Samurai vs Gurkha: Malaya 1942

I got Ian to play a Bolt Action game with me. It was a Point defense scenario.  Ian attacked with a Japanese brigade

 against my Gurkha battalion.
His objective was to take the trenches in front of a store house and capture the supplies. The British had to hold out for 6 turns. By the end of the game, the Japanese had rushed the store house which despite heavy hand to hand combat, the weight of Japanese numbers prevailed.

The Japanese kept getting pinned and holding. Other kept waiting to ambush the Gurkhas as they came out, however, they were not born yesterday.
One group of Gurkhas drew their kurkris and charged a hapless Japanese unit. The Nepelase tribesmen took out the sons of Nippon, but Ian was using his troops with fire and advance, so the brave hillmen were shot down. Finally, the remaining officers withdrew into the storehouse to fend off the Japanese with Webleys and MkII Mills grenades. With the Japanese pressing in with the bayonet, the officers went down firing. The supplies fell feeding the tummies of the young boys of Japan.

Maximum attrition

I play tested the game today. And once again, my phone is giving me technical problems, something about data usage. 
When I could upload the pictures again, they came out a bit enlarged.
For this scenario, I had The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division against 25th Panzergrenadier Regiment, 12SS Panzer Division

 The Germans were defending the village. The Nova Scotians were attempting to drive them out of the village. In support, 2nd Canadian Armored Bde gave a Sherman, a Sherman Firefly, and a jeep with a .50cal.

The Germans were able to attack the Canadian troops first. The Panzercrech gunner had amazing aim and took out the Firefly first. The German mortar was able to pin several of the infantry while one machine gun took out many others. The Canadian mortar team were able to take out the Jagpanther.

That and the Sherman took out the sniper in the Inn. After that, things pretty much went down hill for the highlanders. Eventually, with half the Canadian force casualties, the remaing got a run order and fled the scence.

All in all it was a good run through with the rules. My son tried to play but only did one action when he became confused. Thus, I will make a kids friendly for him.

Canadian units in Italian campaign

PPCLI somewhere in Italy, 1943

King's Own Calgary Regiment, Italy, 1943

PPCLI street fighting, Italy, 1943

Bolt Action rule book arrived

I have two sets of figures, some German tanks, dice and basic terrain. Commnce firing

1st SS Panzer counter attack from Verrier Ridge

Calgary Highlanders mortar platoon holds back Jerry. This game was where the Germans were counter attacking from Verrier Ridge.  The Canadians were holding a village

while the leftover panzers burn

This was the first action that I won for a long time. Ian's panzers had bad rolls and my mortars took out his panzergrenadiers. The Canadian troops had hidden in the Bocage shown with the pen and tissue. A group of machinegunners were in the house while the motars were hidden behind the wall.

Two Canadian battalions were held in reserve. The SS Panzers advanced towards the bocage whereby the Canadian battalion there attempted to hold out. The Canadian mortars then rained fire down on the Panzergrenadiers behind the tanks. Two battalions of Germans met their match there. The tanks then began to advance on the house and wall but were repelled by HEAT rounds from the mortars, and PIATs. The tanks were picked off one by one. Ian advanced his tanks right up to the wall and opened up.. only for his rounds to shoot high. The Canadians then rushed out with all they had and used whatever anti-tank weapons they had. All of them hit home and brewed up each tank. The Panzergrenadiers enraged by this attempted attempted to use their machinegunners to clear the house and wall but were pinned down by the large volume of fire coming from the hidden Canadians. Eventually, all the SS were hit and pinned. Those who were not killed were taken prisoner.

The Calgary Highlanders in World War 2

Calgary Highlanders in training during the Depression. Sadly, the army camp grounds are now a strip mall. The hillside still has the brigade markings and is a historic site for the city. This scene is based on the army camp of Signal Hill which was used up until the 1990s.

Piper of the regiment. I will still have to figure out how I can rotate the shot.

Crossing a canal in the Netherlands

Mortar platoon in action in Holland.

I had the chance to visit the Regimental museum of The Calgary Highlanders.
I also bought their pipes and drums cd, a decal for my bicycle and a t-shirt.
I never would have visited this museum had it not been for my mother's funeral. I needed a quiet place to contemplate her passing and to pay respect to those brave Canadian men and women who have served our country.

German counter attack

9th Canadian Brigade holds a French village.

21st Panzer Division uses their firepower

Leena wanted to observe and possibly take part.

The North Novas, SDGs and HLI attempt to hold onto their gains off Juno beach. The armor support failed to arrive.

I've ordered the Bolt Action Wargamming rules from Amazon.

More games to follow. I will have to find some Canadian armor models in Akihabara, Japan.