Bulge, Budapest and other stuff updates

     So yet another fairly productive few weeks has passed in the McCubbyhole and there's a smorgasbord of stuff to blog about.

 Fortress Budapest Soviet Force    

     I'll start with my Soviets. I procrastinated with building and painting these fellows as I needed  a direction or short term goal to work towards; a carrot dangling juicily from the end of a short stick, if you like, and after playing the part of the Germans in the Street Fighting In Pest scenario twice now I decided that I would build a Soviet force based on the Soviet Army Urban Assault Group the core of which is;

a platoon commander and

two 12 man SMG Squads, 

To them can be added; 

a captain or major, 

a medic,

0-4 infantry squads from SMG squads, 

0-1 pioneer squad (no body armour upgrade for these chaps)  and/

0-1 Guards squad. 

0-3 Direct fire support units; medium machine gun and/or light howitzer. 

0-2 flamethrowers, 

0-1 light or medium mortars, 

0-1 sniper team and 

0-3 anti tank team 

Heavy support can be added from 

0-1 ZIS-3 Divisional gun, 122mm howitzer or a 

medium howitzer 

and lastly, 0-1 armoured support from either an SU-76, T-34, T34/85, OT-34 (flamethrower version) or Lend-Lease M4 76mm Sherman.

     So using the Warlord Games Soviet Starter Army set (I have also added a few support units from Artizan Designs; MMG and ZIS-3) I bashed on with it and by last week I had this lot done, painted, based and ready to do battle for Mother Russia!!

Soviet Urban Assault Group. From left to right, front to back Front
row; Senior Lt Ivan Chestikoff plus runner, Forward Artillery Observer,
sniper team,. Second row. SMG squads, Guards infantry squad, Senior
Officer (I'll need to repaint him as he looks like a commissar at the moment)
MMG. Third row; SU-76, anti tank rifle, two tank hunter teams (can be
combined to make an assault pioneer team) ZIS-3 Divisional Gun, Medium
mortar.

I'm slowly getting these T34/85s done; just  some weathering and 
they're good to go. I have a third T35/85 to add to these two to 
create a tank platoon

     I have actually played my first game with my Soviets though, of course, it wasn't in their guise of the Urban Assault Group but rather a force based on the Operation Bagration theatre selector.. I have a batrep to write up about that but in the meantime I'm really chuffed to have these fellows done and I'm itching to try them out in the Street Fighting In Pest scenario as well as other ones from the Fortress Budapest campaign book..

Battle Of The Bulge US Cavalry Group

     My other project (I call it a project to make it sound like there is some semblance of a plan to what I am doing though I don't think I am fooling anyone) that I am working on at the moment, my late war US Cavalry Group, is also starting to come on. Below is a photo reminder of what I started with, a Cavalry themed force cobbled together from what I had at the time.

     When I started this force I was working from what I could glean from the internet but since then I have bought a copy of Osprey Publishing's World War II US Cavalry Groups; European Theater. A gem of a book that has proved both invaluable and insightful. It has given me a clearer idea of how I can create a historical themed force for Bolt Action.

         To the above I have added yet another M5 Stuart tank and another M8 Armoured Car. I have also repainted one of the jeeps crew as US troops which was basically a head swap and a repaint of 

the uniforms.

Pristine and new M5 Stuart and M8 Greyhound with added
crew figures and lots of stowage

     After building them I was posing them side by side with the other M5 and M8 like you do when I realised that the Italeri/Warlord Games 37mm barrel was significantly smaller than that of the Rubicon kit!!. Not only that but the turret appeared slightly smaller too (though the breeches of both guns were the opposite; Italeri's large and Rubicons small!!) Bugger!!

     Now I know it's a small matter, if you'll excuse the pun, as they would probably not appear next to one another in a game so a visual comparison might never be made but the very thought that they were so different rankled. To such an extent that the new M8 nearly became an M20 Utility Vehicle, the turret less version with the HMG mounted on it.

