Rapid Fire: Operation Epsom, June 1944

 We were at Nigel's house today for a game of Rapid Fire using Nigel's wonderful 20mm collection of models and figures. His terrain looked great too as it was decided that Nigel would play the Germans with Ian and I splitting the British forces between us. Both forces were tasked with capturing and holding the various villages or chateau's spread across the table. 

The British entry point defined by the lolly sticks and you can just see the german entry point in the distance.

Nigel's fast moving German forces were quick to move into and seize the village. 

My British infantry making slower progress sheltering behind my squadron of Matilda tanks. They were aiming to capture the chateau ahead. 

Ian's forces lay down some smoke as his infantry advance towards the village now held by the Germans. 

The Germans enjoying the cover the village provides as they move to occupy the buildings. 

First main casualty of the game as Nigel bags one of my Churchills. A poor morale throw saw the other two Churchills having to withdraw for two moves. 

Ian's British forces tucked in nicely to support the troops trying to assault the village. 

The Pz IV lurking behind the smoke screen was a worry though. 

Here comes the Panzer IV emerging from the smoke. 

Boom! Ian uses an 'heroic action and by throwing two successive '6's uses a PIAT to blow up the Panzer IV. 

My Churchill's finally move back into the action by brewing up a German half track and 4 of the infantry it was carrying. A great turn for the British forces as my infantry also enter the chateau on the right. 

Not to be outdone, Nigel sends forward his flame thrower and brews up Ian's 6pdr AT gun. 

At this point we had to call the game a draw as both sides had made equal gains and suffered similar casualties. It was a very enjoyable game with some enjoyable and memorable moments. We were a little rusty with the rules to begin with but gradually got into the swing of them. A big thankyou to Nigel for setting up such an enjoyable game. 

Lion Rampant: 'the Messenger'.

 Just Ian and myself again today for another game of Lion Rampant. My Normans were tasked with getting a messenger across the board whilst Ian's Hiberno Norse had to try and capture him. We used the terrain chart on p130 to select the terrain for the game and that gave us 4x marshes, 2x woods and 2x hills. A dice was also used to randomly place the scenery across the board. 

The Norman commander, Fulcard meets Friar Edan, ready to escort him on his journey. 

The Normans arrive.

The Hiberno Norse divide to conquer! 

For three turns in a row the Norman crossbow men threw a double 1 for activation. 

These guys always seem difficult to get moving. 

The Norman skirmishers see off the Hiberno Norse bowmen. 

The dice show their courage score. 

Friar Edan urges his unit of light infantry to get moving whilst the Norman cavalry finally decide to get going. 

Norman Commander Fulcard is charged by one of the Hiberno Norse heavy infantry units and is killed by a Leader Lucky blow. Happily, the other Norman cavalry unit leader Halfcard took over. 

Ian sent his light cavalry off on a flanker.

I faced the light cavalry with some Norman knights which soon saw turn and go back. 

The two sides met in the table centre for a messy few rounds of melee. 

(Where's Friar Edan...the Early Medieval version of Where's Wally!)

Happily for me the Normans proved to be quite tough in combat and eventually the Hiberno Norse were worn down. 

The Hiberno Norse light cavalry about to charge the Norman crossbow men. It did not end well for the light cavalry after a couple of rounds of combat. With only half their light cavalry and a unit of skirmishers left whilst the Normans had only lost unit a Norman victory was declared and Friar Edan was escorted safely across the board. 

I am really enjoying Lion Rampant at the moment. Fast moving and fun with a good variety of scenarios. 

Lion Rampant: 'Sausages with Mustard'

 Continuing our run of Lion Rampant games Ian and I played the 'Sausages with Mustard' scenario today. One player has to try and set the buildings in the centre of the table alight, the other player has to defend them. Ian and his Hiberno Norse (Irish) force were the defenders and my Normans were the attackers. 

Ian placed a unit of infantry in the village to defend it. 

The Normans advancing slowly, plagued once more by too many failed activation. 

The crossbowmen failed their activation so often that they failed to do single round of missile fire for the second game in a row. 

Ian's Irish light cavalry. Ian is an expert at using such units so I was a bit worried by how fast these were moving. 

My Norman leader Fulcard actually decided to move in today's game from turn 3 onwards. 

The Irish light cavalry defend the village with their leader just behind commanding a unit of Elite infantry. 

One of the Norman Elite cavalry units had to 'Wild Charge' the Irish light cavalry who failed to evade and were destroyed in the melee. 

The Irish leader foolishly allowed the Norman elite cavalry to charge them a couple of times and were destroyed and the Irish leader was therefore also killed. 

The fast moving Irish were soon in the village to defend it. 

Happily for me my Normans suddenly started to pass their activation rolls and were fighting well. .

Fulcard led his Elite Cavalry into the village destroying the defending Irish infantry. 

View from behind the Irish line with another unit of elite infantry moving up. 

Fulcard and his knights pile into the Elite Irish foot and after a couple of turns of melee destroys them. By now Ian only had a unit of skirmishers left whereas the Normans had only lost one unit. The sneaky crossbowmen moved into contact with a building and soon torched it.  The Irish skirmishers opted to withdraw leaving the Normans to torch the remaining buildings.  

The victorious Normans torch the village. 

Overall this ended up in an easy victory for the Normans. They are a hard hitting force if you can actually pass some of those difficult activation rolls. 

Will Ian and his Irish get their revenge next week?