Gaming on Friday in the dungeon saw the Sicily Collection on the table to introduce Erik to Bolt Action as an alternative to Chain of Command. Not based on anything particular we played the standard breakthrough scenario. Giving me a chance to play the Italians for a change. Here are just a few shots of the action.
The Americans are a mixed force with support in the form of a Sherman and a armoured car.
The objective line for the GI’ s is to get beyond the winding road running across the table
I encouraged the Americans not to hold back with potentially only 6 turns to break through so they came on pretty quickly
The Italians did have some armour support but really frustratingly this was immobilised and knocked out really quickly by the Sherman, this left the Italians struggling to hold back the US armour, but they were having more luck holding back the American infantry which started to take some serious casualties
Realising the Italians had nothing to hold them back the US armour pushed forward
Ignoring the risk of being overrun the Italians focussed their fire on the American infantry keeping them pretty much pinned down
As the game got closer to the end the Americans rushed the Sherman off the table for maximum points, the Italian defenders are gradually being whittled down but they have blunted the advance of the American infantry.
In the end the American were able to claim a fairly clear win as several Italian units had been knocked out holding the line, but they did pretty well holding back the US infantry, a fun game and it felt fairly close right up tot the end, losing the Italian armour early on didn’t help the dense. Certainly a good introduction to bolt action first edition.
In the words of the famous Bard it’s all ‘Greek’ to me ? Well not quite, finally I have some painting to share it seems like these chaps have take a long time, but now I look back I guess my mistake was attempting to paint the whole lot in one go. The positive of course is they are now all completed and ready for action. I give you the Greeks 1940/41
Support weapon teams including a sniper
Artillery support, the guns are actually french 37mm which I understand the Greeks did purchase. The benefit of the Great Escape games is the guns crews can be purchased separately. So the AT guns can also serve with the french if needed.
Command squad
One of the 4 squads.
Here are all four, I just didn’t see the point in putting them each in the Photo Booth. The figures are all METAL (David) and great sculpts from Great Escape Games. This force is all Evzone elite mountain troops and I plan to purchase a couple of regular infantry squads to fight alongside them. From my reading so far the Greeks really didn’t have any armour and the fighting I’m looking to play is very much the mountain conflict with the Italians, so for now the force will be entirely infantry and support.
For those interested a size comparison, the Greeks are chunky chaps (very well fed) warlord Americans, Italians to the left, crusader Paratrooper and British older metal warlord, then a crusader British in think. I can live with the variations.
The beauty of Wasedale
Sca Fell to the left, my target for the day, and Sca Fell Pike in the centre (for non UK followers this is the highest point in England at 3209 feet)
Two more games planned this week before we are away again on a family holiday in the South West.
Thanks as always for popping by 🙂
Matt ❤️
Excellent report and another impressive setup. What were Erik's impressions of the two rulesets? My, your brushes have been busy! Mine, not so much! More stunning landscapes from your recent hikes. I especially like the photo of the well-manicured path looking up the valley.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon I’ll not speak for Erik but as usual BA gave a fun and entertaining game. It has taken a while to get the Greeks done but now they are a force. The path in the photo was definitely the only neat section of the day !
DeleteGreat looking game Matt and an enjoyable report, close up to the end. The Greek infantry look super, not too sure I have ever seen them before. Lovely scenery, stunning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie, the Great Escape games are lovely figures well sculpted and easy to paint.
DeleteA marvellous feast of hobby goodness from the Dungeon! Stavros & Co are solid chaps, none of this plaaaaastic nonsense! As ever I enjoyed the landscape pictures, especially as its dull and dreary hereabouts!
ReplyDeleteThanks David I thought you would like the Metal additions !
DeleteThat's a great looking game with a historical outcome. Seeing your all too typically lovely decked out table, I am reminded that I really need to finish painting my stone walls.
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE your Greeks! I have the same GEG metals and they are some of my fav WW2 figs in my collection. (The Greeks "did" have a little armour, just not any good armour! They had a few French FT-17's they used for border patrol with Yugoslavia and they managed to capture around 30 Italian L-33's during the invasion, though all of those were destroyed when Hitler sent his boys in thereafter.)
Thanks Dai, luckily my stone walls were purchased already painted. The Greeks are fine sculpts and I love them too. I had read they captured some Italian tankettes but wasn’t sure how much they actually used them especially in the mountains. My plan for the greek/italian battles was to focus on the battles in the mountains to provide a slightly different feel to the game. That’s not to say things won’t develop with time ?
DeleteFor the most part, the Greeks didn't get much use out of the tankettes and indeed the Italians didn't find them much use either in that awful Greek Mountainous Winter.
DeleteMy own research shows that British armour (Little Vickers Mkvi's and A10 cruisers) featured more on the Greek's side where tank battles were concerned.
So i guess your plan to not really have any would be more historic really.
Thanks Dai I’ll keep my options open, as I do some more research I’ll keep an eye out for any armour. The plan was to initially play against the Italians, before the British got too involved and before the Germans throw their hand in. I do have a Gloster gladiator to get involved at some point 🙂
DeleteWhat a great game there Matt and nice to see the Italians make a fist of it, even after losing their tank early on. Those Greeks look great and I simply use my WWI Brits as stand ins, as they did use British equipment for many of their units. As Dai has mentioned, they did manage to use some captured L3/35 tankettes and I think some British MkVI light tanks too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve a tight game and fun to play. I’m going to keep away from tanks at the moment for the Greeks, but at some point I guess we might see them team up with the Brits agains the Germans ?
DeleteA fine looking game and write up your tables, toys and reports never disappoint. Love the Greeks really nice to see something different on the table. Epic scenery as ever. Enjoy your holiday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil some more games to come soon 👍
DeleteGreat to see a new Sicily game!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal 👍
DeleteLovely table, I too would be interested on Erik’s first impressions Vs Chain of Command. Nice to get a more unusual force up and running and a good idea from Great Escape about the stand alone crew.
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm, as an ‘open minded’ gem I have shared my thoughts before, both rules have their place and provide very different games. Bolt Action always seems to provide fun games.
DeleteAn excellent table layout as always Matt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil 👍
DeleteThis looks like a lot of fun Matt and the real life scenery is breath taking.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael I can’t take any credit for the beauty of the Lake District 🙂
DeleteLovely Sicily game and impressive Greek force, I really like the artillery piece!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain newly painted troops so we’ll see how the Greeks do in their first battle ?
DeleteGreat stuff all around Matt. The Virgin Greeks should do OK as long as they are fighting Mussos boys....Adolfs, maybe not so much!
ReplyDeleteLake District still looks fantastic too!
Thanks Keith we are just about to find out how the Greeks get on this morning . The Lake District always looks good even in the rain 🙂
DeleteA great looking game Matt and the Greeks look awesome!! Lovely view on the walk, not sure my knees and back could take that tbh. I'll admire the pics from afar!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray, I’m certainly happy with the Greek force so far. As for the knees it’s the downhill which is the challenge !
Deletelol!
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