“Send the Marines!” - TSATF Game

 Scenario Specs: 

Send in the Marines!

Port of Berbera, the coast of Somalia, 1900, an American merchant vessel has been captured by Somali and Arab pirates. Negotiations have broken down, the ship’s crew have become pawns in a nefarious game and the hostages lives are at risk. An informant has leaked intel that the Somali warlord has no intention of letting the crew go and that they will be killed at dawn regardless.

The American consulate general to Somalia has no choices left but...... to “send in the Marines!”

Objectives:

Marines, have (10) turns to rescue the hostages and bring them aboard the gunboat.

Secondary objective, recover the merchant vessel and the valuable cargo or deny its use to the enemy by destroying or setting the vessel on fire.

Ships can be set on fire by naval gun fire or intentionally as per the Gunboat & Dhow! rules, (Last Stand Boatyard)

as well as crew having the ability to extinguish fires.

Sign up for games, check out the website, come have a blast!

HMGS-South Recon-2026

The premier Wargames and Adventure Games club in the SE of the United States: https://hmgs-south.com/

This is an awesome but sad photo as these figures were made by my friend Stan Johansen who past away and painted by my friend and clubmate Devon Start who recently past away!

Farewell Das Kreig Haus -1, Hello DKH-2!!!!

         (Bill Moreno & Bill Pritchard, two of our good friends who have passed)

After well over a decade of amazing gaming and social experiences at our hobby clubhouse which we affectionately named, Das Krieg Haus, we had to pack up and move due to the exponentially rising rental costs. 

We have had countless games here, some run by premier game masters and hobby aficionados from all over the country, several whom are no longer with us, RIP. We’ve had gamers and visitors from other parts of the world as well. Boasting some 96+ members on our email list with a local core of 25+ gamers we are a very active group!

Here are a few of the tens of thousands of photos of  games from our little bit of Shangri-La. 

The SMG - South Florida Miniatures Gamers runs the Annual SMG Regatta in 15mm and 28mm with the Limeys & Slimeys rules. 

The Battle of Maiwand

Onward and upward, literally, we moved to a 2nd story office in a quaint little office building. I had my first Beer in the new digs with Mark Ritchie and Oriskany Jim while helping them and John R move some of the tons O hobby crap we have. 

More photos of the old Das Krieg Haus to come!!!

 

Marine Corps’ assault at Al Jabr during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 - 15mm wargame

This is another amazing game one of our members Oriskany Jim ran for us at our Fort Lauderdale club house that we affectionately call DKH or Das Krieg Haus. The gaming club is the South Florida Miniatures Gamers, or SMG. 

Read the brief scenario spec below and Please click the link to see Oriskany Jim’s outstanding video AAR of the game. He runs great games with stunningly beautiful tables, real eye candy!

The 15mm Wargame attempted to recreate part of the Marine Corps’ assault during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.  On the second day of the ground war, spearheads of 1^st Marine Division (including Task Forces “Ripper” and “Shepard”) broke through the second belt of fixed Iraqi defenses in southern occupied Kuwait. 

Backed up by Task Forces “Grizzly,” “Papa Bear,” and “Taro” and supported by Marine artillery. “Ripper” and “Shepard” cut behind Iraqi defenses until counterattacked by elements of the Iraqi 5^th Mechanized and 3^rd Armored Divisions.

This game includes quite a few special rules, victory conditions, and scenario adjustments to reflect the sheer amount of firepower the Marines brought to bear, and the wretched state of the Iraqi units facing them after five weeks of intense Coalition bombing.

 

But the Marines are on a VERY tight schedule, and can’t afford to lose more than a handful of units.  Can the players recreate the historical blitz, or will the underdog Iraqis slow them down just enough to score a Pyrrhic victory.

Link:

Desert Storm 1991 - Marine Corps Assault at Al Jabr - 15mm Wargame (Part 1)

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

Jim "Oriskany" Johnson

Dispatch from Eggmuhl 1809, DKH Game Day AAR

 

BEI EGGMUHL, DEN 22. APRIL 1809. 'This original antique plate shows the Battle of Eckmuhl in Germany on 21 April 22 April 1809, it was the turning point of the 1809 Campaign, also known as the War of the Fifth Coalition.

