Gyros Teller Part III - The Belgian counterttack

South West Model Engineers Exhibition at the Bath and West was the location for Part III in the Gyros Teller franchise.

The table - 30ft x just under 6ft. Hazy and dark due to shootng into morning sun. Sorry.

Nato end of the table, positioning of  figures and models

 

Nato Tac HQ - actually 1RS with liason groups from Germans and Belgians

 

 

Forward positions of Brits, along Autobahn 

 

Centre of Brit line

 

Belgians moving up to the attack, scaring the hell out of a Beetle, left abandoned on the road 

 

German Reserve Panzers and infantry, behind wood ready to support Belgian cautious advance on the Soviet forces.

 

Moving up along the road from the treelined Autobahn, Leopards and Jagdkanone

 

Belgian light tanks ready to recce the advance

 

 

The recce is advancing in front to determine opposition and locations

 

Soviet forces have prepared a defensive position on the outskirts of Gyros Teller - artillery and a 100mm A/T gun, with infantry stationed in the town.

 

100mm A/T gun and tow

 

Rocket artillery support deployed in the town for cover and to support

 

The armour is moving into position over the canal, past local air defence assets

 

Soviet Tac HQ for the operation. A Liason helicopter and other assets located at the pumping station. They have been ordered to advance and secure the Autobahn, to push on as far as possible. Meanwhile, off table similar probes by other Soviet Motor Rifle Regiments are being set up and planned. 

 

The build up of forces, from the the rear of the table showing the canal bridge and pumping station. 

 

Not all traffic is crossing by the bridge, a bridge layer has laid a second bridge over to assist with movement forward of the attacking troops.

 

wide angle shot of the temporary bridge.

 

Deployment in the town

 

The Soviet screen protecting the rear echelon manoevres

 

Recce observing movement - dust, smoke and noise coming from the town. Facing the rear, with turrets turned, to allow a quick getaway.

 

Brit positions showing the tail end of the Belgians moving forward, with 1RS dug in to the treeline.

 

The Germans have decided to move through the wood to deploy and support the Belgians rather than move around and go by the road. Fear of Soviet artillery and rotary wing aviation have made their decision.

 

Advancing through a track/logging path through the wood in column.

 

After a final snack of lager, chips and mayo, the last Belgian Leopards are getting to position

 

Belgian advance, with 2 CVRT's from 1RS battlegroup in rear fo the picture, providing a screen to 1RS.

 

The Germans moving up to the treeline of the woods, about to deploy out along it.

 

The Belgians

Soviet tanks moving up

 

The road from the Autobahn is starting to get busy

 

The German Reservists have deployed out into ambush along the treeline, waiting for the Belgian advance.

 

Rear view of the German position, covering the approach up the road from Gyros Teller. 

 

Soviet recce screen is advancing from the town, whilst the Belgians are preparing to advance.

 

Having picked upthe presence of the advancing Soviet screen/probe, the Belgians deploy along the ridge of the hill, between the 2 woods. A natural chokepoint, if the woods are secured.

 

Nato recce out along the road, exposed and now caught out by the advancing Soviet recce

 

They attempt to engage the recce probe, and slow it down whilst the Belgians get themselves organised into position. They should have left, and allowed the Soviets to move up, but fears over the wood on the right, not yet secured have made the Belgian commander commit them forward. 

 

The Soviets recce are slowly picking them off

 

 Fear of what might be in the wood, has meant that the Soviets have called a rocket strike on the wood. Bad die rolling - or Bad Vodka, has meant that the strike is slightly off target, and ineffectual. Close shave for the Germans.

The main force attacking/advancing through is shown building up

 

The infantry in BMP's with their T64's

 

More forces are coming through from the temporary bridge into the town and advancing.

 

Artillery from the Soviet defensive line comes down on the Germans, again a lucky escape for them.

The Germans advance out to take on the Soviet recce probe, as do the Belgians - the cautious advance. The shooting is very poor from the Belgians and Germans.

 

However, things are not going the Soviets way, as artillery counterbattery fire by Nato, directing 2 Abbot 105mm, picks up the Soviet battery and completely neutralises it. No more gun fire.

