Independent Pages

Monday, December 26, 2016

Twas the Night After Christmas.....

A Holiday poem from one of our SMG Club members who moved away earlier this year.

Twas the night after Christmas, when all through Krieghaus,
Not a panzer was stirring, not even a Maus;
The figures were stored in their boxes with care,
In hopes that another game soon would be there.

The gamers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Gettysburg danced in their heads,
Cap’n Ron in his ‘kerchief, and Jeff in his cap,
Had just settled in for a Krieghaus nightcap.

When out in the lot there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from Krieghaus to see what was the matter.
Drinks in their hands. they ran like the wind,
To open the door – who wanted in?

The moon on the puddles of rain in the gutter,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects a ’flutter;
More rapid than eagles the gamers they came,
And whistled, and shouted – Dude, they came to game!

As leaves before hurricanes fly in a flurry,
The gamers burst in – they’re in a hurry!
So in to the table-top the gamers they flew,
With packs full of figs - and a few dice or two.

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And set up their armies; then turned with a jerk,
And laying their rulers aside of their cannon
They measured the distance and rolled with abandon.

And then in a twinkling, was heard in the place
The firing of muskets, and cannon with grape.
They added their mods, and were rolling some dice,
Morale checks were made – not once but then twice!

They sprang to their feet, having rolled very well,
Fist pumping the air, a story to tell.
And they all then exclaimed, while adjusting their aim
Merry Christmas all, and to all a good game!

Happy Holidays from "sunny and warm" Boston...
Bob Walton

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

TSATF Games at Hurricon 2016

                    TSATF Games at Hurricon - 2016 - 22 - 25 Sept. 2016


                                             http://hmgs-south.com/

            The Battle of Aba Island - The Hunt for the Mahdi, 12 August 1881.

This is a gunboat I made in early 2000 from a hull picked up from a colonial gamer on the net. Being my first attempt at any nautical craft it is a fairly usable and fun model. However, compared to my buddy Dan's recent creations I should just give it to my kids to play with....LOL. The figs are 28mm by Castaway Arts (Infantry) and Old Glory (Crew), and the flag is by the awesome Rick O'Brien of the FlagDude.com. Rick has done ALL my colonial flags and I can't recommend him enough for any and all period flags in many scales. Check out my links list for links to all these great mfgrs.

Check out Dan's awesome blog and fantastic hand made gunboats: http://laststanddan.blogspot.com/

Nevertheless I still really like this boat and will be using it in my upcoming Sudan game based on the first official clash of arms between Egypt's Khedive and the self proclaimed prophet, the expected one, Muhammad Ahmad the Mahdi!

Check out the link for a quick bit if history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aba

Monday, August 15, 2016

Sudan Mini Campaign, January 1885 - Rescue Gordon!


Sudan Mini Campaign, January 1885 - Rescue Gordon!

 SMG & HMGS-South are embarking on a 3 game colonial Sudan Mini Campaign to Rescue Gordon! We will be using the Sword And The Flame rules set in 28mm scale. The games will be played out over an entire day at the upcoming HMGS-South's Hurricon-2016 in Orlando Florida. Check the website for details.

                           http://www.hmgs-south.com/

 In addition there will be at least of (3) other colonial games being run using The Sword And The Flame (TSATF) or The Sword In Africa (TSIA).

 So come join us in the burning sands of the Sudan or the sweltering jungles of Africa!!!!

                                                                              

                                 Thursday Night:  The Tax Collector
                                        (Rules: The Sword In Africa)

Tax Collector: The local tribe has not paid this year’s taxes. Time to collect!



 
                                      Friday Morning: The Temple
                                       (Rules: The Sword In Africa)


The Temple:  Europeans have desecrated the sacred ancient temple and are camped there. They must be Destroyed…….



The action in the Sudan starts Friday night with the first clash of the arms in this 17 year struggle against the Mahdist uprising.

          Friday Night: The Hunt for the Mahdi - The Battle of Aba Island, August 12, 1881.
                                  (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

                  The Hunt for the Mahdi - The Battle of Aba Island, August 12, 1881.

 An expedition is being formed for the capture of a very dangerous fugitive who is calling himself the prophet, the expected one, the Mahdi. He has already refused to come to Khartoum as directed and has declared a holy war against the Khedive of the Egyptian govt. Two platoons of troops will be sent to Aba Island by steamer to hunt down and capture or kill this criminal. Whichever officer captures this criminal, promotion is theirs! The other will face a fate worse than death, a small command in the outer reaches of the southern Soudan!



