Operation Quarterback Day 1

So I am already falling behind and did only one entry in November so you will get three in December. This first one is an after action report of the first match of our club's single day Bolt Action campaign, Operation Quarterback. The participants were for the Germans; Kevin leading the defenders, Anthony (the organizer), Dave B and myself. For the Allies; Alex in command, Ernie, Markus and Tobi (a new guy).

Operation Quarterback

Operation Quarterback was a fictitious mission undertaken by American infantry and paratroopers fighting in Normandy in 1944 to secure an MSR to bring their heavy equipment and logistics inland from the beaches. The campaign consisted of four sectors; a swamp, woodland, farmland,  and a factory with outbuildings. The allies were only able to deploy armour in two of the sectors until they had secured the middle  of the AO (including the urban board) which would allow them to rush vehicles up the MSR.

The urban table

My first match was up against Ernie's infantry platoon and I held two objectives on the urban board. I had also been given the defender's special ability by high command that added a +1 to all my cover saves, this really paid off in the urban environment. The first objective was a command tent containing the German defence plans and the second an ammo cache for our heavy guns. The cache was surrounded by barbed wire and was in the woods outside the factory complex so I deployed an MG42 team in a building that could watch over it and the MSR. I figured (partially correctly) that they would be able to stave off any advance on the cache long enough for my rifle squads to redeploy.

German Deployment

The rest of my platoon deployed at one end of the factory complex preparing to hold buildings within it and set ambushes for the advancing Americans. Ernie deployed his forces in a spread out line with one squad advancing through the woods, another trying to rush up the MSR and the third cautiously moving through the complex. I believe he did not want to get bogged down in urban combat with my fallschrimjaeger but his attack across open ground turned out to be just as dangerous.

Risky advance

After a preparatory bombardment that saw some of my units pinned and some minor casualties sustained Ernie's riflemen came into view of my MG team I let loose. The bullets cut down a couple of yanks and pinned down the squad thus slowing its advance through the woods. As this happened my mortar team added to the confusion by dropping rounds around the Americans moving in the open. Although they didn't hit anyone this added pressure to Ernie to get his grunts moving and into cover.

Well placed MG42

All the while his one rifle team, and my two in the complex zipped their way between buildings trying to get the drop on each other. The American MG and mortar team tried to get decisive shots at my elite men but only inflicted minor wounds.

Some long sight lines in the complex

Under heavy fire the brave Americans attempted to storm an apartment building held by my spotter as well as the MG nest. They managed to kill off most of the MG team before entering the building and the German spotter bit the dust. The building he had inhabited was shortly retaken by a bold assault across an open street by my riflemen. The yanks assaulting the building with the MG team in it did not fare well either as before they could scale the staircase and get to the second story to finish the job, my second rifle team strapped up and pushed them from the building.

The assault

Counter attack

The remnants of his platoon pinned in the open and two nearly full strength squads of elite German troops about to open fire on them, the American officer decided to pull back. A decisive victory to the fallschrimjaeger. I believe after the first round of games the Germans had three victories and a draw thus hindering the allied deployment of armour. The report for the second and third engagements will be in the next post.

At battles end

In other miniature news I received my secret Santa gift today and am quite impressed that it is nicely wrapped in Toy Story paper and has a card taped to it. This will go under the tree once it is up. I have also been getting back into my Impetus Athenians and now nearly have a hoplite base complete and have begun work on another unit that contains these two fellows. Have a guess at what they may be, there is a hint in the picture (Markus you're not allowed to guess as you know).

Love the wrapping paper!

Who are these guys?

Continuing on an Ancient theme if you haven't already discovered the War and Empire Kickstarter by Forged in Battle I highly recommend it. Some great looking sculpts and the backer pricing is fantastic.
Lastly as we played Operation Quarterback on the 9th anniversary of Duelling Grounds existing there was a 25% off sale on all Flames of War merchandise. A bunch of us finally acted on wanting to do Bolt Action 15mm in North Africa and I picked up some halftracks to go with my DAK infantry. I also bought some paints and have begun work on a few test figures. My Stug IV also got some foliage camo post Quarerback.

DAK and Stug IV