Today we played bigger game on ‚Early war’ 1800 points per side – where army of IInd Republic of Poland were securing railroad depot in area of Lwów, waiting for a train with important officials. Unfortunately German Abwehra and Soviet intelligence got information about that fact. In the railway station were half of Polish troops. Germany start on the one table side, Soviet started on the other with half units in reserves.
Inexperienced infantry advances and starts fire.Polish troops helding railway station.Fubar on medic – great job Łukasz! He just run away in wrong direction.Soviet mmg arrived.Order is to go forward, so they advance and shoot.Veterans of Polish army charged Soviet infantry…… but losed and were taken as prisoners.First time I used light mortar prepared for campaing in Stalingrad.NKVD troops bought after Stalingrad campaign. Models painted by Bonapartist Paint Studio.7-TP of Polish army, Poland had 132 of them, including 24 with twin targets with mmgs. Bayonnets fixed! Uraaa!Fubar rolled by me on my best infantry unit – reduced Soviet inexperienced squad to five models.An attempt to take and secure station. Still some Polish troops defending.BT-7 finally arrived, trying to take out Wz.29 Ursus – Poland had around ten of them.German Heer infantry having problems with 7-TP tank.At the end of the game there were still Polish troops.
Summary: – Axis and Soviet Union got victory 12:6. – great game during early war period of time, need to paint more Soviets for early. – thank you Maciej and Łukasz for good game, with 3600 points of table – we managed to play it during 2h 30 m – we were really fast, as we played till turn 6 and turn 7 hadn’t arrived.
Yesterday I had pleasure to play my first game against Mateusz ‚Podwys’ in Wrocław temple of games – Bolter. It was training before Warsaw Juggernaut tournament – some details about it are here.
Gaz-AA, famous T-34, free infantry squad, HQ, LMG squad, BA-6, M3-White Scout Car with veterans and flamer, another LMG squad. heavy mortar with spotter. Hidden sniper.Many different things happend. Politruk Popow and German junior officer felt together fighting across fence.
Summary: – there are not many photos of this struggle on eastern front. Some things should stay secret. – sobber heavy mortar team did that game – first turn they hat SdKfz.250/8 Stummel destroying it, then on second turn it destroyed howitzer – too much luck too me, in addition many Red Army dices were draw before German dices. Both forces well strong lists and were equal and my opponent is really good gamer – hope to play more games with Podwys, competentive and also not – as on events. – My list is here. Nothing special, just my list. Tried to do is as competentive, as I could, using models I like.
Again I’m trying to be competentive player, something which happend in past during 5th and 6th editions of WFB. Many thanks to my friend Jędrzej!
🇬🇧 Yesterday, we played the fourth and final battle of the Stalingrad campaign, which had been unfolding at Bolter in Wrocław since December of last year. The previous clashes had developed differently from their historical counterparts, allowing the Germans to hold their positions in Stalingrad for longer. In response, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht decided to send in an armoured relief force, which included, among other things, the brand-new Panzerkampfwagen VI tanks — the famous Tigers.
On the Red Army side, Krisu, Mateusz, Przemek, and I took to the field. Opposing us were German, Romanian, and Hungarian forces, together with the relief units, commanded by Krzysiek, Łukasz, Maciek, and Sławek. Before the two sides finally clashed, a lecture was given by Mr Piotr Galik from the Semper Fidelis Foundation.
🇵🇱 Wczoraj rozegraliśmy finałową, czwartą bitwę kampanii stalingradzkiej, która od grudnia ubiegłego roku toczyła się we wrocławskim Bolterze. Poprzednie starcia ułożyły się inaczej niż w rzeczywistości historycznej, dzięki czemu Niemcom udało się dłużej utrzymać swoje pozycje w Stalingradzie. W odpowiedzi Oberkommando der Wehrmacht zdecydowało o wysłaniu pancernej odsieczy, w której znalazły się między innymi nowiutkie czołgi Panzerkampfwagen VI, czyli słynne Tygrysy.