The Battle of Eckmühl fought on 22 April 1809, was the turning point of the 1809 Campaign, also known as the War of the Fifth Coalition.

DKH Gamers, Refreshed and reinvigorated after the “binge gaming” weekend, we have Firelock 15mm this coming Saturday.  Our scenario is the famous battle at Eggmuhl 1809.  Napoleon figure takes the field with Nansouty’s cavalry division of Carabiniers, Cuirassiers and allied Bavarian and Wurttenberg forces in a maximum effort to push the Austrians of Archduke Charles out of Bavaria.  The two-day battle featured ten corps of troops ultimately engaged.  This scenario will focus on Napoleon’s attack centered at the village of Eggmuhl on the second day with the French attempting to turn the Austrian left flank anchored on the twin hills of Vorberg and Bettelberg.  I will send the scenario on Thursday, but there will be over 40 stands of cavalry, much of it heavy, and a considerable amount of artillery involved.  If you like pushing cavalry this is the battle for you!!

 Carabiniers, Cuirassiers and Lancers OH MY! Below is the AAR from the game master, Mark Ritchie:

Eggmuhl 1809, Devon (Austrian) and Tom (French) playing 15mm Firelock, both first time gaming Firelock-Napoleonic.  Scenario is larger game with over 120 stands present (company-level game) representing about 10,000 in forces combined, both sides.  


1st photo overall setup with French Carabiners and Cuirassiers to enter turn 1.  2nd Napoleon with grand battery of 12#. 3rd Cuirassiers cross stream west (left) of Eggmuhl as 4th Wurttenberg line cross bridge to assault Eggmuhl. 5th overall picture end Turn 4. 5th Austrian cavalry incl Cuirassiers Uhlan and Hussars halt French and gaps develop in both. Not pictured Carabiners follow Wurrtenberg and past thru Eggmuhl opening a gap in Austrian line precipitating an Austrian withdrawal, and French Voltiguers engaging in long range musketry gaining an edge on Austrian line infantry and grenzers.   Game outcome similar to historical with Austrian withdrawal preserving the artillery and most of cavalry and infantry in good order.  French Carabiniers and Cuirassiers bore the brunt of action along with Wurttemberg infantry.  Well played by both gamers!!
Mark

 

The Prisoner – Rescue Colonel Flashman - Sudan 1885

 

The Prisoner - Rescue Colonel Flashman - Sudan 1885

Friendly Sudanese tribesmen have notified the Anglo-Egyptian HQ that a gathering of Dervishes encamped some miles distant appear to have a white captive with them. It is suspected that said prisoner to be none other than Colonel Sir Harry Flashman who was reported missing last week from a survey party. London has stated that Colonel Flashman will be rescued at all costs – dead or alive!

Imperial Forces:

Senior Officer:  Colonel Rick Welch, DSC

Has a full Sudanese Infantry Battalion.

• (4) Infantry Companies (20) men each. 

Subordinate Officer: Captain Chip Coffey, DSO

Has a mixed force of:

• (1) Cavalry Troop of (12) men
• (1) Disembarked Naval MG with (3) crew.
• (1) Armed Steamer with:

(1) 3LB Medium gun and (3) gunners,

(1) MG with (3) gunners,

(1) Naval Infantry Platoon (20) men.

 

Setup:

Imperial units will enter the table on the short side of the river end and will move as their card colors are pulled. The Cavalry may enter on any board edge save the entry point after turn #3. The Steamer may start docked or enter any turn.

 

Terrain considerations:

These small houses may conceal 5 men. The houses will provide class III cover. The roof tops class II.

 

The wadi will be treated as Rough Terrain and is Class III cover for troops lining the banks. The dense scrub-growth is Rough Terrain and concealment for prone figures but provides no cover from fire. The palm groves are Rough Terrain and Class II cover. The low ridges are Rough Terrain and offer Class II cover.

 

Goals:

The Anglo-Egyptian force must free the prisoner at all costs.

