Indian platoon for Bolt Action - part 2.

Second batch of troops for my Indian Division got painted. There's Punjabi section. Still missing three men, but will be in full strength, when ready.

Young Lt. to act as second in command. Sniper team and signals man to joint FO team.

Then two new transports maybe for weapon teams or for some other purposes.

Indian platoon for Bolt Action desert war - part 1

Bolt action has been my favorite game since I first time tried it way back 2013. Since that I've painted some ten plus armies for the game. So I really don't need any more to play the game, but that's not the point at all. I love painting minis especially historical ones and that drives me to paint army after army. Some which I seldom play. I have long time planned to make proper desert war army based on regular foot sloggers, and Indian army mainly based on Sikh -troops was my choice. Bit different and yet very same proud British infantry. And when Warlord games launched new plastic boxes for desert war everything I needed was there. When the order of plastic box of 8th army with support and Indian pattern armored car arrived, I started working

early July. This is first set of troops painted.

At first, every army needs a commander and he is stoic Sir Archibal Armitage-Shanks, with his second in command.   

Then two sections of brave Sikh infantry armed in -42 manner, but will pass also earlier periods just by leaving out SMG's and replacing with sergeants with rifles. 

I like to build my squads, or sections pretty identical, just for the ease of game. So there's only minor changes in equipment, mainly number of SMG's. 

Radio operator to keep in touch with HQ and artillery support.

Medium mortar is must for all infantry platoon.

Same goes with trusty Vickers machine gun.

Light mortar would also come handy in some instances.

AT rifle to boost the moral of the boys, though bit out dated against German armor in -42.

And then first vehicle Indian pattern armored car naturally. This is not the last vehicle to be but more of those in next post.

Bolt Action - Desert raiders

Back to desert with some heavily armed trucks! My club mate had some nice Italian trucks painted and asked me for a game of Bolt in the Desert. I naturally agreed since this was an opportunity for me to field LRDG team I haven't had chance to play yet. So we agreed a game and went back to Beda Fomm, since it is very mobile scenario and all Italian troops are in the trucks. So I gathered blocking force from my 8th army footsloggers and flanking force from LRDG veterans. Italians had four trucks full of infantry, a command team and a tank.

The fight started by Italians driving through the pass into he open where they were immediately fired by British blocking force behind the roadblock. First truck was set in flames and troops bailed out. More trucks speeded along the road and Italian traffic jam was gradually forming. This was the moment when LRDG flanking force hit and heavily armed jeeps and a Chevrolet truck knocked out another Italian truck. Just after that veteran infantry speeded in dismounted and eliminated Italian squads one by one by firing and in close combat. This was retaliated by Italian tank which rumbled in and gunned down helpless SAS troopers. One jeep with heavy machine gun was trying to pin the ending in flames itself. Fast strike and bold assault just in the middle of Italian convoy caused such confusion that rest of the fight was fought on the mouth of the pass. There British fire power was decisive and almost all Italian infantry lost. Only lonely tank was left but it withdraw or surrendered in the end.

The scene, empty desert road through the pass.

AT rifle waiting in ambush.

Desert rats arranging roadblock ambush. 

First Italian truck speed in.

The more followed by the officer.

After first truck got hit Italian troops dismount and prepare to fight.

On truck out and Italian HQ is checking the plans.

LRDG strikes - Tally Ho!

Veteran desert raiders join the fight with murderous effect.

Heavily armed jeeps flanking Italians. 

Italian troops pushing forward by the burning trucks.

More Desert Rats join the fight,

Remaining desert raiders push forward selling their lives dearly.

One jeep knocked out.

In the end only Italian tank was remaining on the road.

Strong British blocking force is holding it's ground.

The day went for the British. The heroes of the fight were SAS troops that took out two full infantry squads boldly attacking straight into the enemy. They were gunned down but they really swung the fight and stole initiative from the Italians. And off course those scary LRDG vehicles bristling with machine guns pouring insane amounts of fire. On Italian side the tank was the man of the match.

Nice game in good company, good stuff!

Bolt Action - The Pass of Misery

It has been quite peaceful in my miniature blog recently. This is due other activities with the club and with miniatures gaming, mainly in shows. And large part of my hobby activity has gone on new gaming and painting project I'll address later on my blog.

