'O' Group: The Battle for Tel Al Fal

Unfortunately life, the universe and general laziness on my part has led to the blog not getting the TLC it deserves, despite there being several AAR's sat in the drafts folder. I will endeavour to finish as many as possible asap, this one being from a great game played back in the spring...

Following the games of 'O' Group set during the Six Day War played at Winter Wonderlard IV I was contacted by one of the players, Peregrine, who asked if he could play it again and bring along a friend, Nigel. No problem and I roped in Andy to help...

Based on a scenario in the old Bruce Rea-Taylor Battlezones booklet for Challenger (published in the early 1980's by TTG), both the Israeli A/82nd Tank Battalion and Jordanian 2nd Battalion, 60th Armoured, are trying to capture the key village of Tel Al Fal along the Ramallah-Jerusalem highway. We randomly diced for sides with Peregrine ending up with the Jordanians (having come up with a cunning plan for the IDF!) and Nigel taking command of the Israelis with Andy.

With the IDF occupying Beth Hanina to the north-west, the Jordanians pushed a company of M47's and FOO in a Land Rover forward towards Tel Al Fal from the south-east.

The IDF adopted a pincer attack with one company of M-50 Shermans advancing on the village from the north-east...

With a second pushing up to the north of the target.

However they were not as speedy as the Jordanians who swiftly got armour and infantry support in Saracens into the woods just south of Tel Al Fal.

The first Jordanian Combat Patrol entered the village...

But was beaten off by Israeli mortar fire.

However this did not stop the Jordanians deploying infantry into Tel Al Fal.

With the infantry beginning to invest the village, the Jordanians pushed a platoon of M47's forward to engage the advancing IDF M-50's.

One platoon of IDF armour being quickly despatched.

Fire was exchanged between the Jordanian and Israeli armour, the IDF damaging one M47 section (one tank model, represents two tanks in real life, so Damaged means one tank out of two is knocked out).

An IDF platoon accumulating two Shock in return.

Although not at 100% effectiveness the Jordanian armour had a good position on the hill able to cover most of the eastern flank.

The next order phase though threw the Jordanians a curve ball as one of the tank companies rolled badly and became Hesitant, not able to advance towards the enemy.

Somewhat ironically, the same happened to the Israelis!

Meanwhile the IDF paratroops had deployed just to the north of the village and engaged the Jordanian infantry in the buildings.

Though the loss of more armour saw the Israelis incurred their first FUBAR (normally three of these spells defeat for an army in a game, but in this scenario the Israelis could accumulate four before defeat).

In the village, the IDF paras decide to assault the Jordanian defenders...

Charging in and inflicting three Shock on one Jordanian infantry platoon, Suppressing it.

Following that up and forced the Jordanian unit to retreat to the southern half of the village.

However to the east the IDF armour was not faring well as it tried to advance on Tel Al Fal...

And soon the Israelis picked up a second FUBAR and not far off a third (you get one for every four sections lost)...

However Jordanian fortunes were soon to change as the Israeli FOO called in an attack on the south of the village...

A lucky dice roll bringing in air support from two Dassault MD.450 Ouragans!

The first Ouragan inflicted Shock on one Jordanian unit and Suppressed another...

Before the second Ouragan flew in...

Wiping out the Suppressed infantry platoon and inflicting more Shock on the other.

Following the devastating airstrike up, the IDF paras charged the remaining Jordanians...

And wiped them out.

All of a sudden the Jordanians had gone from no FUBAR's to two - one more and they would be defeated!

If the infantry were not going to win the battle, Peregrine decided his armour must and he advanced his second company of M47's towards the IDF armour north of the village.

The unerring accuracy of the M47's swiftly destroying one M-50 section and Damaging a second.

Pushing forward up the western flank...

The Jordanian battalion HQ issued a Command Order to keep the pressure on the IDF...

In Orders terms this proved costly...

But saw more IDF armour brewed up! 

Things were starting to get incredibly tense with both sides now just one FUBAR away from defeat...

The M47's continued to decimate the M-50's and we were now in a position that the next casualty to either side would result in a FUBAR and defeat.

The IDF paras moved down the slope to try and pick off an M47 with a bazooka...

Whilst one of the few remaining M-50 platoons managed to come up on the flank of the advancing Jordanian armour...

Their first shot missed, but fortunately for Nigel and Andy the second shot was devastatingly effective!

The M47 loss resulted in a third, and final, FUBAR for the Jordanians! They were defeated and the IDF had managed (as they did historically) to seize the village of Tel Al Fal, though it was close run thing.

Well that was tense, going right down to the wire and could have been won by either side. Whilst 'O' Group was written with WW2 Infantry actions in mind, it does work well for more tank heavy games, even ones set some twenty odd years after the period they were designed for. If you are a 6mm gamer I recommend picking a copy up.

Sharp Practice: En Avant!!... Holding The Line (Day Two)

After a less than stellar performance by the Italians at En Avant!!... Holding The Line day one, Chris and I knew we'd have to pull our metaphorical socks up on day two. Yeah right... :-)

Game Three:

Our third game of the weekend was against Phil and Rob's Anglo-Portuguese force, the Brits being a Royal Marine contingent, our mission to capture a rebel priest hiding in a monastery and pull down the Papist flag, whilst the Brits had to steal some brandy!

