First Sabresquadron fight of the year, and I have finally got my British into a playable state.
The British
Company HQ (2 stands and 2 HMGs in 2 FV432) 4 Moral Points
2 x Infantry platoons (3 CharlieG and 3 GPMs plus command and light mortar stands in 2 FV342s and 2 FV432 with Peak Turrets) 4MP each.
2 x Chieftain 5 troops of 3 tanks. 4 MPs each.
2 Scorpions 2MP
Milan section in 3MV432s (5 Milan stands and a light mortar) 4MPs
Blowpipe stand in Land Rover 1MP
4 82mm mortars plus observer 1MP
28MP
Soviets, as ever consist of:
Command 1 x T-64B plus an ZSU-23-4 2MP
3 Tank platoons of 3 x T-64B 4 MPs each
Recon Platoon in BMP1Ps 4MP
Infantry Platoon with added Grenade Launchers in BMP1Ps 5MP
Regimental Battery of 8 122mm Artillery and Observer 1MP
Counter Battery on call!
26MPs
British infantry and Scorpions by Pendraken, Soviets, British APCs and Tanks by Timecast, along with the road, trees and some terrain markers. Matt by Loke, fences by Blotz and and Nick's new building from ebay! Big hills from my old friend Jarkko (here he plays with us a while back). Markers and terrain splats from Jim at Products for Wargames.
The table, British on this side... Jarkko's Goldener Gipfe towers over the field (counts as impassible for vehicles), all woods are open, broken ground slows armour and provides cover for infantry.
We chose a staggered meeting engagement as our scenario as forces were roughly balanced. I got to go first, but only was able to bring in two platoons, the armour went full speed down the track (extra movement too) and the first infantry took advantage of the cover of the undulating ground to move up in their transports.
Nick chose to bring on some of his armour down the road too. My second armoured platoon, supported by the Milan section secured the right hand flank.
The infantry of 1 platoon debussed (infantry debus, cavalry dismount) and move up. The tanks move up into what they hope is a safe position near two industrial units.
"Ere, Jonesy, what are these buildings?"
"No idea Dave, bit of an odd place to put them."
"Dave, you go for that building on the left, we will go for that garage looking thing on the right."
"Sure, rather keep our heads down than face those tanks!"
"Hell mate, get over that fence quick!"
Nick takes a long range shot and without a chance to return fire, reduces a Chieftain to a burning hulk. His other T-64s appear to be breaking off to the right, this looks like it could be a bad night for the Brits!
Those tanks walk into a carefully positioned fire lane for the Milan section, but the lead tank dodges the Milan and it ploughs into the dirt nearby. (8 or more on a d10 in Sabresquadron is a dodge vs ATGMs). A second missile bounces ineffectually off the front glacis plate, suppressing the crew, Nick rolled a '0' which equals a +2 on armour (well, we suspect it is actually a mattresses, some beer crates and a year's supply of bog roll hastily attached to the front as the Soviets had looted an Aldi on the way past). Unbelievable luck.
My second tank platoon decided that they needed to show the infantry how it was done, and takes a glancing shot between the industrial units and Jarkko's Gipfe, eliminating an approaching T-64.
"Blimey Dave, did you see that cook off?"
"Poor buggers, but good to know the tankers have cleaned their sights!"
Another Milan, another dodge! How does he do it! Help! However, this luck carried on as against an incoming 120mm shell, Nick rolled up again, but it was not enough to stop the force of capitalist firepower.
Second infantry platoon arrived, and immediately debusses in cover of the small rise. Two Scorpions break left, trying to secure the flank (ignore the third scorpion, I got too many out the box). My AA makes it up onto the hill with his Landy, and sets up, hoping he will not be needed.
In the distance, the infantry jumps the fence, but as they do, a Chieftain explodes as a T-64 spots it and opens up at close range.
"Christ Jonsey! Did you see that!"
"What?"
The shockwave shakes the camera!
Transport ducks behind the hill, and a glorious shot of the AA on the hill.
Second troop of Chieftains adjust their position to deal with the approaching threat, while the Milan's transports duck for cover behind a wood.
From the left, arriving Soviets spray the first platoon with small arms and 73mm from the BMPs of an arriving infantry platoon. The first casualty is the Platoon command, and two other stands are suppressed.
"Dave, the Lieutenant's down!"
"Jonsey, get in the buildings!"
The British morale was unaffected by this loss. No one liked him then...
