"Blades of Fury"

Game 9

Deployment: Long Edges

Mission: CAS (Close Air Support)

Points Value: 200pts

Iranian Forces (Attacker)

--F-14A Tomcat

-Veteran Pilot (Morteza Ahadi)

-2xAIM-54A Phoenix Missiles

-4xAIM-9P sidewinders

--F-4E Phantom

-Competant Pilot (Giv Kiani)

-4xBombs

--AH-1J Cobra

-Competant pilot (Jav Rashidi)

-2xTOW Missiles

-Rocket pod

--AH-1J Cobra

-Competant pilot (Shah Behnan)

-2xTOW Missiles

-Rocket pod

--Infantry Units: 11

--Armour Units: 2 (2xM60A3 tanks)

--Mobile AA Units: 6 (1xZSU-57-2, 5xZSU-23-4)

Search and Rescue

--CH-47 Chinook

-Competant pilot (Leff Baran)

The Plan

Turn one the Phantom will arrive at altitude 2, ideally his targets will be Mobile AA, hopefully this will soften the area for the Cobras.

Turn two, the Cobras will arrive to destroy ground targets, the Tomcat will arrive at altitude 6 to provide air Superiority.

Iraqi Forces (Defender)

--MiG-21MF

-Average pilot (Dhari Madi)

-x2 R-60 Missiles

--MiG-21MF

-Average pilot (Salih Nazari)

-x2 R-60 Missiles

--MiG-23MS

-Average pilot (Heba Awad)

-12 bombs

--Mi-25 Hind

-Competant pilot (Harb Anad)

-Rocket pods

--Mi-25 Hind

-Average pilot (Abdul Najm)

-Rocket pods

--SA-342 Gazelle

-Veteran pilot (Zain Attieh)

-4xHOT Missiles

--Infantry Units: 5

--Armour Units: 6 (4xT-55, 2xT-72)

--Mobile AA Units: 4 (x2 ZSU-23-4, ZSU-57-2, SA-8 Gecko)

Search and Rescue

--SA-321 Super Frelon

-Competant pilot (Ras Lafet)

The Plan

The MiG-23 will arrive on turn one, his role is to quickly drop his payload on any ground forces possible.

Turn Two the Hinds and Gazelle will arrive to conduct ground attacks.

Turn three the MiG-21's will arrive at altitude 5 to attack any aerial targets.

Set up

Turn 1

The first planes arrive in the AO, an Iraqi MiG-23 and Iranian Phantom.

Ground forces on both sides exchange gunfire, Iraqi Forces manage to get the first shots off, they manage to immobilise a Shilka and a Tank, plus knock out the other tank, the ZSU-57-2 and three shilkas, plus an Infantry squad.

The Iranian return fire guns down two Iraqi Squads and destroys a Tank.

Turn 2

A number of helicopter Gunships arrive, the Iraqi MiG-23 suddenly finds he has a F-14 Tomcat diving in behind him, unphased he releases two Bombs that blow a shilka to bits.

The Iranian Phantom also releases two Bombs but they over fly the Target and miss.

The two Hinds move in and unleash Rocket salvos reducing Iranian Infantry to a mess of blasted body parts, the Gazelle close behind unleashes a HOT missile that reduces the last Shilka to a burning husk.

The Iranian Cobras each luanch a TOW Missile.

The ground battle results in two more Iranian Squads wiped out and the immobilised tank is destroyed, in return the Iranians only manage to immobilise a BMP-1.

Turn 3

The two TOW Missiles strike taking out the ZSU-57-2 and the Gecko.

The two MiG-21's arrive on the tail of the Tomcat, the Tomcat locks the MiG-23 and luanches a sidewinders before turning away.

Heba Awad puts his mig into a dive to avoid the missile but it detonates close to him, shrapnel penetrates the canopy and wounds him.

The Phantom banks round, as the Iranian Infantry destroy the Immobilised BMP-1 but Iraqi return fire causes heavy casualties on them as Infantry, Tanks and the Hinds pour fire into them.

The Iranian Cobras start unleashing rockets into Iranian Infantry as payback.

Turn 4

The MiG-23, Hinds and Phantom RTB.