 

The 100mm A/T gun is quickly hooked up and towed into cover

 

The recce probe is slowing down, to make effective shots on target, but the main attack force is catching them up. They are doing their job of locating the enemy positions and forces.

 

Soviet gunnery is on top form, with the German M48's getting a pasting, with few Soviet casualties. Is this a forewarning of what will come?

 

The Germans push forward to the farm complex in front, to secure it and threaten the advance, hoping to do this before its too late, helping to contain the Soviets in the town. This is wishful thinking, they are too slow and too late.

 

There but not quite, they are now exposed.

 

The Soviet forces moving up 

 

A view from the Soviet side, also showing some BRDM's with A/T missiles moving up to the supermarket on the road.

 

The BRDM's

 

The Mil Mi24 Hinds come on, directly in front of the Germans

 

A close up of a Hind

 

They engage the Germans with rockets and cannon

 

Luckily for the Germans only 1 M48 is lost.

 

The Belgians are making heavy work of the shooting, and call up their 2nd troop of Leopards to assist.

 

Decision time for the Germans. They can't slow down the shooting to allow the infantry into the buildings, and if they do, they will not be able to protect them. There are to many Soviet forces advancing towards them. A bad move has just got worse. 

 

The A/T and tank forces are at the supermarket alongside the road.

 

The recce screen is slowly being reduced, but more forces are moving up, and the Nato forces are being drawn out into combat.

 

A move up by the BMP's to the right hand wood, the key defensive feature of the treeline/hill position. Both woods are needed to advance on to the Autobahn. The start of the process to do this.

 

The Germans did do something with their advance. They managed to frighten the Soviets into deploying out of their APC's into the defensive position on the edge of the town. They did not intend to do this by their reckless advance.

 

 

Brit OP and spotter has moved up to the ridgeline, observing the engagement.

 

A view down the road of the engagement and the critical nature of the right flank wood

 

The Soviets moving up to the wood edge, and the attack on the Belgian Jagdkanone defending it.

 

More infantry moving up in BMP's

 

The commander of 1RS sends up a platoon of infantry to secure the rear of the wood and set up an ambush for the expected Soviet breakthrough.

 

 

The 1RS CVRT moves into a new position to support the infantry. The Chieftains will not be committed, even though this could result in the loss of the recce tanks.

 

The supermarket has now been overrun, providing cover for a further advance up the road.

 

More troops moving up, especially the A/T missiles on the BRDM's

The follow on forces pushing through

 

A view from the Soviet side

 

Down the table showing the undulating terrain, and the infantry attack top left

 

Pushing on towards the exposed Germans

 

With the 1RS sending up a platoon, a troop is moved to cover their positions. 1RS commander does not expect them to hold very long.

The Germans have withdrawn, leaving the M48's burning.

 

1RS recce watching the show going down, as the 432's push on.

 

1RS commander has sent a platoon of infantry to the rear of the left hand side wood to back up the Germans. With the Chieftains in the treeline of the Autobahn, the infantry will not be needed. If they are, its all over anyway. 

 

The 432's of the right flank in cover. the infantry have moved up to the trees and begun to set up the ambush.

 

Yellow handbags ready for afterwards.

 

The defence of the Autobahn will depend on Swingfire and 120mm rifles 

 

Positioning of the Chieftains as things are hotting up, in anticipation of the Soviet breakthrough.

 

Its starting to get busy on the Autobahn

 

The Autobahn with the left flank deployment moving up to support the Germans and to get hulldown positions in front of the Autobahn.

 

There is no frontal defence of the left flank wood except by a Milan team from the edge of the right flank wood. The Soviets cannot drive in as the destroyed Belgian Jagdkannones have blocked their path.

 

Left flank group advancing, Brigade Tac in distance.

 

Tracked Rapier are deployed out for the expected swoop by the Hinds or other Soviet attack aircraft.

 

1RS mortars are set up along with other vehicles that will not be part of the gun line. It also means that they will be able to get a quick getaway should things get tricky. The Chieftains are now in position.

 

 

A Lynx with A/T missiles heads up to try and stop the Soviet advance 

 

The 2 Lynx's on the attack.

