Redina and Bluvia both send forces rushing towards the left hand bridge. For the first game I decided to play a scenario I first read over forty years ago but have never tried; Tabletop Teaser No. 1 by C S Grant, The Bridge Demolition (featured in Battle Magazine Feb 1978).
Bluvia's brigade, arriving first with an Engineers Company set about destroying the crossing.
I gave them 6 turns to set the charge, from when the Engineers got established at the bridge. When the charges were set, and the Blue Commander gave the order, a die roll would decide the outcome as detailed in the Teaser.
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| The blue defenders await the enemy |
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| Early skirmishing - the Blue C-in-C leads from the front |
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| A cavalry melee |
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| The Engineers get to work |
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| Red's troops arriving piecemeal |
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| Hussars on the left do not hold back in the race against time |
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| By Turn 4 Red's whole force is on the field |
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| Bluvian forces are being pushed back |
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| A Blue Infantry battalion has been destroyed and The blue Guards are now engaged |
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| The Engineers have completed their work and the Blue C-in-C falls back |
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| The remaining Blue units are unable to extricate themselves - the order is given to blow the bridge |
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| The Bluvian Commander crosses his fingers, and 6! The bridge is destroyed |
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| Once again FX have let me down, but you get the idea |
Regrettably, the Bluvian Commander was forced to leave two units of his troops on the enemy's side of the river (having reached Exhaustion Point) but was able to destroy one of the three crossing points. Attention will now turn to the Centre Bridge.
A cracking game MJT, if the bridge hadn't blown the Bluvians would be in trouble. However looking at the strategic map the middle bridge may be captured by the Reds.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul, and you're quite right, (Spoiler Alert) the Red Force is already riding over the centre bridge!
ReplyDeleteI would not recommend blowing a bridge and isolating your troops on the enemy held side of the river. Sacrifices must be made!
ReplyDeleteDesperate times I'm afraid!
DeleteAt least these decisions leave no lead/plastic widows or orphans.
DeleteHow true! I'm so glad I don't have to make such decisions for real.
DeleteNow that's how you begin a campaign with a bang!.... Sorry, I'll get me coat...
ReplyDeleteGood one Mr Sprinks! Are you still looking for 6mm figures cos I've found some more..
DeleteOoohhh could be interested, I will email forthwith.
DeleteHi Maudlin- You have some great Soldiers there - I can spot AIRFIX- Union Troops and possibly some British Guards. Great to see there is a home for these Vintage figures. Cheers. KEV. (Sydney-Australia).
ReplyDeleteCheers Kev. This Campaign was in part an excuse to get some of the older Airfix figures into action!
DeleteA great and desperate actionand whilst not having any common interest in the sides, I was rooting for the Blues from the waord go!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe. Blue defending with a smaller force makes them underdog!
DeleteI the look of your table! This is possibly my favorite scenario - I played it quite a bit earlier this year. Did you use the reinforcement arrivals per Grant?
ReplyDeletethat should say "i love the look of your table!"
DeleteCheers John - it's a great scenario. I let Red's attacking force build up more slowly but there were no other reinforcements. I used the optional die roll to gauge the effect of the demolition, which Grant dryly describes as "For those whose appetite for excitement is still undiminished"!
DeleteVery nice looking game!
ReplyDeleteI think C S Forester’s “DeathTo The French” was about soldiers trapped on the wrong side of the river.
Nice to see glossy figures.
Thanks Doug. I've returned to a gloss varnish after many years! I don't know the book but will look it up.
DeleteI like the way you have used the Sham Battle battle map for a campaign map. I will never look at a battle map the same. Using different time period figures also adds to the enjoyment of you campaign.
ReplyDeleteThanks John. I liked the simple battlefield map in Sham Battle and thought that if you have a large table or floor space to play a game, then 6 towns on a battlefield at once is possible, but on my 2 foot by 2 foot board it might be a bit crowded for 1/72nd figures!
DeleteExcellent...!
ReplyDeletePS. Fill your boots with this one and the rest of the Tabletop Teasers here ==> https://steve-the-wargamer.blogspot.com/p/word-document-jpgs-of-original-article.html
Thanks Steve!
DeleteNah.. thanks to Charles for allowing me to post them... :o)
DeleteNah.. thanks to Charles for allowing me to post them... :o)
DeletePass on my thanks then! MUCH appreciated.
Delete