Battle for the Wadi

As 1 Fury sweep round Musa Qala, taking the high ground in advance of the attack on the town itself, a Troop of the Scots Guards crosses the wadi to prevent any retreat southwards into the Green Zone…

Across the Wadi, Taliban wait guarding the crossing into Musa Qala



The Scot Guards exit the wadi to approach the village



Around the corner, a Taliban group stands and fights, taking losses but standing its ground to knock out the Warrior's cannon with a well-placed RPG round



The section from the lead Warrior has dismounted and climbed up the wadi's banks overlooking the village. The first fireteam descends into the fields. A Taliban group further up the wadi fires everything they have at it and the entire team goes down

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Their backup on the wadi bank couldn't see those Taliban and follows their mates down, suppressing them when they reach the fields. They hunker down alongside the first fireteam to provide medical attention. A second group of Taliban in the nearby orchard charges out into close assault



The British fail to put down any final defensive fire and are completely overrun!



Things go from bad to worse as the second Warrior intervenes in the struggle and is knocked out - the fireteam and GPMG team bail out



A motorbike RPG team rounds the corner and survives a hail of fire to put a round into the remaining warrior - knocking it out as well!



This scratch section is left occupying a house but isn't going anywhere.



Wow! This one went from pedestrian to nightmarish in a flash. While splitting up the Warriors (with one carrying half the squaddies) from the infantry section seemed risky; it was to take advantage of the infantry's ability to climb the wadi's bank (which the vehicles could not). The Taliban's fire into the first fireteam was highly unlikely to bring them all down, and then the wildly successful assault was a completely surprise.

The Battle of 9/11

A Company has been patrolling out of FOB Inkerman all day in response to intelligence reports. Simultaneously all over Helmand ISAF troops have been making heavy contacts with the Taliban. A mile and a half out of the FOB the marines begin to notice strange activity – there’s a small pause as both sides go for cover and then all hell breaks loose…

The Taliban lie in wait along the British route British move towards landing zone Firing at Taliban compound ahead - a Taliban DShK is behind the compound wall, supported by a rooftop sniper The Taliban threat is wiped out in short order, this fire team moves in to clear the compound On the other flank, the Taliban who stood and fought are outgunned and this lone survivor takes point blank fire as the British shut down the rat run A suspicious civilian approaches a fireteam on the right flank - they see IED wiring under the clothes and shoot to kill The last Taliban group on this side of the Landing Zone is forced into the fields British fire team begin closing the net around the LZ - their counterparts are clearing the market on the other side Taking refuge in large tomb - this overlooks the LZ and will provide a good base of fire for the final sweep A huge group of Taliban arrives just beside the LZ! Firing on British in tomb - which turns out to be a death-trap. Walls made of polystyrene it seems The Landing Zone is still hotly contested, and some careful manoeuvring is required for the British to ferret out the Taliban A victory for the British - one KIA, but their methodical closing down of the hotspots won them the day

The Patrol to Khevalabad

C Company of 40 Commando infiltrates along the Chinah Wadi during darkness. While the Afghan National Army clears Chinah they patrol into Khevalabad, where the forward line of enemy troops (FLET) is reckoned to be. As they move from compound to compound under the brightening sky all they find is empty buildings. Just as they think there will be no engagement, the Taliban open fire from the north and the west…

British patrol enters Khevalabad

Advance through poppy fields is tense, as there has been no contact with Taliban forces as yet

Taliban at top of Wadi rise up to strike at the British, but a fierce sandstorm blows up, preventing all long-range fire

Taliban group lurking in alleyway - they are hidden from the view of the British in the fields, but have struck an early blow by seriously wounding one of the roof-top soldiers
 
Reinforcements arrive from across open ground - they are shielded by the low-visibility and begin to make their way towards the action
 
A costly exchange of fire - while numerous Taliban are brought down, three British soldiers are shot
 
The British clear the large buidling, preventing any interference with the slow extraction of the wounded
 
The second fireteam up are caught in a crossfire by Taliban reinforcements
 
A Taliban machine gun team suppresses the British advance group

With the British going firm at the Taliban forward line, a previously unseen civilian sets off a large IED in an alleyway
 
The cost to the British is high, while some success was had in withdrawing early casualties, the effort to reach the Forward Line of Enemy Troops led to overstretch. Not helped by the sandstorm, the British are bloodied by the Taliban ambush.

The Battle of Busaco (Reynier's Assault)

It has been some time since I've posted anything here, a two-week holiday, followed by preparation for Conspiracy last weekend have curtailed my blogging.


I have been doing some playtesting for Ambush Alley Games (but details must remain secret for the moment!)

I did get a game of Command & Colours: Napoleonics in while I was off - a trip to Conrad Kinch's fair abode resulted in the following action:

Retreating towards Torres Vedras, the Duke of Wellington’s army of 25,000 British and the same number of Portuguese halted at Bussaco to make a stand along the crest of Bussaco Ridge and check the advance of Marshal Massena and the French army of Portugal. As Massena’s army of 65,000 approached the British position, he was uncertain of the exact disposition and strength of the enemy, for Wellington had adopted his favorite tactic of hiding his true strength from the enemy by deploying his forces on the reverse slope of the ridge.

Massana’s army was deployed on the 26th with Ney’s Corps on the right, Junot’s Corps in the centre and Reynier’s Corps on the left. Massena, rather than avoid battle, ordered Major-General Jean Reynier’s II Corps to attack the centre of the ridge, which he mistakenly believed was the British right flank. Once the II Corps attack showed some signs of success, Massena planned to launch Ney’s corps at the British left while Junot’s Corps stood in reserve, ready to exploit.

The French left advances to the stream - this is meant to be a holding action, possibly diverting the attention of Wellington from the main action in the centre but not expecting much.



Massed infantry on the French right, preceded by light regiments who plan to disorder the British line opposite



Skirmishing from the woods attempts to push back the British from this commanding spur of hill



Light cavalry occupies town, from here it can pounce on the Portuguese above it, but it failed to notice the battery deployed alongside (an oversight during deployment meant that they weren't placed on the battlefield until now!)



The Portuguese infantry are charged by the French hussars to some effect



The heavy cavalry joins the fray, taking the battery and mounting the hillside - it will later take the place of the Hussars tormenting the Portuguese infantry



The British centre repels the first French attack



The French plan is unveiled as the main body of the infantry follow the previous probe en masse - Wellington looks worried



With some success in using firepower to slow the French attack, the British Dragoons are called into action on the British left and they do drive a French regiment from the field

The French gain the hill decimating the Portuguese infantry there and breaking the centre

The British cavalry are repulsed and Reynier's assault is successful!


Will Ney be able to exploit Reynier's victory?

Cold War Stays Hot

The second annual Guild Big Game was run a couple of weeks ago. A direct sequel to the last big game, unfortunately Real Life intervened and attendance wasn't as strong as last year (more Warsaw Pact players were able to turn up than NATO players - maybe global communism is proof against recession!). Nonetheless a monster Cold War bash in 20mm.

Here's some of the photos:


Soviet Hind wreaks havoc



Leopard IIs moving through urban area



Soviets crossing the river



German infantry prepares defence

Summary of Game

More Photos

Next year the Guild Big Game is back in Ireland for the African Warlords game. Better get my ducks in a row...