RCW campaign (The Mill n°4) - Debriefings

[Smoking gun]

Thank you for the excellent game report and more pictures of your lovely terrain and figures.

It's good to see that someone has the opportunity to game.

Best wishes,
Martin Buck

[Colonel Kilgore]

Xavier,

What wonderful models and photos. It sounds as though you had a great time.

I did wonder for a short period what the "WTF" markers were for (this acronym has an unfortunate alternative meaning, but one which might prove useful for many wargamers when the dice are against them...!), but then I saw the other saying "Winning the Fight", and all became clear 

Your campaign map looks very workable. Maybe you could share the campaign-level rules you are using at some point - perhaps as a short article for The Mill?

Many thanks for your post,

Simon

[Camulogene]

Your campaign map looks very workable. Maybe you could share the campaign-level rules you are using at some point - perhaps as a short article for The Mill?

Simon

Simon,
you'll find the campaign rules details in THE 15 MILL n° 4 :
https://www.peterpig.co.uk/THE%20MILL%20many%20attempt.pdf

The markers are made with "alphabet" noodles; as there was a shortage of noodles during the lockdown, we were only able to produce "WTF" markers instead of "Winning The Fight" 

It's good to see that someone has the opportunity to game.
Martin Buck

We played this scenario in october, between the lockdowns...  I'm afraid that It will be the norm by now.. 

Pierre

[Colonel Kilgore]

Pierre,

Whoops - thank you for jogging my memory! Anything pre-Covid feels years ago...

And what a great idea to use noodles in this way! I have a couple of sets of the nice Warbases acrylic markers, which was the lazy way out!

Simon

[Anatoli]

Hi,

Here is the debriefing of mission n°6, which concludes the campaign... There was nothing concerning mission n°5, as my HQ was captured by the infamous Whites... 

Who won the campaign ? Reds ? Whites ? What a suspense... 

The answer is given at the end of this debriefing... 



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RCW campaign - Mission n°6 - Comrade General Anatoli Vassili Anatolovitch's debriefing.



December 1920, somewhere in the outskirts of Ekaterinbourg...




"Comrades!

Here we are ... In this last fight, we throw all our forces. No doubt the Whites will do the same.

For the moment, the situation is quite balanced: on the outcome of this battle will depend the fate of the Revolution. No more no less...









Our informations indicate that the white forces are composed of the remains of cavalry, pieces of regiments gathered in haste... The presence of veterans is probable. However, they suffered the lack of supplies due to the disastrous railway condition in the area. By the way, Semionov's armored train has been seen in the vicinity ...

Semionov is in command of their army!

This is why we are going to launch a major offensive with the elite of our army! The morale of our regiments is high, and we are going to make the Revolution triumph! I expect you, comrades, to be fully involved in this endeavor that we are leading ...

Defeat is not an option!

Hourre! "

Today, our objectives will be as follows: we must capture:
- The hill on our left flank (objective n° 1);
- The strategic crossroads (objective n° 2);
- The railway station (objective n° 3);
- The wooded area on our right flank (objective n° 4).








The assault starts. Our forces quickly capture the hill (n° 1) and the wooded area (n° 4). In the center area, regiments move in order to attack.

The white player's artillery is getting prepared at the station ; the Whites know that they will face a red horde that will show no mercy ...








The white forces take up position at the crossroads; an artillery gun comes to give them a hand. In the rear, Semionov and his staff keep watching.








On our left flank, the enemy cavalry seems to start a turning movement, probably to create panic on our rear guard. I'm leaving a few units behind, just in case.








Suddenly the enemy artillery opens fire on the hill (n° 1); fortunately, our units had time to dig in trenches. Behind them, a machinegun platoon is caught under this fire of steel! Damage proved to be very limited.








At this stage of the offensive, the situation has not changed too much; our units will soon jump into the battle in the center area.








The crossroads are in sight... We are preparing for the assault. The Red Sotnya's officers galvanize their men ...








On the hill (left side of the battlefield), the men wait and observe the enemy lines, ready for a reaction from the Whites troops...








The whites reinforced their position at the crossroads (n° 2).








On the left flank, our men saw the white cavalry bypassing our flank; I order one of the regiments occupying the hill to move backward in order to intercept them.








On the right flank, the enemy had launched a cavalry unit through the swamps in an attempt to stop our troops on their way to the station (n° 4). I order an assault which results in a complete annihilation of this cavalry unit.

The way is cleared towards the station ... Unfortunately, the enemy has moved his armored train, to protect this frontline sector...








Hourre! A first assault is launched towards the crossroads (n° 2). But it fails, due to the determination of the whites forces ...













On the right flank, our men advance despite the deluge of fire and steel coming from the train... They reach the station area (n° 3) and get prepared for the assault ...








