Christening of John's new shed and a birthday bash

It was over the table at last weekend's Nijmegan game that I proposed a get together to recognise another of our group - Richard's - eligibility for the seniors travel card.  We agreed that we would gather in Bowral on Friday for a lunch to celebrate the significant birthday.

John then suggested that we should bookend the lunch with a big Impetus game which could also serve as an official 'christening' for his new shed.  It shoud be noted here that the new shed is in the backyard of the house that John and his wife have purchased in Bowral.  The house is undergoing a signficant extension / renovation - but John was clever enough to sequence the construction of the shed early in the project.  The result is that he has moved into the wargames shed - and a very nice pool installed alongside - even though the rest of the house is 3-4 months off completion.

So a 700 point a side Impetus game was planned pitting the Burgundians againt Imperials.  We gathered around 9 and the game got underway - to be interrupted for a few hours for a great lunch in town and concluded before a cool off (it was 32 C) in the pool for a few.

I was staying the evening at Richard's house so we enjoyed a glass or two in the backyard as the sun descended.  A great end to a wonderful day.

Rapid Fire 20mm Nijmegan Bridge and Groesbeek Heights

We decided to do a large game at the club last Sunday with six of us playing. It was decided to base it on the new Rapid Fire Market Garden guide and use RFR as a rules set.

As anyone with any knowledge of Market Garden or the movie A Brdge Too Far will know, there is one iconic action that we wargamers want to replay when thinking of Nijmegan - the storm boat assault over the river Waal.  As I was the only one with a set of the old Brittania (now Grubby) boats and US Para crews, I was tasked with being the 82nd Airborne in Nijmegan while John was the Guards Armoured Battlegroup assaulting Nijmegan and supporting my US Paras and Grant was the 82nd Airborne holding the Groesbeek Heights from the Germans advancing out of Germany.  The Germans were played by Warwick, Terry and Bob.

By the time we had set up the table and forces, the game got underway about 10am.  With a good hour for lunch and a few beers at the local pub, we were finished by 3.30pm.  A few photos below - which do focus on my sector as I took them :)    

The river crossing in the forground.
Nijmegan, rail and road bridges through
to the villages at the foot of Groesbeek Heights

A few of my Dutch resin railway buildings 

2/505 advancing to cover the crossing site

75mm pack howitzers providing supporting fire

The arrival of the boats (pontoon trucks standing in) is on 
a randon roll - we rolled well. 

3/504 advancing to meet the boats - no waiting
in this movie

First wave is launched

and targeted by the German artillery and MG fire

One of 4 boats reach the far shore - but they disembark and
take out a dug in German MMG and pass morale

The rail bridge is rushed by elements of the 2nd Household
Cavalry and Stuarts of the Grenadier Guards

... which are targeted by an 88mm

A US Engineer Coy follow over the bridge while the second
wave (2/505) are launched

Gane is up for the Germans as the boats start disembarking
an untouched battalion and the Engineers cross the bridge with 
few casualties

A few games of 30 Years War using Baroque

We have played two Thirty Years War games over the past two weeks.  Firstly it was a general bash with reasonably evenly matched forces with the Swedes up against the Catholics.  It was mainly a way of getting a group of us together to play the rules (re-aquaint ourselves).  It was a good game even if it came to a quick conclusion for one Swedish flank when they broke after losing heavily in their first contacts of the game.  We note now that we did not follow the rules correctly in determining when a 'wing' of an army breaks.  

The Tercios in the middle about to come to grips with the enemy

Close up of the Bavarian tercio

And the remiander of the photos are a few close up of various units on the field

Catholic dragoons

Swedish P&M unit

Swedish P&M unit

Swedish P&M unit

The second game was on Friday evening with a smaller group.  Again Ralph brought his 15mm TYW troops - this time foir a historic refight between the Poles and the Swedes.  Just a few photos.

 

 

A few quick Panzer IVs

I have a game on Thursday evening of RapidFire with a few of the guys.  Pulled out a good scenario and realised I was short three Panzer IVs.  So down into the basement to search in the stash and voila - 2 days later I have the required three.  

They need a little pigment or dust paint on them I think.

Been quite a while since I painted any 20mm WW2.  I was intending to continue my focus on the 1813 project with the Adler Napoleonics (more of that later) - but doing these has created an itch.

AWI at John's

John pulled out one of his large collections and put on an AWI game for 6 of us a few weeks ago in the garage.  The Colonials won at the end of the day - but not before I learnt the difficulty of attacking (attempting to!!) a redoubt that was held by Hessians.

"The Redoubt"

Just up there boys

The 4 marker signifies casualties from defensive fire on the way in - we didn't stay for long

Revenge was had a few turns later when my other regiment attacked the rear of the redoubt.

And finally a shot of an excellent cornfield that had been put together by Phil who unfortunately could not join us for the day.

   

Christmas big bash at Cumberland

The annual Christmas Napoleonic Big Bash at the Cumberland club took place in mid December.  It is basically an excuse to get as much lead on the table as possible and advance.   I had a Corp of Bavarians and faced off against John with his Russian Corp and a s***load of Russian guns.  The Age of Eagles rules were used

The other tradition is a wonderful lunch put on by Joey - I thought I had photos but alas they do not appear to have been on the phone.  

But to summarise as glazed ham, roast lamb, chicken, mango salsa for the ham and baked veggies washed down with a Crown Lager or two.  Excellent.

The table from the French and Allied right flank

Our left flank with the Bavarians in the middle to the right of the fields

Bavarian gun line

Inspired by the Russians

Bavarians advancing to hold the village

Considering whether we want to advance on those Russians brigades

A Russian Brigade snuck through up the side of the village

But was quickly seen off 

The end for the Russians with the Bavarians in the clear