Saturday Morning: Full speed to Metemmeh! The Sudan, January 1885
                                 (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

 The Egyptian Gunboat flotilla have been ordered to Metemmeh.  This section of the river is dangerously defended by Dervish guns and roving war bands along both shorelines.  The mission is to steam up to Metemmeh to join up with the Desert Column who are on the attack.  As one of the Gunboat Captains you will navigate your boat through the shallows, directing gunfire and taking fire from captured Egyptian guns and dervish rifles. Beware, Jones Pasha might be present in a converted steamer ready to engage you.


                                                                     
Saturday Afternoon: Action at Metemmeh, The Sudan, January 1885
                           (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

 This is the second of the Sudan Saturday Campaign: An advance force of the Camel Corps is readying an attack on Metemmeh in order to rendezvous with Egyptian Gunboats that will take them to Khartoum. Local Dervish forces are determined to stop them. Command the gunboats, Camel Corps, or Dervish forces as they clash at Metemmeh.


                                                                        
Saturday Night: THE SIEGE OF KHARTOUM! The Sudan January 1885
                                (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

Game three of the Sudan Saturday Trilogy. Bowing to public pressure the British Government has raised an army to relieve the city of Khartoum and its popular figurehead, “Chinese Gordon”.  Can the relieving forces of the combined Nile River Gunboat Flotilla and the vaunted Camel Corps reach the city in time?  Here is your chance to rewrite history….

Sudan Mini Campaign, January 1885 - Rescue Gordon!


Sudan Mini Campaign, January 1885 - Rescue Gordon!

 SMG & HMGS-South are embarking on a 3 game colonial Sudan Mini Campaign to Rescue Gordon! We will be using the Sword And The Flame rules set in 28mm scale. The games will be played out over an entire day at the upcoming HMGS-South's Hurricon-2016 in Orlando Florida. Check the website for details.

                           http://www.hmgs-south.com/

 In addition there will be at least of (3) other colonial games being run using The Sword And The Flame (TSATF) or The Sword In Africa (TSIA).

 So come join us in the burning sands of the Sudan or the sweltering jungles of Africa!!!!

                                                                              

                                 Thursday Night:  The Tax Collector
                                        (Rules: The Sword In Africa)

Tax Collector: The local tribe has not paid this year’s taxes. Time to collect!



 
                                      Friday Morning: The Temple
                                       (Rules: The Sword In Africa)


The Temple:  Europeans have desecrated the sacred ancient temple and are camped there. They must be Destroyed…….



The action in the Sudan starts Friday night with the first clash of the arms in this 17 year struggle against the Mahdist uprising.

          Friday Night: The Hunt for the Mahdi - The Battle of Aba Island, August 12, 1881.
                                  (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

                  The Hunt for the Mahdi - The Battle of Aba Island, August 12, 1881.

 An expedition is being formed for the capture of a very dangerous fugitive who is calling himself the prophet, the expected one, the Mahdi. He has already refused to come to Khartoum as directed and has declared a holy war against the Khedive of the Egyptian govt. Two platoons of troops will be sent to Aba Island by steamer to hunt down and capture or kill this criminal. Whichever officer captures this criminal, promotion is theirs! The other will face a fate worse than death, a small command in the outer reaches of the southern Soudan!



Saturday Morning: Full speed to Metemmeh! The Sudan, January 1885
                                 (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

 The Egyptian Gunboat flotilla have been ordered to Metemmeh.  This section of the river is dangerously defended by Dervish guns and roving war bands along both shorelines.  The mission is to steam up to Metemmeh to join up with the Desert Column who are on the attack.  As one of the Gunboat Captains you will navigate your boat through the shallows, directing gunfire and taking fire from captured Egyptian guns and dervish rifles. Beware, Jones Pasha might be present in a converted steamer ready to engage you.


                                                                     
Saturday Afternoon: Action at Metemmeh, The Sudan, January 1885
                           (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

 This is the second of the Sudan Saturday Campaign: An advance force of the Camel Corps is readying an attack on Metemmeh in order to rendezvous with Egyptian Gunboats that will take them to Khartoum. Local Dervish forces are determined to stop them. Command the gunboats, Camel Corps, or Dervish forces as they clash at Metemmeh.


