Huns versus Sui Dynasty Chinese

Not a revenge match for when my Seleucids lost to Karl's Chinese back in early March, but a serious game in my club's Basic Impetus League competition.

Chinese out scouted.

The Chinese bravely advance as the Huns mass on their right.

Massed Hun horse archers start inflicting damage on the Chinese cavalry,

while some brave Hunnic skirmishers screen their flank.

The Hun light cavalry either evade or (luckily) hold their ground,

as the Chinese cavalry charge.

The Chinese foot has squashed the Hun skirmishers.

The brutes!

The Chinese cavalry bravely fight on, but it does not look like a fair fight.

The Chinese foot march blindly on.

Chinese cavalry dispatched,

now the Huns look for another target.

The Chinese attempt to reform a line.

Those large units are unwieldly and make a big target.

The Chinese start to melt away under the endless cloud of arrows sent their way.

Game over.

Barbarossa Turn 47 Partial

With a late start and fine weather, we were only able to complete the Axis part of Turn 47.

The AGN commander now having received advice from high command,

acts quickly to secure the port linking Leningrad to the Soviet supply system.

(A bit of annoying rule clarification late in the game)

Giving up on Moscow, AGC strikes north.

AGC also attempts to drive between Soviet fronts south of Moscow.

The Red Airforce puts in a show to lessen the impact.

AGS mopping up in the northern sector.

Note stranded panzer division sent to help AGC.

It is about to be put back in supply.

AGS making a determined attack against Poltava.

An attack at Odessa.

The outcome on the Leningrad front now sees the city cutoff.

AGC has broken through using the mobility of their armoured units.

AGC is busy digging in around Moscow.

The situation south of Moscow.

The area between AGC and AGS.

AGS has some serious fighting to do.

Not much is going to happen until the railroad links up.

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.