Fire and Fury Games' Battlefront WWII HISTORICON 2007

Fire and Fury Games We give history a second chance.

Phil Callcott's big Crusader Game

We often recommend that BF plays best with small scenarios. However, it is possible to play bigger games if two essential conditions are met. First, you need the room. Second, you need to be able to leave the game set up so that you are not under the time pressure that comes with the need to pick up in mid-stream.
Phil Callcott sent me a lot (72) pictures of a big game he and his group played. He is fortunate to have a gaming area that is both large and where they can leave games set up. This scenario, with equipment roughly from the period of Operation Crusader, took several nights to play.
The scenario was played lengthways on a table 120" long x 66" wide with two players on each side.
If you look at the last picture, you will get the overall layout.
The game starts with a veteran Australian battalion dug-in and holding the perimeter of a BUA supported by 4 x Matildas, 2 x 2pdr portees, 2 x 25pdrs on table with two more off table.
They are surrounded by a dug-in Italian Regt facing them with 2 x 100mm off table, plus a Bersaglieri Coy & German Coy also dug-in facing away from them to prevent relief.
The Germans have 2 x 105mm off table.
The Australians are allowed to clear mines & wire during the night & at dawn they attack.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
DAK HQ bunker	DAK HQ bunker
DAK anti-tank guns wait	DAK anti-tank guns wait
Assault on Italians	Assault on Italians
Aussie assault	Aussie assault
Aussie assault 2	Aussie assault 2
Italians continue to hold	Italians continue to hold
Matilda brewed up by Italians!	Matilda brewed up by Italians!
Nothing this way comes	Nothing this way comes
The German line	The German line
View from a Storch	View from a Storch

Meanwhile a British relief force enters at the other end of the table comprising 4 x Marmont-Herrington armoured cars, 4 x MK IV light tanks, 4 x early Cruisers (A9, 2 x A10, A13 CS), 4 x Valentines, followed by a motor battalion including 3 x 2pdr portees & 2 x 6pdr portees with 4 x 25pdrs off table. All trained.
The British choose to attack the dug-in German Coy.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
British cruisers with Valentines in support	British cruisers with Valentines in support
British I tanks	British I tanks
Skirting the minefield	Skirting the minefield
Behind the British	Behind the British
British armour takes it	British armour takes it
Valentines get in close	Valentines get in close

The British attack triggers the arrival of DAK armour, initially ignoring the engaged Australians and Italians they join in support of their infantry. (experienced)
Luckily for the Axis double chance die rolls bring Ariete on table into the flank & rear of the British. (one die, D6 rolled to see if they arrive, a second D10 as to where) Ariete = trained. 4 x L6 tanks, 6 x M13/40, 1 x Semonvente & a motorised Bersaglieri Coy.
When the Italians arrive, the British infantry and their portees etc prepare to engage Ariete.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
From above	From above
Into a defile	Into a defile
Ariete arrive!	Ariete arrive!
The thin khaki line	The thin khaki line

Meanwhile Matildas reach the Italian positions forcing a dug-in "88" to reveal itself. This halts the attack but the Aussies hold position.
The trouble with engaging portees from the rear is that the business end is facing you, as Ariete soon discover. There are losses on both sides and Ariete halt and a static fire fight develops.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
This will hurt	This will hurt
2pdr portee burns	2pdr portee burns
Ariete stall	Ariete stall

DAK is now pouring into action:- 4 x Pz Mk II, 4 x Pz Mk IIIG & 3 x Pz Mk IVD and a motorised company of infantry come to the aid of their infantry dug-in around the hill.
A confused "sandwich" engagement ensues with the British armour doing a "Glousters" and having to fight front and rear. More of DAK arrive, Panzerjager Coy comprising:- 2 x towed 50mm, 1 x Diana & 1 x Marder MkIII.
The last Panzer Coy comprising:- 2 x Pz Mk IIIH & 2 x Pz Mk IIIJ Spz arrives and chases the Australians and their 3 surviving Matildas back. One Matilda was lost in close combat with dug-in Italian infantry!

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Panzers arriving!	Panzers arriving!
Panzers!	Panzers!
Panzerjager move up	Panzerjager move up
British flanked	British flanked
Pz IV move up	Pz IV move up
British fall back	British fall back
Portee burns	Portee burns
Pz III specials	Pz III specials

The original British armour collapses despite a valiant rearguard by two Valentines leaving their infantry exposed, the Germans regroup.
Meanwhile Die rolls have been taking place at the start of each British move to bring on desperately needed reinforcements and at last they are successful! 4 x Stuarts, 4 x Crusader MkI & 5 x Grants (trained) rumble into action.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Panzers breakout	Panzers breakout
Run for it!	Run for it!
The gathering storm	The gathering storm
British reinforcements	British reinforcements
Crusader MkI CS	Crusader MkI CS

One difference between the two sides was how they utilised their artillery. The British engaged here there and every where, not learning to concentrate until very late in the game and rarely using smoke. The Axis chose to keep hitting the same few targets and blessed with more than a fair share of high rolls kept disorganising their targets, causing them to fall back on several occasions including some panics to the rear. The Matildas especially felt the effect of one officer's fire direction.
With the arrival of more British armour, DAK bought up everything. With the 76.2mm guns of a Diana and Marder on overwatch and with smoke obscuring the British view the Germans push on.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Italian FOO	Italian FOO
Jerry reorganises	Jerry reorganises
Brits reorganise	Brits reorganise
Panzers advance	Panzers advance
Grants	Grants

The last German Coy (of 3) dug in under the covering fire of the "88" and the 2 x Pz Mk IIIH & 2 x Pz Mk IIIJ Spz are released.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Germans dig in with 88 in support	Germans dig in with 88 in support
Second wave	Second wave

With everyone in place the Germans unleash the Panzers

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Here comes Jerry!	Here comes Jerry!
Stuarts vs Pv mk IVs	Stuarts vs Pv mk IVs
Panzer Grenadiers debus under fire	Panzer Grenadiers debus under fire
Standfast	Standfast
The storm approaches	The storm approaches

At first honours are even, tanks are suppressed and disordered on both sides.
But then luck turns against the British, engaged by MkIII & IVs, Stuarts start to burn and at last Ariete starts to get good morale results!

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Holding	Holding
A good view!	A good view!
The storm breaks	The storm breaks
Stuarts suffer	Stuarts suffer
Ariete joins in	Ariete joins in

The Panzerjagers are now inaction and their long 76.2mm guns are hurting.
Against targets disordered by artillery and Panzerjagers the Panzers push on and the British suffer losses.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
76.2 mm of trouble	76.2 mm of trouble
Looks bad	Looks bad
Exposed and forlorn	Exposed and forlorn
Close assault	Close assault
Firing line	Firing line
Taking hits	Taking hits
Command is a lonely place	Command is a lonely place
Surviving Matildas create diversion	Back in the town the Matildas change face and attempt an assault across the wadi.

The Panzers close in and hit the enemy hard.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Assaults go in	Assaults go in
Starting to crumble	Starting to crumble
Crumbling	Crumbling
Bogged and abandoned	Bogged down and disordered, this Matilda is abandoned by it's crew and the diversion is abandoned.
Just spectators	Some people never fired a shot all game!

With morale crumbling, the end comes for the British, what does not flee is being destroyed.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
Nearly the end	Nearly the end
One way to close off access	One way to close off access
Grants burn around breakthrough	Grants burn around breakthrough
More losses	More losses

The British players concede defeat.

Click on the Thumbnail for a full-size photo	Description
End game	End game
End game overview	End Game overview

Top of page

Home Page