The left, the right and of course the final front ear.

Star Trek Attack Wing.

I have had a chance to play a couple of games of ST:AW now and it is turning into a really cool game.

Here's a quick batrep of the last game.

The Battle of Galios IV

They say history is written by the winners, so.......

Hopefully I have explained why the Enterprise disregarded protocol whilst engaging the defenceless Klingon ship.

Turn 1/2

First Officer’s Log , Klingon Vessel.

We have discovered a deposit of Dilithium on Galios IV, The Captain is preparing to be  beamed down with an away team  to investigate. 

Federation ship Enterprise has entered scanner range.  The Captain has communicated that we do not engage. 

We are on a scientific mission, also we are out of range 

Captain’s Log, Enterprise, 

(Jean Luc Picard) 

We are on our way to Galios IV. Recent long range scans indicate the presence of large seams of Dilithium. 

We have been tasked with recovering a sample and testing for suitability for mining.  We have made a short unscheduled stop on Alphio 3 to visit commander Ryker. 

The Commander was kind enough to gift me a case of antique Sparsian Ale. I have indulged myself and had a bottle. It is delicious. Ambassador Spock is on board as an observer.

Captain’s Log Romulan Ship

We have arrived at Galios IV. Sensors indicate the presence of two ships in orbit on the other side of the planet. There are a few life signs on the surface near the Dilithium deposits. We remain cloaked. We will consider sending an away team to sample the Dilithium.

Turn 3/4

The klingon captain lowers shields and beams to the surface. The Klingon vessel takes a non aggressive stance to the incoming Enterprise.  

Cut to the Enterpise Bridge........

Picard staggers onto the bridge.....singing.

“Show me the way to go hooooome...... “

“Sir. We have the Klingon ship in range. They appear to have their shields down. They have no weapon locks on us Sir”

Picard – “Filthy Klingon Bashstardsh!   Ensign. Fire all photon torpedos.”

Ensign – “!! But Sir, Protocol dictates we at least hail the vessel. They have shown us no threat”

Picard – “I don’t give a sh*t about protocol sonny. I am the captain of this ship. Fire the f*cking torpedoesh”

Ensign – “Yes....Sir” 

Five torpedos later the Klingon is severely damaged. It prepares to return fire when there’s a flash of blinding light and a timey wimey anomaly kicks us back 5 minutes into the past. 

Enterprise is closing on the Klingon ship. 

Picard – “Filthy Klingon Bashstardsh! Ensign. Fire all photon torpedos.”

Ensign – “!! But Sir, Protocol dictates we at least hail the vessel. They have shown us no threat. Their shields are down!”

Picard – “I don’t give a sh*t about protocol sonny. I am the captain of this ship. Fire the f*cking torpedoesh”

Ensign – “But Sir, I can’t. The Klingons are at Range 1 and the torpedos upgrade card states they can only be fired at range 2-3.”

Picard – “WTF are you talking about.  Just fire some f*cking weapon at those swarthy bastardsh”

3 phaser dice +1 for close range, later and the Klingon ship is no more.

Picard screams “Booooooooooom!” at the top of his voice, and tries to hi five the Ensign before slumping unconscious into the Captain’s chair.

Turn 3,4

Enterprise Ambassador Spocks Personal Log.

Picard has gotten drunk on what turns out to be Sparsian Whisky, and not Sparsian Ale as he thought. He has destroyed a Klingon Ship in his stupor. He is now threatening the crew on the bridge with the broken bottle. We are going to beam him to the planet surface with the away team for some “fresh air” Mr La Forge will lead the team and has requested I take charge of the ship. I fear the peace treaty with the Klingons will not survive this incident.

Klingon Captains log Surface of Galios IV – 

It is now 3 days since we lost communications with the ship. If I have to eat another Galian swamp beetle I am going to scream.

The Romulans continue their sightseeing tour of the orbit of Galios IV. They start a long slow turn away from the planet when Enterprise rounds the planet.  They make a target lock on the Enterprise.

“Mr Spock the scanners indicate the possible signature of a Romulan Warship. “

“Fire a shot where you think they may be as a warning”

“Yes Sir”

Phaser attack misses.

