Macchis for Beakfast

 

We played our 8th game of Bag the Hun by Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic last Monday night. This was the 2nd game in the Hal Far mini-campaign  from the TFL specials. I have a pretty good handle on the rules now and we were able to get 8 turns in over Zoom. 

This game saw the Italians springing an attack on 3 sections of Hawker Hurricanes (7 planes) who are being distracted by their attack on 5 Mc200 Saetta's. The sun is shining from the southeast and the 3 sections of Hurricanes are entering from the west at altitude 4 in astern formation, the squadriglia of Saettas are at altitude 3 in echelon. Two squadriglia of Folgore (5 planes) enter as 9 bogies from the south at altitude 5 on turn 3.

Victory points were given for destroyed, damaged and driven off planes. In this game I again played the Italians. I tried to protect my bogies as long as I could but they were spotted in turns 3 and 4, so it was then a game of maneuver. I believe the dice and the card order favoured me in this game (although I had 2 gun jams) and I was able to destroy 2 hurricanes and damage 3 for 9 points, P-Y was only able to get some firing in on the 8th turn and was able to destroy one of of the Folgores for 3 points, it was almost midnight so we called it an Italian victory.

Our next game will be the final in this mini campaign called Special Delivery, and we will see some Blenheim bombers. Not sure yet when we will play as I am working Monday evening but I am sure we will fit it in next week.

Some Painting

I have been doing a bit of painting, these two figures were set up some time ago but the process of getting them on clear acrylic bases is a little more time consuming than other figures. Still have plenty of investigators and monsters to paint. I thought I might do these two.

Harvey Walters

 

They came out ok, these were done with contrast paints, I am still getting the hang of them.

Sister Mary

 

I really do not have much on hand to paint, well there is stuff on hand but not that keen to paint them. I do have some little planes coming, as well as some more Conquest Miniatures for the FIW and some LotR miniatures from GW, which is a little shocking to me!

Bag the Hun: Hal Far

 

This past Monday myself and Pierre-Yves switched our gaming from the English Channel (peut-être, Pierre-Yves que utiliserait la mance) to the straits of Malta in late 1941. We found a nice 3 part series of scenarios in one of the TFL specials called Hal Far. We started with the Lightning Strike scenario, here we see two 4 plane squadrons of British engage three 2 plane squadrons of Italians.

What was especially cool was that we had some new aircraft on the table with the Brits having Hurricane MkIIb's while the Italians were flying in Mc 202 Folgore's. The Brits had a slight advantage in experience with 2 Junior Aces while the Italians only had one. The Hurricanes certainly had more firepower but the Folgores had an altitude advantage.

The scenario was a pure aerial encounter with points awarded for destroyed, damaged and driven off aircraft. The Italians entered from the west on turn 2 as bogies (Alt6) while the British were flying from the north (Alt4) and entered on turn 1 and thus were already identified.

Here are some photos, P-Y printed out some directional markers to make wargaming a little easier from a distance, as you can see they worked well.

I will not bother to write an actual report but it was a good British victory 9 points to 6 after 5 turns, I had played the Italians and although having not the best luck in the card draw, I really should of taken advantage of the fact that I entered as bogies, I allowed the Folgores to be spotted too early thus losing the advantage. It was a great game though with lots of air maneuver and dogfights. Two Italian planes were destroyed, while the Brits lost one plane. I really had fun with this game, we are planning to game again next Monday and I think it will be Macchis for Breakfast.

More Solo M&T

 

I had another go at the rules over the last 2 days and was able to finish a 250 pt per side scenario in less then a couple of hours.

The Dastardly Brits

Major Joseph Gorham

Gorham's Rangers (6)

Dank's Rangers (6)

Roger's Rangers (6)

British Infantry (8) 

Les Canadiens

Wawanaloath-Abenaki Sachem

Abenaki Braves (6) x2

Coureurs des Bois (4) x 2

Setting

Wawanaloath with his braves as well as the coureurs des bois have been tasked to explore an area of deep forest, there is very little visibility, they want to avoid contact with any enemy units. Unbeknownst to them, a force of Rangers with some British regulars have been asked to indetify and  then sabotage the enemy lines of supply.

The table was set up using the scenario set up rules in the Redcoats and Tomahawks source book (Exploration/Sabotage). The attacker was rolled for and the deployment points were placed. Essentially 2 per side on opposite edges of the table. I put these down blindly. The Brits had to take the 2 Abenaki deployment points while attacking Abenaki have to withdraw at least half their figures from the table at their exit points. These are placed once all units from both sides are on the table.

Table, north to the top, the Brit's entry points are to the south and west.

All figures on in first 6 cards!

Les coureurs des bois and Abenaki coming from the east....

.....and the north

The British infantry and Rangers from the east.....

.....and the south, as you can see per scenario rules the withdrawal points have been placed.

Nothing like volley fire.

and their card comes up, 1 dead Abenaki

 

Midgame Overview

The Abenaki have cut to the south, while the CdB advance directly.

The Abenaki with their chief have made it to the exit, seconadary to clever use of their command points...

Final Actions

....and to the south, half units off table so victory to the Abenaki

Since the game was over quickly, I decided to continue with the CdB.

To avoid the volley fire they decide to attack the Rangers, but the Rangers card comes up first.

As you can see the Rangers have also caught up with the CdB in the north, 6 to 2 in HtH.

The CdB have a distinct advantage in the dice roll, although they have 2 less figures, hitting on 4+ in HtH, while the Rangers hit on 6+. Here they manage to win.

I should mention when playing solo, I deal 3 cards to each side face down, I am blinded to these cards and just draw a card from the top starting with the attacker. If I happen up on a clock card it is placed to the side and I draw the next card from the that deck. Once one 3 card deck is exhausted, I add 3 cards to it. Otherwise all rules stand.


Well another fun game, but I think it would be better to play with some larger forces. I have loaded the shopping cart at Warlord Games; lot of nice figures out there but I think if what I want is available from Conquest Miniatures, I will continue to go with them......I just have to push the buy button.

I am enjoying the solo wargaming but I do look forward to actually playing a game with an opponent.

Here is an excellent introduction to the ruleset.