                                                                        
Saturday Night: THE SIEGE OF KHARTOUM! The Sudan January 1885
                                (Rules: The Sword And The Flame)

Game three of the Sudan Saturday Trilogy. Bowing to public pressure the British Government has raised an army to relieve the city of Khartoum and its popular figurehead, “Chinese Gordon”.  Can the relieving forces of the combined Nile River Gunboat Flotilla and the vaunted Camel Corps reach the city in time?  Here is your chance to rewrite history….

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Prepping for Recon 2016 & The Battle for Tantrapur Village - Part #1


            Prepping for Recon 2016 & The Battle for Tantrapur Village - Part #1



                                   Pathans attacking with dynamite!

I was preparing to run a game for my local club in S. Fl. as well as running the same game at Recon in Orlando Fl. (www.hmgs-south.com) for a Larry Brom memorial weekend of TSATF gaming. I’m planning on running a colonial game set in the 1890’s on the NWF of the British Empire in the fictional setting of the Village of Tantrapur. This battle is from one of my favorite old movies Gunga Din. The scenario itself is taken from TSATF Scenario Portfolio 2000 that Sergeants 3 sells, they are the purveyors of “The Sword And The Flame”. The scenario portfolio is filled with many great scenarios from various colonial conflicts. They were designed for TSATF but can most certainly be used for other colonial rules sets. The reason I chose a scenario form the “Scenario Portfolio” was to keep the memorial theme for Larry Brom going with one of his scenarios. Dwight had done the same thing and had run (2) Darkest Africa scenarios from the same “Scenario Portfolio 2000”. The Scenario Portfolio, the core TSATF rules set, the TSATF variations, as well as other Larry Brom rules can be purchased here: http://www.sergeants3.com/

The scenario I chose is “The Patrol”.  The premise is a Mad Guru has roused the local Thuggee cult members and has convinced them to attack the infidel British. I have altered the scenario to have the Pathans revolt in place of the Thuggee cult. The village of Tantrapur has been attacked, the local political officer and village chieftain have been murdered, the telegraph station sacked, and telegraph poles have been cut. No word has been heard from the village in several days so a patrol of Indian troops commanded by three British Sergeants has been set out to recon the situation.

I will post more about the scenario and AAR in future posts. For now I will post what I’ve been working on for the game. In my humble opinion it can be the small details in a scenario that really help make the game and the table set up come to life or have that certain feel for the period and the scenario. With this mantra in mind it was off to the work bench to get started.

If you’ve seen the movie Gunga Din then you know that there is a scene where Sgt. Ballantine (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) jumps into the engineer wagon and pulls out some dynamite. They use this dynamite to great visual and entertainment effect. Barring any historical limitations, it happened in the movie, thus it will happen in the game. Well I didn’t have a painted wagon in this scale, but I did have a covered wagon pencil sharpener of the approximate scale that I had purchased for $1.00 some 10 or so years ago! So off to the storage bins I went to locate this small gem. Much to my surprise I found I had purchased (5) of them, outstanding! I removed the pencil sharpener out of the back of the wagon then started to rebuild the gaps and modified it to suit my needs. I used bits of coffee stirring sticks to fab a new bed floor and to patch the sideboard holes. I added a falling tongue and single tree components with a bamboo skewer and Gorilla Glue. Once dry I primed it all black then painted it in the Foundry (3) tone “Spear shaft” colors.
                                             Engineer wagon in the center of the vill.

I didn’t have any draught horses so I grabbed a set of Old Glory Oxen from an Ox Wagon set I’d purchased from my buddy Nick Zizo who sells OG colonial items. The yoke fittings were broken so I had to fabricate a new one myself from balsa wood. No easy task for an old man with bad eyes and shaky hands…lol. I had cut and shaped the yoke from balsa wood to match the scale of the OG oxen, then fabricated the metal fittings from copper wire, drilled the holes for the fittings, fabed an “o” ring as well, then gave the yoke the same painting treatment. The metal was painted with a mix of black and gun metal. Once everything was painted and glued onto the base I gave everything, including the oxen a black wash. I had to go back with a little bit of dry brushing to lighten it back up once it dried. I had used my favorite basing compounds, Golden Gel Mediums, adding a little sand and rocks to add more depth for the NWF region that this piece was going to see action in. I will add a bit of tufts or a bush or two and then dulcote the model with Testors flat spray sealer. Since posting this entry I’ve found another gamer who’d used these same pencil sharpeners to much better effect than I had. I will copy some of his techniques for my follow up pieces.
                                Tantraur - Engneer Wagon prior to sealing
The next entry will be how I modified and built this small but fun piece out of a $1.00 pencil sharpener.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

