Their only hope is that the same applies to the invaders.

AGS East with Kharkov in its sights.

AGS West.

Kiev has surrendered,

but Odessa remains.

Huns versus Middle Imperial Romans

This was the first game of the club's new Basic Impetus League for 2024.  My Huns faced Brad's Romans.

It was a long game as the Huns flitted about, shooting away and gradually wearing down the Romans.

No surprise, the Romans were out scouted.

Still, they found a position between two patches of difficult terrain.

The Huns, setting up last, focus on the Roman right,

where their artillery and archers are not.

The Romans shuffle right becoming disordered.

The Roman light cavalry have fled,

Huns are sneaking round the flank,

but the Romans are boldly advancing their artillery.

Roman cavalry has about-faced, while their righthand legion is taking casualties.

Hun skirmishers are screening the Roman artillery.

A charge by one unit of Hun cavalry against the weakened legion ends in a shocking repulse.

A second charge ends with the Huns perilously exposed.

The Hun army decides to redeploy as only a light cavalry army can do. 

The Roman cavalry stands firm protecting the flank.

The exposed Hun cavalry fights for its life.

The Roman artillery blows the Hunnic skirmishers away.

Well, the dice were kind.  

The imperilled Hun cavalry prevails! 

But that Roman cavalry is still blocking the way.

However, the Roman left flank is now open.

The Romans try to reposition as they are at risk of being surrounded.

The Roman cavalry have finally been broken.

The Huns start looking for weak spots.

The Roman commander's legion has broken, and another legion is now surrounded.

It refuses to die quickly.

But it does.

Victory to the Huns.