     But then a flash of inspiration came my way; I still had the spare parts for the Rubicon M8 Scott GMC which is based on the kit of the M5 Stuart. I dug them out and sure enough the 37mm gun barrel on the sprue was, like the Baby Bear's porridge, just right so some snipping, sanding, pinning and gluing later the most noticeable part of the Italeri M8 had been rectified to my satisfaction.

Nooooo! Rubicon M8 turret left; Warlord/Italeri to the right

Sorted!! Spare Rubiucon 37mm to the rescue

      Besides building the Stuart and the Greyhound I have also bedecked all of the vehicles with extra stowage, mostly made from Miliput. There's a few small things to do; decals, weathering and some more crew figures for the Jeep and Beep then it'll just be case of preparing a campaign built around the Ardennes and off we go. 

The US Cavalry mounts of WW2. I could feasibly fit in an M5
half track too to mount up some of those dismounted troops in
the previous photo

    

Sharp Practice; The Temptation of Fra Angelico

     After such a spiffing game a couple of weeks ago, as previously posted, the following games are taking two distinct threads; one based on the escorting of Fra Angelico back to the French HQ and the other the attempted rescue of Lt Dumas-De Winter.

     The escort mission will be based on the scenario of the same name in the Sharp Practice rule book and as I pondered on it I thought it would be nice to have completely different scenery from the first game; perhaps an inn of sorts along the road which the French column and their "guest"would travel. I already own the Charlie Foxtrot's pantile stable and cart house so what I needed was a house that could pass muster as an inn. So I popped onto Charlie Foxtrot's website and bought the imaginatively named Pantile House 4. Starting on it the day it arrived I had it built in about an hour following Lardy Nick's idea of using superglue to put together MDF buildings which was a bit of a revelation, let me tell you. 

     It meant I could add the texture to the walls almost immediately. After two evenings worth of  effort I had this result. That should do nicely as an inn when coupled with the stable and cart house.

     The small bits of terrain I also painted whilst working on the house/inn. They are from Hovels Ltd's Spanish terrain set. They are very inexpensive and very nice. 

A very nice kit, Pantile House 4

Fountain, roadside cross and water trough by Hovels

     With a view to getting the most out of our play time (there'll be four players and an umpire) I decided to try a couple of layouts for the game so that I knew where everything was going when it came to setting up.

Set up 1; Okay but the buildings straddling the road
make for a bottle neck that might restrict players
options

Set up 2 seems a better option and, since I didn't want
to spend the night moving things here and there with a
hope to make it perfect, we settled on this set up

     Originally I had planned to use this building as the Spanish Inn. It is the bakery from the Gangs Of Rome Bread And Circuses set made by Sarissa Precision. Again, using super glue this was an evenings worth of project and I stucco-ed it in the same manner I did the Pantile House (and indeed all my Mediterranean themed buildings)

     It's still a work in progress and it's a jolly nicely detailed kit but not Spanish enough looking to my mind...though I'll be happy to be proved wrong...more than happy in fact..

     And whilst we or rather I am on a Peninsular War theme I took a trip to the lead mountain and dug these chaps out. They are Foundry Miniatures Napoleonic War Early British infantry and riflemen that I purchased second hand from Colonel Bills. I really need a fourth Napoleonic force and the British will be it. I am now toying with the idea of using contrast paints on them as I am hearing good things about them. 

British Sharp Practice force. Two groups of line, two of
riflemen and a smattering of leaders and a support options
(drummer and flag bearer) all I need now is time

And that's me for this round up/update thing. We fight the second mission of the Temptations of Fra Angelico tomorrow so look forward to a batrep from that soon. 

pip pip,

Jimbob

Napoleonic Sharp Practice: The Temptation of Fra Angelico

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     It's been an awful long time since I had played a game of Sharp Practice; the game I put on at Deep Fried Lard not withstanding as I ran that game rather than played it, so recently when the opportunity to play some Napoleonic Sharp Practice at the Falkirk and District Wargames Club popped up I grabbed it with both grubby hands. I even convinced FDWCs Laird of Lard, John Ewing, to set the game in the Peninsula as I could supply suitable terrain and bring my Frenchies along to boot. So the scene was set for a 4 player, 2 a side, game of Napoleonic Sharp Practice with the Laird of Lard himself umpiring.

