Belov Escape To Victory Mission 2

A Chain of Command V2 Game report.

Russian forces to the East are pressing hard against the German 221^st Security Division forces using the heavy forest as cover to infiltrate close the German positions with the aim of breaching the wire and minefields. Later this day the German field commander will hear that the green troops were no match for the veteran Russian Urragh charge.

However this is news to come. In a small village east of Roslavl a German platoon under the command of the Company Captain have a much better defensive position. The troops here are a seasoned Regular platoon with MG34s instead of the second rate MG26t, they are supported by two Pak 36 AT guns and have a bunker in a commanding position.

The Situation So Far

It is May 1942 and forces under the Russian General Pavel Belov are desperate to break out of a German encirclement. The Soviets have divided into two columns, with the first, under General Kazankin, striking with a first echelon led by the 1st and 3rd Guards Cavalry Regiments; the second column under Belov led by the 5th and 6th Guards Cavalry regiments are attacking a little to the North East. If both attempts are not successful there will be a third attempt again near Roslavl.

A village somewhere near Roslavl…

An aerial view of the battlefield. A typical Russian farming village with crops yet to be harvested and open fields to the East.

 The German Commander has a position very favourable to defence with open fields of fire to a flank and buildings that will channel any enemy advance ideal for the Germans to ambush from.

As the Russian commander conducts his recon he is concerned about navigating the tight street through the village. His Guards Cavalry will need to dismount his troops leaving the horses to be mounted again later if required as the squads try to infiltrate using the woods as cover.

The Russians push a squad forward to the edge of the village with the T60 moving cautiously through the woods on the track. To the left flank a 75mm field gun has deployed and a sniper team that has moved forward has identified an enemy bunker and dug in infantry. The Germans open fire and wound the guns commander!

Wary of German ambushes the first squad cautiously advance to the village.

 The T60 has advanced to the edge of the woods to engage the German bunker but takes fire from a carefully positioned Pak36! The first shot damages the T60s engine and in retaliation a Russian sniper team hiding in the wheat fields lays down effective fire killing one crew member and causing shock!

 

The Russian infantry move forward on the flank using the farm houses to stay out of sight of any German defenders but unfortunately they are seen through a gap between two buildings and take effective fire from a German squad positioned near to Pak36! Heartened by the arrival of the infantry squad the Pak 36 fires at the T60 this time scoring a direct hit resulting in a very impressive explosion.

On the Germans right flank the bunker is taking a lot of fire from the Russian sniper team in the fields near the edge of the woods and the 75mm field gun but so far have taken no casualties.

 

The Russian Platoon Commander pushes another squad up to the village to support the troops taking fire from the German MG34 and accompanies them to keep momentum and prevent them bogging down!

The Russian field gun continues to fire on the German bunker but return fire as well as HE shells from the Pak 36 start causing casualties!

The Russian Commanders decides to throw caution to the wind and orders his platoon to mount up and sprint past the German Defenders who have left a flank apparently unguarded! A faire maiden was never won by a faint heart!

Unfortunately for the Russians the German Company Captain, an experienced officer from battles in Poland, France and now in Russia has two more squads in reserve and with deft co-ordination of the MG34 and two rifle squads catches the Russian cavalry in a deadly enfilade!

The first cavalry squad is wiped out! The second cavalry squad following also takes heavy casualties including the squad leader and the platoon commander!

 

While the Russian Guard Cavalry fought heroically the weight of fire of the German Machinegewher was too much for them. Seeing all their leaders killed or wounded, the supporting T60 destroyed and one squad completely wiped out broke their resolve. The German platoon held this salient and now wait to see General Belov’s next desperate move.

 Campaign summary to date.

The first mission was a resounding victory for the Russians who overwhelmed a Green German Platoon, easily breaching the wire defences. A terrifying Urragh charge by 3 squads against two already depleted green squads wiped them out! Surging with success they carried on to assault a third squad rushing to plug the gap but they were ultimately also swept away. The Pak36 was unable to dent the Russian T34s armour and German morale quickly plummeted.

