One-Hour Skirmish Wargame - Operation Cobra

Well it's been quite awhile since posting, but just finished a very fun game using One-Hour Skirmish rules for the first time. Although it was the first time with the rules, I wanted to add vehicles to see how the rules worked. Glad I did, as it turned out nicely. There were two German players, and along with my buddy, two American players. We all had a unit of about 10 infantry, including an HMG team, an anti-tank team, and a tank. We allowed the HMG team to make one move per player phase as a house rule. I managed to take out a Panther and a Fallshirmjager HMG team early in the game thanks to lucky card draws. Although it was the first time with the rules, everyone already had the rules and were itching to play them. The rules are well-written, straight forward, and can be picked up quickly. We played about 7 or 8 turns rather quickly with Jokers being drawn. We ended the game as a stalemate with both sides having a few casualties, but not really making any kind of breakthrough. Here are a few pictures I managed to take during the game.

Panther moving up along with Fallshirmjager support.

My Sherman and the Panther dueling. We engaged each other in a couple of turns, with the Sherman finally being able to take out the Panther.

My buddy James' M-10 peaking out behind some ruins. He managed to keep the Panzer 4 opposite him at bay.

The Panzer 4 with a marker showing 3 accumulated damage points from earlier fire.

My Sherman moving past the burning Panther. The Fallshirmjagers had a panzerschreck and panzerfaust which failed to damage the Sherman during the game.

US 4th Armored Division infantry moving towards cover.

Heer on their left flank, supporting the Panzer 4.

Some 101st guys supporting the American left; they must've not gone to England with the rest of the division after D-Day.

Fallshirmjager in defensive positions. A panzerschreck poking out of the ruins.

4th Armored infantry occupying a ruined building.

Panzer 4 and supporting infantry.

Start of the game.

All in all a really nice return to gaming with a few friends. Hope to play the rules again with a Horse and Musket scenario. Thanks 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.

Bolt Action - Soviet Invasion of Japan, 1951

Of course, this was a fictional battle set up by a buddy. This is the second playtest of the game which he'll host at Enfilade in May. I was one of the Soviet players and ended up having most of my troops and armor destroyed by turn 4. The scenario is the Soviets invade Japan via sea - they've already landed and advancing inland. The Soviets' goal is to capture intel at the two radar/commo sites on opposing hills. Unfortunately, the forces already in Japan besides their own defense forces include US infantry and naval personnel - along with several Pershing tanks and Chaffee and M36. The Soviets had a few T-34/85s and BTR-40s. The Soviets' advance was slowed by rough terrain, as well as US forces waiting in ambush stalling their advance. Two Soviet armored vehicles were destroyed on the two roads inland, thereby blocking the rest of the vehicles. We called the game at the end of turn 5, calling it a clear US-JSDF win. My buddy will do a few tweaks, like not bringing on too much US armor on the table until later in the game. Otherwise, it's a great scenario and should be a success at the convention. Here are a few images of the game - played in my buddy's outdoor bunker full of his gaming collection and books on military history (mostly WW2 and US).

After getting home from the game, my ebay order of Cavalcade Ming Chinese had arrived in the mail - not a bad Saturday!

Here's a comparison shot with Perry figures. A good match in size and style, IMO.

I'm glad to have gotten these Ming figures as they are either OOP, or very hard to find.

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.