The youngest wanted to play with my red and blue soldiers (Bolsheviks -Trotsky’s train guard and Red sailors).
I had played a convention game of Squad Hammer at Hotlead 2022 and so thoroughly enjoyed it I bought the rules (PDF on Wargamevault.com).
Here’s the basic set up. Bolsheviks on the left. German Freikorps on the right. It’s an attack/defend scenario around the barn. While attackers usually should have a larger force I chose to keep it even as the boys haven’t gotten the grasp of uneven battles yet (“Why do you have more figures” etc).
We each had a leader, 3 rifle squads, an automatic rifle squad, and a machine gun. One platoon had shock troops and the other had cavalry.
Each son had one platoon of Bolsheviks and I had 2 platoons of Friekorps.
We played 8 rounds (6 plus 1D6) and I had failed to capture the barn.
My 1st platoon was wiped out and my 2nd platoon had 1 rifle squad with 6 hit points (1 away from wiped out) and an automatic rifle squad with the leader with no damage ( both in the foreground)
James had 1 rifle squad (in the fenced paddock) and his machine gun (in the barn’s loft)
Charlie had 1 automatic rifle squad (on the other side of the barn in the other fenced paddock), a machine gun (on the back left hill), 1 rifle squad with the leader (on the ground in front of the machine gun) and his cavalry (on the top right, having flanked me).
We all had fun. I think this was the first time we’ve played using an actual rule set (as opposed to home brew rules) and with minimal tantrums when things didn’t go as planned (the boys were good too 😂).
Here’s a couple photos showing the casualties. What can I say, “War is hell.”
Charlie’s two sailor squads (6 dudes per squad) and James’ Leader, 3 squads and shock troops.
Here’s my losses. 6 squads, both machine guns, one leader, my cavalry and shock troops.
I had a great time using a rule set I enjoy and the boys said the same. The game can be fast and bloody.
Here’s a list of everything below from the photos in case anybody is interested.
Until next time.
The figures are:
Russians - Copplestone Castings
Germans - Brigade Games and Great War Miniatures
Barn - Tinned Fruit Buildings (on Facebook)
Outbuilding - Colin Rush commission
Trees - The Last Valley (on Facebook)
Hills - Miniature Landscape Hobbies
Fences - Pegasus Hobbies
Barricades - Gale Force 9
Mat- Cigar Box Battle
