 In recent times, inspired by the elegantly simple naval rule set published on Kev Robertson's blog spot, I tailored them to 'fit' the heavy units of my Mighty Armadas battleship navies. These comprised vessels of the German Bismarck class, the Japanese Yamato class, and the United States' Iowa class (the identity of the last being for some time a matter of uncertainty). The KEV set gave 1D6 per gun for each vessel, with 10 hits being required to 'sink' the target. I took that as my yardstick for a vessel of 40,000 tons, armed with 15-inch guns as the main armament. To cater for variations in size and hitting power, for it seemed to me 'wrong' for even Bismarck to be a direct match for Yamato, made the following adjustments: 1. That a battleship's protection be arrived at by dividing tonnage by 4000, and rounding. I did think to look at belt armour, but as that would contribute to tonnage anyhow, I decided to keep it simple. 2. That gun calibre be taken into account by adding or subtracting 10% of the number of gun barrels per inch difference from 15". This did make the 10 and 12-gun 14-inch carrying battleships rather more formidable than expected, but, unless I discover different I'll stick with the result. It would appear, then, that the Prince of Wales on its own ought to have been at least an even match for Bismarck! So it dawned on me to build a table of battleship 'stats' for WW2. A further number of points to note: 3. I have added stuff that never appeared in KEV's rules, nor in my battles so far, the Heavy AA and speed in hexes. 3A. The Heavy AA is to be the yardstick for AA capability, which is the number of guns divided by 4. Apart from that arbitrary decision I haven't yet formulated rules for air attack and air defence. So they are there for ... inclusiveness, so far. 3B. KEV's rule set was for an 'open board'; I played it out on a hex field. There seems to have been some difference between modern 'fast' units and the older, slower types. I gave the 'fast' ships 3 hexes of speed compared with 2 for the slower, the cut-off point being above 25 knots. This would probably indicate that my present maximum gun range of 6 hexes ought to be extended to 9, which puts rather a strain on my 4'x4'4" board! 4. The other point is my inclusion of the German 'pocket battleships'. Of course, they could never have occupied a place in a battle line, being in size no bigger than a heavy cruiser. Earlier designated 'panzerschiff'', they were indeed redesignated as some kind of armoured cruiser. I have included them for the sake of 'completeness', but they would probably be better placed among the stats for cruisers and smaller craft, with a whole different yardstick than those chosen here. At any rate, I have posted them for what they might be worth to anyone. 
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A very personal, and eclectic, collection of wargaming plots and projects; battles and campaigns... with pictures; lotsa pictures....
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Battleship 'stats' for Ultra Simple Naval Games.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Long Live the Revolution - Return to the Station
 |
| Opening positions of both sides, 9 September, 1946. The map is very slightly off, but not enough to make any difference. |
Sure enough, less than a week after the Nawabisbad battle, there the Government forces were, lined up at daybreak of 9th September along their chosen start line. The layout of the defences rather invited attack along the northern flank, and so the Government chose; the entire 6th Bananarama-putra Armoured Regiment forming the extreme left wing ready to sweep into the BARFist right rear.
In a determined effort, Major-General Lord Redmond had gathered together a force well equipped with armour and artillery - a whole regiment of each, a couple of armoured car squadrons, and two infantry battalions.
(As the attacking side, the Government were allocated 54 + 6D6 in Strength Points. The dice roll was a tremendous one: 25 additional SPs for a total of 79!)
Government Forces:
Commanding Officer, Lord Redmond, staffs, sigs, etc ..... 6SP6th Bananaramaputra Armoured Rgt
A-D Squadrons each M4 Sherman medium tank @3SP .... 12SP
22nd Punjanjoodi Infantry
A-D Companies @ 4SP
MG Platoon @ 2SP ...... 18SP
(Note: 4 companies were diced for, but one was inadvertently left
31st Kashinkari Rifles
A-D Companies @ 4SP
MG Platoon @ 2SP ..... 18SP
1st Tchagai Artillery Regiment:
A-D Batteries @2SP
4 Quad Prime Movers @2SP ..... 16SP
66th Neiwhini Light Horse
'A' Squadron with Daimler II Armoured Car, light AT gun/MG @3SP
'B' Squadron with Humber II Armoured Car, HMG @3SP .... 6SP
This force was also able to call upon the services of a flight of Spitfire single-seat fighters from 366 Sqn, Ruberian Air Force (RAF):
A Flt/ 366 Sqn
Spitfire ..... 3SP.
Totals:
Units: 26 units, Median 13
Strength Points: 79, exhaustion Point -27
For their part, the BARF Army were confident of serving out to the government forces the same spicy dish with which they were regaled at Nawabisbad.