On the left, the Soviet Recon platoon emerges from the wood, and starts to unleash accurate and damaging fire on the British second platoon. In the centre, the BMPs disgorge infantry, who advance to liberate the industrial area, and the poor oppressed workers, from their capitalist enslavement (those workers, who earn 6 times the East German salary, and can afford a new BMW every three years, plus enjoy 30 days paid holiday year, two weeks spent in southern Spain annexing beach recliners and the rest of the time skiing or enjoying spa breaks in Bavaria, yeah, really oppressed).
The boss finally decides to turn up, moving his HMG stands up to cover the approach to the wood on the track, thankfully, they were never needed.
The infantry moves up, the right hand stand slides the garage door open, and steps into the darkened bay. No windows face towards the approaching Russians, the squad breathes a sigh of relief.
The left hand stand look at the windows and decided to make the traditional 'knock and enter' house call, by putting a rifle butt through the window, sweeping it round to clear any shards, as the rest of the stand grab a Lance Corporal, wh is immediately given a leg up, and in he goes, whether he likes it or not!
"Jonsey!"
"Yeah!"
"I've worked out what this place is!"
"Yeah?"
"It's a bloody dairy."
"Well, Milk 'as got a lotta bottle!"
"Do us a flavour!"
"Shut up you two!"
A short return of fire from the Soviets as they advance towards the second set of building, supported by two platoons of armour (and the remaining tank for the initial platoon, as Nick had hastily withdrawn from the right after a 120mm round had stopped his lucky tank. However, a CharlieG, fire from the Scorpions and anything else the British could get their hands on, slams into a BMP and small arms hammers into the approaching infantry, neutralising a stand, slowing the Soviet advance. That marker is my mortars, which would play little part here, 'You want what where?'
In the centre, despite some superb sniping, 6 soviet tanks at close range vs 3, these odds do not look good, especially as the rest of the first infantry platoon is suppressed by tank and infantry fire poured into them.
The volume of fire dropped many of my stands to neutralised, the advance was somewhat stalled then!
Second platoon also takes heavy fire, my chances of advancing here were also curtailed!
But the British stands are made of firm stuff! They quickly rally off the hits upon them, and trudge forwards into the lead storm. The two rear FVs could not dodge the incoming missiles and peel apart like a pack of Opel Fruits (oh, alright, Starbursts)!
A second Chieftain is finished off by the Soviets, as shells wing their way through the outer edges of the dairy plant. A lucky shot from 2 troop cuases more loses in the Soviet tankers and sees one platoon drop to 'HALT' (the second failed morale status).
British tank gunners keep up their super accurate fire, eliminating the third Soviet behemoth in a platoon. (4-0, somehow), in fact, it was the same gunner who had now seen off all three tanks. That HALT status does not count for much now!
The Soviet Recee platoon sees the recon tanks breaking cover behind the hill crest, while the left hand Scorpion managed to dodge out the way, aSpangle, Spandrel tore through the aluminium of the light tank.
The firefight rages, those tanks are becoming a real problem for the infantry!
"Jonesy, here they come, keep firing!"
"WHAT? Look Serge, semi-skimmed!"
"Shut up Jonesy!"
The Soviet tanks advance past their destroyed comrades platoon, putting two T-64s at point blank range last remaining tank from the first troop takes a wild swing and bowls a googly, needing a 7 to hit.
Ouch!
"Shite, that was a bit close Dave!"
Platoon 2 keeps taking losses and drops to 'UNCERTAIN', almost instantly to be joined by 1st Platoon.
We did, however, suppress the Russian recee platoon in the woods as an extra stand makes it into the dairy.
"Ian, nice to see you lads!"
"Jonesy, how's it going in here?"
"Well, you might want to duck!"
Both stands in the dairy were neutralised as the Soviet tanks move up to rise and started hammering the building with tank shells along with small arms form the infantry platoon.
Nick reacts to my brave tank by swinging his remaining tank from his damaged platoon to take on my remaining Cheiftain from 1 troop, and misses.
My tank, however, did not! (8-0, somehow).
"Dave, they must be all around us!"
"WHAT!"
Soviet tanks and Recon platoon continue to maul 2nd platoon. The second stand ducks into the dairy.
"Ian, Ian... fancy a pint!"
"After this, hell, I'm definitely up for a beer."
"Full fat or semi-skimmed!"
"SHUT UP DAVE!"
"
Small arms fire neutralises the Soviet first platoon, stalling their advance again.
The Soviet Recon platoon takes hits, four shots, four suppressions, yes please!
It's all getting a bit tight in the middle, all sections starting to feel the effect of a long, drawn-out firefight.
"How much ammo we got boys?"
"Enough..."
Recee platoon starts taking losses (mostly from the Scorpion picking in BMPs, 76mm vs thin armour, yes please), the Recee decides that it will keep following orders and halt on the wood edge!
