Storm The Farmhouse - Battle of La Haye Sainte - Game Day

Hello everyone! Been a while since I've posted, but just got back from a great game day at the Chehalis Veterans Memorial Museum. I was able to host my La Haye Sainte game using One-Hour Skirmish Wargames rules with six players. The game went well, and a lot of good suggestions were made by the players, as I'll be hostiIng this game again at Enfilade in May. There were several other games going on in the morning session as well as mine, so felt very fortunate to have my game filled. I stayed for the afternoon period and played in a Chain of Command game.

I almost was a no-show for the event as we had snow all day yesterday here in Steilacoom. Other areas had heavy rain, including where the museum is located in Chehalis, Washington - which is prone to flooding. However, the snow had melted off the roads in the morning, so I put on my big boy pants and heading down to the event. Glad I went as today was very sunny and beautiful. The picture below is from yesterday when I was conducting winter warfare training in the backyard with my sole trooper.

The weather today in front of the museum - there were several folks who didn't show up thinking today would be bad too. The weather here in the Pacific Northwest can be very goofy!

Here are pictures from the games today.

Above: French dragoons and sappers attempt to breakdown the defenses in the front of the farmhouse. This combined unit was later destroyed after failing a morale test - they took a lot of casaulties from British Rifles coming out of the sandpit.

Above: British Rifles advancing and firing on the French - all the players started with 12 figure units. I plan to reduce the Rifles unit to 8 figures, as they were a bit too powerful with their rifled muskets.

Above: Nassauers advancing to assist the KGL in the farmhouse.

Above: French Light Infantry Carabiniers assaulting the low walls of the farmhouse. Several made it over the wall and fought in hand to hand combat.

French Voltigeurs advancing towards the rear of the farmhouse.

A spectacular Battle on the Causeway Aztec v. Conquistador game run in both the morning and afternoon periods.

Games like this one made me feel fortunate to have players in my game. There weren't that many attendees - maybe 25 or so - mainly due to yesterday's weather.

Kevin Smyth's WW2 Pacific Theater game. He said the game didn't quite go exactly as he had envisioned. The Japanese, due to unusually good die rolls, managed to sink all of the Allied ships early on.

Wings of Glory WW1 aerial game.

The Patrol Phase of the Chain of Command game I played in, in the afternoon period. Note the laser doing the back azimuths for figure placement from the "locked" Jumping Off points. Although I only play these rules when my buddies host games, I do enjoy the Patrol Phase.

I ran a platoon of US Paratroopers, and thanks to very good shooting die rolls managed to destroy a platoon of Germans on their right flank.

Besides the gaming going on upstairs, the first floor has an excellent museum. It is privately funded, and showcases the sacrifices of veterans from the local area. These include those from the American Civil War to present. I took pictures of a few of the memorial displays from recent conflicts.

The one below includes the veteran's Cub Scout uniform.

Here's a picture of some of the many small arms displays throughout the museum. All of the items in the museum are private donations.

So, all in all a great game day - especially considering how I almost was not going to attend it. Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you all the best.

Chain of Command 2 & Lion Gate Addition

Just got back from a nice game at my buddy's down the road using the second edition of Chain of Command. As mentioned before, although I don't plan on ever getting into the rules too much, I always enjoy the game when run by someone (as well as other players) who know the rules well. Today's game was a generic scenario with Late-War German and US infantry, mainly to flesh out the changes to the rules. Since I only play the rules a few times a year, I didn't really know which rules were changed or not, anyway.

I ran several squads of US infantry, each with a BAR team, on our left flank. I also had a mortar and bazooka team, but only managed to bring on the mortar team. 

I was faced by several units of German infantry in hard and soft cover. We traded a lot of shots, but mainly inflicted Shock more than actual casualties. For my limited experience with the rules, it's kind of hard to get many kills - at least from the few games I've played.

A mortar team run by my fellow US player - they didn't do too much damage to the enemy, but did survive practically intact.

Germans advancing early in the game. They had a lot of good Jumping Off Points during the Patrol phase.

This was during the Patrol phase and determining Jumping Off Points. Besides the use of yardsticks, pairs of laser pointers are also used sometimes.

I find this part of the game interesting, but somewhat awkward. Anyway, it was a fun game and good to see my buddies again.

Before heading out to the game, I started working on an additonal wall section for the Lion Gate terrain. Thanks again for stopping by, and wishing you all the best.

Chain of Command - Philippines, Late-1944

Played another Chain of Command game ttoday at my buddy's place. The scenario was Late-War, Philippines, with US forces advancing inland against Japanese forces holding out. There were five players, and a GM, my buddy who hosted the game. Except for myself, all of the others were experienced to varying degrees with the rules. I have to admit I'm even getting some of the basic rules down too, having been playing the rules off and on for several years now. Of course, playing with folks very familiar with the rules is plus. For today's game, I ran a platoon of Japanese - one squad having four knee mortars - not bad to have in the woods with a spotter. The game ended after my fellow-Japanese player's platoon was knocked out of the game and it was called a US victory. I still had most of my platoon and had done well against a few US squads that were out in the open. My 37mm antitank gun also did well in slowing the advance of a platoon of Sherman tanks.