(They had good reason: their dice roll for SPs was even tremendouser than that thrown for Government: 36 + 3D6 = 36 + 15 (!Wow) = 51SPs. As the difference between the respective sides was 28, the defending BARFists ought to have got 14SP in defence works. A couple of miscalculations or instances of woolly thinking short-changed them slightly - possibly making up for the Government 'staff error' that left B/22nd back along the road.)
BARFist Forces:
Commander, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, staff, sigs, hangers on, camp followers, riff-raff... 6SP1st 'Scimitars of Revolution' Armoured regiment
A, B Squadrons each M3 Stuart light tank, rated poor, @3SP
D Squadron, M3 Grant medium tank, rated poor @3SP ..... 9SP
1st 'Sons of Revolution' Infantry
A-C Rifle Companies @ 4SP
Mortar Platoon @ 2SP with Carrier transport @ 2SP ..... 16SP
2nd 'Volunteers of Tchagai' Infantry
A-C Rifle Companies @ 4SP
Mortar Platoon @ 2SP with Carrier transport @ 2SP ..... 16SP
Battery, Anti-Tank:
6pr medium AT gun @ 2SP, with portee lorry @ 2SP ..... 4SP
Totals:
Units: 16 (counting transports); median 8
Strength Points: 51, exhaustion point -17.
The defences were augmented by
5 stretches of barbed wire entanglements @ 1SP
3 tracts of anti-tank obstacles @ 1SP
3 redoubts - field works offering all-round defence @ 1SP
1 minefield @2SP
Total: 13 SPs of field defences (should have been 14).
Before concluding this posting, a word on the Government's air support. I allowed the Spitfire flight to carry out 3 strafing passes, one only in any given turn. Out of ammo, they could then depart, still under activation, the battle area at no SP cost to the Government forces. Partly I just wanted to get a bit of 'Air' onto the field, and partly I wanted simply to try out aircraft handling over a hex field.
To be continued.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Long Live the Revolution: The Capital City (2)
 |
| Early attacks by BARFist left flank. |
This 'final' action of the Baluchistan Armed Revolutionary Front (BARF) offensive proved to be one of the most surprising of just about any table-top battle I have ever fought. The Government forces were well-prepared, their front protected by anti-tank obstacles and barbed wire entanglements, and a couple of field fortifications, one on the extreme left, protected by a minefield; two on the right. For all that, the Revolutionaries faced battle with considerable confidence.
 |
| 25pr in action. The Quad tractors in separate grid areas for the moment to minimise potential damage from incoming. |
As before, this action was fought with Bob Cordery's Portable Wargames game system with some (very minor) amendments to suit my own set-up. The main one was to increase the movement allowance for armour, up one, to 2, 3 and 4 grid areas for heavy, medium and light armour respectively. As it happens, neither side had heavies; the Government with 3 medium tank (Sherman) squadrons, and the Revolutionaries with 1 medium (Grant) and 3 light (Stuarts). As usual, however, the BARF Commander, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars placed his faith upon his numerous and motivated infantry, all 3 battalions of which had been recently augmented by a fourth rifle company.
 |
| Overall view. 2nd Volunteers still on their start line. |
The BARFists opened the ball, and began their advances in the left and centre. The limits of the activation systems rather mitigating against a general advance all along the line, the 2nd BARF Battalion stayed pretty much on its start line until the action elsewhere was well under way. Ordinarily, once part of the line becomes closely engaged (in which fights are 'automatic') the rest gets the chance to come forward. This was one action in which that didn't happen quite as expected.
 |
| Tanks of both sides becoming engaged. |
Perhaps 3rd BARF Battalion, in the centre, ought to done the same, rather than the riflemen boldly charging forward without their vital support. Ordered to attack the town directly, the battalion ran into a storm of machine-gun and rifle fire from two companies of 31st Kashinkari and a company and MG platoon of 22nd Punjanjoodi. Now, when attacking, I have been inclined to accept 'retreat' outcomes as 'SP losses' in order to maintain the momentum of the attack. The city garrison companies were plying their weapons with uncanny accuracy, and very shortly drove back two of 3rd Battalion's companies, both reduced by half their strength. To have accepted the third hit on each would have reduced their SP to 1 only. Although 4th Coy Revolutionary Rifles reached the Punjanjoodi machine gunners, they could make no headway. Within a short time, the Revolutionary Rifles withered away, and fell back. Scant were the survivors at the end of the day, though it was not the end of 3rd Battalion's attack.