Po stronie Armii Czerwonej do walki stanęli Krisu, Mateusz, Przemek i ja. Po drugiej stronie znalazły się siły niemieckie, rumuńskie i węgierskie wraz z oddziałami odsieczy, dowodzone przez Krzyśka, Łukasza, Maćka i Sławka. Zanim jednak doszło do starcia obu potęg, prelekcję wygłosił pan Piotr Galik z fundacji Semper Fidelis.
🇬🇧 Summary: – In the final outcome, the Red Army captured Field Marshal Paulus’s headquarters, defended by Axis forces, before the relief force could rescue his staff and the remaining remnants of the 6th Army and allied units. – Many thanks to all participants for a great game. – I would like to thank my fellow players for a smooth and very enjoyable battle, Rafał from Bonapartists Paint Studio for preparing an excellent campaign and for organizing and painting additional models, Mr Piotr Galik for yet another excellent lecture, and the Bolter team for providing a perfect venue for our Stalingrad campaign. – It is now time to begin preparations for Juggernaut 2023 in Warsaw, and also to return more seriously to Middle-earth SBG and bring my Dunharrow army up to a playable level. – Wednesday at Bolter is a day dedicated to Bolt Action, and from the end of December also to Middle-earth – so I will somehow have to split my time between both systems 😉
🇵🇱 Podsumowanie: – W ostatecznym rozrachunku Armia Czerwona zdobyła bronione przez siły Osi kwatery sztabu feldmarszałka Paulusa, zanim odsiecz zdołała ocalić jego sztab oraz podległe mu niedobitki 6. Armii i oddziałów sojuszniczych. – Wielkie dzięki dla wszystkich uczestników za świetną rozgrywkę. – Dziękuję współgraczom za płynną i bardzo udaną partię, Rafałowi z Bonapartists Paint Studio za przygotowanie znakomitej kampanii oraz zorganizowanie i pomalowanie dodatkowych modeli, panu Piotrowi Galikowi za kolejną świetną prelekcję, a ekipie Boltera za stworzenie doskonałego miejsca do rozegrania kampanii stalingradzkiej. – Pora rozpocząć przygotowania do Juggernauta 2023 w Warszawie, a także na poważniej wrócić do Middle-earth SBG i doprowadzić armię Dunharrow do grywalnego poziomu. – Środa w Bolterze to dzień poświęcony Bolt Action, a od końca grudnia również Middle-earthowi – będzie więc trzeba jakoś podzielić czas między oba systemy 😉
Może nie jest to utwór o Stalingradzie (dawniej Carycyn, obecnie Wołgograd) ale z powodzeniem mógłby o nim być. Szkoda ludzi z obu stron i ich bliskich, którzy mimowolnie stali się uczestnikami tamtych wydarzeń.
🇬🇧 Yesterday, we played the third battle of our Stalingrad campaign, moving onto the snow-covered lands of Soviet Russia. After several months of heavy fighting in Stalingrad itself — formerly Tsaritsyn, now Volgograd, the Hero City — the Red Army held its ground and, under the command of General Aleksandr Vasilevsky, launched a major operation aimed at breaking the siege and destroying the German forces and their allies in the region. Operation Uranus had just begun.
The event is being organized at Bolter, a game store in Wrocław — huge thanks go to Rafał from the Bolter team for organizing it and for providing so many models, and I dedicate this post to him. I would also like to express my gratitude to Mr Piotr Galik from the Semper Fidelis Foundation for, as always, an excellent lecture introducing the historical background of the Battle of Stalingrad.
We played the breakthrough battle across two tables. On the first, the Red Army’s objective was to seize the positions held by the Germans and Hungarians, while on the second, it aimed to crush the Romanian and Italian forces. The attacking side fielded many tanks, including the well-known T-34s, KV-1s, and BA armoured cars, as well as somewhat less familiar vehicles such as the light T-70 tank. Among the attackers were also the famous rocket launchers — the legendary “Katyushas.”