The smell of the Spanish brandy must have wafted towards the Brits as the Marines rushed skirmish units forward...

Along with three smart groups in column. I had to wonder would Phil be able to keep his men under control when they got near the alcohol?

The Italian light infantry Volteggiatori pushed forward up the road, forcing the Marines to snap into line after having a pop at them, whilst the line Volteggiatori hid in the wood waiting for the Marine skirmishers to try and get the booze out...

With the Fucilieri moving up in support, the Volteggiatori traded shots with the Marines, both sides taking Shock.

Having taken a fair bit of shock, the light infantry Volteggiatori fell back as one column of Fucilieri snapped into line to trade musket fire with the Marines as a second moved up behind.

Meanwhile the Cacciatore a Cavallo, in true cavalry fashion, trotted to and fro behind the front-line...

As the one group of Marines convinced the Guerrillas guarding the brandy to join them in its liberation, whilst a second pushed up alongside the storehouse.

And then in the centre a moment of madness! My cunning plan was for the Fucilieri in line to echelon off the road to the hedge line and pour more musket balls into the Marines before the second charged up in column to finish them off. Forgetting to stipulate where they were to stop I rolled 17 on 3D6 and the line charged forward stopping two inches from the Marine line!

The Marines activated, charging in themselves on the unloaded Fucilieri. In a rash moment of desperation my force commander challenged the Marine office to a duel!

Two rounds of sword play saw my commander lying dead and the Marine charge routed the Fucilieri, and knocked their NCO down! 

Lots of Bad Things happened there and the Italian Force Morale slumped. I don't think Chris was overly impressed with my cunning plan!

Bad though things were now for the Italians we had some light relief when the Marine skirmishers fired and charged in on a group of Villagers who had professed their loyalty to the new King.

I only had seven dice against 20 odd for the Marines, but the gods of war(gaming) like a joke don't they?

Despite losing two comrades the villagers practically wiped out the Marines and wounded their officer...

Who was dragged to safety by the sole surviving Marine!

The other group of Marines (with the brandy) and Guerrillas tried to break out but were hit by the line Volteggiatori.

Whilst in the centre the second formation of Fucilieri moved up to trade volleys with the Marines who fell back...

To be replaced by Rob's Portuguese Fuzileiros...

Who with their Caçadore support poured more fire into the Fucilieri.

Eventually the inevitable happened and the Italian Force Morale hit zero, the Marines with their Pork and Beans allies winning a decisive victory.

Game Four:

Our final game saw Chris and I up against birthday boy Julian and Al and their British army. Our mission to seize an important bridge, theirs to stop us!

Despite having a cunning plan to move swiftly with Volteggiatori shielded columns, the gods of war(gaming) favoured the British early doors with their line, Rifles and light cavalry storming up the table.

Eventually the forces of the Kingdom of Italy began their advance...

The Fucilieri screened in textbook fashion by the Volteggiatori...

Whilst the Granatieri marched swiftly up the road on the left flank.

The Rifles moved swiftly to seize the bridge and have a pop at the Cacciatore a Cavallo who had been a tad impetuous in their advancing.

The light infantry Volteggiatori moved into a lemon orchard and began firing at the British line whilst the Fucilieri snapped into line and moved through the copse.

Spying enemy cavalry to their front the Granatieri snapped into line and presented, ready to give the horsey boys a good volley of Italian lead!

Whilst the Volteggiatori continued to chip away at the line of redcoats...

Soon joined by the Fucilieri.

Many a redcoat fell dead and the line reeled under the deadly Italian musket-fire.

The thin red line looked very thin facing the mass of Italian white!

Having caused the Italian horse to retire out of range, the Rifles switched targets to the line Volteggiatori... 

However this did not stop the second formation of Fucilieri snapping into line...

 And loosing a volley at the second redcoat line!

On the Italian left the British cavalry cantered through the orchard into the rear of the light infantry Volteggiatori but were defeated, their officer being knocked out by the dashing boys from Milan!

The two survivors somehow managing not to rout, but were pushed back and effectively hors(e) de combat!

With the Italian left flank now secure, the Granatieri formed back up into line and began marching towards the sound of the gunfire.

The Fucilieri in the copse continued to pour fire into the British to their front, forcing them back...

However the second formation buckled under the fire from the other redcoat unit and the Rifles.

Despite this success, the British position looked somewhat tenuous...

The first group of Fucilieri yelling Avanti! stormed towards the British, bayonets levelled!

However, before they got the chance to wet their bayonets, the line Volteggiatori moved swiftly forward, fired a volley into the surviving Rifles on the bridge, causing them to break and the British Force Morale to hit zero.

Technically, according to the scenario conditions, Chris and I still had not won as the Volteggiatori were not holding the bridge when the British Force Morale collapsed (a second objective in itself), but I think we can all agree this was a decisive Italian victory! (come on, give us one! :-))

Overall another great weekend of Sharp Practice gaming with a wonderful group of gamers, the doubles approach working well for the Peninsular, Looking forward to the French & Indian event in November now!