Last stand before Bashyna

A return to "I A'int Been Shot Mum".  This is the last battle in the "Bashyna or Bust" campaign by the Too Fat Lardies. The Germans have dug in on the road to Bashyna in an effort to stop the rot. 

As some of our club members wished to try out IABSM, I thought this scenario would be a good introduction. Bob and Mike played the part of the Germans with Steve C and Allan taking on the role of the Soviet commanders.

This is the direction the Soviets will be coming from. They have to approach by means of the straight road before deploying. 

This the view from the German end. They are dug in and hidden ready to receive the Soviet attack.

The game starts with a Soviet long range artillery "Super Stonk" covering a 24" square area.

Some German units were under this and casualties taken but not as bad as it could have been partly because two units are in fact "dummies" not actual - part of the subterfuge in IABSM !

With this over, heads pop up and here we see two German PaKs and tows waiting for targets

The crews seem to have got over the heavy bombardment !

Now the Soviets arrive on "Blinds" which have to be spotted to uncloak them - one or two have been as can be seen in this picture.

The Germans manage to get their mortars zoned in on these unfortunates.

and the gunners too in the absence of any armour to target

Did I say armour ? Here it comes (T34s having to represent IS-IIs in this case)

So the mortars & artillery target them too causing some damage and reducing their effectiveness.

and one PaK gets a line of sight on a tank too

The forward German infantry unit (which had taken some casualties during the Super Stonk) now come off Blinds and shoot down the road at the on-coming Soviet infantry

The Soviet tanks try to get to the tree line to get away from the enemy anti-tank guns.

Soviet infantry are unable to get under way due to the incessant mortaring and off-table artillery being rained down on them, causing casualties and shock too.

A Soviet sniper team manage to sneak into position ready to strike the foremost Germans.

As Soviet machine gunners drag their pieces into position amongst the trees.

The sniper is good - a kill straight away plus two shocks and the unit is pinned down.

Another German unit opens fire from the corn fields against advancing Soviet infantry

Their fire also serves to blunt the enemy advance.

Apart from two tanks and a sniper unit, the Soviets have not been able to make any progress due to the weight of fire against them.

The bogged down Russian commanders felt that they were getting nowhere and decided to call it a day, opting to withdraw rather than take any more punishment.

The well co-ordinated German defence had held the line and prevented the Soviets taking Bashyna, just down the road from here.

_________

We were quite rusty with the rules not having played them for some time and trying to remember how the indirect fire works was a challenge.  Probably not an impressive start for Mike, Allan and Bob as Steve Clarke and I really like IABSM.

Must have another go soon to persuade them they are onto a good thing !

Mini Blenheim !

After our return from the Wargames Holiday Centre Blenheim game, Steve Clarke and I continued our "fix" by setting up the area from Oberglau to Lutzingen at my War Rooms - and I forgot to "blog" the action, so here it is belatedly.

Steve took the part of the Franco-Bavarian army, I had the British & Allies.

We carried on using the amended Black Powder rules used at WHC.

British on the left facing Lutzingen

Prussians and other Germans on the British right flank

and this is Oberglau on the British left

We also carried on using unit sizes as at WHC- collectively, the brigades still look impressive.

French right of the line

Still lots of "First Fire" stickers in evidence !

The Germans attack Lutzingen in force - a tough nut to crack as before.

British troops tangled up by marshy ground in the centre

And the French gunners make the most of it !

Oberglau under attack

Grenadiers cross the fields to get at the enemy behind Lutzingen

Despite being attacked by these big numbers, the Bavarians held on to the village for hours

Another view of the French centre - Austrian Croats have had to be drafted in to make up the numbers 

The British attacks went on

Prussian Grenadiers - old Minifigs !

British troops crash into the French lines on the left of Oberglau

The British really have got bogged down in the centre !

Gunners fire at Lutzingen from an advanced position

The Germans & Prussians head for the French & Bavarians behind Lutzingen

This is the over view as the shadows are drawing in.

A French brigade has been broken on their right.

The British brigade commander in the centre is trying to untangle his units from the swamp

The French centre still looks strong.

British troops are now even behind Oberglau attacking

No such luck against Lutzingen

Despite artillery support

Some units are looking shaky from the fire they have received both from the village and ahead.

More artillery unlimbers and fires at the village.

French infantry advance towards the British guns

and their supporting infantry is not in great shape after being pounded by the enemy on high ground

At last the British commander has managed to send in attacks towards the French centre, by-passing the swamp.

Allied cavalry now arrives to exploit the gap created on the left where French troops have fled.

This wing is clearly won by the British.

They need to break the enemy centre and/or left to gain a clear victory.

Prussian grenadiers attack on cue

but the foolishly too advanced British artillery are shot up by advancing French troops, causing major problems.

The attacks left of centre go in against disordered enemy infantry

If they can break this brigade, the day is won

and more British units move up to help

The British gunners have all gone and British infantry having to shore up the position left of Lutzingen as the French keep coming.

All hangs in the balance over on the Allied right, beyond Lutzingen

Its not plain sailing on this wing

We had to call a halt as night came, but playing out a few more bounds solo the next day, it became clear the British would break the French centre, so only Lutzingen holding out spoiled the British having a complete victory.

So there you have it. Better late than never !