One Soviet infantry stand dies, which forces Nick to take a morale test, that perfectly fine unit suddenly fails four (yes FOUR) morale checks, taking it straight from fine to "I appear to have left the oven on, in Irkutsk!" (possibly via a meeting with the NKVD and a 9mm parabellum). (12-0)
That's quite a hole in the Soviet centre...
"Dave, it's gone quiet!"
"No need to shout Jonesy!"
Nick measures his revenge! Neutralising my two stands in the dairy.
He did eventually pick up the red die!
Two Spandrels zoom from the recee platoon towards the FV432s that have been supporting the fire on the infantry and causing issues for the Soviets with their machine guns.
Oh look, a pair of dodges! My luck was definitely coming up good after the initial squeltchiness!
Soviet artillery finally arrives (it had been targetted in on round 1, but I guess Division was a bit busy elsewhere). It did precisely - NOTHING!
It did force 2nd Platoon to 'HALT', and in it's beaten up state it was lucky to get away with that to be honest. Look, Nick has picked up the red dice.
The Scorpion rides the tide of luck again, scoring another hit.
My last tank in first troop swung into the industrial area, greedily I suppose, to try to shift the Soviet armour on the hill that was battering my first infantry platoon, including taking out a stand in the dairy. Unfortunately, this did not work out and the crippled tanks were finally eliminated. (12-4).
My other tank troop also moved up, trying to find targets.
"Ian, Ian, speak to us mate!"
"Just get his out of here!"
2nd Platoon was in sever danger of evaporating, but their dice rolls kept them in the game, somehow!
The Scorpion pops up over the hill crest and rides his luck again, smashing another BMP, but that would be the end of his luck as a 125mm shell from the Soviet MBTs smashed through the paper thin aluminium. (12-6)
But it was too little too late for the brave Soviets, a tank duel erupted removing another T-64. Then the Recee platoon under sustained fire from the FV432s, broke and retired. This collapsed the Soviet forces.
Another fabulous game,we both really loved it and it was edge of the seat stuff all the way through. I was absolutely exhausted by the end. Nick had me on the ropes up until the half-way point, but my luck swung massively back my way. Taking out two tank platoons and the infantry shattering was the crux of the game, as were all my lucky morale rolls. Thanks Nick for another top game, no way will I be that lucky again.
"Dave?"
"Jonsey..."
"Milk shake?"
The British
Company HQ (2 stands and 2 HMGs in 2 FV432) 4 Moral Points
2 x Infantry platoons (3 CharlieG and 3 GPMs plus command and light mortar stands in 2 FV342s and 2 FV432 with Peak Turrets) 4MP each.
2 x Chieftain 5 troops of 3 tanks. 4 MPs each.
2 Scorpions 2MP
Milan section in 3MV432s (5 Milan stands and a light mortar) 4MPs
Blowpipe stand in Land Rover 1MP
4 82mm mortars plus observer 1MP
28MP
Soviets, as ever consist of:
Command 1 x T-64B plus an ZSU-23-4 2MP
3 Tank platoons of 3 x T-64B 4 MPs each
Recon Platoon in BMP1Ps 4MP
Infantry Platoon with added Grenade Launchers in BMP1Ps 5MP
Regimental Battery of 8 122mm Artillery and Observer 1MP
Counter Battery on call!
26MPs
British infantry and Scorpions by Pendraken, Soviets, British APCs and Tanks by Timecast, along with the road, trees and some terrain markers. Matt by Loke, fences by Blotz and and Nick's new building from ebay! Big hills from my old friend Jarkko (here he plays with us a while back). Markers and terrain splats from Jim at Products for Wargames.
The table, British on this side... Jarkko's Goldener Gipfe towers over the field (counts as impassible for vehicles), all woods are open, broken ground slows armour and provides cover for infantry.
We chose a staggered meeting engagement as our scenario as forces were roughly balanced. I got to go first, but only was able to bring in two platoons, the armour went full speed down the track (extra movement too) and the first infantry took advantage of the cover of the undulating ground to move up in their transports.
Nick chose to bring on some of his armour down the road too. My second armoured platoon, supported by the Milan section secured the right hand flank.
The infantry of 1 platoon debussed (infantry debus, cavalry dismount) and move up. The tanks move up into what they hope is a safe position near two industrial units.
"Ere, Jonesy, what are these buildings?"
"No idea Dave, bit of an odd place to put them."
"Dave, you go for that building on the left, we will go for that garage looking thing on the right."
"Sure, rather keep our heads down than face those tanks!"
"Hell mate, get over that fence quick!"