 

The front of the gun line, infantry on the right, Chieftains located in the centre, with the Swingfire to their right.

 

Soviets moving on up.

 

The advance continues into and around the wood.

 

A second line forming up, to advance in support.

 

Along the Brit positions of the Autobahn. They don't want a rocket strike here, but the Soviets do not ask for one, and don't know of the Brits being there anyway. No Soviet recce has spotted them, and no aircraft have made a pass over the table. The Gepard has forced off a Su24 before it made it onto the table.

 

A Brit Gazelle over the ridgeline directing in the Lynx's and marking the advance for the 1RS commander and his artillery. 

 

 A close up.

The Soviet advance through the woods is moving quite quickly.

 

The BMP's who carried the infantry, advancing through the wood. A key assault, on a key feature.

 

The assault on the right flank woods is forming up.

 

The second wave moving up.

 

All quiet at the Soviet HQ. Things are going to plan. 

 

Ambush!!

 

Devastating fire from the ambush wipes out the entire section, with the entire second section going down in the Brit players move. The ground is raked by fire - 2 bullet hit markers show what is left.

The attack on the left flank wood.

 

The Brits move position quickly to avoid any retribution.

 

The attack on foot,on the left flank wood. Shot in by their BMP's  gunfire.

 

The expectant Brits.

 

Side view of the attack.

 

The Soviets advance in, laying down artillery. The Germans have occupied the reverse slope, and so do not defend the tree line. If so, they would have been eliminated. They pour in ambush fire onto the advancing Soviets.

 

Again, another infantry attack has been devastated, and slowed down.

 

Meanwhile, more infantry are moving up to take the places of the fallen.

 

 

And that was the end of Gyros Teller for me. I got a call at 1pm to say that the wife had flooded the bathroom and hall by doing some plumbing. !!!. She would have been more believed to say that she had been doing some wargaming. Off home it was. The game went on for 2 more hours.

 



 

The British forward defence on the right consisted of a 432 Plt with an intimate support Chieftain. They successfully ambushed the Sovs coming through the dense woods then fell back to a second defence line. They then lost their Milan team after an unsuccessful attempt on a T-64. Then the airstrike, the chaps survived but 2 x CVR(T) from the Recce Plt got it.

Nick was able to do a write up of what happened next, this was added to a Guild post that I wrote up.

On the left the remnants of the Germans fell back through a Plt (-). The Sovs advanced to a position with a number of support wpns and a T-64 Plt in overwatch, hoping to trigger the British with a section then using overwhelming firepower to snot them. The British did not wait around but popped smoke and headed back to the next defence line in their speedy 432s, covered by 2 x Striker and 2 Tp (Chieftain). The final act was the 2 Chieftains on the centre right taking out the 1st Sov T-64 as it came over the central ridge. 

 

Over 2 days of play, with thanks to Ian, Paul, Mike and Nick T. Figures and terrain were all Nick's.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An evening with friends - FoW Mid War in the Desert ( deepest Somerset! )

Well, i'm still alive, even though the shed is no more. After spending almost all the summer month's doing the garden, relocating the 'caravanshed' to the garage, I managed to find the time to reply to an invite to John's FoW game, set in the Desert, Mid war period. German Panzers/Panzer Grenadiers/Italian iron coffins, versus an Indian Division force, with tank support.

 

 

The table  was symmetric, along the diagonal axis. The game setup was a counterattack scenario, with the Indian division as the defenders. The Germans were to counterattack an attempted breakout by the Indians. As they were infantry, this was to be an intriguing problem for an all infantry - non motorised force.

Effectively, the Indians would win by denying the Germans sole command of either of the objectives, just by being able to remain within a certain distance of them. Apologies here for the lack of detail regarding the 'rules', I'm not fully familiar with them, and try to play the game as opposed to the rules. This can and does often result in horrendous howlers. This evening it didn't.

 

 

John provided his services as host and FoW rule mechanics guru, Ian and Gavin the command of the Indian Division, with Steve and myself the Germans with supporting Italians. Once the initial game dice had been rolled, a plan was needed to try and win the game, or at least counter the Indians possible plan of action. The Indians, when dug in, would be pretty hard to winkle out of prepared positions, and whilst with 25pdr support, and a troop of Deacon 6pdr a/t, the main problem would revolve around the 3 Churchills that were available.

