Gaming - 7DTTRR , airfield assault - at Battleground 2024!

 Today saw a run out to our local show. As we have played at lot of 7 Days this year it seemed appropriate to do something with it and get some of everyone’s collection on the table . I had also talked Bren into adding some terrain bits, security fencing , barriers , ATC tower etc. 

The basic premise after one of my mad ideas was a civilian airfield that had been put to emergency use with air corp units from West Germany , Brits , France , Dutch and US being bounced by a Soviet Para air assault .. yeah bunkers but it looked good !

Luftwaffe Phantoms bugging out … 

Hinds catch the NATO defences off guard 

Here they come 

An enormous MI6 dumps a host of paras 

 

VDV assault across the airfield 

Pilots head to their choppers as the AA takes it toll on the attackers

The gate post 

A10’s provide support .

Brens 

We had a good day chatting to people . The show was hit by some snowy weather hitting across the NE which impacted people getting there , but it seemed busy enough as the day went on. 

Time for a new project focus over the winter I think 

The stash for today was a number of new brushes , and some Xmas present stuff for the guys 

Normandy 44 - Omaha Beach , Easy Red .

 Today saw the last of the 5 D Day games . We have played each of the various beaches over the year and this saw the challenge of Omaha Beach . 

The Easy Red sector is in front of the St Laurent and Colville draws , but also 4 resistance nests . WN62 ,63,64 and 65.  The assault starts with 2/16th infantry from the Big Red One , and the 741st Tank Battalion assault. 

The DD tanks were scheduled to arrive a H-10 , 3 of 32 arrived , with 24 sinking and the others struggling with heavy seas.

 

The 2/16th Battallion hits the beach 

 

Engineers and Dozer equipped Sherman’s  arrive to start tackling the obstacles to clear a path.

Fire firm the bunkers knocks out allied LCMs and tanks 

 

 

Flamethrowers start to deal with MG positions and bunkers 

Clearing minefields 

 

Overall the assaulting infantry took over 50% casualties and the tanks 90% . Once the infantry had got themselves into the bunker positions the pressure eased and the Atlantik Wall was broken . 

Another great game, very different from the British Beaches as this is men against metal , rather than the AVRE that the Brits developed . 

That’s it for the WW2 games this year . They have been very enjoyable and educational. 

Holidays - Brittany and Normandy

Catching up with the late summer break . We had a few weeks R&R in NW France  , as usual we took in historical visits . We stayed in inland Brittany at the historic town of Josselin. In Normandy  we were in the Calvados region, staying at Crépon just behind Gold Beach.

The chateaux at Josselin ,an easy walk from the property

The Breton resistance museum was excellent , along with its SAS display 

 

 

 

Into,Normandy 

 

The Grand Bunker at Ouistreham was excellent . It’s been in the visit list fur 20 odd years of visiting  Normandy .

 

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Another area was the visit to the Hillman position above Sword beach  Again much improved over the years 

A great few weeks away .