Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Discussion of Flames of War, Black Powder and other historical games.
User avatar
Primarch
Evil Overlord
Posts: 11392
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:33 am
Location: Nagoya
Contact:

Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by Primarch » Mon Jul 10, 2017 12:12 am

I know we are still a little way off from the big Bolt Action game in September, but I'm bored and want to start dreaming up new armies to collect.
A couple of people have stated that they want to take a break from North Western Europe the next time we do a Bolt Action event, which I don't mind. I would still love to do a Falaise Pocket game day and Market Garden is a campaign that we WILL be doing at some point. (I just watched a Bridge Too Far again at the weekend). :D

So, outside of NWE, which campaign, battle or period gets your gaming juices pumping? One of the benefits of gaming WW2 is that it covers such a huge area of the world and spans several years, allowing for a huge variety of scenarios and forces.

As a couple of suggestions to get the ball rolling on discussing possible future events, I think the following could be interesting in their own way:

The Battle of the Dnieper
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Dnieper
After the German failure at Kursk, the Red Army put pressure on the German forces on the Eastern Front. Realizing that they needed to hold the Russian advance along a wide front, the Germans pulled back to the Dnieper River. The Russians forced their armies across the river, while the German forces strove to crush the beachheads before the Red Army could break out.

The Battle of Kohima
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kohima
Situated on the border of India and Burma, Kohima and nearby Imphal marked the turning point of the land war in South East Asia between the British/Indian army and the Japanese army. The British knew that the Japanese forces were advancing on India and intended to pull their forces back to form a defensive line. However, the British, Indian and Nepalese troops on yhe frontline were surprised when the Japanese army emerged from the jungle a week before the offensive was expected. Caught on the back foot, the besieged defenders had to hold out against overwhelming odds while reserve units were brought up to relieve them.
Painted Minis in 2014: 510, in 2015: 300, in 2016 :369, in 2019: 417, in 2020: 450

User avatar
kojibear
Legend
Posts: 1678
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:00 am
Location: Nagoya

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by kojibear » Mon Jul 10, 2017 12:50 pm

Primarch wrote: Market Garden is a campaign that we WILL be doing at some point. (I just watched a Bridge Too Far again at the weekend). :D


The Battle of Kohima
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kohima
Situated on the border of India and Burma, Kohima and nearby Imphal marked the turning point of the land war in South East Asia between the British/Indian army and the Japanese army. The British knew that the Japanese forces were advancing on India and intended to pull their forces back to form a defensive line. However, the British, Indian and Nepalese troops on yhe frontline were surprised when the Japanese army emerged from the jungle a week before the offensive was expected. Caught on the back foot, the besieged defenders had to hold out against overwhelming odds while reserve units were brought up to relieve them.
My Red Devil's are ready to do one's bit Sir! Can't wait for Market Garden. :)

The Battle of Kohima sounds very interesting and is quite a different theatre.

User avatar
Primarch
Evil Overlord
Posts: 11392
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:33 am
Location: Nagoya
Contact:

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by Primarch » Tue Jul 11, 2017 10:47 pm

kojibear wrote:
Primarch wrote: Market Garden is a campaign that we WILL be doing at some point. (I just watched a Bridge Too Far again at the weekend). :D
My Red Devil's are ready to do one's bit Sir! Can't wait for Market Garden. :)
I was thinking MG would be September 2019 to coincide with the 75th anniversary. (And hopefully give me enough time to paint up some American Airborne).

But that still leaves 2018, assuming we have 1 big game per year. So what are people keen on? Monte Cassino, Tobruk, Kursk, Stalingrad, Tarawa, Singapore? The list is pretty long.
Painted Minis in 2014: 510, in 2015: 300, in 2016 :369, in 2019: 417, in 2020: 450

User avatar
Primarch
Evil Overlord
Posts: 11392
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:33 am
Location: Nagoya
Contact:

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by Primarch » Tue Sep 05, 2017 10:20 pm

Well, despite this thread getting almost zero attention (thanks for trying, Kojibear), I figured I would give discussion of future events a second attempt.
During the Normandy '44 event we held a small vote to decide on what to do next year and despite a few votes for the Burmese and Ost-Front campaigns, the Italian campaign won.

I will freely admit to not knowing an awful lot about the campaign compared to events happening further North, but a couple of names stick out. Operations Husky and Avalanche, Cassino and Anzio, the Gothic Line and the Gustav Line. Does anyone have any thoughts as to what would be the best set-up to recreate some of that on a tabletop?

