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| I suppose if this narrative wargame was told as a 'cartoon' this is what the magazine cover probably would look like. It gives a slight 'Commando' resemblance to it. We had a similar magazine in Norway called 'Kamp Serien' and I think it was identical just translated. I'll try out similar 'covers' that also gives an idea of what kind of post it is in some coming blogger-posts. Please tell me in the comment-section what you think of them. The image is created with help from ChatGPT, which also suggested a catching name of the game. |
As you can see in my previous post, we have some snow in Norway at the moment. But a few days with rain and mild weather drastically reduces the quantity of it. So if I wanted to do some more activities in the snow I was in a hurry. Last year I brought some miniatures outside for a lit Mike and his day out tle wargame in the snow. It was a great day out and it actually was so successful that I wanted to repeat it this year as well as I got very inspired by Mike and his day out. - But with another scenario though. These days it's 80 year since the 'Battle of the Bulge' ended, so I've made a scenario for a little skirmish in the Ardennes January '45.
The Rules
Since it's been a while since I've played One Man, One Gun (OMOG) rules by the late Thor Sheil, I initially wanted to use these rules for this little skirmish. Especially since the quick reference sheets created by Steve Snark (which can be downloaded from the OMOG Facebook group's files section) would be easy and quick to use outside. But, since OMOG rules uses templates for automatic weapons and heavy support weapons I would have to cut these templates out of paper, which again will not work very well in the wet snow. So I decided to use another set of free wargame rules for small infantry wargames which is very similar to the OMOG in many ways (except for SMGs); 1BC (Brain Cell) Toy Soldier Rules by Pete Kautz. I often keeps returning to these rules as their one of my favorites. I've made a new one page QRS of them, so it would be easier to bring them outside. Here is a direct link to them if you're interested to try them out your self:
The Scenario
An american rifle squad of 8 are holding and securing a small road cross some few kilometers North East of Diekirch. The road cross is important for the Allies for the planned and coming counter attack. The Germans are still trying to push westwards in their ongoing offensive and need to take the road cross to secure access for German forces to take Diekirch. A German SS squad of 9 are given the mission to take and hold the crossroad.
Forces:
- US: The American Infantry squad have 8 members and fight as 2 fireteams of 4 each. One of the fireteams has a stationary HMG on their M29 Weasel. I know the 1BC rules doesn't include vehicles, but in this game they only serve as cover and a mount for the HMG. The Americans are partially dug into foxholes.
- German: The SS squad fight as 2 fireteams; a Rifleteam of 6 and LMG-team of 3. They will fight hand to hand combat as 'Elite'. The German squad was based upon graphics from Battle Order (which is a good website for references when building your army squad by squad).
Mission:
- US: To hold the crossroad.
- German: To take the crossroad
The Game
Time: 35 minutes
Turns: 8
Result: American victory
The German LMG team makes a go for it and run across the road to advance through the wood on the other side of the road and eventually give fire support for the rifle team. Even if they moves fast, they're spotted by an american guard overwatching the road-cross with a HMG. The G.I. immediately opens fire and alarms the rest of his squad. He hits and kills the team-leader, but the rest of the LMG team managed to get across and into the cover of the woods (and out of sight for now):
The rest of the American squad gets out of their tents and run into their foxholes or behind cover of their vehicles. They cant't see any Germans at the moment, so they're overwatching the situation:
The German rifle team advance through the wood, as the German LMG-team advance through the wood on the other side of the road:
When the German LMG-team gets into position they prepare to give fire-support for the advancing rifle-team and opens fire. -So does the American .50 Cal, and a heavy firefight evolves.
When the German rifle-team hears that their LMG-team is opening fire, they leaps into cover and open fire on the Americans:
Maybe the Germans was a little too hasty into the situation, because they didn't hit much. The Americans returned fire now as they got their opponents in sight at the edge of the wood:
And it looks like the Americans are more accurate, and their firepower temporarily puts a couple of Germans out of battle:
The gunner gives his 'Ma Deuce' 'full throttle' and finish of the German LMG-team on the other side of the road. Now he turns his M2 to the left to the woods where the German rifle-team is:
Without their LMG-team to give fire-support this does not look good for the German team, and their advance comes to a halt and they're stopping up to exchange fire with the American forces for several turns. Even if they manage to hit and kill one of them, they don't get the initiative in the battle or manage to poke a hole in the American lines for an assault:
The American HMG are pounding the German positions...
...and so are the American rifle-team. It's starting to take a toll on the German rifle-team, and they suffer heavy casualties. To take this road cross seems no longer to be possible for them:
When finally there is only one German rifleman and the squad-leder left, an American bullet hits the squad-leader and injures him:
The last German rifleman standing decides to help his Feldwbel and evacuate him out of the battle zone.
With only one casualty, this was a victory for the American squad as they manage to stop the German attack and making them retreat. Still holding this road cross will make it possible for the coming Allied offensive to drive the remaining German forces out of the Ardennes Forrest.
Conclusion
This was another great day out in the snow (while we still has it). This was also an opportunity to use my 'mini' foldable dice-tower (which I made for wargaming outside):
Even if the snow is disappearing it's still 'cold' outside, so I decided to warm myself and celebrate the 'victory' with a cup of 'Glühwein'.
Murphy's Law strikes again; The day after my wargame we had a suddenly return of the winter here in Norway and my "Ardennes Forrest" looking like this:
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