Operation Blockbuster WWII Legendary Wargames

I was invited to play a large Rapid Fire game at the fabulous Legendary Wargames this weekend, based on the race for the Bridges as part of Market Garden.

5 players would be the British and Canadians trying to break through and 3 the Germans trying to prevent them.

The tables are both 23 feet long and 6 feet wide so this is really is gaming in a grand scale with fabulous terrain and models.

I would play from the very far corner from the door and be gradually pinched in from the table edge by the flooded fields on my left.

To my right Peter commanded a Canadian brigade with Ian, Brian and John commanding further brigades further around the table.

Richard H, Richard C and Tim would command the German forces, no doubt in some force in the ruined town to my front.

The first obstacle just 6 inches from table edge would be this village right where my first brigade came on.

To the right of my entry point was this factory facing Peters second Canadian brigade.

Move one sees a double round of smoke in front of the first Canadian brigade. I realise quickly that this is not really that much use. It can only be centred 12 inches in front of me, meaning on a template some of the smoke is less than 9 inches in front, it stays on two turns and I cant drive through it. All its really done is slow me down.

On the left my first brigade marches on and immediatley attracts reserve fire heavy damaging my lead Stuart, as the fields are flooded each move we have to test for bogging down, inevitably a full third of my vehicles dont move at all due to the mud. 

My lead scout car races down the road through the smoke and is hit in reserve fire by a waiting Stug. This survives the limited return fire and retreats into the tow.

The rest of the recon company push to one side of the smoke racing for the ruined town.

To my right Peter has his troops well spreadh ou and advancing towards the factory at the edge of town and the woods.

On my left, slow progress as the British brigade bog down their tanks in turn getting not very far at all.

A sneaky Tiger gets a shot off but misses and pulls back behind the ridge.

Elsewhere the British are making steady progress.

Tim's Germans caught between advancing brigades pulls back to support Rich C and Rich H.

Back to me and as we push forward the flail is knocked out by anti tank fire, as my only mine clearer with two big minefields I am going to have to change tack and drive around them, mainly through the town which will be slow work. 

A further hit on my armoured car sees the whole squadron fail morale and retreat.

Meanwhile two companies of infantry de-bus in town and a short range firefight erupts with the German Para company opposite them(building on the right in this picture.)

On the opposite table, John and Brian are also making steady progress.

Next to me Peter is approaching the factory. This turns out to hold a company and supported by an anti tank gun which between them take out one Sherman and Heavy damage another.

On my left my carrier company has raced up the road to be hit by defending artillery, the troops de-bus and open short range fire on the crews.

I forget to take photos for a little while but for the next few moves its taking the town house by house, each time I find some Germans I get as much fire power onto them as possible and swamp them. Its a slow slog and the British and Canadians take casualties but the Germans typically take the worst of it, artillery proves to be the difference, we have a three gun battery of 25 pounders and when they hit together they make a mess.

As my reinforcements come on the road into tow becomes very congested. I am trying to push essentially 4 small brigades through one ruined town.

Move 7 and I am behind schedule (needing to be back home to start the BBQ) I drop on the reinforcements 5 Churchills, a bridging tank and an AA tank.

Oh and two Achilles to support the Canadians.

One last shot  from my armoured car squadron sees a heavy damage and a light damage on Richards Stug. Hopefully Peter and Malcolm can make good use of the work I have started tomorrow.

Cracking game thank you gents, good luck to the guys taking over for me on Sunday.