The Tomcat turns hard and drops altitude, the MiG-21s do the same in the hopes of intercepting the F-14, the Cobras unleash more Rocket salvos but miss!

The last of the Iranian Infantry are finally gunned down, the Iraqi Shilkas (that have been concentrating on Infantry) finally turn their guns to the sky.

They fill the sky around the Cobras with lead but do not score any hits.

Turn 5

The Gazelle and Cobras RTB.

The Two MiG-21s continue to manouver and are slowly gaining on the F-14s tail.

The F-14 comes in low and strafes some Infantry causing them to Scramble for cover.

Both Shilkas open up on the F-14, and one scores a hit, Ahadi feels the hit but the plane seems OK, a little off but OK.  . .

Turn 6

The MiG-21s start closing in on the F-14s tail, but the Tomcats engine fails!

Both MiGs line up and open up with guns, cannon rounds tear into aircraft damaging the airframe and wounding Ahadi.

Turn 7

The MiGs continue to chase the Tomcat, pouring on gunfire, its airframe cannot the punishment and starts breaking apart, Ahadi Ejects and hits the ground hard.

Turn 8

With no more Aerial Targets the MiGs RTB.

Ahadi, Badly Wounded, starts crawling towards Iranian lines as Iraqi Armour closes in.

Turn 9

Ahadi keeps crawling until the Iraqi T-55 rolls up, it's hatches burst open and the crew surround him . . .

Aftermath

The Iranians had a huge set of unfortunate dice rolls, the Iraqi AAA concentrated on the ground targets which really helped whittle them down.

The end surprised us both when the Shilka clipped the F-14 taking out its engine, which in turn left it a sitting duck for the MiGs.

Iraq

Ramzy Hantous = Seriously Wounded

Adeep Cridi = KIA

Mohammed Ali = KIA

Siham Fayed = POW

Heba Awad = Lightly Wounded

-10% MiG-23MS Damaged (1 Turn)

-10% F-1 Mirage Damaged (1 Turns)

-10% SU-20 Damaged (4 Turns)

-30% pts to Su-20

-15% pts to Tu-16

-30% pts to MiG-21MF

-10% pts to MiG-23MLA

-10% pts to MiG-23BN

Iran

Omid Mansouri = Seriously Wounded

Alireza Khalili = KIA

Aman Mir = KIA

Mehri Seyed = POW

Morteza Ahadi = POW

-15% pts to F-14A

-30% pts to F-5 Tiger II

-10% pts to AH-1 Cobra

-20% pts Hawk PAR Radar

-5% pts Medium AAA

-15%pts ADS-4 Radar

-5%pts to Hawk SAM

Game 1: Crossroads Engagement

 Crossroads Engagement

German troops have taken up position on the crossroads, first platoon is moved in to spearhead the attack.

Mission: Hold the Line

Soviet forces must clear the area around the crossroad intersection.

Soviet 1st Platoon: Guards Rifle Platoon (CE20)

--Platoon Command--

-Officer: AP/AT grenades, PPsH

-NCO: AP/AT grenades, PPsH

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, SVT-40

-Soldier: AP grenades, Scoped Mosin Nagant

--1st Squad--

Gun Group

-NCO: AP grenades, PPsH

-Gunner: Pistol, DP LMG

-Soldier: AP grenades, Mosin Nagant

Assult group

-NCO: AP/AT grenades, PPsH

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, PPsH

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, Mosin Nagant, panzerfaust

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, DP LMG

-x2 Soldiers: AP/AT grenades, Mosin Nagant

--2nd Squad--

Gun Group

-NCO: AP grenades, PPsH

-Gunner: Pistol, DP LMG

-Soldier: AP grenades, Mosin Nagant

Assult group

-NCO: AP/AT grenades, PPsH

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, PPsH

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, Mosin Nagant, panzerfaust

-Soldier: AP/AT grenades, Mosin Nagant with rifle grenades

-x2 Soldiers: AP/AT grenades, Mosin Nagant

--Machine gun team--

-NCO: AP grenades, PPsH

-Gunner: pistol, Maxim HMG

-x2 loaders: M1944 Carbine

--Mortar team--

-NCO: AP grenades, PPsH

-Gunner: Pistol, 50mm mortar

-Loader: M1944 Carbine

-Spotter: M1944 Carbine

--Sniper team--

-Sniper: Scoped Mosin Nagant

-Spotter: Mosin Nagant

--KV-1S Tank--

-NCO: PPsH

-x4 Crewmen: Pistol

German 1st Platoon: Grenadier Platoon (CE15) 3rd Platoon Supports (+5CE)