"Larry Brom Memorial Gaming Weekend at HMGS-South's Recon 2016"



Good day hive,

A group of us are planning to run a memorial gaming event for Larry at the upcoming HMGS-South Recon 2016 convention in Orlando Florida from 28 April to 1 May. The weekend will feature no less than (7) games based on The Sword And The Flame and its variations. Please see the list below for the games and game times. I have left the GM's names off to protect the innocent...LOL

If you are interested please check out the HMGS-South's website for details. Last Stand Dan and I will also post various tidbits on our blogs about our planned games. Do check out Dan's blog as you will see some of the amazing pieces in his Sudan collection, most notably his Awesome custom made gunboats!





"Larry Brom Memorial Gaming Weekend at HMGS-South's Recon 2016".

Thursday night:  The Village, a "The Sword in Africa" scenario  from TSATF 2000 Scenario Book.
Friday AM:  The Mine, a "The Sword in Africa" scenario  from TSATF 2000 Scenario Book.
Friday Afternoon:   TSATF - 1917 "With Lawrence at Shahm”
Friday Night:  San Juan Hill - TSATF - Spanish American War
Saturday AM:  The Battle of Newtonville - ACW - The Sword to Secession
Saturday Afternoon:- TSATF Sudan - "River Operations In The Sudan".
Saturday Night:  The Patrol - a take off on a NWF Gunga Din scenario from TSATF 2000 Scenario Portfolio.








image

Historical Miniatures Gameing Society South.

Preview by Yahoo





















image

So I have to say that the last two gunboat battles were a lot of fun.  Both Colonial Barracks V and at our Colorado Military Historian (CMH) club meeting a week a...

Preview by Yahoo









Cheers,
JB

Friday, January 8, 2016

SMG November 2015 Game - Narva 1944



 Narva 17 March 1944 - WWII East Front


SMG Game - December 2015 

Hello SMG!

I'd like to give a big thank you to Joe for running his great WWII East Front scenario for us last month. For those of you who didn't make the game here's a quick AAR with photos. There were many twists and turns in this game, mostly due to the special event cards that Joe had prepared and the hero factor that can occur during morale rolls. 

The game was played on 21 November 2015 at 1000 hrs at the official SMG club house "Das Kreig Haus" in Fort Lauderdale. Joe Guilbert ran a 25/28mm WWII East Front 1944 game using the Battleground WWII rules. He has an awesome and extensive WWII 25/28mm collection!    

THE GAME:
Narva, March 17 1944. The Soviet 930th Regt , the 46th Guards Heavy Tank , and 1902 Self Propelled Artillery launch an attack near Auvere Station. Remnants of the 162nd Regt are overrun. Can Otto Carius and his Tiger save the 61st Div HQ? The remnants of a German infantry platoon have prepared defensive positions in order to stop the Soviet armored advance thus attempting to protect the 61st Div HQ troops. 



The Soviet forces entered on the left base line anywhere they desired. The Germans started the game hidden and in prepared positions starting anywhere they desired to the right of the center line of the table.

The Russian armored forces advance with tank borne infantry. 


The Germans nervously await the Soviet onslaught hidden in their foxholes and hasty positions. 





The Soviet commanders discuss their strategy as their troops cautiously advance.






The Russian tanks continue to advance, still no signs of their enemies as they leap frogged from terrain feature to terrain feature making the most of the limited cover of this battlefield.


The whistle of incoming shells can be heard. The Soviet infantry on the left flank come under intense artillery fire. Luckily for the massed Russian infantry the German gunners were off target (poor dice rolls) and very few casualties were incurred. The next turn saw the Russian infantry spread out to protect themselves as they continued to advance along the same axis.





The Soviet tanks halt and return fire attempting to suppress the FO and to reduce the German positions on the German right flank!




The now spread out Soviet infantry on the German’s left came under enfilade fire from an entrenched German HMG hidden on the wooded rise. At the same time the German squad hidden inside the ruined farm house in front of the advancing Soviet platoon opened up in conjunction with some fairly effective off board German arty causing a lot of casualties and moral check for 2 Soviet squads.



Enfilade fire provided by an MG 34 position.