     

     The scenario was a straight forward; Fra Angelico, Franciscan friar and despiser of the French invaders had been rabble rousing against them. And not happy with the efforts to date of the Spanish Army against said Frenchies he was also rabble rousing against them too much to the consternation of the local Spanish commander, Colonel Manuella. And so it came to pass that both the French and the Spaniards had decided to call a halt to Fra Angelico's activities, both for their own reasons but, curiously enough, both almost simultaneously. 

     The Spanish sent a detachment of troops, led by Capitan Don Pedro to bring in the Franciscan friar to "discuss" his views and to see if they could persuade him to see things from the Spanish Army's point of view. Meanwhile Capitan Richard D'Astardly of the 30th Legere had been handed the task of "escorting" Fra Angelico to Brigade Headquarters where their intelligence services under the command of Major D'Fecht wished to have a chat with the friar. 

     Arriving at the small hamlet of  San Atogen, well known for it's fortifying wine, from opposite sides, both the French and Spanirad spied one another and prepared to carry out their mission, the enemy be damned!

     Colonel Le Blanc took a pinch of snuff from a small, ivory case and sniffed deeply. Sneezing, he wiped his nose and offered the case to the infantry captain standing before him "Thank you, mon colonel, but I do not partake of snuff" said Capitan D'Astardly bowing slightly.

    "It is good for the sinuses and stimulating the senses, D'Astardly, you must try it sometime" the colonel said, looking down from his seat astride a large bay that pawed the ground before it. "And you will need your wits about you this afternoon, D'Astardly, the Spanish are approaching the town from across the way; from what Don Montaya" here he indicated a Spanish civilian mounted on a rather shabby looking mare. The Spaniard doffed his top hat to D'Astardly in friendly greeting. "From what Don Montaya tells me, I say, the Spanish are also interested in this damned Fracsican monk. It appears that the good brother has been berating them too; I don't wonder that we don't leave him here to carry on his rabble rousing against them. It might do our cause some good, eh?"

     He took a small telescope from beneath his coat tails and looked towards the distant dust cloud approaching San Atogen and watched it drawing nearer to the town. "You will search the town, D'Astardly, and find this pest and bring him back." he said, as he continued to watch the Spaniards "Do not fail for, pest though he is, it is believed he knows many secrets about the local guerrillas and that makes him valuable to us"

      A horseman approached from the direction of San Atogen at a canter, a cloud of dust trailing him and he reined in by the group around the colonel. "Your report, Lieutenant Dumas-De Winter?" said the colonel. The young dragoon officer saluted "They are only an infantry column, mon colonel; no cavalry or cannon" The colonel nodded. "Very well, D'Astardly you know Lt Dumas-De Winter I believe; his dragoons will join you in this venture as will Don Montaya and his men. We will wait here; D'Astardly, do not fail, headquarters and our intelligence staff want this Fra Angelico badly!" D'Astardly saluted and left, calling his own men lounging by the roadside to form up.

     Capitan Don Pedro puffed on a small cheroot and gazed at his men. He felt his chest fill with pride at the sight of them, finally dressed in smart uniforms and marching in step, mostly. At the head of the column were his pride and joy, his grenadiers. If Don Pedro had had his way they would all be grenadiers however far too many of his men were under nourished and far to short to fit the bill. 

