A Very British Christmas War

 Afternoon All & Festive Greetings

On Monday the Shed welcomed eight players for a bit of VBCW mayhem using Bolt Action Rules. It was an opportunity to layout my interwar British terrain and get some of my armour onto the table.

As opposed to a conventional rectangular table we created an L Shaped table with the British Fascists defending the British Pie Factory (BP). Opposing them were a ragtail mob of Anglican League, Royal Navy and Communist Partisans. Alastair, Mark, David and Tony would lead the attackers and I gave them 30% more forces.

Defending the factory from forward positions were Sven, Vince, Reese and Myself. 

Simply put the attackers had to seize the factory so the Mince pies could be distributed across the good and equal of Britain. As mentioned we used Bolt Action rules but modified the turn sequence with the use of a deck of playing cards.

In remembrance of my late father in law who sadly passed away after a long illness the scenario was fought out in his honour and places named on his behalf

Suffice to say the game was great fun and everybody got into the spirit of VBCW madness. 

No full Battle report today but lots of great photos...

Above - the left wing of the table complete with railway line and the Village of Little Crompton

Below - The Pie Factory and The church of St Geoffrey's

 

Below the right wing featuring the canal alongside Mustard Manor and the village of Greater Crompton

A shot across the table...

The British Pie factory

Approach to the pie factory from the level crossing

The defenders move out from the factory lead by Big Red

Vince's facists take position on the pub roof

More BUF defending the canal bridge....

The Naval Barge gets in behind the defenders...

Mustard manor seized by the Anglicans after a furious firefight

The BUF cluster around the Garage - for once the fuel depot did not explode !!

Defending the factory

The Anglicans force their way up over the Bridge with a borrowed french char tank

The attackers take the rail embankment

Defending Greater Crompton

The Communist assault Little Crompton driving back the defenders

With the factory in site the Communists have won !!

A last ditch stand at the crossing

The Pies are free !!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

See you in 2024  

Some more work in progress

Morning All

Following on from last months activities I thought I would share what has been painted, played and built in the past couple of weeks.

First up are a band of rather nasty looking Vikings. I was given a pack of these Victrix lovelies last Christmas and only got round to assembling and painting them. They do look rather good and as I continue to add to my dark age forces I think Victrix might be the go to source..

Up next is something completely different. Over the last few months I have been reading up about 3d printed stuff so it was time to bite the bullet and see what this stuff actuall looked like. I needed to augment my VBCW tank force so I purchased aVickers light tank, and a Matilda mk2 from a company called the Tank Factory (Link). These two vehicles cost me the princely sum of £17 total. 

Half the price of what a plastic kit might cost

Vickers Light Tank

Matilda Mk2

These have just been given a non descript matt green paint job and black tracks. By means of comparison here they are next to a metal and resin model

From left to right - 3d plastic print, metal, resin. To be honest for the money saved all my vehicles forward going will be 3d printed stuff.

More soon

A Dawn Raid - Action in the Very British Civil War

Good Afternoon All

Once again the Shed was able to reconvene on Monday for another game. This time we headed off to the late thirties for a spot of Very British Civil War Action using Bolt Action Rules.

A simple summary of the game:

Its at the height of the war and the British Union of Fascists are now receiving plentiful supplies of munitions and vehicles from their 'supporters' in Germany and Italy. Opposition forces have learned that a transport ship called the Katie Jane has just docked and is unloading a number of armoured vehicles.

The Port of Little Snatch

A decision was taken to send in a suicide mission lead by the COrnish Communist Kollective (COCK) and supported by some Anglican regulars will assault the docks and the Village of Little Minge from the seaward size. This force would be assembled and sent in on a variety of boats at hand. A small armoured force would be available in support and carried in on landing craft.

(the total Allied force consisted of about a dozen rifle squads, support weapons and four light tanks)

The BUF defenders (smaller in number) are scattered across the docks and the thiurd Postal Company , if on time, would deliver support in the Village. The attackers outnumbered the defenders 3 to 2.

The primary objectives for the raiding force were to destroy the six major building in the docks. These contain the munitions, fuel and vehicles.

Mission objectives in the port district

There is not going to a full aar but hopefully the pictures tell the story....

A small armada of ships sail and steam into Little Snatch bay...

The beaches are undefended - the postal unit has turned up !

The facsist HMG in the Lighthouse is quickly taken out by ship board weapons

Hitting the Beach COCK force rushes ashore...straight towards the general store for some cider

More troops hit the beach as ineffective mortar fire fails to hit any boats (see smoke in background)

The quiet lanes of Little Snatch are going to get very messy quite soon

The BUF take up defensive positions in the port area

The port is bisected by the canal affording some protection

The fuel depot is a likely target

as is the Katie-Jane - armour has just been unloaded

A BUF fighter screams across the beach hitting nothing !

The forces are ashore and are piling inshore via the old docks and passed the light house

The posties finally arrive for some serious house to house fighting - they got beaten back

The Allied force began fighting their way insure with the hardest nut to crack being the Trueman Arms pub (top right)

Posties tank (Big Red) takes out two enemy tanks and two squads befor succumbing to Allied air power

COCK and their Anglican Allies are into the Port with two warehouses destroyed very quickly. The speed of their advance (and dice rolling) was have a telling affect

The final BUF defenders lose the bridge onto the second half of the port. With no reserves the Port falls to the raiding force

Its all over - the daring do mission was a success and at least 50% of the attackers can go home

This was a fun game, played with great speed and humour. Thanks to Colin (the overall star) , John and Stephen for a great night

More soon