 

Special Rules:

In order to enter or exit a structure, ascend or descend stairs, cross undefended low walls, climb a sand dune, embark or disembark a conveyance, you must drop the high die. 

 

To break into a defended building a 5-6 on a D6 must be rolled to break down the door. Then the Melee will take place. The first 2 defenders get the benefit of cover the remainder do not unless actually behind a barricade.

 

Scenario Options:

At the beginning of every movement turn the GM will roll a D20. On a 20 a freak flash flood will rage through the wadi filling it for 1 turn making it impassible. 50% of any troops inside will drown. Place half of the survivors on one side of the bank and half on the other.

 

Use the limited ammo rules for the MG.

Die Roll – D6	Ammo
1-2	5 Rounds
3-4	6 Rounds
5-6	7 Rounds

 

Game Length:

The game length is 10 turns, then it becomes nightfall and the Dervish will be breaking camp and execute the prisoner or turn him over to the Mahdi.

 

Victory Conditions:

It will be deemed a major Imperial Victory if Lt. Flashman is rescued alive and is safe in the care of the Imperial Forces at the end of 10 turns. The Officer commanding the rescue force will be eligible for the Victoria Cross. A Major Defeat will be declared if Colonel Flashman cannot be recovered Alive and the commanding Officer may be cashiered. 

This is going to be run at ReCon in Kissimmee Florida (4/27/23) by David Welch as a memorial game for his father who recently passed away.

Rick and I were discussing several projects and scenarios he wanted to run now that he finally retired and would have the time. Very unfortunately he had lost his battle with cancer a short time later.  

Rick is far right, huge smile as always  he loved playing TSATF - The Sword And The Flame ! Here he is at one of my game tables at an HMGS-South con.

http://hmgs-south.com/

Bolt Action Game - France 1941, Sedan

  

26 June, 2021. Duane, aka Doc Yeungling a member of our group who had moved to northern Florida drove down this Friday to run a WWII game for us at Das Krieg Haus. This will be the scenario he’s going to run at this years HMGS-South’s HurriCon 2021. 

SMG - South Florida Miniatures Gamers link: 

https://groups.io/g/SMG/topics

Scenario:

28mm WW2 Blitzkrieg, early war May 194 against three German Platoons in May of 1940. German counter to regain supply route on their axis o your Bolt Action 2 books, but there 

will be some minor rule modific for either ease of play, or realism. 

                  Pregame, table being set up for the battle. 

The table and figures are absolutely amazing, what a visual treat. Doc Yeungling used Bolt Action V2 rules. I’m sure to many it’s a fine set, however it was mot my cup of tea. Nonetheless it was a beautiful table and a fun game!

Here’s the link for the official Bolt Action rules and products.                Bolt Action - Warlord Games

AAR provided by Doc Yeungling who ran the game.

Set in May 1940, near Sudan. French have counterattacked in strength and have a defensive position on an axis of supply, awaiting the Germans.

A German infantry company with support of an HMG, and Medium Mortar section, an artillery batter strike, and air support, with Sturmgeshutz Platoon attached, and Kampfgroupe Commander.

Several buildings are along the road, with assorted trees, walls, hedges, and fields breaking up line of fire, with the crossroads in the left center of the battle.

The French have two infantry platoons supported by a Char Bis heavy tank section, and a light AT gun section, with a medium mortar section. They have managed to get their infantry in buildings and along two stone walls for the most part with squads and support elements in woods, or in the fields to the South of the road.

 The German spread out their infantry platoons across the North side of the table to diffuse the combat power of the French and find a place to break the line or flank them. They grouped the assault guns to their left flank.

 Though the Germans were able to mass the fire from the assault gun light howitzers, they could not penetrate the heavy armor of the lone French tank on their left. They did managed to pin, and cause some casualties, but the stone buildings and terrain gave the advantage to the French. The Germans attacked the center crossroads with two infantry platoons with their armor support on the left. However, the German assault developed and was slowed by unexpected heavy casualties, and pins, while their tow tanks rebuffed all attacks. At best the German air attack caused pins to the French armor while their third platoon managed to get to the far right flank around the French. 

 Telling was the inability of the Germans to get a foot hold in the crossroads in a timely manner, with ineffective fire at the French armor.

