Bolt Action - Surrounded

Some Bolt Action after a while. New second edition rulebook brought some new nice rules and straightened some old one's better. But there's also set of new interesting scenarios in the book. And finally we had a chance to test one which looked good after I read it. The scenario Surrounded puts one team in the middle of the table in defense when other is attacker. In that sense quite typical set up. But the difference is very free deployment of attacker and reserves, which can enter what ever table edge they choose. Only limitation is that you can't use same edge right after your opponent. So no wily backstabbing action allowed, which is nice in terms of game play.

And the game itself was once again German Panzergrenadiers attacking in the bombed out village where handful of airborne were defending waiting reinforcements to help them. Mini Bastogne in some sense. So after airborne troopers had found good defensive positions among ruined housed in a village by the river Germans started their attack. At first German recon half track moved along the road, spotted US troops and opened fire with automatic cannon. Right after that squad of panzergrenadiers followed half track and moved swiftly towards now spotted enemy. And when Americans were mostly still hiding Germans continued their push and brought in Panther tank to support the attack.

The Americans wee still quite passive and only waited and let Germans come closer. And that's what they did. Second grenadier squad ran along the road to give support the leading unit and third squad went around church to seek good flanking positions around church corner. And finally arty FO and sniper found good positions on top of the hill. Everything seemed going well for the Germans.

Then the American opened up and poured massive infantry fire on FO who died with his assistants. And after that the flanking German squad was flanked itself by US infantry who popped from unexpected direction. US infantry opened fire and after two turns of firing all but one grenadier were down. Then US armor joined the fight and heavily sand backed Sherman 76 drove in and tried to hit Panther and hit but no penetration.

After that the Germans were in good position to launch concentrated assault in their right flank. The officer ordered two squads move in and open fire on nearest ruins and airborne within. Unfortunately US troops were set up in ambush and got to fire first. Then Germans went squads went in one by one and fired all they had on the airborne, but good hard cover of ruins saved many troopers. So first wave was ineffective. The Panther rolled towards the ruins of village and instead of dueling with Sherman it used machine guns to support advancing grenadiers and quite successfully. Close range fire from Panthers MMG's brought down many brave troopers. Americans tried to fire anther with Sherman and with bazooka but they either missed their mark or couldn't penetrate the quality armor of German tank.

The started the final phase of the fight. German grenadiers move close to airborne on ruins and withered the ruins with their automatic weapons and gradually got foothold in the village. Then there was much close range fire fights going for some turns. Very murderous for both sides. And when the infantry was having it's ruin by ruin fire fight Sherman managed to kill Panther with accurate shot. And after that US troops consolidated into better positions and remaining grenadiers didi the same and the fight was over. After some consideration in ended a draw, maybe slightly in favor of defender.

Ruined village by the river. Only the church was left intact.

Ruined centre of the village.

US airborne digging in.

US truck unloaded.

Squad of grenadiers flanking.

Very cautious Sherman challenging Panther.

Germans squads move in.

Ordered by the officer.

US surprised Germans and killed them outright.

Big cat on prowl.

Sherman waiting for a clear shot.

Panther moving boldly to support infantry attack.

Grenadiers attacking US positions.

US reinforcement moving in.

Densely packed ruins.

Recon half track moving around to find clear shot. 

Some nice dice rolling.

After Panther was knocked out US troops are moving more freely.

Last man standing from German engineers.

Capt. Winters giving orders.

German officer preparing for the last push.

Nice game and really fun scenario to play. With it's free deployment could never know where the enemy might be coming, very chaotic and fun way to play.