🇵🇱 Wczoraj rozegraliśmy trzecią bitwę naszej kampanii stalingradzkiej, przenosząc się na skute śniegiem ziemie radzieckiej Rosji. Po kilku miesiącach ciężkich walk w samym Stalingradzie — dawnym Carycynie, obecnym Wołgogradzie, mieście bohaterze — Armia Czerwona utrzymała swoje pozycje i pod dowództwem generała Aleksandra Wasilewskiego rozpoczęła wielką operację mającą na celu przerwanie oblężenia oraz zniszczenie wojsk niemieckich i ich sojuszników w regionie. Operacja Uran właśnie się rozpoczęła.
Wydarzenie organizowane jest w Bolterze, wrocławskim sklepie z grami — wielkie podziękowania za organizację oraz udostępnienie wielu modeli należą się Rafałowi z ekipy Boltera, któremu dedykuję ten wpis. Słowa wdzięczności kieruję również do pana Piotra Galika z fundacji Semper Fidelis za, jak zwykle, świetną prelekcję wprowadzającą w realia wydarzeń związanych z bitwą stalingradzką.
Bitwę przełamania rozegraliśmy na dwóch stołach. Na pierwszym celem Armii Czerwonej było zajęcie pozycji Niemców i Węgrów, natomiast na drugim — rozbicie sił rumuńskich i włoskich. Po stronie atakujących pojawiło się wiele czołgów, w tym znane T-34, KW-1 oraz samochody pancerne BA, a także nieco mniej kojarzone pojazdy, takie jak lekki czołg T-70. Wśród nacierających znalazły się również słynne wyrzutnie rakietowe — legendarne „Katiusze”.
🇬🇧 Summary: – It was a great battle. Despite everything, on this sector of the front the Germans and their allies managed to hold their positions against the Soviet armoured steamroller. There is still hope that the Axis forces will be able to break out of the encirclement at Stalingrad. – It was a major battle, featuring units that are not usually seen on the table, such as heavy tanks and aircraft. I am fully aware that all of my KV tanks will probably only see action in events like this. – Huge thanks to Rafał (Bonapartist Paint Studio) for the sleepless nights, his painting and modelling skills, and for organizing this campaign for such a large group of participants. – It was a pleasure to take part alongside such a fine group of Red Army and Axis commanders – fellow generals Kris, Mateusz, and Przemek, as well as the commanders on the opposing side: Kasia, Daniel, Łukasz, Maciek, and Sławek. It was great, and it will only get better!
And what is Bolt Action? – A game for the young and the old, a game for parents and children – yes, girls play tabletop wargames too! – Or maybe you would like to ask more experienced players for advice – take a look HERE and ask away; everyone had to take their first step sometime 😉 – Don’t be afraid to read more – if you are interested in the system, check it out HERE!
🇵🇱 Podsumowanie: – to była świetna bitwa, mimo wszystko na tym odcinku frontu Niemcy wraz z sojusznikami obronili pozycję przed Radzieckim walcem pancernym. Nadal jest nadzieja, że siły Osi zdołają wyrwać się z okrążenia w Stalingradzie. – to była wielka bitwa – z na ogół nie używanymi czołgami ciężkimi czy samolotami. Zdaję sobie sprawę, że wszystkie moje czołgi KW będę wystawiał wyłącznie w takich wydarzeniach. – wielkie dzięki Rafał (Bonapartist Paint Studio) za nieprzespane noce, umięjętności malarskie, modelarskie i zorganizowanie zabawy w postaci kampanii dla sporego grona uczestników. – dla zacnego grona dowódców sił Armii Czerwonej i Osi w którym miałem okazję brać udział – towarzyszy generałów Krisa, Mateusza, Przemka oraz dowódctwa strony przeciwnej Kasi, Daniela, Łukasza, Maćka, Sławka było świetnie, będzie jeszcze lepiej!
A czym jest Bolt Action? – grą dla młodych i starszych, grą dla rodziców i dzieci, tak dziewczyny też grają w gry bitewne! – nie bój się przeczytać, jeśli interesuje Ciebie ten system – poczytaj TUTAJ! – a może chcesz zapytać o więcej profesjonalistów – spójrz TUTAJ – pytaj, każdy kiedyś robił pierwszy krok 😉 !
