World in Flames 24

In this week's session we completed three Axis impulses and two Allied ones.  The last Axis impulse was thankfully in rain, otherwise...

This is after the first Axis impulse.

The Soviets have been able to reform another line, 

but it is mighty thin.

 There was a bit of excitement in the East

when the Communist Chinese attacked.

It was a modest victory, 

but dwarfed by the Japanese expansion against the Nationalists.

The rain put an end to further aggression.

The Soviet line is truly broken and the Axis are now on the edge of the map. 

Beyond lays the sparsely defended Urals.

The leftmost circled hex side is where the Germans will most likely break out onto this map. 

Even with the bad weather, the Axis have been able to mostly maintain supply due to an abundance of HQs and an extensive captured Russian rail network (that is instantly repaired and converted).

The ability to align Yugoslavia gives the Axis an additional HQ that they can freely use in the USSR or anywhere.  Yes it has limits in supplying other minors, but it can keep the Axis moving and in this game was instrumental in opening up the north.  Without the Commonwealth holding Murmansk that area would have fallen very quickly to Finland.  Finland enters the war even without prior Soviet aggression and brings quality units and another HQ.

The situation with China is just a nightmare as the Japanese are free to concentrate overwhelming force.  China would have collapsed much earlier if it hadn't been for a series of poor die rolls by the Japanese.  All the infrastructure favours Japan, although China does have some amazing defensive terrain, but very weak units (Nationalists particularly) and any support by the Allies, as happened historically, is easily stopped.  I suppose the counter must be what happens in their ability to wage war on the US.

Nikephorian Byzantine versus 100 Years War English

On Wednesday Dave tried another army against my Byzantines.  I went for the max cavalry option.

 I had the benefit of deploying second.

My plan is rather obvious.

 We both cautiously advanced.

 Very cautious.

 The missile fire was timid,

or more accurately piss poor.

 In go the Varangians!

The slingers after a surprising nil all draw, 

against the English dismounted men at arms,
won't last long.

 The Varaganian's initial success was short lived.

However the Byzantines were doing well against the English billmen.

 The Varangians are dying to a man.

At least it will save on treasury bills.

 The English knights are coming up to cover their left flank.

Their men at arms are chasing the Byzantine light cavalry.

 The English knights defeat the Byzantine cavalry.

 But the Byzantine cavalry comes good.

The English are now without a general.

 The battle continues...
Yes, those previously pursuing dismounted men at arms, killers of slingers,
have turned their backs to the Byzantine light horse.

Victory!

It was a tough fight with no consistency in the dice.  But the big question is what will Dave field next?

Crews for my US M3 halftracks

Another little project complete.  A few dudes brinks the vehicles to life.

Stalingrad'42 - Turns 4 to 7

Richard and I completed another four turns today.  There are many more to go  (a goodly portion of the track can be seen in one or two of the images).

 The Axis has broken through towards Rostov.

To the north the Soviets have retreated behind the Don river line

The Soviets are vacating the centre.

The big picture end of Turn 6.

Note the dice showing one pip in the lower right hand corner.

It denotes a failed Axis attack, just for the purpose of this blog post.

For the record it was a 3:1 and a one was the only roll that produced a no retreat outcome.

 But next turn the Axis made three attacks on the northern Don line 

and broke through in two places.

Both with the aid of the Luftwaffe.

The thrust towards Rostov stopped at the gates, 

however the Axis have been busy mopping up.

I have started to deploy some reinforcements before Stalingrad, although it seems safe for now with the Axis focus in the north.  They also need to cross the Don and I've started to build up the southern defensive line

Stalingrad - Crossfire Style

Played this scenario through twice at the club's games day today.  I umpired the first and went Germans the second.  The Germans (controlled by Russell) won the first, but did less well second time around.  Stephen played Russians twice.

 This game is full of nostalgia.

Look out!  

They're behind you!

World in Flames 23

With the start of September/October the Allies needed to win the initiative, failing that we needed bad weather.  Well, we won the first roll, but then the Axis demanded a reroll and they won that.  Then they rolled clear weather for all zones.

 Things weren't all bleak for the USSR as they did get significant reinforcements.

This was on top of a number of returning militia which have already been placed.

Just one impulse and one major attack by the Germans.

The USSR is trying to retreat and leaving small units behind as roadblocks.

The Axis are able to make massive attacks,

but only one at a time, so length of turn is critical to their success.

Japan, while now busy in the Pacific (and capturing Singapore, but with substantial losses),

can still launch a major attack on the Chinese front which is now crumbling.

The last Chinese National factory and its resource were lost so just one Build Point from here on.

Just one impulse completed this session, but weather was rolled for the next impulse.  Clear everywhere again...

Nikephorian Byzantine versus New Kingdom Egyptian

Dave wanted to try out his Egyptian against my Byzantines in a game of Basic Impetus 2.0.

For this post I took the photos of the game from my opponent's perspective.

The Egyptians were the defenders and this gave me a slight advantage in deployment,

Turn one sees both sides advance, 

but unable to score any missile hits.

Turn two I was busy firing everything I had at the enemy, 

but failing to score any significant hits.

Turn three and the three Egyptian chariots charged.

Two were easily beaten off.

but one went on to cause carnage in my army.

Turn four and it was time for the infantry to fight.

My cavalry is maneuvering to get back into the action.

Turn five and my infantry is much reduced.

If only I could finish off those chariots!

Turn six ended the game in a draw, 

with both armies exhausted.

Yet another excellent game with Dave and Impetus.