The Romulans slam their ship into reverse causing great stress on the hull. Having deployed their sensor echo they manage to manoeuvre, fully cloaked about 10 feet directly in front of the Enterprise.

All weapons are unleashed. With Romulan bonuses, close range bonus, and the target lock re-rolls it is not pretty. Enterprise takes a battering losing all shields and a hull point and a critical hit which disables their photon torpedos..

Return fire from Enterprise misses.

Having gathered the required dilithium samples the Enterprise away team is beamed back on board and they turn and head for home.

The Romulans  are hot on their tail.

Final Turn.

Enterprise Ambassador Spocks Personal Log - 

Sigh. Picard is back on board. The fresh air has not helped his condition. He is currently standing, naked, in front of the aft view screen screaming “Come at me Bro!!” at the Romulan ship. The Enterprise is severely damaged. The latest Romulan attack has reduced us to a single hull point and we have a negative penalty to our defence dice. ( reduced to zero .)  I have decided to take a dodge token as our action this turn. In a stroke of luck Picard uses his free action to throw his empty bottle at the console. It seems to have cancelled the critical hit damage. ( -1 dice penalty.) Our lack of rear-firing weapons will be the end of us.

Romulan Bridge......

“Target is in range Ma’am.”

“Finish Them”

Infantry aces campaign - Turn 3 @ G3 in Glasgow

Infantry Aces Round 3

This week’s mission was pincer.

William H Harkin’s forces were allegedly defending some Russian farmhouses just outside of Cassino.
German forces were trying to recapture a small command bunker to the north of their current position.

USP1 Weapons support platoon led by the ever reliable Fatty Atkins took position at the edge of the forest in the north.
USP2 Sgt. J.J. Anderson and his 6 x Bases of Riflemen dug in round the eastern farmhouse
USP3 Sgt. Frank Basilone's 9 x Riflemen were in reserve.

Von Wurstsaugers entire force was deployed from the start
GP1 – Wunderbar platoon led by Unteroffizier David von Hasslehoffen ( 6 x Mortars) deployed centrally
GP2 – Unteroffizier Otto Flick 6 x Rifle/MG Teams deployed in the eastern forest
GP3 – Unteroffizier mikkel nicht 4 x Rifle/MG Teams deployed in the fields to the west.

T1
Ger


GP1 The German mortars stayed in their dug in positions. GP2 and GP3 both advanced down their respective flanks. Staying safely out of range of the American guns. Wunderbar platoon sent a bombardment in the direction of USP2. A lucky 6 then a 6 took out a team of riflemen and pinned them down. (woohoo)




US
In a tactical move that was completely 100% deliberate, the German commander decided to forget about the US reserves.

So despite the fact the US commander had left home without the shonky edge balancing magnetic dice of death, he rolled a 6 for reserves. And onto the table they came. Right in front of the "safely out of range of the American guns" German platoon. (GP3)






A quick volley of pew-pew from the Yanks, A quick volley of crappy save rolling from the Jerries and nearly half the GP3 platoon (2 teams) were off to meet their maker. :-(





Colonel Harkin had obviously decided to wear his cowboy hat and boots to work today. He let out a huge "YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAA" shot his pistol into the air and urged his men to charge forward (in a defensive manner).

USP2 obviously confused at this new form of defending hurtled towards the German lines, before their NCO remembered that they were supposed to be pinned down from the previous round of mortar fire. Holding their two thumbs up at the bewildered German infantrymen they shouted "Keys up. Don't shoot. Sorry. Forgot we were pinned" before retreating sheepishly to their original positions.

T2
Ger

GP3 in the west took some cover behind one of the farmhouses and braced for further American defending.
GP2 in the West advanced a little closer to the US line
The Wunderbar boys sent another bombardment towards the American lines to no avail.



US
USP3 were not messing about and stormed well into the German half. They let off a shot which hit the post and went wide for a goal kick... oops sorry wrong report :-)

USP3 stormed forward preparing for assault. This time they came under heavy German defensive fire. (5 hits) The US took casualties (2 teams) and fell back their assault failing.

USP2 Exchanged fire with GP2 the result being (I think) a single german casualty.