Katiusza, ten utwór w którym rozumiem język rosyjski.
🇬🇧 Last Wednesday, at Bolter in Wrocław, we played the second battle of our Stalingrad campaign. After their initial setbacks, the German forces finally managed to break into the city and then drive their assault toward the Volga in an attempt to seize the strategic river port, thereby depriving the defenders of any real hope of victory. On the German side, the forces were commanded by Marshal Torgil and Generals Jerzy, Karaś, Kasia, and Krzysztof. Opposing them was the Red Army, gathered from whatever was available, under the command of Marshal Kris and Generals Łukasz, Michał, and myself.
This time we did not use a points system – instead, both sides had a previously prepared ODB from which they could select units for the battle.
🇵🇱 W zeszłą środę we wrocławskim Bolterze rozegraliśmy drugą bitwę kampanii stalingradzkiej. Po początkowych niepowodzeniach wojskom niemieckim udało się wreszcie wedrzeć do miasta, a następnie skierować natarcie ku Wołdze, by zdobyć strategiczny port rzeczny i tym samym odebrać obrońcom realną nadzieję na zwycięstwo. Po stronie niemieckiej do walki stanęły siły dowodzone przez marszałka Torgila oraz generałów Jerzego, Karasia, Kasię i Krzysztofa. Naprzeciw nich stanęła Armia Czerwona, zebrana z tego, co było pod ręką, pod dowództwem marszałka Krisa oraz generałów Łukasza, Michała i mnie.
Tym razem nie graliśmy na punkty – obie strony dysponowały przygotowanym wcześniej ODB, z którego mogły dobierać jednostki do bitwy.
🇬🇧 Summary: – The battle ended in a draw – both sides captured half of the sectors, while the port remained in Red Army hands. – Huge thanks to Łukasz for preparing numerous Stalingrad terrain pieces, and to Rafał from Bolter for getting many units ready. – For two of the participants, this was their first or only their second game of Bolt Action – I hope they had a great time. –Thank you all for taking part!
🇵🇱 Podsumowanie: – Bitwa zakończyła się remisem – obie strony opanowały po połowie sektorów, a port pozostał w rękach Armii Czerwonej. – Ogromne podziękowania dla Łukasza za przygotowanie licznych terenów do Stalingradu oraz dla Rafała z Boltera za przygotowanie wielu jednostek. – Dla dwojga uczestników była to pierwsza lub dopiero druga gra w Bolt Action – mam nadzieję, że bawili się dobrze. – Dziękujemy wszystkim za udział!
Powinniśmy pamiętać o Stalingradzie, zbyt wielu ludzi straciło tam życie w walce dwóch ideologii. We should remember about Stalingrad, too many people losed they lives there in the names of two ideologies.
Yesterday we played in Bolter first battle of Market Garden campaign, our first battle had place in Son, close to Eindhoven. Before game we had great prelection done by Piotr Galik from association Semper Fidelis. So it begun on 17.09.1944 – when American and British paratroopers when dropped down to secure bridges and allow Allied tank divisions moving thru them to the heart of Germany.
Prelection before the game.British sapper unit with support deployed close to the demolished bridge.Last German survivors hidding in the forest.Acht coma acht waiting.German Heer vs American paratroopers.German reinforcements arrived in small numbers at start.More British arrived.Royal Engineers managed to build part of bridge.More parts of bridge were done. Veterans losed they hand to hand combat on riight against German regulars.I forgot about second wave in turn two, so they started run on turn three.Germans tried to stop British advance.Bridgehead completed.Everyone get out to cover bridgehead.The beginning of the end.
Summary: – thank you all for great game! – Karol tested bridge building with me in one of our games beetwen Red Army and Germans. I was again builder of a bridge – now for British.