This second mission was fought very differently with the Russians attempting to bypass the German defences. Unfortunately the T60 did not fare so well as the T34 in the other battle and two shots from the Pak36 resulted in a spectacular explosion. The last straw came when the cavalry tried a desperate sprint to escape only to be cut to ribbons by the wall of machine gun and rifle fire from the defenders.

 The scene is now set for the third and final battle!

Here is a preview of the battlefield. The road has a slight embankment offering some cover and the scrubby area will also offer some cover but the tangled low bushes impede foot and cavalry movement. The Russians will have plenty of concealment to deploy behind the farmsteads.

 

Crimean War Russians

Aficionados of this blog may recall that I did a unit of French Grenadier Garde to start a Crimean War project (...almost 2 years ago now):

https://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2024/01/ahpc-14-french-grenadiers.html

Well its about time to get them somebody (Historical this time) to fight on the tabletop!

Bog standard Russian line infantry - a basic unit to get me started. I was going to get the lovely Great War Miniatures figs but I need to get some figures done and these get me going at a good price. I kinda prefer the forage caps (mutzes) to the helmets but at least they will be distinctive!

Planning this to be a project for AHPC 16. I really missed the challenge last year so hope to participate in a limited way this time around (hard to call it "Winter" in Hawai'i!)

Azrakh the Annihilator

I always loved this image of a World Eaters Chaos Lord, foreboding in Terminator armour (my favourite models since way back in Space Hulk 1st edition days).

In 2022 (when the miniature was released), artist Mark Gibbons had this to say about his painting, which was also used on the cover of White Dwarf magazine in February 1995:

Painted a mere 28 years ago, I think (the previously unnamed) Azrakh the Annihilator is my most-published Games Workshop piece, but it's a painting that almost never happened.

I submitted his sketch as a freelance commission to GW and when John Blanche reviewed it he asked for a more dynamic, arms-raised, posture. In a 'deeply uncharacteristic' fit of pique, I said if I couldn't paint him the way I wanted to, then I wasn't going to paint him at all!

John, not wanting to escalate my diva moment to Beyoncé-like proportions, relented and all these years later Azrakh strides onto the tabletop, courtesy of the warp-powered sculpting & painting masters within the GW Design Studio.

So I was pretty happy to acquire a NIS copy of the 2022 Commemorative series model recently. One day he will lead my 40k World Eaters army! 

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

To be honest his lore is not deep, and was retrospectively made up go with the model release. Then again, he is a World Eater, so depth of character isn't really a requirement!

"A pitiless killer even by the standards of the World Eaters, Azrakh the Annihilator earned his moniker during the assault on the Iron Warriors fortress dubbed Orion Gate. Of the 400 warriors that took part in this assault, only Azrakh survived. His armour was covered in the blood of not only Iron Warriors and demon engine oil, but also the blood of his fellow World Eaters."

Note to self, the backlit green light on this one is a pretty cool effect and reminiscent of the artwork (not my work)

He also doesnt stink in the original Heresy era Legion colours! (again not my work)

1870 Opening Shots in the Saar

 Paul has repeatedly harangued me to post game reports here... be careful what one asks for! 

After the French declaration of war on Prussia on 2^nd August 1870, Prussian patrols crept through the thinning early morning mists seeking to find the advancing French forces. 

In Saarbrücken the 40^th Regiment frantically prepared defensive positions desperate to delay the anticipated French thrust.

This Sharp Practice game saw an engagement between French and Prussian platoon strength patrols confronting each other.

French fielded 2 Line, 1 Zouave and 2 skirmishers with a Level 3, 2 Level 2s and a Level 1 Leader.

Prussians fielded 4 Line and a Jäger quad with a Level 3, 2 Level 2s and 2 Level 1 Leaders.

As the sun rises the skirmisher squads from both sides let fly the first shots. Prussian Jagers led by a Level 2 Leader lose a casualty and the squad leader is knocked out, but down a French skirmisher caught in the open. A squad of French Zouaves (with a Level 2 Leader) rush to support their skirmishers and a half platoon of Prussian line (with a Level 2 and a Level 1 Leader) move to support the Jagers.

                           

 The Prussian line led by a Level 2 and a Level 1 add their weight of fire to take down two more skirmishers and inflict serious shock on one squad. The Zouves in their rush to join the fray and are now “blown” needing water before being able to move at full speed (Spitting Feathers).