The BARFist main thrust was, of course, on the southern flank, carried out by 1st 'Sons of the Revolution' Rifles, and the four tank squadrons of 1st 'Scimitars of Revolution', supported by the 6-pounder anti-tank guns. The incoming fire from the Government defenders was not especially effectual, but a lucky early salvo from the 'Sons'' mortars dropped straight on to the fortified 2-pounder anti-tank position, halving their strength at once (ANY hit would cost the guns, as they had no means of retreating). It seemed a good augury of the outcome of the battle.
In response, Major-General Lord redford ordered up his own armour rather earlier than intended. 'C' Squadron took up hull-down positions along the crown of the ridge behind the front line, whilst 'A' Squadron deployed in the plain south of the feature, flanking it. At once they began a brisk long range duel with the BARFist tanks. This rather irked the light Stuarts, as to obtain the range, they had to drive right up to the fortified positions. At one point the 2-pounders withstood five separate close assaults, by infantry and armour both, in a single turn, the BARFists unable to maintain contact, though losses were fairly light. (This was phenomenal dice rolling by the 2pr guns, scoring hits against all five separate attacks, and forcing retreats each time. I don't think any of 'hits' achieved caused actual loss to the BARFists, but it was worse. It meant delay, and delay was very much in the Government interest! Whether they closed again, or stood off and tried to destroy the guns by fire, it would have soaked up BARFist 'activation' points in the subsequent turn, whilst the surviving guns continued taking pot shots at the enemy armour.)
 |
| The 2pr gun battery - half strength - has just seen off five separate close assaults by infantry and armour. |
This episode was a memorable one. So determined to break through the AT gun position, as each 'retreat' result lit upon the assailants, they pulled back to make room for the next wave, rather than take the hit to remain in close contact. It might have worked. It didn't - not at once, at any rate. Meanwhile the tank duel, 'C' Sqn, on the ridge, took some damage from the 6-pounders, and returned the favour by knocking out some portees. (This was another of my modifications to the PW rule set, hits and damage being rolled for separately by portee and guns. However, I had not yet decided whether portees at 1SP could transport AT guns at 2SP. I'm inclined to think not, which would have meant the AT guns dismounting at full strength or taking the 1SP loss to stay mounted. Be it noted, though, in an early PW set, transport units are just 1 SP. Something to think about, maybe?)
 |
| 2pr at last overrun, but 'A' Coy 31st Battalion hurry across to seal the breach. |
The battle between 'A' Sqn Shermans against the Grants was beginning to tilt in favour of the former, the Grants already reduced by a third. At last, 'C' Company of the Sons of Revolution at last burst over the 2-pounder anti-tank position. There they were halted by 'B' Coy, 22nd Punjanjoodi in the outskirts of the town. The 3rd Revolutionary Rifles having been definitively repulsed in front of the town - their 4th Company being entirely destroyed achieving a single hit upon the Punjanjoodi MGs - Lord Redmond drew 'A' Coy of 31st Kashinkari out of the centre of the line, to bring it behind the Punjanjoodi companies, thence to counter-attack the lost gun position.
This left a gap in the town's front, but for the moment the BARFists were in no position to exploit it. The 31st's MG platoon was in turn drawn out of their position (intended to flank any advance skirting the north the north side of the town) to fill the gap. If anything, that served to make the city defences stronger, at the slight cost of weakening the left flank line. By that time, however, the 2nd 'Volunteers' Battalion was largely committed towards the northeast corner of the town, a part of the Government line that the battalion's mortars could reach.
 |
| Government troops are holding...! |
The whole BARFist attack was fast becoming gummed up on the left. Having burst into the anti-tank gun position, the infantry were struggling to break out. Not even the arrival of 'B' Company to assist on their right flank ('A' Coy was attacking the railway station ('D' Coy, 3rd 'Rifles' having been finally repulsed) levered them forward. The fact was, the defenders at this point outnumbered the attackers. Nor were the infantry in the not far distant field works any more inclined to yield their position, however determined the assaults.
 |
| 2nd Battalion make their first advances. |
The lull in the battle in the centre gave plenty of time for the 31st MG Platoon to occupy the position formerly held by 'A' Company. However fresh the 2nd Volunteers, the city defenders had taken few losses so far, and had the support of both 25-pounder batteries. So confident had Lord Redmond become, withal, that this part of the front would hold, he ordered 'A' Artillery Battery to limber up and move across to the south flank, the better to bring the revolutionaries there under fire. It was still more than possible the BARFist Revolutionaries might break through on the south flank.