T3
The Wunderbar Mortar Boys decided three weeks of inaction was enough.  Spurred on by their new CO Von Hasslehoffen, his uniform open to the waist, they moved forward to support the GP3 platoon in the west.Unfortunately the USP3 troops managed to take cover in time making all their saving rolls.


Buoyed by the successful repulsion of the US assault GP3 charged over the wall and into the US troops.

Surviving a hail of defensive fire they manage to get their assault off killing two US teams.

The USP3 failed their motivation and their 2ic reroll and ran for it. GP3 used thei consolidation move to take refuge in the nearby farmhouse.

GP2 advanced further up the eastern flank firing at the USP2 without any significant result.

US
Having suffered in the assault USP3 decided to regroup by going to ground and trying to dig in which was successful
USP2 shot some more at GP2 kiling 1 team.

USP1 Fatty's boys launched a bombardment killing no one.

T4
GP3 stayed indoors in the farmhouse shooting out at USP3 (no casualties)

Hasslehoffens Mortars bombarded the USP2 position again no casualties.




GP2 advanced into an assualting position coming under heavy defensive fire (11 dice) it was enough to stop the assault and push GP2 back.




US
USP2 launched everything they had at the retreating GP2 killing everything but the platoon commander, who passed his motivation test. :-)
At this point we had to end the game for reasons.

It was declared an allied victory for purposes of the campaign.

Flames of War @ Common Ground Games

Battle Report 7th Sept 2013

US commander William H Harkin surveyed the field. The German infantry were dug in to the south of the small village of Grenouille Vicié. Intelligence suggested the captured British agent was being held in one of two possible locations. The ruined church on the South East of the village or in the forest to the South. 

Rumour had it that the Germans might push forward to hand the agent over to a unit of French collaborators. The rendezvous point was the windmill at the north eastern side of Grenouille Vicié  Reinforcements were inbound but he didn't have time to wait. Strike now or the opportunity to save the agent would be lost. 

US - Attacker - USP1 6x Riflemen,  USP2 3xmortar, 2 MG  USP3 (reserves) 9 x Riflemen

Ger - Defender - GP1 6 x Rifle/MG,  GP2 6 x 8cm Mortars + 3 Observers, GP3(Res) 4xRifle/MG

Quiet..... Too quiet.

Turn 1

US - Harkin's luck is in tonight, as a platoon of Riflemen(USP3) led by Sgt Franke Basilone

 appear from reserve immediately. USP3 Move onto table in the east and truscott trot their way forward staying out of range of German mortars.

 USP1 under the command of Sgt J.J. Anderson move cautiously into the village using what scant cover they can find.

 USP3 loose few shots at forward German observer team but miss. 

Harkin curses his luck. The Germans would know for sure they were here now. No point hiding now  and he orders Cpl. Beauford E (Fatty) Atkins to open fire with his mortars. After much sighting and deliberation Atkins launches a barrage at the edge of the church. 

The German observer in the ruined church remained safe.

Ger - Much as he would have liked to execute the British pig-dog spy, German commander Klaus von Wurstsauger had his orders. Keep the prisoner alive and prevent him falling into enemy hands. The prisoner would be collected and transferred to Berlin at a suitable opportunity. Which wouldn't be right now as a company of US troops were close to the village. He ordered his men to stay down. All Platoons/Observers who can, go to ground. He had trained his mortar platoon into the ground after the fiasco of the previous battle had almost got him killed. He orders them to fire into the village. Despite lots of whooping and high fives from the German team for finally getting the bloody things to work the only damage was a few slates from roofs. No damage. Wurstsauger cursed his luck, and where are those bloody reserves?  Forgot about my reserves so we did it now - I failed the roll anyway :-(

Turn 2

US - Despite the poor performance of the German mortars, they were enough of a threat to keep the Yanks wary. USP3 moved up slowly in the West. They had a few more pot shots at German observers, all for nothing.

USP1 moved into the houses at the northern end of the village.

USP2 mortars launched a few harmless fireworks in the general direction of the Germans.

Ger - Another failed roll for reserves at the start. (grrr)  GP1 sat tight defending the objective(s). 

Hans? Does the pointy end go up or down?