Today we played with Karol scenario where Soviet Union sappers were building bridge and German army had to prevent them from doing it. Additional points were for Red Army for crossing river via constructed bridge. I had force of 1100 points, as I was defender with my Red Army, Karol had around 1600 points. In addition I had free sappers constructing bridge. At this moment I cannot say more as scenario can be changed a little bit.
My list was something experimental for me and is here. Karols stuff is on photo on the plate.
Red Army.Karol’s Germans.Soviet sappers.Sniper hidden in the building, observing road to bridge.Zis-3 prepared to fire.One of two squads with anti tank grenades and panzerfaust.Mortar ready to fire, but unfortunately it’s Friday and they had problems with alcohol.Veterans with LMG and antitank grenades.Panther arrived.I lost my ZiS-3 gun on the first turn…… 8.8 luckily hit it. The last crew member fled his gun.Newly formed unit advances.German infantry advances accompanied by Panther.Tiger II arrived.T-34-85 came in time.Germans came close to now repaired bridge.T-34-85 scored hit on Panther destroying it.German scout car came close.Indirect fire on new target.Free rifle squad got promotion to Regular.Hurry up, first Soviet unit crossed a bridge but was wiped out.Germans hidden behind wrec of catheld Russians on the other side of bridge.The end.:
Summary:
it was interesting game and some kind of test we done as well. Thank you Karol!
In case of objective – it was Red Army victory, in case of dices Germans took more.
One of the Russian songs I love and understand as many words are similar.
Today we played with Maciek battle in times before Tigers and Panthers arrived to eastern front. Both sides had they HQ close to front line and main target for each player was to take and destroy enemy HQ placed in tents.
Soviet left flank.Centre.Right flank.Soviet HQ.German right flank.Centre.Left flank.Panzer I.BA-6 advances.Panzer I moved and started shooting on Soviet infantry, they officer said Down!Meanwile on the left flank.Red Army soldiers moved to take crossroad, but…… Germans fired they MG-34 on truck destroying it.Both guns were hat by mortars and destroyed.Germans pioneers arrived finally.All game under fire and without leader.Germans took HQ, but they route to friendly lines could be difficult job at the end.
Summary: – thank you Maciej for great game! – it was Maciek’s German victory. – my list – yet at game T-34 wasn’t participating – Maciek took less models – when I saw what he has, I said that for having fun game I will take down T-34.
Today we played in Marian estate small game which happened in the African desert not far away from Tobruk. Both sides seem similar – jet Germans were a little bit more mobile. Marian played DAK (Deutsche African Corps) and I took his British 8th Army.
Main target were to take and hold lone 8,8 anti air gun – holding it to an end was worth 3 VP, each unit was worth 1 VP. Half of units were placed 20″ from each corner and other half came in second turn as wave.
British arrived on the field.Germans did the same.Tommy – give artillery fire on Jerries position, hurry up!Hans give me one more cartridge!Matilda II slowly arrived on the field.British attempt to got cover.Some support from SAS arrived.Germans took 8,8 and prepared for British assault.Germans on BMW motorcycles arrived.Hand to hand combat beetwen German pioneers and British infantry. Few Germans survived this combat untouched.Almost in the cover.Artillery barrage called by observer arrived pinning many troops and destroying German HQ.1,2,3 feuer!SAS and Matilda crew tried to save a day, but it was too late.Matilda was immobilized by Panzer III, it crew left the tank as battle was over.
Summary: – it was DAK victory over British Commonwealth – 10 to 3 VP. – thank you for great game Marian from Maniexite.
Last time I was asked if I can organize game related to Warsaw Uprising 1944 – something historical and victorious – I was interested in history of uprising in the past, so I started searching what part of this can be used for scenario. In my mind were different battles beetwen Home Army (Armia Krajowa) and German forces occupying Warsaw. I had at start five possible city battles:
1. Liberation of Gęsiówka concentration camp, where Home Army of batallion „Zośka” liberated 348 European Jews – Panther tank captured by insurgents were used in this action. Most of the then free Jews joined Home Army.
2. Battle for Warsaw University, where soldiers of Polish army attemt to capture building of univeristy with use of self made armoured car „Kubuś” and captured German APC called „Jaś/Szary Wilk”.