     He and his men had been ready to depart their camp in the mountains for San Anatogen three days previously but Colonel Manuella had insisted that they must be bolstered with more men and had attached a platoon of militia and one of cazadores to his column. The cazadores Don Pedro welcomed, their reputation going before them though their commander, Lt Roberto, was an argumentative fellow, much given to questioning orders. As for the militia; pah!  they were farmers in uniforms. Cattle would have been of as much use; better even as they gave milk whereas the militia gave nothing but worry. Still the colonel was insistent and Don Pedro had had to accept his reinforcements which meant the delay of a day in setting off as the reinforcements were still en route to the camp and the militia needed a rest before the column could set out. However, Don Pedro had not wasted the time, he had set his second-in-command and nephew, Capitan Infanta, to drilling his men and had personally overseen the provisioning of the militia and cazadores as best he could. 

     At last they had set off to find this irritating Franciscan, hoping to change his point of view or to remove him altogether. And now, as they neared San Atogen and news reached him of the approaching French, Don Pedro was glad of his preparations; now his men would get a taste of action...   

The French and their Spanish allies deploy along the western
side of San Atogen. As Don Montaya's men begin searching
the first of the houses for Fra Angelico, Lt Dumas-De Winter
leads his dragoons around the outskirt of the town 

Lt Duma-De Winter cuts a dash on his grey stallion, Concorde,
leading his dragoons

Across the main road the Spanish Militia deploy and start
peppering the French with musket fire, much to the chagrin
of the locals

Behind the militia men, the Spanish cazadores skirmishers
under Lt Roberto await developments

As the dragoons continue to sweep around the flank of San
Atogen and prepare to dismount, Lt Camembert leads his
voltiguers into the Hermitage in their search for the hot
headed holy man

Capitan D'Astardly's men trade musket fire with the Spanish
militia along the length of the main street as Don Montaya
and his men draw a blank in their search, not even a decent
Merlot or spicy sausage

     Leaping the low wall surrounding the small casa the voltiguers dashed towards the door at the rear of the hermitage Reaching it they threw themselves at it trying to beat it down. "Back, you imbeciles!" cried Lt Camembert. The men fell back from the door and Lt Camembert stepped forward and reaching for the handle, opened the door. "Idiots!!" he said "Now, with me" and, pistol in hand he stepped into the dark interior of the small room, his men piling in behind him. In the gloom he saw the interior door closing swiftly. In a few quick strides he was at the door. Fumbling in the dark for the handle, he found it and wrenched the door open.....

    

Don Pedro's men march in martial splendour towards the
sound of battle

       The French soldiers forced the door of the large building and poured into the low ceilinged room, rummaging through cupboards and wardrobes in their search for the Franciscan, occasionally giving vent to small cries of triumph; their dented and battered shakos almost touching the ceiling. Behind them came their young lieutenant pushed past one of their men who was guarding the door. Sous Lieutenant "Cherubino" De Notte, look angrily at them "I told you to wait, did I not?" he said to the soldiers. "Pardon mon lieutenant, we thought we saw the priest through the window" said a tall corporal jamming a bottle of wine into a poachers pocket in his jacket. "No you didn't, you rascals, I know you are plundering! Enough now; time for that later. Let us find this damned priest and be gone. Citroen, Renault search upstairs. Corporal Peugeot, bring the others, we will search the ground floor.." 

Sous Lt De Notte's men search the villa and its grounds

While Capitan D'Astardly continues to keep the Spanish forces
occupied and suffering in the process

     Lt Duma-De Winter ordered his men to dismount. He had led them around the side of the village behind a copse and planned to add to the discomfort of the Spaniards and draw them away from their searching. Capitan D'Astardly had looked askance at Duma-De Winter's suggestion. The dragons were valuable troops and he could not afford to squander them in the role of infantry while they still had horses to carry them. However as time was pressing and in lieu of a better plan, D'Astardly had agreed. 
     Dismounting, Dumas-De Winter motioned Sgt Boyer to wait with his men still in the saddle; who knows, an opportunity to unleash a charge on the foe might present itself. Duma-De Winter and his men formed a line and entered the copse. As they approached the far side of it, he saw some scarlet breeched soldiers dashing towards the copse from the village. "Dragoons! Halt!" he cried to his men. The men stopped obediently "enemy to our front! Fire!!" The dragoons shouldered their carbines and let loose a ragged volley. Dumas-De Winter saw at least one of the Spaniards fall. "Reload!" he cried automatically though there was no need, his dragoons were already in the process of reloading. The Spaniards officer cried out to his men and they started running towards the copse, bayonets flashing wickedly in the sun. Dumas-De Winter realised the Spaniards would be on his men before they could fire again "At them lads!!" he cried as the Spaniards leapt the wall. The Dragoons responded swiftly but they were outnumbered and the combat was swift, bloody and brutal. Striking down two Spaniards, Dumas-De Winter turned to face a third when a musket butt struck his head and he slumped to the ground...

