Fire and Fury Games' Battlefront WWII FALL IN 2005

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Fall IN 2005

Fire and Fury was VERY well represented in this year's Fall In convention at Gettysburg. In addition to 6 BF:WW2 games, there were a number of Fire and Fury games, using both the original brigade rules and the new regimental rules. I know I missed some, including a F&F brigade tournament.

Stonne

Put on by Mike Sincavage and Pete Landry, this was a port of a France 1940 SkirmishCampaigns scenario into BF:WW2. As one of the German players, your not-so-humble webmaster took the German left flank into the fray, and found out just how useless the Pz I could be. Fortunately, Michael Panzer had the middle (he knows the game better than the designers) and we were eventually able to successfully mount an assault across the river. The Blitzkrieg period has a distinctly different flavor than later periods, an example of which is that the 37mm mounted on the German command halftrack managed to suppress and destroy several French vehicles. The dominant vehicle in this game was a Stug IIIB!

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
The Battlefield	The German objective is the town of Stonne, which awaits in the background behind a river line (vehicles could only cross at the bridges).
Stonne	Another view of the town
The German Center	German Panzergrenadiers and armor head up the road.
The German Left	The German Left and Left Center move up to the river
Char Ib	French heavy tanks defend the town.
Push in the Center	Germans force a river crossing in the middle
Fight for the twon	Germans push slowly across the river, after deploying a PzIb wreck on the bridge.
Fighting Rages	The French put up stubborn resistance in a house in the middle
Another view	Another view of the battle for the key house
Fight on the German Right	While the battle for the town rages, the German forces in open country try to force the river line.
Flanking move	The German right breaks through and flanks the town.

Gettysburg - Day I

Richard dusted off the old terrain setup from the original F&F and ran the venerable first day scenario, which was appropriate for the venue (the actual battlefield is a couple of miles away from the convention site).

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Attack on Seminary ridge	Confederate forces come in from the West while Union reinforcements rush through the town.
View from the west	The same situation seen from the Confederate lines.
Attack from the north	More Confederate forces come in from the north, while Union forces deploy to meet them.
Moving up	Union forces move up through the town.

Normandy Bocage

Friday Evening sponsored 3 BF:WW2 games in one room. This one featured impressive 20mm terrain and models, including some air support that loomed menacingly over the battlefield.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Bocage 01	Bocage 01.
Bocage 02	Bocage 01.
Bocage 03	Bocage 01.
Bocage 04	Bocage 01.
Bocage 05	Bocage 01.
Bocage 06	Bocage 01.
Bocage 07	Bocage 01.
Bocage 08	Bocage 01.
Bocage 09	Bocage 01.
Bocage 10	Bocage 01.

Chopping Wood

The Finns in the Winter War show what can be done with superior troops against numerically superior forces in a typical battle from the Raate road put on by Steve Keyer. This is a tough situation for the Russians, but this game shows that sitting and waiting for the Finns to choose their spot is probably not the best idea.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Proud Father	Steve Keyer presiding over his latest creation.
Initial setup	The Russians start the game in a entrenched encampment. They have at least equal numbers, armor and some infantry guns, and expect reinforcements. Why do they feel uneasy... For starters, the Finns can start almost anywhere outside of the fortification, and are liberally supplied with dummies. The Finns also may maneuver freely through the snow, and enjoy a snow camouflage advantage that allows them considerable freedom of maneuver.
Finns attack	The Finns detected a weakness in the Russian setup. Two of the major Russian assets, a tank and the infantry gun, have set up in an exposed position, and the Finns are going to attempt to overwhelm them and break into the fort before the Russians can redeploy or react.
The attack goes in	Having neutralized the tank and the infantry gun, the Finns enjoy a local numerical superiority. This is bad news for the Russians, as the Finns are all veterans or elites, and enjoy advantages in both direct fire and close combat.
Slamming the back door	As the Russians rush to stop the break-in, they abandon the other end of the fort. The last Finnish company rushes in, completing the encirclement of the hapless Russians.
Ambush	A Russian reinforcement group rushes to help, but two Finnish LMG units (one in the building and one just of the bottom of the picture) manage to inflict almost 50 percent casualties when they open fire from the flank in an ambush, win a subsequent close combat, and continue firing in the next turn. The group in this picture started with twice as many infantry on the previous turn. An off-board AT gun disorders the armor support.