My buddy's tables are always filled with excellent terrain.

The infamous "Patrol Phase" - setting up Jump Off Points. Quite unique with the rules.

Capturing the hootch near the flag was a victory condition for the US troops, but the game ended when half of the Japanese force was destroyed.

Part of the Japanese platoon I ran, deep in the woods.

The Japanese end of the table.

The 37mm anti-tank gun that did well against the lead Sherman tank early in the game. It became the target of multiple US units, including two Shermans in retribution. It survived the game but if it gained one more Shock it would've been destroyed.

The US squad out in the open was one of two that were getting the worst of the Japanese knee mortars.

My two-man antitank team with bamboo poles failed to make it to the Sherman before the game ended.

One of my buddies just got back from visiting his in-laws in Japan and brought me back some cookies from a museum - the cookies had different military markings on them.

They could probably have been used as gaming aids, like Jumping Off Points, but we ate them instead.

The host lives about 5 minutes away from my place, and has a great view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain Range from his front yard.

When I got home, my Litko order, as well as the Mongol shields for the Ming Swordsmen were in the mail box. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Thanks again for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Pegasus Bridge - Chain of Command

Play-tested my buddy's Pegasus Bridge game using Chain of Command today. He'll be hosting it a Enfilade in May. Enjoyed the game - particularly as two of the players are well-versed with the rules. Although I only play the rules when others host it, and this not often, I think I've actually picked up most of the core/basic rules. My buddy, the host, and I ran the Germans. He's recreated the table using scratch-built buildings and terrain to match the actual historical ones as close as possible.

The initial "Patrol" phase lock down of units is lot easier to visualize using a cuople of laser beams.

This was the third time the others played this scenario (my first time), and it ended up a British victory after a few German units had been eliminated, and the British still holding the nearside of the bridge.

The bridge is from Sarissa.

The view from the Germans' side.

British Airborne in cover in the center of the table.

More of the British Airborne on the opposite side of the road.

I had some really good rolls during shooting - lots of 6's and 5's.

A lot of smoke was laid down by both sides.

The one hand-to-hand engagement during the game - on the British right flank. The Germans took heavy casaulties from their attack.

The was held in the historic building at Fort Steilacoom - the host is a member of the historical society there. He's actually on the hand-receipt for the buildings.

Well, it was a nice day - almost too nice weather to be inside, but as there are a lot of windows it was okay - plus there is supposed to sunny weather all next week too. Thanks for checking out the blog and wishing you all the best.

Chain of Command - Battle of Saipan Revisted

Played another game of Chain of Command at my buddy's place down the road. I played a platoon of Japanese again - same right flank, but this time we used the long edge of the board as starting points.

We used laser lights to plot Jumping Off Points at the end of the Patrol phase. There were 3 American players and 2 Japanese players (me being one). The other 4 players are all pretty experienced with Chain of Command, and I think I have most of the most-basic rules down. Playing the overall same scenario a week or so ago helps too. This time we started where we left off the last game; that is, the Americans have crossed the small river and the Japanese in and around the bunker eliminated. The Japanese end of the table now included parts of the edge of the airfield.

Me taking a selfie on the Japanese right flank - the position I had my platoon occupy.

American troops moving up through tall grass. 2 of the 3 USMC Shermans starting on the road.

The Type 97 run by the other Japanese player, passing a hanger on the edge of the airfield.

The Type 95 light tank that I controlled. I ended up trying to make it past the road crossing, but ended up a target for the Shermans as well as a bazooka team. It ended up being able to make it behind an adjacent hootch and survived the game.

The American infantry advance bogged down and taking shock and casualties.

My Japanese platoon staying in cover. The mortar squad on the left managed to use a spotter with the mountain gun for targeting. That is, until the mountain gun was eventually taken out by Sherman tank and bazooka fire. They later used one of their other squads who took cover in one of the hootches to spot for them.

The American left flank. I managed to decimate the platoon facing mine with lucky shooting die rolls. The American player advanced into range (12") of my platoon in Overwatch. He actually did this to get our troops into action. As long as our troops are over 12" away in the woods they cannot been seen or targeted.

My Type 95 taking cover behind a hootch - the hootch itself was occupied by a squad from the other player's platoon.

The Japanese right flank in the woods having decimated the advancing American platoon. We called the game soon after this as one of the members had to report back to his command spouse. It was a bit too close to call, but eventually the Americans' superior fire power (3 Shermans) would've turned the tide. We plan on playing the tank engagement portion of this battle in the future - once enough Japanese tanks are acquired.

I had a great time with the game, again due to the other players being very experienced with the rules. Tomorrow, I'm hosting a small Rebels and Patriots game at a game day down in Olympia. Incidentally, the guys I played with today like TFL rules a lot, and are having a game day tomorrow up near Seattle for more Chain of Command and "O" Group games. The group I played with on Tuesday night like the Rampant-family rules - including Rebels and Patriots. The guys I play with on alternating Wednesdays like Saga. Most don't play the rules of the other groups - and almost all of them don't play (or like) Bolt Action and Black Powder! Go figure. Anwyay, I should feel fortunate to have such a variety of games to play. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and checking out the blog.