After a brief break we went once again back to the desert. This time was time for British and Italians to meet in early war scenario from "the Duel..." book. This was the first scenario from the book,  Beda Fomm, or something like that. Well anyway, in the scenario Italians were trying to escape from British attack, and British were to prevent the escape. The escape route went along the desert road which was in pretty bad shape thus preventing trucks to double their movement for most parts. Other areas were dry desert which also hindered the vehicle movement and made the life of the infantry miserable. So this was the scene and situation where the fight started.

British machine gun team AT rifle and squad of Indian infantry were formed as blocking force on the road. They were to stop the Italians running along the road. And this small blocking force was expecting British flanking force from the reserves. Italians were very aware of that and they were busy to leave before more British would arrive. Battle started when Italians riding in German trucks sped down the road followed by command team in neat little italian field car. As soon as the Italians noticed British roadblock the teams dismounted and opened devastating fire on poor Indian infantry. Many brave boys of Empire fell.  But after all shooting decisive Indians retaliated by fixing their bayonets and assaulting one of the Italian squads killing them by one blow. This was only moments glory since rest of the brave Indians were shot by the other Italian squad. Now there was only machine gun and AT rifle to to blog the escape. Reinforcements were really needed, but there was no sign of them yet.

Almost at the same time when Italian advance squads were having a fight with British roadblock another fighting erupted in narrow pass turning into plateau. There were more Italians riding for escape when they were attacked by first units of British flanking infantry who started finally appearing piecemeal to the scene. Italian truck was shot to pieces and infantry dismounted. More truck piled up on narrow pass and some kind of traffic jam began to form. Even a tank rolled in only to notice that the road was blocked by trucks parked or burning. Italians in the pass were also quite pinned. Then very heroic Italian officer appeared and sorted out the traffic and rallied the troops and Italians were back in the business once again. Now Italians started returning British fire with good effect. Then Italian tanks killed lately arrived British cruiser tank, situation started looking good for the Italians. Now there weren't enough British troops to stop Italians pushing forward for escape because their late arrival from the reserves and those who were present were in wrong place. So by the end of the fight, most of the Italian were able to escape and depleted remaining British force could't really stop that. The day was Italian.

Machine gun waiting.

Italian convoy in German trucks drives through the pass.

Italian infantry dismounts to have a fight.

One truck shot up and troops take cover.

British flanking force hits.

Italians under heavy fire in the pass.

Italian tank rolling in.

Only to meet bad traffic conditions on the pass.

Real pile up.

Italian point units escaping at end of the fight.

British witnessing enemy escape.

Once again nice game in good and relaxed company. Atmospheric game with many near misses, some spectacular successes and some funny happenings all trade marks of Bolt Action at it's best.

And yes, what's probably the best of all. Well painted figures and models on a nice terrain.

And yes, these Duel in the Desert -scenarios are really good!

Bolt Action - Through the killing field

Bolt Action once again in the club. This time we went back to North Africa and played scenario 7 from the very good campaign book "Duel in the Sun".  Scenario is depicting opening stage of El Alamein battle when poor British infantry is to attack German positions across open field. No tanks available since they can't operate on densely mined area. Only positive side of that attack is cover of the African night. Mission was to take three German defended positions.

This was first time we had a game over our new desert table we've been tinkering some weeks. New table saw it's first fight and how bloody it turned to be.

Starting from this set up five squads of Commonwealth infantry started approaching to German defenses after quite heavy preliminary bombardment. Troops moved fast over easy terrain trying to seek all possible cover from scenery but it was truly hard. In practice attacker was running over an open field. German were trying to recover from massive artillery strike and quite successfully. There were no battle action during early stages, only British troopers gripping their guns and running hearts pounding towards German line.

British platoon leader decided to attack from both flanks in order to deal German flanking positions first and then take care the At gun position n the centre of the line. Sikhs and SAS troopers were going right and Desert Rats went left. When they reached seeing distance the fire was opened almost mutually and murdering fire felled Desert Rats quite soon. Then they were finalized ferocious attack by the Germans. Sikhs fared bit better and almost cleared positions from right. But in the end there weren't enough attackers nor time to accomplish the mission and poor footsloggers were gunned down on desert sand. Germans suffered very heavy losses too, but held their positions.

Germans waiting in good positions.

At gun anchoring the centre of the line.

Sikhs starting their attack flanking right.

After this there was very heavy firefight.

Desert Rats just to reach target and just few minutes before they were shot to pieces.

Good game but very hard scenario to win for the attacker. It seems quite desperate to attack on defended positions with even force. Night fighting was once again nice add on. Still I like the scenarios of this "Duel in the Sun" campaign book scenarios, good games with nice historical touch.