--Platoon Command--

-Officer: MP40

-NCO: AP/AT Grenades, MP40

-x4 Grenadiers: AP/AT Grenades, Kar89k

--1st Squad--

Machine gun team

-NCO: AP grenades, MP40

-Gunner: MG34, pistol

-Grenadier: Kar98k

Rifle team

-NCO: AP/AT grenades, MP40

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, G43

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, STG-44

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, Kar98k, panzerfaust

-x2 Grenadiers: AP/AT grenades, Kar98k

--2nd Squad--

Machine gun team

-NCO: AP grenades, MP40

-Gunner: MG34, pistol

-Grenadier: Kar98k

Rifle team

-NCO: AP/AT grenades, MP40

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, G43

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, STG-44

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, Kar98k, panzerfaust

-x2 Grenadiers: AP/AT grenades, Kar98k

--3rd Squad--

Machine gun team

-NCO: AP grenades, MP40

-Gunner: MG34, pistol

-Grenadier: Kar98k

Rifle team

-NCO: AP/AT grenades, MP40

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, STG-44

-Grenadier: AP/AT grenades, Kar98k, panzerfaust

-x3 Grenadiers: AP/AT grenades, Kar98k

--Anti tank gun--

-NCO: AP grenades, MP40

-Gunner: Pistol, PaK 40

-x2 loaders: Kar98k

--Panzerjager team--

Team one

-Gunner: Kar98k, Panzerfaust

-Loader: AT grenades, Kar98k

Team two

-Gunner: Pistol, panzerschreck

-Loader: AT grenades, Kar98k

--Stug IIIG--

-NCO: MP40

-x3 Crew: Pistol

Battlefield

Set-Up

The Soviets win the roll-off for deployment, and opt for the long table edge.

TURN 1

Soviet forces arrive, they quickly spot a PaK 40 covering the road, the KV-1 opens up with its co-axle MG but hits nothing.

The Germans open fire, the PaK 40 fires and bounces off the Hull, a Panzerschrek team makes itself know as it narrowly misses the Soviet tank.

A Soviet Squad moves up the left flank but comes under fire from a German Grenadier squad guarding the flank.

The fire fight on the left escalates as a second Grenadier Squad emerges and the Soviets take heavy casualties.

The PaK 40 crew are cut down by combined fire from a Mortar team and Maxim MG fire, the Panzerschrek team bounce a a rocket off the KV-1's hull, this panics the crew who bail. But they immediately come under fire from a hidden StuG's MG.

The Mortar continues to fire but fails to hit any targets, the tank crew re-mount but another Panzerschrek slams into the tanks Turret, it penetrates and kills the crew.

On the right flank, a Soviet Squad moves up and fires their Panzerfaust at the StuG, but the shot goes wide. The Squad is immediately put under heavy fire from the StuG and a third Grenadier Squad appears on the flank.

Having taken a lot of casualties and their tank being knocked out, the Soviets withdraw.

Conclusion

-German

Suffered minimal losses, proberbly the biggest loss was the PaK 40 crew, they held the line and done considerable damage to the Soviets.

After action recovery, two suffered light wounds and returned to duty, five were seriously injured or killed.

-2CE 

-Soviet

Took heavy casualties but the Germans were in a static position and put their MG's to good use.

After action casualties, three returned to duty but ten were seriously Wounded or killed.

And, they could no longer field any vehicles.

-10CE

Sishny Crossroads

 Sishny Crossroads

This Campaign is set in Russia, winter of 1942. Near the small village of Sishny is a crossroads which the Germans currently control, the Soviets need to secure the crossroads, as it will provide a route for logistics to supply the advancing Frontline.

