Gaming - Assaulting the Azeville Battery - Normandy 44

 James and i met up today to play through another scenario for our Normandy campaign ladder. This time it was the initial assault just after D Day of the Azeville battery - which is on the Cotentin just north of Utah beach. I have recently completed the 4 casemates which i found as a 3d printed option (i will do a post on this shortly. 

The assault is make up of relatively small number of the scattered paratroopers for the 101st AB. 

The four casemates with 105mm guns are protected with a range of tobruks , bunkers , entrenchments , barbed wire and some minefields. The lightly armed Paras approach from the eastern frontal side of the battery

                                         

covered by their own MG's the paras got through the wire and subdued a tobruk

They were working their way around to the rear as they came under sustained fire from the rear bunkers and a 3.7mm AA gun

they tried a desperate assault on the bunker but were held off - and had to retreat , with less than started with - they tried again from the other side of the casemate

but it was not to be - the defence was too powerful - they decided to retreat back to cover - the battery continued to engage the US forces around UTAH beach

This first assault was repulsed with the paras not having enough men to absorb the battery position defensive fire.

A few days later other American infantry were back , but with a barrage from the 14" guns from the USS Nevada and tank support - this would make all the difference! in addition the assault be be from the western rear side of the battery .

 

the barrage knocked the hell out of the battery destroying an MG bunker completly and pinning down the defenders under the weight of fire .

3 Shermans advance looking for any  anti tank defence - the infantry at the hedge sprayed MG with no care to the ammo being spent . 

The tanks led the infantry forward plastering the pillbox - which went quiet.

the German defenders were being picked off with volume of fire - or were still cowering pinned as the tanks broke through the wire . The battery commander led a brave charge that knocked out a Sherman - but that was it as the commander died after - the battery surrendered. 

it was a good gaming afternoon!

Gaming - Napoleonic- Battle of the Katzbach 1813 - In the Grandest Manner

 This week saw the return of large Napoleonic gaming. I have spent the week with some old friends and made new ones . We had 10 players altogether,  5 French , 5 Prussian/ Russian. We were using Gerry’s massive 10mm collection in his “Situation Room” bunker . The rules are Gerry’s “In the Grandest Manner “ set designed for these enormous battles . The tables are 24 feet long , with around 35,000 10mm figures used from Gerry’s total of around 100,000. I was playing on the French side.

The battle has a lot of standard and poor quality troops along with the added complication of bad weather each turn . Obviously rain can be very detrimental to firing. Our troops had to deploy in divisions from column of March across a limited road network and a river only crossable at the few bridges .

The battle went to and fro with villages being assaulted and changing hands - at least you were dry in them !

In the end we got a very historical result with the French being broken and chased away but that didn’t happen until very late in the day . 

All in all a great weekend of gaming plus being social was had . Gerry’s wife Anne also looks after us with lunch and teas and coffees through the day , and booking restaurants for the evening she’s a star . 

So just a selection of various pictures - with these large games you get so absorbed in your own area you rarely really know what is going on across the rest of the table - seems pretty historical to me .

Next one should be March time with luck 

‘Nam 68 - Viet Cong

 Only a little progress the last few weeks as I have injured my paining hand and it’s only slowly recovering. 

I went for the classic black look for this group , but will do a little more colour for the next lot.

I am waiting for the new rule set Bohica to turn up from Empress and we will give them a try out later in the month . 

 

These are by Gringos40. I have another 20 on the go at the moment.