At the crossroads, a second assault is launched; it overthrows the enemy forces who are forced to abandon the position. We immediately occupy the area, and set up the machine guns, ready for an expected counterattack.








Cheka takes the opportunity to organize propaganda everywhere ...








The White forces decide to move their armored cars, in order to support their troops ; their soldiers are exhausted due to the heavy pressure...








Reinforcements of White cavalry come to the battlefield.








In front of the hill, the white artillery opens fire on our soldiers. We will hold our positions!













The flank attack initiated by the White cavalry manages to bypass our forces. Their horsemen enter a village, while several Bolshevik units and 75mm guns do everything to stop them.








At the station (n° 3), a first assault fails to push the enemy back, due to the armored train.








At the crossroads (n° 2), the Whites sent a cavalry unit in a flank assault on the position we have just captured... His unit are almost wiped out in this maneuver that I cannot help but qualify. heroic ...








At the station (n° 3), the enemy manages to strengthen its position: it will be very difficult to capture it.








A red unit is held in reserve near the forest (n° 4), just in case... Its mission is also to protect the HQ. On the left side of the battlefield, the white cavalry tries to break through...








The first fights to prevent the enemy cavalry from disorganizing our rear area are taking place. The situation is confused ...








At the same time, I learn that the station (n° 3) has fallen into our hands! Hourre! Our troops are fortifying the place: a couter-offensive is expected!

At this stage of operations, all the objectives are in our hands!


















In our lines, the situation has not improved: one of our assault on the enemy cavalry failed; the losses were severe... On the other hand, the Whites cannot progress anymore...








I decide not to order our reservist regiment to move ; I prefer to wait and see how the situation evolves...








The Whites are still pinned in the village; our guns open fire...








At the station, guns of the armored train slaughtered our lines; but we held our position! I organize the redeployment of units whose mission will be to support our men who hold the crossroads (n° 2) and the station (n° 3).













The White forces try to reorganize in order to launch another assault.








View of the crossroads (n° 2) on the left, and the station (n° 3) on the right; red units are placed in support.








In order to annihilate all the White horsemen who attack our rear positions, our planes are successfully launched into the battle ; this is a good news ... We will be able to free units and bring them up to the front!








The Whites launch deadly assaults; our men succeed in repelling them. It's a bloodbath!








On our left flank, the hill is now attacked by enemy cavalry; a deadly HE fire damaged the defending machine-gun platoon. I decide to bring in reinforcements whatever I have in the area: a half-strength unit and 2 guns. Hope this will be enough!








A violent assault led on the crossroads (n° 2) by an elite White unit made our men fall back! We are forced to abandon this position! Our losses are severe ...








Finally, we will occupy 3 objectives (the hill - the assault of the enemy cavalry having failed in this sector - the station and the forest).








Unfortunately, this will not be enough to win the battle...

The fate of the campaign is sealed: the White forces win the final victory of this terrific campaign ...

But a last stand (a 900 points battle!) will be organized soon for ... the Battle of Moscow!








Congratulations to Pierre for this great victory !! What a campaign !

[Sean Clark]

Wow that was breathtaking. As always so beautifully presented. The figures are wonderful and the whole look of the table is something I always strive to achieve.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing.

(I'm very tempted to transfer this idea to Spain...!)

[Colonel Kilgore]

What wonderful models, game, photos and write-up!

I did enjoy seeing so many Peter Pig buildings and sprinkles on the table.

And that mat is great - some snow, but not too much. That really was a feast for the eyes.

Well done chaps!

Simon

[Leman (Andy)]

Indeed, you can't beat a beautifully presented game, which is what it's about for me.

[Anatoli]

RCW campaign - Bonus mission



February 1921, somewhere in the outskirts of Moscow...



Hi,

Today, we had a 900 points Square Bashing game in our local club ; the battle for Moscow was the bonus mission to conclude this campaign. Victory went to the White side after 4 hours of a game full of suspense... 4 of the 6 objectives were captured by the whites.

Red player was the attacker.

Here are some photos taken during this game... 



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Cheers,

Xavier

[Smoking gun]

Lovely figures and terrain. Sounds like a great game.

Best wishes,
Martin Buck

[Sean Clark]

Simply stunning.

What size table did you use? 6'x3'?

[Anatoli]

Thank you, Sean... 

What size table did you use? 6'x3'?

You are right...  12 squares x 6 squares.

We had a great fun playing this scenario, as there were some interesting situations during the game. The White player suffered from heavy losses at the begining, but was able to hold the line and, later, to size some objectives with weakened troops !

[Colonel Kilgore]

Wonderful models and photography, as usual. Thanks for sharing!

Simon

[Wardy64]

A pleasure to see, great game and lovely models.

David & Ben

[Anatoli]

Hi Julian,

This is a PP figure modified by Pierre...
He used a headswap...
I'll ask him.