To play Soviet forces in Rules of Engagement you will need the Operation Bagration Sourcebook

Soviet Forces

HQ = Soviet Rifle Platoon (CE14)

Supply = Soviet Rifle Platoon (CE14)

1st Platoon = Soviet Guards Rifle Platoon (CE20)

2nd Platoon = Soviet Rifle Platoon (CE22)

3rd Platoon = Soviet Rifle Platoon (CE18)

Tactical Reserve = 20CE

German Forces

HQ = Grenadier Platoon

Supply = Grenadier Platoon

1st Platoon = Grenadier Platoon

2nd Platoon = Grenadier Platoon

3rd Platoon = Panzergrenadier Platoon

Deployment

The German forces decided to deploy as,

HQ took up positions on the high ground.

The Supply element deploys just outside Sishny.

1st Platoon is on the road close to the crossroads.

2nd Platoon starts in the village of Sishny.

3rd Platoon starts on the road close to Sishny.

Then rolling for weather, comes up as . . . Bad Weather

Turn 1

The Soviets HQ, Supply, 2nd and 3rd Platoons advance onto the map through the woods to the south of Sishny, 1st Platoon takes the road.

The German 1st Grenadier Platoon move to take the crossroads with the Panzergrenadiers moving close to support them, 2nd Platoon starts making defenses in Sishny while the HQ starts digging into the high ground.

Turn 2

Fortunes of War

Germany: Gets code breakers, meaning the germans must reveal the CE of each element.

HQ= 14CE

Supply=14CE

1st platoon=15CE

2nd platoon=15CE

3rd platoon=18CE

Tactical reserve=16CE

Soviets: Get prisoner interrogation, meaning the germans have to reveal the orders of one element, I chose their first Platoon which would hold on the crossroads.

The German HQ and 2nd Platoon finish the defences, the Supply element stays put and so does 1st Platoon holding the crossroads with 3rd Platoon supporting 1st.

The Soviet HQ and Supply element hold while 2nd Platoon emerges from the woods, 3rd Platoon moves into Popov's Farm and 1st Platoon make contact with German forces at the crossroads.

With the Grenadiers on a HOLD order and the Soviets on an ADVANCE order, we look at the mission chart which gives us, HOLD THE LINE.

The first fight of this campaign is found here

Turn 3

Fog of War

The Germans get 'River Assult' but seeing there is no river on the map, then it's pretty useless.

The Soviets gets 'Resistance' meaning they can field Partisans. Obviously they are villagers from Sishny who are not happy with the German occupation.

The first Grenadier platoon receives 1CE of rienforcements from the Supply element, the Soviet first platoon receives 5CE of rienforcements from the Tactical reserve.

German Platoon Two, HQ and Supply Elements Hold, Platoon One starts digging in while Third Platoon Advances.

Soviet HQ and Supply Elements Hold, Platoons Two and Three Advance while First Platoon is in a Forced Retreat.

The Soviet Second Platoon moves on the crossroads as the German defenders are digging in, the battle is found . . .

Rules of Engagement

 Rules of Engagement

Rules of Engagement is a WW2 Wargame, that offers full rules for the game along with army lists for German, British, American and Marquis forces.

The rulebook and 28mm miniatures are available from Great Escape Games.

Below is a list of all the games played, one off games are under games, while campaigns are under the obvious title of, campaigns.

Games

Campaigns

To play campaigns the Operations and Objectives Sourcebook gives full campaign rules.

1: Sishny crossroads

 

"Power Cut"

Game 8

Deployment: Long-Edges

Mission: Strike (Power plant)

Points Value: 200pts

Iranian Forces (Attacker)

--F-5E Tiger II

-Veteran Pilot (Arzou Hijazi)

-x2 AIM-9P Sidewinder

-x12 Bombs

--F-5E Tiger II

-Veteran Pilot (Morteza Ahadi)

-x2 AIM-9P Sidewinder

-x12 Bombs

--F-5E Tiger II

-Competant Pilot (Zahra Ghorbani)

-x2 AIM-9P Sidewinder

-x12 Bombs

The Plan

Keeping it simple, all three F-5's arrive on turn one, altitude 4. They will head at top speed to the power station and conduct their bombing run. Depending on situation, they may engage in air-to-air combat before RTB.