 |
| One 25pr battery limbering up to move off and join the action on the south side. |
Despite the already noticeable huge disparity in losses taken by both sides, the issue remained in doubt whilst at least two Revolutionary battalions, and their armour, still retained most of their strength. The tank duel forced back 'A' Squadron, and drove 'C' Sqn from the ridge. Fortunately. 'B' Squadron had come up to occupy the defile between ridge and town. There they were to hold back the enemy armour until the other squadrons could reorganise and reenter the fight.
 |
| Showing just how reduced 3rd battalion has become - just 5 rifle stands remaining out of 16. |
Held up by barbed wire entanglements, 'B' Coy, 1st 'Sons' Battalion successfully negotiated the obstacle under fire, but found themselves faced not only by counterattacking Punjanjoodi Infantry in front, but also by MGs from the town. 'A' Company had simply melted away under the defensive fire. Having drawn upon themselves so much of the defenders' attention might have assisted 'C' Coy to the left, but they, too, were facing two-to-one odds. Further to the left, 'D' Coy were also making little progress against the fortified defenders.
 |
| Outnumbered Revolutionaries beginning to realise that the town is to be denied them. |
A final attempt by the remaining shreds of 3rd 'Rifles' Battalion was too feeble to help much, except to draw fire momentarily from the MGs still ensconced just south of the railway station. The 31st MG Platoon having entered the Government line astride the main street leading into the town, were ordered to return to their original position, when it seemed likely that the BARFists might mask the 31st 'B' Coy, and try to get by the undefended AT obstacles close by the town.
 |
| 2nd Battalion at last gets to attack... |
However, the companies of 2nd 'Volunteer' Battalion seemed to be focusing their attention upon the 'B'/31st position. Although doing some damage, their attack was destined never to be pushed home. It was too late.
 |
| Losses much too heavy; BARFists ae about ready to quit now and try again another time. |
For, late in the action, the BARFist losses, already severe, mounted at an alarming rate. Returning to the battle, the Shermans of 'A' Squadron finally knocked out the remainder of the Grants. Losses to 1st 'Sons' Battalion also became too heavy to promise any success on their front. The Revolutionary attacks, for some time promising imminent success, abruptly faded away. (Whilst checking the SP losses, I miscounted and thought the BARFist exhaustion point has been reached. It hadn't, but was close enough. It was really the disparity of damage taken that decided the battle.)
 |
| End of the action. |
It was an emphatic Government victory - the 'Miracle of Nawabisbad' it came to be known. The determination of the BARF forces to conquer the capital city may be inferred from the summary of losses:
Losses by BARF:
1st 'Sons of Revolution' Battalion - 9SP2nd 'Volunteers' - 1SP
3rd 'Rifles' - 11SP
1st Armoured - 4SP [3SP from 'D' (Grant) Sqn, 1SP from 'B' (Stuart) Sqn]
Atni-tank - 1SP from portee mounts.
Total: 26SP (C.f. exhaustion point, -28SP)
Losses by Government:|
Tank Regiment: -1SP ['C' Sqn]
2pr AT: -2SP [destroyed and overrun]
22nd Battalion: -2SP [ -1 MG Platoon; -1 'A' Coy]
31st Battalion: -1SP ['B' Coy].
Total: 6SP (that's right, SIX, c.f. exhaustion point at -19SP).
It was scarcely credible! How could that happen? The fact was the BARF dice rolling in this action was about as miserable as it had been pretty good during the campaign so far. After a promising beginning, the mortar fire proved woefully ineffective against the protected Government defences, the BARF infantry could not break through, and the tanks could make no progress. To what extent did the 14SP worth of defence works make? Clearly some - quite a bit, probably. This will have to be tested in the next action...
For all that it was so decisive for the protection of the capital, it was a negative victory in the sense that the Government had merely held off a determined attack. (Had I continued the fight, I have no doubt the BARFists would have extracted their troops with little further loss, and the Government might well have been held up by their own defences). The Revolution was still at large, popular enough to represent a clear and present danger, and therefore to be put down for good and all.
Disappointed in his ambitious hopes, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars brought his troops back to Maibad Station. There he would await the counter-attack he could trust the Government forces to mount.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Long Live the Revolution: The Capital City
 |
| Early Revolutionary moves, developing rapidly on the left. Already, though, the 3rd Revolutionary Rifles have taken some hurt. |
Upon a tide of unbroken success, the Revolutionary army, growing in size all the while, closed in upon the greatest prize of all, the Nabob's capital, Nawabisbad, with all the instruments and accommodations of government, including the Army Barracks and Arsenal, the Model Prison, and the Administrative seat of government power. Not merely a figurehead, the Nabob, Maibiwih Khan served as a mask for the exercise of Imperial power - not a role he enjoyed, but accepted as the alternative was to have no power at all.
 |
| Map of Nawabisbad battle, with BARF planned assault. For a change, the Government defenders have improved defences. |
 |
| The Government right, protected by barbed wire, anti-tank obstacles, and field fortifications. |
The Government forces were meanwhile determined, even at this late hour, to resist the Revolutionary tide to the last. Was the Battle of Nawabisbad to be the climax of an episodic, linear narrative; the turning point of a circular return plot; or the pivotal point of a contrast plot? Time and events would tell.
