Borodino at the Wargames Holiday Centre

A four day campaign fought at the WHC at Kingsclere, near Basingstoke, Hampshire

Andreas & I receive our orders from C in C, Herbert.  Andreas & I have the Polish Corps and Ney's troops to attack the Russian left

My boys attack the Russian held village with Andreas's men sweeping around the right

There's plenty more Russians where they came from ... !

Here's a nice shot of a general advance ...

Our French boys have captured the village - time for a celebration !

Masses of French attacking the Russian centre - avoiding the Grand Redoubt though !

A great time was had by all (12 gamers took part) and Mark Freeth who runs the Wargames Holiday Centre is always the perfect host - thanks a million, Mark

Panzer Blitz !

We have now started the latest Eastern Front campaign "Bashyna or Bust" from Too Fat Lardies for I Ain't Been Shot Mum games

and not unreasonably we kicked off with the first scenario with both Germans and Soviets trying to capture and hold the bridge near Osen.  Here are the Orders of Battle ...

Here's an over view of the battlefield seen from the German end ...

and Blinds are now evident

with the Germans getting the run of the cards enabling them to crack on

Three T34s are spied on the hill

so two zigs of Panzers uncloaked themselves and gave fire

with immediate effect

Two T34s "brewed up"

In reply, the Soviets managed to inflict some damage on the Zug leader's Pv.IV

That notwithstanding, he encouraged the others forward

and another round of fire on the remaining T34 caused the crew to bail out and run

More T34s arrived

but the Panzers charged up the hill

got around the flank

and promptly dispatched two more Soviet tanks which exploded killing their tank riding infantry too.

All was lost for the Russians and the German infantry in trucks were able to take the bridge completely unmolested

This was a terrible day for Steve Clarke,the Soviet commander, as the cards and the dice were completely against him - fortunately for me, he shuffled and dealt so no blame could be laid at my door !

Usually, our games are tense fairly evenly balanced affairs, so this was most out of the ordinary.

Still, after two defeats on the trot against Steve, I'll take this one !

CoC in Billericay

Chain of Command Day at the Billericay War Rooms

Richard Clarke (Too Fat Lardies Supremo), Henry Hyde (Editor of Miniature Wargames/Battlegames Magazine), Rafael Fonseca (President of Essex Warriors Club) and my regular gaming buddy, Steve Clarke assembled at the Billericay War Rooms for a master class on Chain of Command by Rich, who kindly brought his 28mm Germans & Russians plus buildings, including his latest masterpiece, a German brewery.

A burning armoured personnel carrier marks the outskirts of town

German patrols are out checking on the advance of the Soviets

All quiet in the main street right now ...

But wait ... Soviet troops are spotted encroaching 

and in Main Street

and in the back gardens

and they've set up a Maxim in a field

Boldly, the Russians advance into town

This is too much ... call up the Panther from down the road

Oh, hell, they've got an Assault Gun heading this way

Some Russians are struck down by MG fire from the brewery

Would you believe it, their SP gun has disabled the Panther's hull mounted MG ... call for the other support in the form of a STuG ...

He trundles recklessly into town

and pays the price !

Speaking of breweries ... here's a good view of Rich's pride and joy ...

and with the roof off the main building, we can spy some of the German defenders

an over view of proceedings

Now back to the plot ... Russians have infiltrated into the ruins

so German troops from the right of town stormed them and ejected them

Ominous rumblings outside town (which at first we thought was just Henry's stomach) turned out to be the first of two T34s

Not to be outdone, the German commander sent on a Puma Armoured Car

And the Panther was ordered to head off to the brewery yard where Russians had penetrated 

and threatened to gain the main entrance

At last the Germans had something to celebrate, the Russian SP gun was hit 

the ruins changed hands again and again but finally the Germans gained the upper hand

and with the ejection of the few remaining Russians from the brewery yard 

These stout hearted Russian commanders were left to reflect on what might have been (not Rich as he was a stand-in German after Rafael left early) !

A truly tense and gripping game which swung back and forth.

Thanks for coming over chaps !