3. Battle of landings at Czerniaków – river landing of Polish People Army (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie) of general Berling – to support Home Army in they battle for Polish capital. Many soldiers of LWP were from Kresy Wschodnie of 2nd Republic of Poland.
4. Battle for Pasta – after I realized that we don’t have building representing Pasta itself, I started searching and realized that I can develop scenario related to ambush on Marszałkowska street on forces going to support garrison of Pasta.
5. Defence of Michl palace – valiant defence done by batallion: „Parasol” (Umbrella). Soldiers managed to hold on against five enemy attacks supported by tanks and elite SS soldiers.
In case of Warsaw Uprising its heroic as well tragic part of Poland and Poles history – we shouldn’t forget about it. Up to 200,000 of Poles were killed or murdered – not to forget about massacres of Ochota and Wola. After uprising which started on 1st of August and lasted 2nd of October 1944′ Hitler orders were clear – to destroy Warsaw completly and build new city in her place. Fortunately city was rebuild and it’s still capital of Poland.
Let’s return to scenario, I realized what terrains are in Bolter and started drawing map of Marszałkowska and surrounding streets. Of course I miscalculated with terrains – but I realized it when we started building table composed of three table 48″ on 72″. Whole scenario will be published when I correct it.
Main targets were for: – Home Army to not allow Germans to leave field going north to Marszałkowska and Sienna. – German column had to leave with as many units as they could via Marszałkowska and Sienna.
German column had to break thru Home Army keepying Marszałkowska street.Tokens represents hidden Home Army unit’s and as well nothing as ambushed column were supposed that enemy is somewhere there.Germans had a chance to discover Home Army coming in 12″ and throwing morale with -3 or coming into range of 6″. This rule was experimental and will be corrected.Some Home Army units revealed themselfs or were discovered by enemy.German motorbike team running fast to warn Pasta garrison.Kubuś which never took part in that part of Warsaw – we used it as we don’t have too many Polish soldiers.Heer and SS moving forward to take as many soldiers as can to Pasta.Some cars where stuck, some burned. Home Army fought valiantly.German second wave arrived with Panzer IV heading forward.Sd.Kfz. 222 make way.Home Army attempts to stop Panzer IV.German third wave as they tries to outflank defenders.Prelection of dr Piotr Galik.More underground squads arrived in time of need.Kubuś armoured car supported by insurgents held German pioneers.Panther arrived as part of third wave.Young member of Home Army.German side advances.Unit got so many pinns that it fled.Defenders held, jet some attackers managed to break thru they lines, to tell PAST’a garrison that support will not come.Wrocław remembers about 78 anniversary of Warsaw Uprising.
Summary: – I overcharged with tables and buildings – we should use two tables 48″ on 72″. – game was good and I was moderator and scenario was also of my own – jet before publishing it I have to correct it and maybe retest with someone even with other kind of WW II participants. – all ruins on the left should be buildings as Marszałkowska wasn’t destroyed in days I wanted to do ambush on German column going to PAST’a building. – I have to rewrite rule for hidding set up and finding such units, at least we checked it. – I added rule for throwing Mołotow coctail with range of 6″ and +2 penetration, always hitting from the top, it will be rewritten with other things before I add this scenario probably in both languages PL/EN. – main plan focused on three waves, but we soon realized that we have much more German miniatures – Home Army soldiers unit’s which were lost respawned again in some points – that must be corrected too. – thank you Bolter stuff and Rafał for moderation, to Home Army players Łukasz and Michał and for German players Karaś and Sławek. – special thanks to dr Piotr Galik who told us some stories I know and some I never get in – as I well remember that on Polish side were ppl of other European and non European nations, I well remember Gęsiówka – but never investigated that fate of freed prisoners is uknown – I hope that some of them survived Uprising. I never knew that Polish and other pilots from Allied side fled to Warsaw as addition to they normal flights. It was great to hear something new!
tancreddebeauville
Tancred’s Tabletop Tales 