Tuesday, April 30, 2024

FNG - Another Glorious Day in the Nam

First game of FNG, THW's Vietnam Game, at club. While Nye and Myself are familiar with the THW react system of play as this was our first game we played with Nye in charge of a US Army Squad while i ran the game and the PEF's , 

The setting is 1967 in the III Corps interior, Charlie is being quiet (EAL 1) and the brass are getting jumpy about it. The section is tasked with patrolling an area surrounding a track to one of the local villages. They must have feet and eyes on all the sectors of the area of operations.

The game begins with one PEF in play atop the hill in the trees but a second soon arrives as the local VC respond to news of Americans in the neighbourhood. 


Area of Operation


Moving up through the cover of the vegetation on the left flank one fire team under the squad commander cautiously advances and gains line of sight on the reinforcements PEF which is a 3 man VC team with AK's .The US troops get the jump on the VC and in the firefight that ensues they take down two of the VC fighter out of the fight with the third fighter ducking back after seeing his comrades fall.

Contact


Charlie Sneaks away


With the firefight resolved the team continue up the track on patrol rather than chase down the fleeing VC

Clear!



Over on the other flank the second fire team has been heading towards the small hill but a PEF lurks up on top.

Movement on the hill?


Wait!


Wait!



After waiting to see if the PEF would move and reveal itself the squad finally storm the slope to find nothing there. 


Our lone surviving VC fighter was eventually able to activate back into a pair of PEF's but wasn't able to prevent the Americans fulfilling their mission objectives and returning to their pickup point. 


So for a first game it was fun, we missed a load of stuff for the PEF's The low EAL for the VC was a really limiting factor in how they could respond  to the US incursion. Looking forward to more games both solo and co-op in the near future,

Monday, April 29, 2024

Hell Hath No Fury - CO-OP Desert Tank Patrol

A Desert Tank Patrol using THW's Hell Hath No Fury tank war rules was our opener on Nye's return from work. 
Like the other THW games we play this uses the core insight/react system but is applied to the members of your tank crew. Each Crew member having to use their REP to undertake the tasks of their position, 

We played a very simplified version of the game as time was a factor that evening again one of the attractions of the THW rules is you can play your game as simple or as hardcore as you choose to make it.

With each of us in command of a Sherman tank we set out to explore the table. 




It didn't take long before our first contact with some Italian Armour


Swiftly dispatched by the Shermans main gun loaded with AP.


The Second Sherman also putting some Afrika Korp armour out of play


A sneaky Italian attack from the rear.


But the first Sherman has his back and moved swiftly to counter the threat.


With all te PEF's removed the Shermans moved onto to clearing any infantry lurking in the building by effective use of their MG's and HE rounds.



So a success for the Allies. A quick game that provided more than a few interesting moments and will no doubt see the tabe again at club. I'll certainly be playing this solo at some point 




Nuts! North Africa SAS Recon

Firstly my apologies this is a game we played many months back at club before my gaming buddy Nye went away for work and I got caught up in the complexities of life and working and had little hobby time to spare. 

We had originally planned for this to be a three player game with two players co-op playing against me acting in a Umpire/GM  role but sadly our third couldn't make it so Nye controlled both squads.

The Scenario is set in the western desert the LRDG  have delivered two SAS teams deep behind Italian lines. They are tasked to gather intelligence on increased Enemy activity in and around a small desert hamlet. If the opportunity presents itself prisoners, especially those with rank, should be taken.
After checking each zone of the table the SAS teams must return to the table edge they entered from. The mission takes place on a dark night so LOS is restricted but sound can give you away.

We used the NUTS rules in tandem with extra's from the new North Africa campaign book.  A custom PEF resolution table included a variable mix of Italian and Afrika Korp elements as well as some nasty surprises with trip flares

An overview of the terrain


One team on the left flank made great use of the cover to rapidly move up into a position were they can start resolving enemy PEF's 


PEF's are resolved and the SAS Team win' all the insight tests and remain in cover


On the other flank the discovery of Afrika Korp troops in some ruins means the team has to back track and take a wide path to reach their objective.









Having resolved all PEF's both SAS teams managed to avoid any contact with the Axis patrols and returned to the table edge for their lift home.

A successful mission for the SAS although they missed out on capturing a couple of ranking officers who may have been in the one building they failed to clear. 

For a games that didn't see a single shot fired this was highly entertaining and it's games like this that the Two Hour Wargames systems throw up that are one of the reasons we love playing with them.  

"Get to the Chopper!" A FNG:Unconventional Warfare Game.

FNG:Unconventional Warfare is a supplement that expands on the concepts in FNG: Tour of Duty for running Special Forces in the Vietnam Confl...