Paint Table Saturday - The Big Push

With the year coming to an end I am trying to clean up a few projects and at the same time clear off the painting and gaming table. I want to end 2014 the same way I began on the Vis Lardica website, with a bang. As you can see in this picture I have my work cut out for myself.

While I have new World War I tanks to work on (as well as four Ishermans) I will work on the projects that are needed and or quick. This means Turkish troops for Fao, aircraft for the North Atlantic Harpoon scenarios and blinds for my TOOFATLardy’s games.

After that I have a battalion of British for the Middle East and East Africa, the tanks that I just got and what ever else is on the table that needs to be taken care of. I look to be very busy.

Paint Table Saturday

It has been too long since my last Paint Table Post. That is because I have not been doing a lot of painting.

The Table - Not a lot of action.

Village of Fao.

The Battlefield slowly coming together.

A Pontoon Bridge that will be useful for this campaign. I may need to change out the pontoons.

Future Wargaming Project

I have started drafting from my an outline for an article or possibly a stand alone supplement. After an evening of writing I am up to 415 words and four different story lines. Some involving not only French, but American and Italian aviators. So many gaming possibilities in 1940 France.

On to Baghdad - Line Up of Battles

I have worked through the first set of battles for the campaign. They will start with the Landing at Fao and go through taking and holding Qurna (Battle of Eden). For the Indian Army, they need to continue to win. At worst they need to ensure they do not lose.

The reasons are simple. The Royal Navy can offer some protection in covering a defeated Indian force, yet if the loss is significant; there is limited naval transport to remove a defeated army. Without the facilities at Basra the British are looking to retire to one of the Persian Gulf islands, possible without all of their army. Surrender would be devastating and could give strength to anti-British feelings among the Arabs, Indians and Afghans.

For now we will assume that the Indian Army will be victorious against the Ottomans. Why of course they will be. This line up sounds more like a football lineup than a list of battles.

• Landing at Fao
• Sanniya – Possible Counter Attack
• Saihan – Reconnaissance in Force
• Sahil – Attacking a fortified Objective
• Basra – Saving the City from Looters
• Qurna – Securing Basra from the North

Next up, were do the British land. A very good question.

Harpoon 87 in the South Atlantic

We had a naval day at the club and was well attended with four players and three games going on. Thank you all for playing.

It was a sad day for submarine sailors. I ran two different submarine simulations with trying result for the submarine captains. The players did well in both cases with situations not their own entire making.

The first was Sink the Belgrano from the Falklands. In this one Captain Tony was trying to get past the destroyer escorts to go after the ARA Belgrano. Captain Chal ran an effective interference. So much so that his destroyer was sunk after firing off two ASW torpedoes at the HMS Conqueror. The lose of the ARA Hipolito Bouchard allowed the Belgrano to leave with Captain Mark covering her. The Conqueror would eventually catch the retreating ships but not before aircraft would arrive.

The Argentinians had issues with their sonar with at one point a ghostly image appeared near were they that the submarine was located. This caused the Argentines to be suspect of the real location of the submarine.

This battle can be found to be a success for both sides as Argentinian losses were smaller than historical and I am certain after this event that the Belgrano was going to stay in port. Which was what the Royal Navy was trying to do.

The second was a semi historical scenario with the ARA Salta was trying to get past two anti-aircraft escorts working with two Sea Kings. Captain Mark plan was to go deep and pass the patrols. Unfortunately a Sea King drops its dipping sonar less than a half a nautical mile away.

Ping, PIng, PINg, PING, PING! found you. The Salta was quickly found and a second Sea King dropped two Mk 46 torpedoes on her and it was over in less than 60 seconds.

I would like to run this again (Tony) with a longer approach. I am still uncertain that the ARA Salta can get through, but a lucky shot could cause a British destroyer to limp back to the repair facilities at Ascension Island. A big success for Argentina.

How well does a rule set that is 27 years old hold up? I have to say rather well, in my opinion. I may have to rewrite the play aid but I still prefer Harpoon 87 to Shipwreck or the current version of Harpoon. Your results may very.

New at Baccus 6mm

If you are a gamer you already know about the quality of the miniatures from Baccus. There 6mm Napoleonic and American Civil War are stunning. When in column or battalion squares these packed figures look how we think those battle should appear.

Over the last few months they have been releasing Great War figures for the Western Front starting with 1914 and the battle of maneuver and they are equally brilliant figures. I have been working on building the British and Germans for the Battle of Nery and with their most recent releases this has become very do able.

Baccus most recent releases include divisional packs for Great War Spearhead, as well as offering the rules. While I will continue to tinker with TOOFATLardies If the Lord Spares Us in 6mm I am glad to see such alliances between rule designers and miniature manufactures.

Why? For me (and I am sure other gamers) we end up having bags of un-needed figures while basing up my forces for a rule system. You buy what you need based on the rules. And in a perfect world they will even be sold at a discount.

I do not mind seeing rules designers working with miniature manufactures and it is a win for the hobby. While I do not play Flames of War I am glad to have access to their toys. They have some of the best Japanese tanks out there in 15mm. Flames of War moving into 1917-18 World War I is another win for the hobby.

What are your thoughts, should rules writers work closely with figure manufactures?

One last comment on these recent releases, I do not know how I am going to get to use them, but I need to add the Pioneers to my next order. They are just such great sculps. 

Drilling at Fao

The Ottoman troops are drilling in and around the Fao fortifications. They are ready to fight for Allah and the Ottoman Empire. At least until the HMS Ocean shows up. OK while I would love to add in a pre-dreadnought, we will have to settle for the Cadmus-class sloops.