Nick takes a long range shot and without a chance to return fire, reduces a Chieftain to a burning hulk. His other T-64s appear to be breaking off to the right, this looks like it could be a bad night for the Brits!
Those tanks walk into a carefully positioned fire lane for the Milan section, but the lead tank dodges the Milan and it ploughs into the dirt nearby. (8 or more on a d10 in Sabresquadron is a dodge vs ATGMs). A second missile bounces ineffectually off the front glacis plate, suppressing the crew, Nick rolled a '0' which equals a +2 on armour (well, we suspect it is actually a mattresses, some beer crates and a year's supply of bog roll hastily attached to the front as the Soviets had looted an Aldi on the way past). Unbelievable luck.
My second tank platoon decided that they needed to show the infantry how it was done, and takes a glancing shot between the industrial units and Jarkko's Gipfe, eliminating an approaching T-64.
"Blimey Dave, did you see that cook off?"
"Poor buggers, but good to know the tankers have cleaned their sights!"
Another Milan, another dodge! How does he do it! Help! However, this luck carried on as against an incoming 120mm shell, Nick rolled up again, but it was not enough to stop the force of capitalist firepower.
Second infantry platoon arrived, and immediately debusses in cover of the small rise. Two Scorpions break left, trying to secure the flank (ignore the third scorpion, I got too many out the box). My AA makes it up onto the hill with his Landy, and sets up, hoping he will not be needed.
In the distance, the infantry jumps the fence, but as they do, a Chieftain explodes as a T-64 spots it and opens up at close range.
"Christ Jonsey! Did you see that!"
"What?"
The shockwave shakes the camera!
Transport ducks behind the hill, and a glorious shot of the AA on the hill.
Second troop of Chieftains adjust their position to deal with the approaching threat, while the Milan's transports duck for cover behind a wood.
From the left, arriving Soviets spray the first platoon with small arms and 73mm from the BMPs of an arriving infantry platoon. The first casualty is the Platoon command, and two other stands are suppressed.
"Dave, the Lieutenant's down!"
"Jonsey, get in the buildings!"
The British morale was unaffected by this loss. No one liked him then...
On the left, the Soviet Recon platoon emerges from the wood, and starts to unleash accurate and damaging fire on the British second platoon. In the centre, the BMPs disgorge infantry, who advance to liberate the industrial area, and the poor oppressed workers, from their capitalist enslavement (those workers, who earn 6 times the East German salary, and can afford a new BMW every three years, plus enjoy 30 days paid holiday year, two weeks spent in southern Spain annexing beach recliners and the rest of the time skiing or enjoying spa breaks in Bavaria, yeah, really oppressed).
The boss finally decides to turn up, moving his HMG stands up to cover the approach to the wood on the track, thankfully, they were never needed.
The infantry moves up, the right hand stand slides the garage door open, and steps into the darkened bay. No windows face towards the approaching Russians, the squad breathes a sigh of relief.
The left hand stand look at the windows and decided to make the traditional 'knock and enter' house call, by putting a rifle butt through the window, sweeping it round to clear any shards, as the rest of the stand grab a Lance Corporal, wh is immediately given a leg up, and in he goes, whether he likes it or not!
"Jonsey!"
"Yeah!"
"I've worked out what this place is!"
"Yeah?"
"It's a bloody dairy."
"Well, Milk 'as got a lotta bottle!"
"Do us a flavour!"
"Shut up you two!"
A short return of fire from the Soviets as they advance towards the second set of building, supported by two platoons of armour (and the remaining tank for the initial platoon, as Nick had hastily withdrawn from the right after a 120mm round had stopped his lucky tank. However, a CharlieG, fire from the Scorpions and anything else the British could get their hands on, slams into a BMP and small arms hammers into the approaching infantry, neutralising a stand, slowing the Soviet advance. That marker is my mortars, which would play little part here, 'You want what where?'
In the centre, despite some superb sniping, 6 soviet tanks at close range vs 3, these odds do not look good, especially as the rest of the first infantry platoon is suppressed by tank and infantry fire poured into them.
The volume of fire dropped many of my stands to neutralised, the advance was somewhat stalled then!
Second platoon also takes heavy fire, my chances of advancing here were also curtailed!
But the British stands are made of firm stuff! They quickly rally off the hits upon them, and trudge forwards into the lead storm. The two rear FVs could not dodge the incoming missiles and peel apart like a pack of Opel Fruits (oh, alright, Starbursts)!
A second Chieftain is finished off by the Soviets, as shells wing their way through the outer edges of the dairy plant. A lucky shot from 2 troop cuases more loses in the Soviet tankers and sees one platoon drop to 'HALT' (the second failed morale status).