Iraqi Forces (Defender)

--MiG-21MF

-Average Pilot (Fath Zogby)

-x2 R-60

--MiG-21MF

-Average Pilot (Abbas Isa)

-x2 R-60

--MiG-21MF

-Average Pilot (Salih Nazari)

-x2 R-60

--MiG-21MF

-Average Pilot (Dhari Madi)

-x2 R-60

--x2 KS-19 (Heavy AAA)

--x2 Bofors L70 (Medium AAA)

--x3 S-60 (Medium AAA)

The Plan

The MiG's will come on in two waves, two will arrive on turn one at altitude 5 . I'm hoping that their presence will disrupt the Iranian aircraft from the start.

The other two MiG's will arrive at altitude 4 on turn 3.

Set up

TURN 1

The Iranian F-5's speed across the sky towards the powerstation, as soon as they are able they drop their combined payload of 36 Bombs. Two thirds strike home, the others overshoot blowing great gouts of sand into the air.

Two MiGs open their afterburners to intercept the F-5's as the KS-19's open fire.

TURN 2

The two Fighter Groups pass, the F-5's perform an Immelmann manouver while the MiGs make a tight turn and start diving.

The KS-19's continue to fire but the F-5's had climbed out of their range.

TURN 3

Two more Iraqi MiG's arrive.

Ahadi and Hijazi follow the two original MiGs, and both get missile lock, Hijazi fires a sidewinder but Ahadi's missile fails to luanch.

Both MiG's bank round hard.

Ghorbani turned his F-5 off in the opposite direction to the other two, the two new MiGs adjusted their heading for him.

TURN 4

Little happens as both Forces manouver for an advantage.

TURN 5

Hijazi and Ahadi turn into the MiGs tails and aquire missile locks, once again Ahadi's missile fails to luanch, Hijazi sends one streaking into a MiG.

Nazari sends his MiG into a steep dive to avoid the missile, although it works his aircraft takes a number of shrapnel hits damaging it.

TURN 6

Ghorbani dives down on the damaged MiG and opens up with his cannons, Nazari hits the airbrakes causing the stream of 20mm rounds to miss.

TURN 7

With fuel levels getting low the Iranian F-5's head for home.

Aftermath

The F-5's achieved their objective, pretty much levelling the power plant (24 bomb hits). They also done a pretty good job of fighting the MiG's.

Although the Iraqi MiGs caused little damage they played it safe and minimised damage to their planes.

The KS-19 Heavy AAA never stopped firing but didn't score any hits, the Medium AAA never fired as the Iranian aircraft remained too high and out of their range.

Iraq

Ramzy Hantous = Seriously Wounded

Adeep Cridi = KIA

Mohammed Ali = KIA

Siham Fayed = POW

-10% MiG-21MF Damaged (1 Turn)

-10% F-1 Mirage Damaged (2 Turns)

-10% SU-20 Damaged (5 Turns)

-30% pts to Su-20

-15% pts to Tu-16

-30% pts to MiG-21MF

-10% pts to MiG-23MLA

-10% pts to MiG-23BN

Iran

Omid Mansouri = Seriously Wounded

Alireza Khalili = KIA

Aman Mir = KIA

Mehri Seyed = POW

-30% pts to F-5 Tiger II

-10% pts to AH-1 Cobra

-20% pts Hawk PAR Radar

-5% pts Medium AAA

-15%pts ADS-4 Radar

-5%pts to Hawk SAM

 

 "Aces High"

Game 7

Advancing ground forces are closing on a river, we need to reconnoiter the bridge to assess Iranian Defenses.

Deployment: Short-Edges

Mission: CAP

Mission Target: Bridge

Points Value: 300pts

Iranian Forces (Defending)

--F-14A Tomcat

-Veteran Pilot (Arzou Hijazi)

-x4 AIM-9P

-x2 AIM-54A

--F-14A Tomcat

-Veteran Pilot (Morteza Ahadi)

-x4 AIM-9P

-x2 AIM-54A

--F-4E Phantom

-Average Pilot (Milad Shir)

-x2 AIM-9P

--F-4E Phantom

-Average Pilot (Jafar Ali)

-x2 AIM-9P

-Hawk PAR Radar

-x2 MIM-23 Hawk SAMs

-AAA Radar

-x2 Medium AAA

-Light AAA

The Plan

Turn 2 the F-14s will arrive at altitude 5 and at distance to make use of the AIM-54 Missiles before moving in to AIM-9 range.