Dumas-De Winter is captured

     Lt Camembert grabbed the monk's hood as Fra Angelico headed for the hermitages front door "Pardon monsieur, you must come with us" said Camembert. The monk swung at Camembert's head with a heavy bible and said something in Spanish that didn't sound very religious. "Hold him" cried the corporal behind Camembert. The voltiguers grappled with monk, pinning his arms behind him and, making use of the cord around his waist the quickly tied his hands. 

     Camembert moved to the front door and put his eye to a crack in the woodwork. Outside he could see the Spaniards firing, reloading and firing again as their officer shouted at them, presumably attempting to get their attention. What a target they presented thought Camembert. A volley from the flank and this lot would run. A movement beyond the militiamen caught his eye. Looking beyond them he could see an column of Spaniards marching in step down the street towards the junction These looked a very different manner of soldier; their bearing and their uniforms made a marked contrast to the militia men outside the hermitage. 

     "The back door, quick, back the way we came" he said, urging his men back. They hustled the reluctant monk out of the back door, Camembert, glancing to his right shouted "quick men, back across the road before these Spanish asses spot us!!"  

Camembert and his men "escort" Fra Angelico back towards
the French lines

     And there the game finished, on a cliff hanger. The French had got their man but the Spaniards had captured the Dragoons commander. This gave us two narrative threads to pursue; escorting Fra Angelico all the way back to the French brigade headquarters and their intelligence section and the rescue of Lt Duma-De Winter.

    This evening will see the first of those two narratives take place as the French, reinforced to some degree with more infantry and the questionable Major D'Fecht of the Intelligence Section, make their way back to brigade headquarters. Will Capitan Don Pedro and his men accept this state of affairs and head back to Colonel Manuella empty handed? I think not. Tune in next time for the next part in this (mildly) thrilling story wherein I will have many more photos of the action and more tales of courage and derring do to impart.

     Thanks to John for concocting the scenario, and also to Peter, Robert and Alan for joining in the fray with spirit and dash etc etc.

pip pip,

Jimbob

    

Bolt Action Fortress Budapest

Battling On In Budapest

     We're back in Budapest for this game with Danny's Soviets continuing their attempts to take the doomed city from the Axis forces and to destroy mine and Richie's Germans in the process.

     We employed the same scenario as before, scenario 8 Street Fighting In Budapest, but with marginally different forces from our previous battle and with more use of the City Siege Assets special rules as you will find out, dear reader. 

     As we had different forces it follows that this battle takes place in a different part of the city, Kolbasz Square. This square is vital to the Soviet advance as it is a vital road hub within this part of Pest. For the Germans it represents another valuable link in their defence line that must be held and an opportunity to wreak more destruction on more of the seemingly limitless Soviet forces.

     The points limit was 1500 points per side with Richie and I splitting that; he spending his on veteran Waffen SS and I on my Heer which was mainly Regular but with a couple of Veteran squads in there for good measure...and extra LMGs. The German armour was limited to a Sdkfz 251/21 Drilling and a 250/09 recce half track. There was a lot riding on these two to support the German lines.