        

While the Jager squad leader still lies senseless the French skirmishers poor more fire on inflicting further casualties and shock.

                                 

The rest of the French patrol now arrives and emboldened the skirmishers start to move forward.

                                  

Ther Prussians still waiting for the rest of the patrol including their leader move forward to deal with the French skirmishers who are getting too close while the Chassepot continue to poor fire on from a distance!

                                         

At last the Prussian commander arrives with the rest of the platoon! Just in time to take some pressure off however they are congested and unable to manouvre! The Jagers have taken too many casualties and although the Squad Leader is now back on his feet he must move them behind the line of Regulars to avoid the effective French fire!

                                  

The fighting is joined in earnest now and both patrols start to advance. The French Zouaves are keen to get to hand to hand with the Prussians and start to move out of the wheat fields followed closely by the French Line. Unfortunately the Prussians have now moved into effective range of the Dreyse negating the Chassepot’s advantage and the telling fire does away with one of the French Skirmisher squads. The Jagers tart to move to a flank where their fire might be more effective without drawing return fire and the Prussian Commander wheels his half platoon to try to flank the French advance.

                               

The Zouaves more to close range and start inflicting serious casualties on the Prussians but lose more of their own in turn! The Prussian Platoon staff are working hard to rally shock off the men as this engagement hangs in the balance!

               

Finally the Prussian commander has been able to swing his second line to the flank and breaking them down into two squads to allow more flexibility starts to advance to outflank the French. While the French commander still has his main line in good hand seeing the last of the skirmishers break and the Zouaves reduced to an ineffective unit determines he has met his orders and gauged the strength and disposition of the Prussians in this sector. His report will be well received but tainted with the loss of his skirmishers and too many Zouaves.

For the Prussians it is a Pyhhric victory as they have too few many to lose so early!

                                 

By Paul:

Hey buddy, GREAT to see your post here. Sharpe's Practice was a favourite of our group in Sydney and with the exception of our FIW campaign back in 2017 or so, very much focused on Napoleonic. Not that thats a bad thing! But the game has lots more potential as you have shown here.

Game looks great and the natty little labels really look good too! Keeping things at a sensible level allows you to enjoy the narrative aspects (like the Dreyse vs Chassepot). Our games to expand to rather astounding levels, in which such things are lost.

As you know, FPW is a big interest of mine but has never gotten to the tabletop. The other period I think the SP would work very well for would be the Crimea. And it just so happens that I may already have an army ready for it...

https://tasmancave.blogspot.com/2024/01/ahpc-14-french-grenadiers.html

Maybe a just a small investment in some Russians then... bugger - you've done it again!!!! 

:-)

Part 2 - Echoes in the Stone

 Captain 'Ace' McGuire returns in...

The Galacteers pressed into the corridor, boots ringing on alien stone, shadows pressing close as if the darkness itself yearned to smother them. At the vanguard strode Astro-Angel Peggie, steel-nerved and eagle-eyed, her scanner crackling like a divining rod of the void. Jane slipped in beside her, pistols loose in her hands, every muscle wound tight as a drawn bow.

Then, the earth exploded!

The stone floor heaved up like the skin of some great beast and from its bowels erupted a nightmare of scale and fang. A colossal worm, its hide glittering like shards of amethyst, reared upward with a roar of shattering stone. Its maw, ringed with grinding teeth, gaped wide enough to swallow an atomik tank!

“The Amethyst Terror!” Jane cried, vaulting back as its slavering jaws thundered toward her.

But the Angel did not falter. Resolutely she stood her ground and her twin pistols blazed, their beams striking fire against the worm’s armoured hide. One shot rang off like a bell tolling doom, but others seared deep, carving sizzling wounds. The beast reeled, howling its hatred into the cavern air.

“Gods, what a monster!”” Jane gasped, her heeled space-boots sliding across grit.

Ace’s blade was out in a heartbeat, gleaming like a comet’s tail. He charged forward with Dr. Zahn close at his side, making room as Stacey and Jen swept past. The Angels’ rifles cracked with fire, bolts hammering into the worm’s flesh and opening fresh rents. Still the thing lunged at Jane, maw gnashing, slime flying.