As for forces, the Italian campaign featured a veritable 'Who's who' of Allied forces, the Americans fielded their regular troops, rangers, airborne as well as a couple of famous divisions such as the 92nd 'Buffalo Soldiers' Division of African-americans and the 442nd 'Nisei' Regiment comprised of Japanese-americans. The British landed their regular army, along with an airborne component, commandos and a large variety of Commonwealth troops including African, Indian, Australian, Canadian and New Zealander units. Poland, France and even Brazil had troops in the campaign as well.
Opposing them were the German Heer and Luftwaffe, including a contingent of Fallschirmjager as well as some Italian troops both before and after the armistice (in the form of the RSI). I believe that no other Axis forces were present, and that the SS had no units in Italy during the campaign, though again, others (Pikey) will know more than me about that.

No date has been set for the event yet, though if we follow the same pattern as the previous two events, it will likely be the end of summer/start of autumn. Plenty of time to go out and start a new army (or two).

So, any thoughts, questions, comments or similar?
Painted Minis in 2014: 510, in 2015: 300, in 2016 :369, in 2019: 417, in 2020: 450

User avatar
YellowStreak
Legend
Posts: 1343
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Nagoya

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by YellowStreak » Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:48 am

Unfortunately I'm unlikely to still be in Japan to participate :cry: . If I was playing I'd be building a 100/422nd force as I have quite a few books on them and even interviewed some of the veterans in Hawaii back in 2000.

If I do end up in the US, I might have to try and arrange to come back and visit for Market Garden in 2019... :D
So many games, so little time....
Building a pile of shame since 1983

User avatar
job
Destroyer of Worlds
Posts: 3347
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:29 pm
Location: Kamagaya

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by job » Wed Sep 06, 2017 1:01 am

I'd be up for something Casino, Anzio or Salerno themed. I might mention the French Goumers had some famous actions and there was one SS unit in Italy, but the name skips my mind as it was one of the smaller less reknown/infamous divisions. Anyway, excited to participate in this next year.
Models Painted, 2020
70 28mm miniatureS

User avatar
Primarch
Evil Overlord
Posts: 11392
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:33 am
Location: Nagoya
Contact:

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by Primarch » Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:31 am

YellowStreak wrote:Unfortunately I'm unlikely to still be in Japan to participate :cry: . If I was playing I'd be building a 100/422nd force as I have quite a few books on them and even interviewed some of the veterans in Hawaii back in 2000.

If I do end up in the US, I might have to try and arrange to come back and visit for Market Garden in 2019... :D
Yeah, the Nisei Regiment is an interesting one, and Warlord do packs for them and the Buffalos. For the time being, I have enough Americans (and Germans, and British and Russians), but it is a temptation.

You're always welcome to parachute in for a game in 2019.
job wrote:I'd be up for something Casino, Anzio or Salerno themed. I might mention the French Goumers had some famous actions and there was one SS unit in Italy, but the name skips my mind as it was one of the smaller less reknown/infamous divisions. Anyway, excited to participate in this next year.
The Goumiers are another temptation. Their uniforms are unique and they certainly have a... er... colourful history. Artizan do a few minis for them, but no-one seems to do any support units.
Painted Minis in 2014: 510, in 2015: 300, in 2016 :369, in 2019: 417, in 2020: 450

User avatar
kojibear
Legend
Posts: 1678
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:00 am
Location: Nagoya

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by kojibear » Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:59 am

I am only familiar with Monte Casino, but will look into the other battles.

Monte Casino would require a lot of rubble snd ruins I imagine, which would make it a tough battle for tanks ? I believe the germans did use tanks during the battle but dug them in immobile so only the turrets were showing and could fire.

User avatar
job
Destroyer of Worlds
Posts: 3347
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:29 pm
Location: Kamagaya

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by job » Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:52 pm

I forgot to mention there were Elephants at Anzio....
Models Painted, 2020
70 28mm miniatureS

User avatar
Primarch
Evil Overlord
Posts: 11392
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:33 am
Location: Nagoya
Contact:

Re: Bolt Action - Post Normandy Gaming

Post by Primarch » Wed Sep 06, 2017 1:26 pm

job wrote:I forgot to mention there were Elephants at Anzio....
You don't say... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Guess I have to get mine assembled then. :D
Painted Minis in 2014: 510, in 2015: 300, in 2016 :369, in 2019: 417, in 2020: 450

Post Reply

Return to “Historical Games”