     Danny's Soviets were also, for the main part, Regulars, only his engineers being Veterans. With plenty of infantry and a good selection of supports including a medium howitzer, mortar, a light howitzer and two snipers (one a freebie from the City Siege Assets options) as well as armour in the shape of a T34/85 the Soviets felt confident that they could capture at least one of the German defensive zones. As their forces gathered for the push, overhead their preliminary bombardment thundered towards the Germans dug in in the ruins surrounding Kolbasz Square...

     Putting the dust covered bottle of cognac to his lips, Lieutenant Igor Ashtiffi took a deep drink. It tasted good. He passed the bottle across to the burly sergeant opposite him, wiped his lips with his sleeve then took a cigarette from a pack lying among the ceiling plaster that coated the tablecloth, the cutlery and the smashed crockery left behind by the houses former inhabitants in their haste to escape when the battle started. 

     Across the table from him, his platoon sergeant, Vladimir Putov and his squad commanders eyed him in silence; the cognac bottle going around, passed from hand to hand as blue smoke rose from the cigarettes that they were all smoking; American cigarettes they had found in a German gun 

position they had captured the day before, much to their astonishment and gratitude, cigarettes being hard to come by.. 

     They had been together since the battalion had moved into Hungary. Somehow they had survived the fierce fighting in Debrecen and on the approaches to Budapest but each of them knew that every day with each passing battle their chances of survival grew slimmer and slimmer. They had resigned themselves to their fate. And resignedly they listened to the young platoon commander outline their next attack; their next dance with Fate. 

     "Our immediate concern is getting across that blasted square. The German swine will have another bombardment dropping on their heads soon, courtesy of our artillery; as soon as that finishes we move. Sergeant Putov, you will take Simonaovich, Bogdan and Grigori's squads and capture the church then push on. You will have Pasha's anti tank gun, a light howitzer and the mortar to keep the Germans heads down. The battalion has also sent down a sniper to help; he'll be in your sector; understood?" Putov and the three squad leaders nodded silently. On this side of the square, I will lead Gennady and Pyotr's squads. We will have the engineers withe us; Sergeant Vankin's men, and a tank. We will work our way through to the corner of the square" he took a last draw on his cigarette and stubbed it out on the table cloth before continuing. "The Germans have manned the house facing onto the square; our support weapons will keep their heads down while we clear the flanks. Once I reach the corner of the square, watch for a green flare over a white; that means we are there. Putov, your signal will be red over white. Wait till I signal then respond. Once your flares go up, the support weapons will concentrate on the centre and upper floors while we clear the bottom before working our way up; got that?" Again the sergeant and the squad leaders nodded before Putov spoke "What's the password; for when we meet in the building?" Ashtiffi considered, looking down at the bottle which was now in his hand "Cognac" he said....         

     

Kolbasz Square from the German side; littered with bodies, 
rubble, craters and wrecked vehicles it promised to be a deadly
killing zone for the Soviets

The quiet before the storm...

View from the Red corner, well one of them, across Kolbasz
Square. The building in the back  ground is the one that
Ashtiffi plans to reach before signalling the attack on the main
German position

One of my veteran squads covering the northern end of
Kolsbaz Square. This is the side of the square where Lt
Ashtiffi would lead the assault

The Germans main defensive position. It was bristling with
weaponry, light howitzer, MMGs,and a veteran SS squad would
all make this a tough nut to crack And with excellent fields
of fire across the square, they planned to make the Soviets
pay a high price for it's capture. Top right is the SS mortar spotter

The Germans endure the preliminary bombardment and get off
quite lightly with only the light howitzer taking a casualty, the
rest of the units taking pins.One of the Germans City Siege
Assets was an Ammunition Dump. A building of the players
choice is selected as the site of an ammo dump. This allows
one infantry or artillery unit inside the building or within 6"
of the building to re-roll 1s when given a Fire or Advance
order once per turn. The Soviets had also selected this option,
the fiends!