Then.... the sound of birdsong began quietly rising to a crescendo of beautiful noise. The clouds parted and a single ray of bright sunshine shone down onto the German mortar platoon. Ready, aim......Fire! The little bombs arced through the sky the sun glinting on their noses. They reached a peak and then down, down onto the target. When the fire had ended, and the smoke cleared at last. A rainbow appeared over the dead bodies of a single team of Riflemen. Success! At last... if only minor. 

Turn 3

US -  Harkin could see most of the German positions from the top room of this house. This would be a good spot to conduct the operation. His USP1 platoon consolidated their position in the village staying in the cover of the houses and taking pot shots at the German position.

No hits on the well dug in Germans though . Only mortar could dig them out. He called it in.

I think I lost a German Rifle/MG team to mortar fire at this point, Brian employing the shonky edge balancing magnetic dice of death tactic.

Ger - Wurstsauger cursed under his breath. The Americans were closing in and he didn't have enough men. Where are those reinforcement? He was about to get on the radio to HQ when finally they appeared. They (GP3) move on to the board in the East to defend against the US Riflemen. My observer beats a hasty retreat to the edge of the forest to avoid any assault. 

GP1 - A few harmless Rifle/MG shots into the village before the Mortar boys - boosted by their success in the previous round decide to rain vicious death upon the Riflemen in the houses. 

Finally more than one team under my template! This should be good...... No prizes for guessing the outcome :-( Bulletproof cover is a bitch!

Turn 4

US Harkin can smell victory. We'll need to dig them out though. He orders an advance into the trees. USP1 advance from the cover of the houses moving behind the garden wall. 

Shooting takes out a team of Rifle/MG men.

USP2 the platoon commander instructs his mortars to defend the objective at all costs and takes his two MG teams forward into battle.

USP3 advances to the top of the hill finally killing the German observers as they retreat.

Ger - Wurstsauger knew they were in trouble. The Americans were going to overrun them and he would lose the prisoner and probably his life. He briefly thought about making a run for the rendezvous point. He could get his mortars to pop smoke and obscure the advance. Yeah right. those mortars couldn't hit Eva Braun's backside with cello. No one won a medal hiding in a fox hole though. He radioed the reserve troops (GP3) to assault the Americans on the hill.

They moved forward in preparation. Shooting resulted in one US casualty. The resulting assault killing two US teams while one German team bought it during defensive fire.

The Germans won the assault due to the US failing motivation to counter attack. The US troops fell back and the Germans retreated to the cover of the trees under their consolidation move. 

Turn 5

US - USP1 Advance leaving the cover of the wall and head for the edge of the forest. A single German Rifle/MG team is despatched during shooting.

The advanced MG half of USP2 attacks the German Observer in the church who survives the onslaught.

Convinced that the German advance into the village won't be happening Cpl Atkins squad pack up their mortars and head forward to support Sgt Basilone's men.

USP3 regroup and attack the remains of the German Reserves killing the platoon commander. The Germans pass their motivation test and stay put.

Ger - Wurstsauger has one last chance. If he can hit the American platoon closet to him, hard he might swing the fight his way. Advance under cover of mortar fire! GP1 leaves their dug-in positions to try and stop the US advance. They move into firing range. 

The plan was to pin the Americans down before assaulting. The mortar platoon also targets the USP1 platoon. out of 13 dice we manage a grand total of 4 hits, all saved. Failing to pin the Americans. The assault gets cancelled (didn't get near enough lol). GP3 The two remain Rifle/MG teams retreat into the forest. 

Turn 6 The End is Nigh

US - USP1 moves into assault range of the Germans. Shooting and defensive fire is poor. The assualt on the other hand (aided by the shonky magnetic dice of death) is decisive detroying the Germans (4 killed)

 The rest of the Germans motivation is somewhat broken so they flee.

On the East USP3 rips the remnants of the German reserves apart killing 1 and the other fleeing.

Finally the German observer team in the Church is overrun by an assaulting MG platoon and the game is done. 

The remaining German mortar platoon flee once again glad to have survived once more

von Wurstsauger cursed his luck against Harkin and his new secret weapon, the shonky magnetic dice of death. (not bitter right) :-D