The Germans had 2 armoured Pzr Gren platoons, a battery of 150mm guns, some Pak40's, a troop of 5 PzrIII's long 50mm, and a troop of 5 Italian M13's. Short on quantity, the German force was extremely mobile, its greatest asset, and one which we intended to exploit as much as we could. If we could contain the on table Indians, secure and hold the centre with the M13's, we could then race across the table to the other objective and dig in, holding our armour - the PzrIII's supported by the Pak's to try and contain the expected counterattack on us by the Churchills.

The Indians deployed all on table except the reserve forces of the Churchill's and a platoon of infantry. They could have chosen the Deacons, but chose not. The Deacons were placed in ambush on table, possibly to try and confuse us, but we felt that this was a major mistake. The Churchill's should have been on the table from turn 1. That's the nature of the game though, and you  play you're hand as you're dealt.

The Indians dug in in their quarter, some in the buildings, running out in positions towards the centre of the table, where their MMG's and mortars were placed. Their aim was to dominate the centre, taking the ruins on the hill by advance, and shooting into the interior of the German positions. The M13's were placed behind the hill to cover this possible move, but I had thought that this would have been done by infantry and not by the support weapons. At the rear of the Indians were their 25pdr battery, dug in as well. One of the really weird things I find with FoW is the on table deployment of supporting artillery, I just can't get my head round it!! It's not right surely...but it works.

A 6 move game, as Germans attacking, we moved first. Off we fuck to the far objective, cautiously avoiding observation from the Indian FO's for the 25pdr's and mortars. The PzrIII's supporting the Pzr  Grens, the Italians moving up to the centre. I took command of the Italians and the guns, Steve the rest, being far more competent with FoW than I am.

We basically played knock for knock in the centre, putting in gunfire on the Indian support weapons, MG fire from the Italians as well, and trying to engage the dug in infantry. It didn't really work, except that the centre proved to be a quagmire for the Indians, tying them up in pins and slow attrition. Unable to move into the centre, they consequently were unable to slow us down or influence our depositions. Any movement out of their prepared positions drew down fire, and their revealing of their ambush forced them to withdraw it across to towards the open objective we were heading for. A sound move considering the special feature of the Deacons, which was a shoot and scoot rule similar to US tank destroyer tactics, utilising the terrain covering the objective.

Meanwhile, anticipation of the Indian reserves was growing. Appalling die rolling by Ian meant that we were given an almost free hand in the race across the table, but on turn 4 the Churchill's arrived, catching the PzrIII's to their rear, fronting the Deacons on an escarpment over the objective. At the same time as this, a move to attack the flank of the Pzr Grens as they came forward got caught in the open, again after appalling die rolling. The Italians were doing quite well machine gunning here, there and everywhere, going around the centre and breaking through the line of dug in infantry to come back in attacking the Indian flanking force that was attacking the Pzr Grens.

 

The tank attack - PzrIII's and Churchill's with the Deacons pitching in as well, started to take on a Benny Hill theme. The best description can be that it was a dust fuelled melee with desperate firing into and within, as the tanks tried for hits, bail outs and penetrative kills. To be honest, the advantage was with the Indians but converting the advantage to actuality was beyond the die rolling capacity of Ian.

As the melee grew in intensity, an attack by the Pzr Grens out of the objective wiped out an attack by Indian troops coming on as reserves, and the attack the  M13's were developing behind the flank attack on the Pzr Grens, became superfluous, as the Pzr Grens counterattacked and wiped them out.

All of a sudden, realisation grew on the Indian side that regardless of the victory condition, the Indian Division had collapsed due to casualties. A decisive German victory, as there had been no real losses except some 1/2 tracks and PzrIII's amongst others light losses. A very difficult game for an all infantry force take on a mechanised force, especially given the scenario.

A very enjoyable game, in very pleasant company, and an entertaining diversion from Battle Group. A big thank you to John, Ian, Gavin and Steve.