Snatching up the ringing field phone, Oberscharfuhrer Wiltz spoke briefly "Number 1 mortar...Ja...ja" then shouted "Standby!" to the mortar crew crouching in the muddy crater next to the chipped and scarred metal tube. Quickly he scribbled down some figures in his notebook and replaced the phone in its receiver. He turned and stepped to his crew who were by now stood over the medium mortar, poised for action and read out the range and elevation for their target. "Ready" shouted the mortar man who had set the sights. Wiltz quickly checked the settings, stepped back. The field phone rang again, Wiltz grabbed it and listened briefly before shouting "Ranging shot! FIRE!!" The crewman poised by the mortar swiftly dropped the round he was clutching into the mouth of the tube and automatically leaned away. With a bang and a ringing thunk, the mortar bomb took flight. Seconds passed with Wiltz clutching the field phone to his ear, listening breathlessly as the crew quickly and efficiently prepared more mortar rounds. Over the phone came a barely audible chatter and Wiltz cried "On target! three rounds; fire for effect!!" In seconds the three mortar rounds were in flight, following up on the first which had landed in between the trail legs of the Soviet medium howitzer.

The SS medium mortar; they proved to be a thorn in the Soviet's
side.With their first ranging shot they wiped out the Soviet medium
howitzer crew; 

Ashtiffi's advance, lead by the engineers...

with the supporting T34/85 grinding its way along the rubble
strewn street..

..and providing fairly effective supporting fire for Ashtiffi's
men. Also in support was an MMG.
 

In a quick change of plan, one of the Soviet squads in Putov's
flank deploy into the central ruin to give fire support to both
flanks

In the Germans main position, the SS squad adds its fire to that
of the MMG and light howitzer 

Sgt Putov's men make a dash for the ruined church

German reinforcements begin to arrive; first one SS squad

then a 251/21 Drilling

Then a second SS squad

Followed by the 250/09

Then two squads of Heer Regulars with Leutnant Pumpf

The Germans then started to apply pressure. On my side of the very small
table, my 250/09 worked wonders. Hitting the T34/85 with it's light auto
cannon it managed to cause a pin on the T34/85s Regular crew. When the
T34/85 subsequently went to act they failed their orders test and had to
pulled back. Which was relief to me as it was acting with impunity as my
guys had no other anti tank weaponry to deal with it. Talk about riding
your luck..

By now the Soviets were on the back foot and the SS were
carrying out an aggressive defence, pushing forward to contest
the Soviet table quarters, togged out as they were in their nice,
new winter gear

Finally, in turn 5, I managed to spring my sneaky, sewer movement
squad into the Soviets rear are. Popping up fro a sewer entrance behind
the Soviets supporing units, they found themselves in a target rich
enviroment and they let rip at the medium mortar crew, who, having
already fired this turn couldn't go down. With one SMG and five
Assault Rifles I was pretty confident that the mortar team were toast.
But no, all I managed to do was kill two of them and the third easily
passed his Man Alone test and promptly went to ground. In the
subsequent turn, one of Danny's squads pulled back and wiped out
the German squad in close combat. In a shocking display, they
didn't register one hit on the Soviets...bugger! But well done that
Soviet squad

The limit of Ashtiffi's advance. Without the support of the T34/85
it was pretty hard for his men to push on.

     And so it ended for the moment. With dwindling men and supports, the Soviets pulled back, the Germans fending off yet another assault. But how long can they hold out?

     Yet another in a long line of really enjoyable Bolt Action campaign games. The Germans proving redoubtable and resolute in defence and the Soviets hard pushed to break through. From a game perspective that boils down to Rich and I having an embarrassment of riches when it comes to choice of units and vehicles we can field. Danny is still fine tuning his Soviet force for Budapest though I had to point out that he can't add cuirassiers, mounted samurai or hordes of sword waving Celts to his Soviet force. That may change as both Laurence and I have been painting up Soviets like peasant workers in a tank factory before Moscow in 1941 so look forward to some more scenarios and batreps from Fortress Budapest. 

     Thanks again Danny and Richie for yet another spiffing game.

pip pip

Jimbob