A definite hint of spring was in the air as a good number of Friends gathered for their regular table top shenanigans. Club featured two smaller scale games, both set in the 20th century.
10mm Great War – August 1914 – Black Powder (with Club adaptions ‘Sheffield Steel’)
A run out for the ever popular club 10mm WW1 collection that is currently focused on the early days of the conflict in August and September 1914. In this period the warfare was very open and fluid, and all the combatants were still getting used to the realities of modern industrialised mass warfare.
The scenario saw a defeated and demoralised French force, of two infantry brigades and a battery of artillery, retreating from the Germans, and intent on getting off the board. The French retreat was being covered by a brigade of British cavalry with horse artillery. Set against the allies was a veritable horde of ‘Hun’ infantry. As the Germans pressed their advantage, a rapid pursuit meant they entered the battlefield piece-meal.
It was an exciting game – the Germans pressed on with vigour and were soon snapping up any French units that fell behind in their retreat. The allies managed to set up a holding position with their artillery and the British dismounted cavalry. The lead German formations were given a bloody nose that slackened their advance a little, along with some valiant last stands of plucky French infantry companies. As the German numbers built up, they pressed on fearlessly and the British and French guns were soon forced to flee for safety, covered by mounted charges from the British cavalry.
Another great adventure in 1914 gaming and a few more Friends were introduced to Black Powder and Sheffield Steel.
15mm Modern – Iran-Iraq War – Sand, Missiles and Helicopters (Home grown rules)
A little gamed, but fascinating conflict from the 1980s. The scenario was based on an Iraqi counter-attack to gain back land lost as part of the Iranian offensive in the Faw Peninsular. In the game the various Iraqi attacks struggled to coordinate and the Iranians expertly blocked the attempts. The plucky Iranian militia were even up for stopping T72s with infantry assaults!
The rules used were Sand, Missiles and Helicopters, a fast play set of modern rules loosely based on Flames of War and Black Powder, put together by one of the Friends.
If you are intrigued by the period, amazed by the lovely terrain and models, or want to find out more about the rules, then you can checkout a fuller version of this game at Salute next month! (Just ask for ‘Bruce’.)