The center and right flank were still quite, only the German FO was spotted and then targeted. As the Soviet tanks neared a damaged dwelling on the German far right a squad of hidden Germans opened up on a T34 and their tank riders. A lucky shot from a panzerfaust ricocheted off the hard packed snow penetrating the thinner underbelly of the Russian tank destroying it and killing the crew. The squad’s small arms fire also took a heavy toll on the supporting infantry. During the next turn the Russian left halted to attempt to reduce the German fighting positions and kill the inhabitants. 





Whilst the Russian right flank halted to clear out the enemy positions an event card was pulled which brought the Soviets some much needed air cover. Unfortunately due to the smoke, haze, and the confusion of battle, the Soviet ground attack aircraft bombed and destroyed a second Russian T34 with catastrophic results (a lucky die roll) which also killed the squad of tank borne infantry.





All looked lost for the Soviets at this point save for the progress that the leg infantry was making on the German left flank. Several Germans became heroes due to very lucky morale rolls of a 20 on a D20 which stiffened up that flank. The Soviets never had a chance to bring their two Maxim HMG’s into action to support their infantry advance as the hidden German sniper kept hitting and wounding the HMG crew members which caused morale rolls and suppressions for the crews each time.  





A hidden and emplaced German PAK 40 A/T gun opened up on the advancing armor causing minor damage and morale checks to the Soviet forces in the center of the table. The Soviets quickly located and eliminated the gun and crew with accurate motor and direct HE fire from the supporting AFV’s.



After further small arms exchanges some Soviet infantrymen also became heroes despite heavy loses. The ensuing heroes charged each other in a deadly melee fighting over the dead bodies of the PAK 40 and HMG crews. The combined fire of the Soviet mortars, AFV’s and superior numbers of infantry (along with better dice rolls) finally took its toll and the German left  collapses with the loss of a PAK40 AT Gun and crew, an MG 34 gun and crew, and the entire German left flank squad.



Close combat! The Germans and Russian heroes charge each other!

While this was occurring a Soviet Partisan unit infiltrated through the HQ positions, sneaking by the HQ security squad and LMG team and crept up to the open topped Marder tank destroyer. Due to multiple poor German spotting dice rolls from the both the HQ squad and Marder crew the Partisans snuck up to within throwing distance of the vehicle and managed to throw Molotov cocktails into the open top, cooking the crew and destroying the vehicle!

Partisans destroy the Marder tank destroyer with a Molotov Cocktail and Small Arms fire!





What looked like an imminent German victory now seemed to be a Soviet success. Luckily for the Germans it was time for the arrival of Oberleutnant Otto Carius and his Tiger along with a German panzergrenadier squad mounted in a 251 halftrack. Oberleutnant Carius made quick work of a Soviet AFV while the Soviet return fire was ineffective. It appeared once again that the Germans had stopped the Soviet advance and that the Regimental HQ troops behind this last ditch position would be saved. But wait, yet another event card was pulled and this time it actually helped the Russians. A dog mounted A/T mine crew was added to the Soviet arsenal and was placed with the left flank Soviet forces that were rapidly advancing to the German rear. 






Next came the deadly dance between dog and Tiger. Back and forth they moved, each trying to out maneuver the other. Oberleutnant Otto Carius had met his match. He easily dispatched enemy AFV’s but he could not defeat the dog. The Soviet A/T mine dog took MG fire from Oberleutnant Carius’ Tiger and evaporated in the resulting inferno that erupted from the charge he carried. Unfortunately the explosion also blew off the main sprocket wheel for the Tiger leaving it a stationary yet very deadly immobile pillbox. With the arrival of the German reinforcements and the destruction of several Soviet AFV’s it was deemed a draw. The Soviets had infiltrated some infantry around the left flank but nothing significant enough to truly threaten the Regt HQ troops without armor support. The Germans still held the center and right of the table with overwhelming infantry forces with hand held A/T capability which combined with Oberleutnant Carius’ Tiger bill box of death had stalled the remaining Soviet armor advance.






A German LMG team covering the HQ position and the rear of the Marder. Due to poor dice rolls they saw nothing!





A great time was had by all. Joe ran an excellent game of the “Battleground” WWII rules. Just when one side was seen to be dominating the other would recover and get the upper hand. A very exciting and fun game. I hope Joe runs another for us this year. I hear we may see Arnhem bridge
scenario in the near future!!!!

Cheers,
Jeff Baumal
AKA Sgt. Guinness












III SS (Germanic) Panzer Corps XXVI Army Corps XXXXIII  Army Corps

Preview by Yahoo