Cold War Gone Hot - Force on Force

Gary stopped by for Wargame Wednesday this week. I’m still obsessing about Force on Force and determined to get my head around the rules. So I set up another quick infantry skirmish – this time with some longer lines of sight!

The action was between some Soviets and British in a fictional “Cold War Gone Hot” confrontation.

Berlin, September 1988

SITUATION

The Soviets have launched their attack on the west. Berlin is in ruins. A Small band of British Paras is holding on to the last of the area held by NATO.

SCENARIO

Duration: 8 turns

Initiative: Soviets have initiative for first two turns, then test thereafter.

Fog of War: Deternimed normally by Reaction Tests

Table Size: 5’x4’

SOVIET MISSION

Push through the British position and  enemy from the area.

SOVIET FORCES

Initiative Level: D8

Confidence Level: Confident

Supply Level: Normal

Body Armour: None

Troop Quality/Morale: D8/D8

Soviet Forces

1x Leytenant AK-74

1x Serzhant AK 74

6x Soviet Rifle Teams, each with:

- 1x Team Leader AK-74

- 2x Riflemen AK-74

- 1x mchine-gunner RPK-74

BRITISH FORCES

Initiative Level: D8

Confidence Level: Confident

Supply Level: Normal

Body Armour: None

Troop Quality/Morale: D8/D8

British Force

1x Medic

3x Fire Teams, each with:

- 1x Team Leader SA-80

- 2x Riflemen SA-80

- 1x mchine-gunner LSW

THE GAME

I took the Soviets and Gary took the British. He had half the table to set up in I set up close to the opposite edge.

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)

Soviet Rifle Teams 1 and 2 on the Soviet left flank. In the back ground you can see Teams 3 and 4 taking up the center.

Soviet Teams 4 and 5 on the right flank.

The British defence line running down approximately the center of the table. From left to right Fire Teams A, B, and C. Fire Team B, in the center, is accompanied by the Medic.

All the British started the game “Hidden”.

TUN ONE

Soviet Teams 2 and 5 were declared to be on Over Watch.

To start things off I took Team 3, in the center, and rushed them forward to the builing facing them.

This drew fire from British Fire Team A and one of the Russians went down. Morale check was passed, the team continued to the backside of the building….

Question… Now I declared that all I was doing was running across the street with a tactical move (no declaration of  shooting – as no one was visible) if an enemy team interrupts and fires, do I get to shoot back in a ”round of fire”…?

Soviet Team 4 then moved up to occupy the building vacated by Team 3.

This also draws fire from British Fire Team A – which knocked out another Russian. Soviet Team 4 returned fire with little effect.

Over on the left Soviet Team 1 hopped a wall and dashed for the cover of a big pile of rubble. None of the British responded.

Team 6 back on the right also crept forward, but couldn’t be seen by anyone so elicited no response.

TURN TWO

After performing First Aid Checks both Soviet casualties from the previous turn were DEAD! Both teams, however, passed their Troop Quality Tests. Apparently nobody really liked Ivan or Gigori much anyway…

Once again Soviet Teams 2 and 5 were declared to be on Over Watch. British Fire Teams B and C remained Hidden.

Starting on the right Soviet Team 1 moved forward to occupy the ruined building ahead of them.

British Fireteams B and C ambushed. Their fire was, however, ineffective.

Soviet Team 2, which was on Over Watch, and Team 1 returned fire. British Fire Team C took one casualty and was pinned by Soviet Team 1.

Soviet Team 6 moved into the building they were adjacent to and crept forward to bring fire on British Fire Team A. Their fire was ineffective. As British Fire Team B reacted, Soviet Team 5 (on Over Watch) returned fire causing one casualty. The British, firing last in the sequence, shot up Soviet Team 6 pretty good causing FOUR casualties!

Soviet Team 3 crept forward and brought some serious fire down on British Fire Team B casuing THREE MORE casualties!? (I know the Mdeic in the picture is tipped over too… that was a mistake, he was okay…).

British Fire Teams reacting to this, nearly wiping out Soviet Team 3!

TURN THREE

As all of Soviet Team 3 was down there was no one to administer First Aid. The Soviet Sergeant was on hand to organize First Aid to Team 6; one was seriously wounded, the remaining three were lightly wounded. The British Medic patched up Fire Team B as best he could. One died, one was seriously wounded, one was lightly wounded and the last one only thought he had been shot – the bullet had passed through his respirator case.

No soviets were declared to be on overwatch. I wasn’t sure if I could put a team that had just received serious injured. A team that had just done a first aid check and ended up with Seriously Wounded are only allowed to react to fire. We wondered if this meant only fire at them or any fire…? We decided to go with any fire, but it didn’t’ make sense that they could be on Over Watch – they could however use “Opportunity Fire” to respond to any firing in their LOS….

Soviet Team 4 moved up in the center to occupy the position Soviet Team 3 (which were all casualties) had occupied and fired on British Fire Team A. British Fire Team A decided to react by returning. Soviet Team 6 used opportunity fire to react to this, British Fire Team B also reacted to Soviet Team 3’s fire.

Both Soviet teams went first. Team 3 caused one casualty in British Fire Team A and pinned them. 

Soviet Team 6 went next causing two more casualties and forced the remaining member to Pull Back. We assumed he had to leave his wounded comrades behind…

British Fire Team B shot up Soviet Team 4 causing one casualty and pinning them.

Soviet team used this opportunity to rush British Fire Team C – B and C were only reacting to fire (due to seriously injured teammates) and Fire Team A was not firing back after the heavy exchange with Soviets to the right.

Soviet Team 1 passed their Troop Quality Test and went for it. We weren’t sure if the British Fire Team, which, having suffered Serious Wounds, was allowed defensive fire. I though I’d allow it just to see what happened. As it turned out they failed their Troop Quality Test and weren’t able to anyway.

Soviet Team 1 assaulted first, causing one casualty and a drop in morale. The British fought back with little effect.

In the second round the Soviets finished off the remaining Paras…

Checking afterwards all three were killed (no POWs) – though I suppose the Soviets could have captured the Seriously Wounded Para that had been previously wounded and was lying in the position…

AT that point we kind of called it. The soviets still had three full strength fire teams and two others that were still somewhat functional.

British Fireteam A wouldn’t have been able to do a First Aid Check at the beginning of Turn Four as there were no surviving members in contact with them – the one, which had pulled back, would have to spend all of Turn Four pulling himself together before being allowed to return to his wounded comrades. By that point the Soviets would have likely crossed the street and overrun the position anyway.

Again I spent way too much time trying to look stuff up. I had re-read the rules after last weeks game… and discovered a number of things I’d done wrong – and made sure I got them right this time. But it WAS a week ago, and new things game up… and I couldn’t remember stuff. I still think it’s a great game and eventually I’ll get my head around the whole reaction process and figure out the fiddly bits and it will all go much smoother and quicker.

Testing for the other casualties that hadn’t been checked for during the game there were two more soviet KIAs and another Light Wound. The British from Fire Team A that had been abandoned turn out one each of KIA, Serious Wound and Light Wound. The final tally:

British

KIA: 5

Seriously Wounded: 3

Lightly Wounded: 2

Okay: 3

Soviets

KIA: 4

Seriously Wounded: 2

Lightly Wounded: 4

Okay: 14

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

More French Foreign Legionnaires or other modern stuff…