British tank gunners keep up their super accurate fire, eliminating the third Soviet behemoth in a platoon. (4-0, somehow), in fact, it was the same gunner who had now seen off all three tanks. That HALT status does not count for much now!
The Soviet Recee platoon sees the recon tanks breaking cover behind the hill crest, while the left hand Scorpion managed to dodge out the way, a
The firefight rages, those tanks are becoming a real problem for the infantry!
"Jonesy, here they come, keep firing!"
"WHAT? Look Serge, semi-skimmed!"
"Shut up Jonesy!"
The Soviet tanks advance past their destroyed comrades platoon, putting two T-64s at point blank range last remaining tank from the first troop takes a wild swing and bowls a googly, needing a 7 to hit.
Ouch!
"Shite, that was a bit close Dave!"
Platoon 2 keeps taking losses and drops to 'UNCERTAIN', almost instantly to be joined by 1st Platoon.
We did, however, suppress the Russian recee platoon in the woods as an extra stand makes it into the dairy.
"Ian, nice to see you lads!"
"Jonesy, how's it going in here?"
"Well, you might want to duck!"
Both stands in the dairy were neutralised as the Soviet tanks move up to rise and started hammering the building with tank shells along with small arms form the infantry platoon.
Nick reacts to my brave tank by swinging his remaining tank from his damaged platoon to take on my remaining Cheiftain from 1 troop, and misses.
My tank, however, did not! (8-0, somehow).
"Dave, they must be all around us!"
"WHAT!"
Soviet tanks and Recon platoon continue to maul 2nd platoon. The second stand ducks into the dairy.
"Ian, Ian... fancy a pint!"
"After this, hell, I'm definitely up for a beer."
"Full fat or semi-skimmed!"
"SHUT UP DAVE!"
"
Small arms fire neutralises the Soviet first platoon, stalling their advance again.
The Soviet Recon platoon takes hits, four shots, four suppressions, yes please!
It's all getting a bit tight in the middle, all sections starting to feel the effect of a long, drawn-out firefight.
"How much ammo we got boys?"
"Enough..."
Recee platoon starts taking losses (mostly from the Scorpion picking in BMPs, 76mm vs thin armour, yes please), the Recee decides that it will keep following orders and halt on the wood edge!
One Soviet infantry stand dies, which forces Nick to take a morale test, that perfectly fine unit suddenly fails four (yes FOUR) morale checks, taking it straight from fine to "I appear to have left the oven on, in Irkutsk!" (possibly via a meeting with the NKVD and a 9mm parabellum). (12-0)
That's quite a hole in the Soviet centre...
"Dave, it's gone quiet!"
"No need to shout Jonesy!"
Nick measures his revenge! Neutralising my two stands in the dairy.
He did eventually pick up the red die!
Two Spandrels zoom from the recee platoon towards the FV432s that have been supporting the fire on the infantry and causing issues for the Soviets with their machine guns.
Oh look, a pair of dodges! My luck was definitely coming up good after the initial squeltchiness!
Soviet artillery finally arrives (it had been targetted in on round 1, but I guess Division was a bit busy elsewhere). It did precisely - NOTHING!
It did force 2nd Platoon to 'HALT', and in it's beaten up state it was lucky to get away with that to be honest. Look, Nick has picked up the red dice.
The Scorpion rides the tide of luck again, scoring another hit.
My last tank in first troop swung into the industrial area, greedily I suppose, to try to shift the Soviet armour on the hill that was battering my first infantry platoon, including taking out a stand in the dairy. Unfortunately, this did not work out and the crippled tanks were finally eliminated. (12-4).
My other tank troop also moved up, trying to find targets.
"Ian, Ian, speak to us mate!"
"Just get his out of here!"
2nd Platoon was in sever danger of evaporating, but their dice rolls kept them in the game, somehow!
The Scorpion pops up over the hill crest and rides his luck again, smashing another BMP, but that would be the end of his luck as a 125mm shell from the Soviet MBTs smashed through the paper thin aluminium. (12-6)
But it was too little too late for the brave Soviets, a tank duel erupted removing another T-64. Then the Recee platoon under sustained fire from the FV432s, broke and retired. This collapsed the Soviet forces.
Another fabulous game,we both really loved it and it was edge of the seat stuff all the way through. I was absolutely exhausted by the end. Nick had me on the ropes up until the half-way point, but my luck swung massively back my way. Taking out two tank platoons and the infantry shattering was the crux of the game, as were all my lucky morale rolls. Thanks Nick for another top game, no way will I be that lucky again.
"Dave?"
"Jonsey..."
"Milk shake?"
Comments
Post a Comment