Friday, June 24, 2022

Bolt Action Western Desert/North Africa Game

Thanks to several of my gaming crew, got in a nice Bolt Action game using the recently completed Wargames Atlantic Italians and French Tirailleurs. The Perry Fallshirmjager and several tanks painted last year were also bloodied for the first time. We played 6 turns using a defender/attacker scenario. Unfortunately, the Allied British-Free French attackers were outgunned by the defending German-Italians. I tired to have this balanced by allowing only the British to have an opening artillery barrage, and also air support with a forward observer. These weren't enough to help the attack, however, as the Germans had a lot of hot die rolling with their more numerous automatic weapons. I failed to take enough pictures to capture all of the action, as I was running some of the Free-French forces before one of my buddies showed up. Hopefully, I captioned the images below accurately.

Grant tank taken out after numerous hits from a Panzer III.
Tirailleurs in the foreground and French Foreign Legion behind them with a Grant tank holding the Allied right. The lone figure in the center background is the British forward air observer. His one allowable airstrike only resulted in a single pin a  Panzer IV. The initial opening artillery bombardment only resulted in a few pins on the defending Germans. These pins were quickly Rallied off in subsequent turns.

DAK infantry squads and a Panzer II moving out of their defenses to take the action to the Allied army.

A Crusader and Matilda cautiously maneuvering into position on the Allied left.

DAK infantry and a Panzer II taking advantage of cover in a bombed out building.

An Sd.Kfz. 7 used to tow the Pak 38.

Tirailleurs and French Foreign Legion advancing into no-man's land.

Italian Bersaglieri in the center of the line with a Panzer IV in the distance.

The Axis right flank with a Panzer IV and Italian and German Paratroopers.

Fallshirmjager advancing to the top of a berm with a mortar team and spotter to their left.

Fierce fighting in the center of the battlefield. 

End of Turn 6. An Axis victory with the Allied army's Grant and Crusader tanks destroyed, and their infantry floundering in the attack.
It was a great refresher game for all of us. As the last time I played the rules was for a Franco-Prussian War scenario, I was particularly rusty with the use of tanks and mortars. Still, the rules are easy to pick up and flow well. All in all, a good time gaming and just shooting the breeze with folks I hadn't seen since a month ago at Enfilade. Thanks for stopping by and hope you're all doing well.

33 comments:

  1. Your models look great on the table and I remember you painting those tanks. Glad you got them into the game.

    Cheers
    Kevin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words, Kevin. Yes, a lot of these were painted awhile ago, and on the gaming table for the first time. Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Thanks a lot, Michal. It played out quite nicely. Kind regards, Dean

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words, Ray. It was a fun game. Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  4. Good play and great reporting, Dean.
    I would like close-ups in the photo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alexey. I had to remember to take pictures, as I was playing also. Kindest regards, Dean

      Delete
  5. Good looking game and some nice kit on show Dean. Do you make many modifications to Bolt Action to use them for the Franco-Prussian War?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit and interest, Richard. I used all the basic rules for FPW. It has cavalry rules (although very limited). Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  6. Looks like the perfect way to spend a day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit and kind words, Aaron. Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  7. The game looks great Dean...early war tanks may not be all that effective but they are aesthetically pleasing !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Keith. It probably had more to do with bad die rolls by the Allies, and consistently better rolls by the Axis. Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  8. Good looking game. Sometimes the dice are not friendly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Joe. I just wish the opponent's dice were as unfriendly. :) Kind regards, Dean

      Delete
  9. I swear you read my mind sometimes :) Picked up a box of each of the Perry DAK and Desert Rats a few weeks back, to start this project. Nice inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol! Thanks, Markus. You know the old saying, "Great minds..." :) Lol! Best regards, Dean

      Delete
  10. Lovely game Dean! The N Africa armour is definitely my favourite, especially the Grant, Matilda, and PzIV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mike! I also had an Sd.Kfz. 222 on the table causing a ruckus that I failed to get a picture of. Kindest regards, Dean

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. Thanks a lot, Christopher! Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  12. Dean, great to see you getting your new troops out onto the table and into a game with friends. Your models look fab.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jonathan. I was a nice gathering for gaming, although the weather was really nice outside. Best regards, Dean

      Delete
  13. Nice post, I am just prepping from my own middle eastern project and this is perfect inspiration. Cheers
    Stu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Stu! I'm also working on another "desert" project - Napoleon's Egyptian-Syrian Campaign. This one will be using Rebels and Patriots. Kind regards, Dean

      Delete
  14. Great looking game Dean, which reminds me I need to get back to the Fallschirmjager for NA and the Med. Too many projects.

    Cheers, Ross

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ross. Yes, get back to finishing your FJ's. They're worth it. Warmest regards, Dean

      Delete
  15. Any WW2 batrep is also worth a look :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Splendid Western desert battle!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete