Teeny Tiny WW2

Last Thursday Julian set up a small Second World War game to try an infantry-only action using some of his 2 mm Irregular Miniatures figures.

We were somewhere in the Hürtgenwald in the autumn of '44. A US rifle company had been assigned the task of capturing, or disabling a German command and observation post atop a heavily wooded hill. American comms are down, so to achieve this task, they had solely three rifle platoons of three sections each, with 'attached' heavy mortars. The German defenders consisted of a single rifle gruppe supported by two heavy machine gun teams. Half of the table was woods, on and around the hill. The Americans approached from clear ground, into increasingly wooded terrain.

I did not take photos every turn, but have enough to tell the tale in pictures.

This photo, taken a few turns into the game, shows the Americans, closest to camera approaching the German position on the hill. If you click to enlarge the photo, you'll clearly see the company HQ in centre-foreground, with one of the mortars to the right, the other two further forward. The three rifle platoons^ are approaching the hill in a concave arc. One squad is behind the others as it suffered a 'neutralised'* result due to fire from one of the German HMGs.
*The term used in the rules for troops temporarily suppressed, heads down, ducking, covering up or otherwise interrupted in their movement (and firing).
^Command for the rifle platoons is included with the bases. We did not nominate which section, but should do so in future for command and morale effects.

On the other side of the hill, the German commander has called up the reserve gruppe who had been enjoying time in the village, dining on Heidi's famous apfelstrudel.

 A close-in view of two American sections approaching the defenders.

The rules cleverly use a fire-move sequence, so any troops that are 'neutralised' do not move (nor fire in the subsequent fire phase).

I took the Germans as, never really knowing what to do in a WWII action, it was simple to 'just defend'. I did not expect to last long as I watched this mass come on, suffering little effect from my HMGs.

Before I knew it the woods were swarming with Yanks. My HQ is in the pill box (base placed behind it), the two HMGs to the right of it, firing from the edge of woods and the rifle gruppe further forward in the woods to try to stem the attackers.

Boom! A direct hit from one of the US mortars on the pill box and my HQ was eliminated. (I'll say that the Germans passed their morale test as we forgot to do one!).
[Note to self after looking at this photo. I must wear glasses when placing these figures. The HMG team is supposed to be facing the other way. Didn't notice that with the naked eye!]

It was looking bleak for the Germans at this stage as the net was closing, but there was a minor reprieve. The Americans had taken losses and an adverse morale result had them seeking cover. My infantry had moved back towards cover in front of the disabled pillbox. One HMG to their right, the other further right and a little downslope in the woods (soon to be eliminated).

This looked like it with close attacks on the remaining defenders, 

...a loss of a rifle section each...

and both sides sought cover.

The 'cavalry' had arrived in the form of the second German gruppe.

The firefight went the way of the Americans. Germans retreat. Objective captured (albeit not intact).

That was a top little action and the old Wargame Research Group 1925–1950 rules came through. No need for arbitrary mechanics like command dice or cards when you simply use orders, simultaneous movement (our approach rather than the alternate movement of the rules) and morale.

That was the last game of the 'season' for us. Soon afterwards Julian headed off for what will be a long period in the 'frozen north'. A suspension of games locally means that I can focus on developing forces for some of my expansive ideas. Similarly for Julian. We compared notes and made a list each of our aims for what we'd like to get done 'tween now and March. Some practical, some more hopeful. It will be fun when he's back to see how we each went.

I'll keep mine under my hat for now. Except to say that, no surprise to followers of my blogs, building the remaining 1/700 ships for the Pacific War (plus painting a good few) and finishing my Age of Sail ships are in my 'to be completed definitely' column, along with on-going painting of figures for battles of the revolutionary & Napoleonic wars.

With Trafalgar packed away and the ocean sheets removed, my table has reverted to a work area.