In view of the importance of this action, the local Ruberian Governor General, Major-General Lord Lionel Redmond, assumed the command himself. He had available:
Government Forces:
Command: CO, staffs and scout vehicle: .....6SP22nd Punjanjoodi Infantry:
3 Rifle Coys @ 4SP
1 Vickers MMG Pln @2SP .....14SP
31st Kashinkari Battalion:
3 Rifle Coys @4SP
1 Vickers MMG Pln @2SP .....14SP
6th Bananaramaputra Hussars:
3 M4 Sherman medium tank squadrons @3SP .....9SP
1st Tchagai Artillery (2 batteries only)
2 25pr gun/howitzer Batteries @2SP with Quad tows @2SP .....8SP
Anti-tank batteries:
2 2pr AT guns in fixed positions (can not be moved) @2SP ....4SP
Totals:
18 units, Median = 9
55SP, Exhaustion point -19SP.
(Determined by adding 42 + 4D6 = 42 + 13 (not a good roll) = 55SP)
 |
| Government left, a minefield covers the flank of the field fortification some distance from the city. |
For his part, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, the leader of the Baluchistan Armed Revolutionary Front (BARF) found himself in command of a well motivated and powerful army, confident in the justice and destiny of their cause. This confidence was not abated by the uninterrupted tide of success.
He had with him:
Revolutionary Forces:
Command: Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, and HQ vehicles: .....6SP1st 'Sons of Revolution' Battalion:
4 Rifle Companies @4SP
1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
2nd 'Volunteers of the Revolution' Battalion:
4 Rifle Companies @4SP
1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
3rd 'Revolutionary Rifles' Battalion:
4 Rifle Companies @4SP
1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
1st 'Scimitars of Revolution' Armoured Regiment:
3 Sqns (A, B, C) M3 Stuart light tanks (poor) @3SP
1 Sqn (D) M3 Grant medium tank (poor) @3SP ..... 12SP
Battery, Anti-tank:
1 6pr medium AT gun battery @2SP
1 Portee mount @2SP ..... 4SP
Totals:
25 Units, Median = 13
82SP, Exhaustion point - 28SP
(Determined by adding 66 + 6D6 = 66 + 16 (terrible roll) = 82SP.
 |
| The BARF forces on their start line. |
So far in these battles, the government troops, defending, have not enjoyed much help from improved defences. In two battles, one battery or company had a fortified position, and there have been advantages of defending built up areas and higher ground. But very little in the way of larger scale field works and obstacles. On this occasion I thought I would give the Government forces at least some defensive improvements by way of field works, minefields, barbed wire and anti-tank obstacles. I gave the Government half, rounded up, the difference in Strength Points by way of such improvements, that is: 14SPs.
 |
| Overall view eastwards from behind the Government left flank. |
They prepared:
1 Minefield @2SP
4 Barbed wire entanglements @1SP
2 Anti-tank obstacles @1SP
3 Field fortifications @2SP
Total: 14SP
Noticing this, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars laid his plans...
To be continued...
(Sorry about the delay: this was fought out about 3 weeks back, but I've had a little bit of an injury since that rather curbed by enthusiasm for typing up narratives).
1 Minefield @2SP
4 Barbed wire entanglements @1SP
2 Anti-tank obstacles @1SP
3 Field fortifications @2SP
Total: 14SP
The minefield and one barbed wire obstacle protected the flank of the field fortification garrisoned by C Coy of 31st Battalion supported by 2pr AT guns. This position guarded the extreme left wing of the Government defence line. The rest of the field fortifications and obstacles stretched across the open flanks of the city, leaving the distant right flank open. Lord Redmond hoped his tanks would stop up that possible ingress to his position. He was also aware that by placing his gun/howitzers so far on the left flank, there would be little or no artillery coverage on the right.
Noticing this, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars laid his plans...
To be continued...
(Sorry about the delay: this was fought out about 3 weeks back, but I've had a little bit of an injury since that rather curbed by enthusiasm for typing up narratives).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)