We were toy soldiers once...

Mark Hayes modified BF:WW2 for Vietnam, and put on the fight for LZ X-Ray in the Ia Drang valley (the basis for the recent movie starring Mel Gibson). It worked well, with only minor modifications needed for helicopters. Prototype cards for this battle are now on the site and we look forward to more Vietnamese battles and prototypes.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Charge	Time: 1210 - The PAVN 7th Battalion, 33rd Regiment charges into close combat with Company B, 1/7th Cavalry, while elements of Company A disembark from their UH-1D mounts.
Close Combat	Players resolve one of many close combats initiated by the PAVN player's charge against the American forces defending at the edge of the LZ.
Hordes of PAVN	PAVN forces marshall for another assault.
Air support	A helicopter gunship supports the U.S. defence.
Fighting Rages	Intense battles occur on the edge of the clearing.
Overview	An overview of the battle.

Tiger, tiger, burning bright...

Greg Lyle and I put on a very simple armor-only scenario simulating the first encounter of U.S. forces in Tunisia with the new Tiger tank. Unlike history, where the Americans made an uncoordinated charge and were almost wiped out, in this game they managed to defeat the 3 German elements in detail, coating the table with flaming wrecks.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Germans set up in a line	The Germans had 3 elements, two veteran maneuver elements with 3 Stug III and 3 Marders, and 1 experienced element with two Tiger Is. They deployed in a line, and eventually found that the three elements were unable to provide mutual support. Mea Culpa on the focus of the shot
Americans move on	The Americans had 3 armored companies, consisting primarily of Sherman 75mm, but with 3 half-track mounted Tank destroyer vehicles. Studying the unit charts show that the U.S. is unable to destroy the Tigers and Stugs by fire outside of about 10 inches. However, the Marder's good gun is balanced by its poor armor, making the fight about even with the Shermans. Rather than charging forward to destruction, as occurred historically, the U.S. player lines up for a coordinated assault on the Marders. It takes a few turns to set up, during which time a Sherman which has ventured a bit too far forward starts taking fire from the Tigers.
Anti-aircraft practice	The Germans had air support, which appeared randomly through the game. However, the .50cal AAMG with a +1 attack proved up the the task, disordering or shooting down the airplanes every time they appeared.
Charge!!	Having maneuvered to assault the right flank, the Americans make their move on the Marders. They shoot at the Marders with some units scoring a lucky kill (although the main objective was to suppress them to reduce defensive fire), while the rest of the units move forward. Some brave Shermans move forward in the middle, occupying the attention of both the Tigers and the Stugs. The Germans did not maneuver to counter this attack, but kept firing at the adventurous Shermans, hoping for a 10 percent kill.
The attack goes home	The attack on the Marders hits, quickly overwhelming them. In the middle, rather than shoot uselessly at the Tigers, the Shermans close assault, rolling a mutual kill (which is definitely in favor of the U.S.) A bag of burning vehicle markers is in the background - it will be needed.
One down/One to go	A multiple unit close assault hits the other Tiger, resulting in a second exchange.
Mopping up	A wave of close assaults hits the Stugs, ending the matter. Once again I apologize for the poor focus.