 The Germans lost about 25% of their infantry power trying to get close to assault the crossroad, but could not budge the French, with no real way of killing the armor, until they could close assault with the AT grenades, and Panzerknocker teams, or wait for more air cover, and support.

 

In the end the French were able to stop the Germans for the morning (marginal victory), but two things were apparent. One, the Germans had worked to the far right flank, and could catch the French defending that side of the table in a crossfire, and assault the flank with a fresh squad, and with heavy casualties the Germans on the left could bring fire from the assault guns to the crossroads on the flank. This while though taking more casualties, the Germans where finally getting into position. 

               A dram of Good libations to grease the treads. 

Doc Yeungling mulling over the battlefield casualties. 

Some of the local SMG Crew in our Ft Lauderdale Florida clubhouse, Das Krieg Haus. 

SMG Club Game (2-29-20) WWI Wings of War

The South Florida Miniatures Gamers had a fun game of Wings of War WWI on (2/29/20) at our Fort Lauderdale clubhouse, Das Krieg Haus.

 This is a fast and simple card driven game system that is huge fun to play and very easy to set up. We played an "Escort Mission" with the British attempting to recon an area of the German forward outposts. The German mission, was of course to shoot down the recon plane so as to protect their forward assets.

The game was a hoot and I really love this system, I should definitely play it more often. I'm sure my kids would enjoy it as well as it's not one of those "ALL DAY GAMES" that they loose interest in after a few hours.

The British aviators won the day, they successfully reconnoitered our front lines and safely returned to base to provide the data to their forward HQ.

We had a small, but fun turnout. My regularly scheduled game was postponed due to my son's soccer team making it the championship game so I most definitely needed to be there, and in addition I'm one of the assistant coaches as well! Steve K was kind enough to drive up from Miami and host this game for us. Not only that but he brought amazing Jamaican style patties with him and treated us all. Thank you Steve!

Post scrip: Since this game the world has been turned upside down with the global COVID-19 Pandemic. That being said we've temporarily suspended all monthly club games for the near future. We hope to be back together as soon as things get better and we are allowed to congregate again.

Everyone be well and stay Healthy!!!! Cheers, Sgt G.

Here is Sgt G's tri wing plane that went down in flames ignominiously.

 Here's Steve K's plane, he flew much better and survived the day.

 Here is the card deck that runs the games, each person pulls (3) cards for each turn. Each card has a maneuver that ties into the last one. The cards are specific for each type of plane and have different turn radius', different maneuvers, and such.

Above is the range stick, there are two ranges, short and long. The range stick is placed at the base of the firing plane and must touch any part of the target's plane base, but must be within the firing planes arc of fire.

 Each plane comes with its own movement deck and flight stand, however a core game box needs to be purchased for the rules and range stick.

 From left to right: Steve K, Steve CQ, Capt Ron.

Front and Center: Sgt Guinness

The first two sets are Wings of War - Famous Aces (Nexus Editrice 2004) and Wings of War - Watch your back! (Nexus Editrice 2005). The first one includes a selection of fighters with personal colors of the most renowned aces of World War I: the planes are Fokker Dr.I and Albatros D.Va for Central Empires and SPAD XIII, Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Triplane for the Allied. WoW - Watch your back! adds other fighters and some two-seaters allowing bombings, recon missions and other special scenarios. WoW- Burning Drachens (Nexus Editrice 2005) is the newest set in the World War I series. It includes drachens, AA guns, machine guns, air-to-air Le Prieur rockets, trench systems, and optional altitude rules. WoW- Burning Drachens includes rules for solo play as well as multi-player dogfights, bombing runs, and strafing or recon missions. Each set allows 2/4 people to play; the number can increase using more than one set.

Wings of War Miniatures adds war game miniatures to Wings of War by introducing model airplanes on 1/144 scale that are used in place of the airplane cards. The miniatures are made of pre-painted pewter and plastic and come with a gaming base and a set of maneuver cards. A number of different miniatures have been created, and serve as an extension to Wings of War - Famous Aces, Wings of War - Watch your back!, and Wings of War - Burning Drachens.