Turn 4 the Phantoms will arrive at altitude 3 and try to ambush any Iraqi planes they can.

Iraqi Forces (Attacker)

--MiG-21MF

-Veteran Pilot (Teef Sedkahn)

-x4 R-60

--MiG-21MF

-Veteran Pilot (Raed Manati)

-x4 R-60

--MiG-23BN

-Average Pilot (Heba Awad)

-6 Bombs

--MiG-23BN

-Average Pilot (Musah Taha)

-6 Bombs

--MiG-23BN

-Average Pilot (Mousa Askar)

-6 Bombs

--MiG-21R

-Competant Pilot (Adel Faisal)

The Plan

Going for the main objective of recon photo the Target, I'm assuming there will air defenses so am also trying for a SEAD Mission.

Turn 1, MiG-23BN's and the MiG-21R will turn up at altitude 2, their objective is to photo the Target (MiG-21) and bomb any air defenses in the area (MiG-23).

Turn 2 the MiG-21MF's will arriveat altitude 4 to provide air cover.

Set up

TURN 1

The Iraqi MiG-23's come in fast, the pilots choosing their ground targets, the recon MiG-21 close behind.

TURN 2

The two MiG-21's to provide air cover arrive.

The Iranian F-14's arrive, they manage to acquire locks on two of the MiG-23's and each fires off an AIM-54A Phoenix.

The MiG-23's each drop 2 Bombs, they destroy both the Medium AAA and the HAWK SAM Radar as the ZU-23-2 fills the air with ineffective fire.

The Reconnaissance MiG-21 successfully takes photos of the bridge.

TURN 3

The Phoenix Missiles come in, Musah Taha climbs hard and cuts power in an attempt to avoid the missile, It detonates close to his plane, shrapnel peppering the Hull and wounding him.

Mousa Askar pulls the same manouver and manages to dodge the missile.

Heba Awad attempts to bomb a HAWK luancher but the Bombs overshoot, the ZU-23-2 hits him as he passes over but little damage is caused.

All aircraft manouver is the pass trying to gain an advantage.

TURN 4

The Phantoms arrive,

Both MiG-21's perform a Split-S manouver to loose the Phantoms that are getting into gun range on their tails, Loosing the '21's, both Phantoms turn into a tailing position behind Mousa Askar's plane. He dives to try and avoid a hail of gunfire from the first Phantom, which works. The second Phantoms Guns tear into his planes Hull damaging it.

The Tomcats bank round and drop some altitude.

TURN 5

With their fuel at its limit all three MiG-23's return to base. The Recon MiG flys off the board, returning to base with the recon pictures.

Little happens this turn, the Phantoms and Tomcats make turns while the MiGs perform another Spit-S.

TURN 6

The F-14 Tomcats Return to base. The MiGs and Phantoms are both starting to reach fuel limitations, the Iraqi's have achieved their mission and RTB.

AFTERMATH

Close call on the Phoenix hits!, really thought those two MiG-23's were going down in flames, the Iranian AA was pretty much neutralised in the second turn and had little effect in game.

Pretty easy win for Iran.

Iraq

Ramzy Hantous = Seriously Wounded

Musah Taha = Lightly Wounded

Adeep Cridi = KIA

Mohammed Ali = KIA

Siham Fayed = POW

-10% F-1 Mirage Damaged (2 Turns)

-10% SU-20 Damaged (5 Turns)

-10% MiG-23BN Damaged (1 Turn)

-30% pts to Su-20

-15% pts to Tu-16

-30% pts to MiG-21MF

-10% pts to MiG-23MLA

-10% pts to MiG-23BN

Iran

Omid Mansouri = Seriously Wounded

Alireza Khalili = KIA

Aman Mir = KIA

Mehri Seyed = POW

-30% pts to F-5 Tiger II

-10% pts to AH-1 Cobra

-25% pts Hawk PAR Radar

-15% pts Medium AAA

-15%pts ADS-4 Radar

-5%pts to Hawk SAM