Ousseltia Valley

A Tunisian battle put on by Pete Landry and Ron Oldham, this game featured an encounter between elements of the U.S. First Armored division and a German mechanized force. Thanks to Pete Landry for the photos.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
German Team	??, JT, William. Pete apologizes for missing the name of one of the Germans, and unfortunately his nametag is not readable in the photo.
American Team	Ron, Mark, Mike.
opening setup	opening setup.
JT moves up	JT's force enters south of the ridge.
Americans use smoke	American smoke covers their advance towards the town infested with Marders
More Smoke	More US smoke and a few burning wercks
Stuarts prepare	The Stuart company cautiously approaches the Marders
Stuarts charge	Stuarts charge though the smoke screen
Stuarts run away	Ron's Stuarts are cooked while fleeing their unsuccessful attack on the Marders. JT's aim was unforgiving.
Lees square off	Lees line up to face the veteran 10th Panzer Division
Infantry attacks Marders	Another assaault on the Marders, this time with infantry. JT again cooly repulsed the bold Americans and they then headed to the safety of the hills.
Mark approaches	Mark uses the terrain to get closer to the German Panzers
Lees assault	Mike's Lee company assault and take out a Mk III
Infantry waiting	The 13th Armored Infantry hunker down in a wadi while William's PanzerGrenadiers advance down from the heights and JT's Mk IIIs guard the flank
Stuarts burn	The smell of burning Stuarts
Shermans to the rescue	Ron brings up the Shermans to support Mike's infantry in the wadi
Standoff	Standoff on the southern flank
US breaks through	The US breaks the 10th Panzer in the north, claiming the hard fought victory

Chancellorsville

The original F&F lives on. This was a visually impressive version of the famous Civil War battle, put on by Al Gaspar, who is also known for his incredible 10mm Normandy terrain boards.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Chancellorsville 1	Al and his creation.
Chancellorsville 2	Chancellorsville wagons.
Chancellorsville 3	Chancellorsville battlefield.
Chancellorsville 4	Hooker with the ladies.
Chancellorsville 5	Marching.
Chancellorsville 6	Chancellorsville 6.
Chancellorsville 7	Chancellorsville 7.

Kokoda-Templeton's Crossing

Steve Lee continues his Kokoda saga. This time it is the Australians on the attack, as disease and casualties have stalled the Japanese offensive almost in sight of Port Moresby. Thank Steve for the photos.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Templeton's crossing 1	Aussies moving to the creek.
Templeton's crossing 2	Greg having fun hiding his Japanese.
Templeton's crossing 3	Aussie's ridge.
Templeton's crossing 4	Aussies forming up to cross the ford - unfortunately the japs knew about the ford too.
Templeton's crossing 5	You go first.
Templeton's crossing 6	Aussie assault across the ford.
Templeton's crossing 7	Aussie flank march to another ford - unkown by the japs.
Templeton's crossing 8	Aussies struggling to take the final positions.
Templeton's crossing 9	Hillside view.
Templeton's crossing 10	Japs pull out a draw.

A Devilish Hard Rub

Mark Hayes used regimental F&F to put on the Battle of Olustee, Florida - Ocean Pond 20FEB1864.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Confederates attack	Confederate forces under Brigadier General Joseph Finigan close on the Union line commanded by Brigadier General Truman Seymour. Brigadier General Alfred H. Colquitt's brigade of Georgia veterans prepares to attack the Yankee left, while Colonel George P. Harrison's less experienced Florida and Georgia regiments pin the Union right.
Union Defends	The 7th New Hamphire anchors its right flank on the fence surrounding the only open field, while the New York regiments of Colonel William Barton move up in support.
Union Charges	The famous 54th Massachusetts and 8th USCT (United States Colored Troops) charge into Colquitt's Georgians. The charge was repulsed, but subsequently the 7th Connecticut and half the 7th New Hampshire devestated the counterattacking Confederates with fire from their Spencer repeaters.

Forozeshah

Tony Figlia used regimental F&F to put on this battle from the First Sikh War.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Forozeshah 1	Forozeshah 1
Forozeshah 2	Forozeshah 2
Forozeshah 3	Forozeshah 3
Forozeshah 4	Forozeshah 4
Forozeshah 5	Forozeshah 5

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