“Hold fast, Jane!” Ace roared. “We’ll send this nightmare back to the pit that spawned it!”

Rocky, ever the sentinel, dropped into the shadows of the pit below. His blaster was raised but he held his fire—too many comrades, too little space. “Steady!” he growled to himself. “One slip, and my shot burns one of us instead!”

Far beneath their feet, in the labyrinthine dark, the Maker-Bot stirred. Its claws retracted with a hiss of pneumatics, and in its place a winged silhouette detached from its moorings. A drone of steel and shadow banked down a corridor, eyes glowing like embers, angling toward the heroes who dared trespass.

On the surface, the worm reared once more. Stacey’s rifle tracked its bulk. “Hold your lines!” she barked. “If this brute breaks through, we’re done for!”

But with a sudden thunder of dust and shattered rock, the beast dove back underground. The cavern shook with its retreat, the ground trembling like the heartbeat of some titanic god.

“Where - where did it go?!” Stacey shouted, choking on the cloud of stone grit.

Jane allowed herself a grim chuckle. “I’d run too, if I were that ugly!”

The Galacteers pressed forward. Stacey’s sharp eyes caught a gleam ahead: two strange cylinders standing on circular pads, humming faintly. Alien computer consoles stood nearby, their glyphs pulsing like malignant stars.

“Dr. Zahn!” she cried over the comm. “I’ve found your Shlar-Tak resonators!”

Zahn advanced like a scholar approaching a dragon’s hoard, awe and dread mingling in his eyes. His hands hovered above the keys. 

“By the old chronicles…” he whispered. “A resonator indeed, but altered! Galacteer circuits grafted like scars upon alien flesh. This is part of the Shadow Circuit! If Scar activates this network…” His jaw tightened, and his hand clenched into a fist. “I must disable it, though every key I touch might unleash our doom!”

Jane circled the second terminal, eyes narrowing. “I thought I saw something scuttle just now…” 

In the gloom, a tiny seeker drone, no larger than a child’s toy, snapped a glimmering picture of the squad. Its lenses blinked once—and then it flitted away into the maze like a wasp carrying poison back to its hive.

The squad split: two Angels stood guard over Zahn while the others tightened their cordon around Jane. Ace joined Stacey and Jen, his jaw set like iron, eyes burning in the glow of the alien display.

Dr Zahn’s fingers danced, trembling but resolute. “If this glyph combines with that one… ah! A success! One step cracked; one victory against the alien logic! But I need more time!”

“Roger that, Doc!” Jane barked. She spun, twin pistols at the ready, and unleashed a volley into the second resonator. The machine screamed in a shower of sparks, plates warping, ozone biting the air. “This one won’t sing Scar’s song!”

The Angels joined her, firing disciplined volleys. One weapon spat hollow—laser cell empty. “Damn it, dry!” the trooper cursed, slamming a fresh cell into place. The rest of the bolts ricocheted harmlessly from the alien plating.

Far away, the seeker drone’s intelligence reached the Maker-Bot. Its claws tightened, finishing the assembly of a new hover-drone. The machine whirred alive, lenses chevron-bright, waiting for the order to kill.

Ace’s pistol cracked, his shot gouging only a shallow scar across the resonator. He spat. “Not enough. Zahn, wring every secret you can. We’ll burn these abominations to ash!”

Rocky’s voice echoed from the cavern rim, grim and low. “That hum again. Louder now. Like a motor. Steady. Low. Mechanical.”

Dr Zahn’s voice came sharp, every syllable a battle. “Two sequences cracked. More to go. One wrong press and the Shadow Circuit blooms to life!”

Ace raised his sword, its edge catching the glow of alien glyphs. His voice was iron:

“We’ve found two. Scar thinks his shadow grows. But we’ll rip it out by the roots. Three more to go. Hold the line, Galacteers—hold the line for the galaxy itself!”

And in the corridors beyond, the catacombs answered with the murmur of machines waking—hover-drones stirring, shadow wings unfurling, the unseen hand of Scar tightening its grip.

TO BE CONTINUED...

the resonators Live, 

the Maker-Bots stir, 

and the Legion’s net tightens!