On NATO's Northern Flank, circa 1985

[bigjackmac]

All,

Well, I got a game in, but it's not what you or I expected.  Yes, I'm a wargaming butterfly: I'm supposed to be finishing up the dogfighting rules, I'm supposed to be playing 6mm moderns for 5Core Brigade Commander, I'm supposed to be playing KG Klink for 5Core Company Command, I thought I might try some Napoleonic stuff, I've still got a mountain of lead I can't see the top of, and I go and do this...  But ya know what?  It was fun.

Another reason I did this was because someone on TMP (Sasquatch on the Cold War board) said he was getting into Cold War/Modern stuff and was looking for a 1:1 ruleset, and The Commissar mentioned Company Command and linked to my old KG Klink batreps.  I figured the least I could do was play a Cold War/Modern game and post it.  Not to mention, I've been dying to get my modern USMC on the table.

So, what do we have?  Well, it's roundabouts 1985 and the balloon has gone up in Europe; the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (whom I have a passing acquaintance with) is the air alert battalion and immediately departs for Norway, NATO's northern flank.  As they land, gear is already being off-loaded from the Maritime Pre-Positioned Ships for battalion to fall in on.  They hit the marshaling areas on the run, and patrols are immediately sent out.  In this case, an attachment from 2nd LAI (Light Armored Infantry Battalion, which is what they were called before they became Light Armored Reconnaissance, or LAR) spots Soviet forces moving in on the village of Smellysardinso (fictional).  A call for reinforcements goes out, and Marines are immediately dispatched from Alpha and Weapons Companies.  But the Soviets are aggressive and push across the ford, arriving in the ville just as the Marine reinforcements arrive.  A quick, sharp fight ensues; the Marines are victorious (of course), the Soviets recoil (fall back to have an artillery regiment flatten the entire grid square).

*Bear with me, please; there's not a lot of Pendraken, but there are definitely Pendraken in there (Brits from the Falklands range and German WWII FJ)*

What follows is the account of the Battle of Smellysardinso (at the blog):
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/04/on-natos-northern-flank-circa-1985.html


I was going to show both sides' forces, but I know we really only care about the USMC side, right?

The Marines: these are pretty much all Minifigs.  Command stand at top left, two Amtracs (plastics from Takara).  Each carries two fireteams, then one has a SMAW and the other a TOW.  Then there's an LAV carrying a fireteam of scouts and an MG team.  Lastly we have a Combined Anti-Armor Team, or CAAT, of two HMMWVs.  One has a TOW, and the other is a gun truck (with a .50 cal to suppress the tank while the TOW is in flight).  The LAV and HMMWVs are Minifigs.

I love playing campaigns, hate 'one-off' games, as the toys are just pieces, no personality.  I'll be using such dramatic identifiers as "Team 3," "the MG team," and "Track 2."


These have been such a hit with my modern dogfight games, I just had to get them on the table: a Marine TOW let's rip at a Soviet T-72.

A thoroughly enjoyable fight, which could have easily gone either way (and was really looking like it was going to be the Russkies coming out on top), in about an hour and a half. I also got quite a bit done on the troops for KG Klink in France; they're painted and based, just need to flock them (for some reason I haven't been dull coating lately).  The invasion of France is on schedule for next weekend, stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

[FierceKitty]

Wwwhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssssshhhhhhh!


(Evidently a misfire.)

[Techno]

Smellysardino ?

Another terrific report, Jack......Another one to return to, and read through properly, later.
Talk about comprehensive !
I've said it before....You have far too much fun ! 
Cheers - Phil

[jchaos79]

Great cammo paint on the vehicles!

Rocket effect is so cool

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Another corker Jack, well done.

Did I spot you, third base on the left, waving?

[cbr3d.com]

Although I am waiting until the BKC update to get into WWII and modern, this report though has wetted my appetite.  

Also, just added 'pipe cleaners' to the list of sundries stock needed to buy.

[getagrip]

The rocket effect is brilliant!

Love it.

[bigjackmac]

Phil - Yes, Smellysardino.  Have you had Norwegian food? 

Fig.ht - Don't wait, 5Core Company Command is at Wargames Vault for about $5.  All the cool people are doing it 

Lemmey - Yeah, I was always a bit of a ham for the camera      Actually, circa-85 I was eleven years old, so nah, that's not me.  I found a nice tan/brown more to my taste 

JC, Kitty, and Getagrip - Thanks fellas, hope you liked it, and stand by for another one.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Phil - Yes, Smellysardino.  Have you had Norwegian food? 
V/R,Jack

Yes...... and with apologies to any of our friends in that part of the world, I thought it was awful !
Not my cup of tea, at all !!
Cheers - Phil

[getagrip]

Don't they have fermented fish in a tin? 

[bigjackmac]

"Don't they have fermented fish in a tin?"

They do; ergo, "Smellysardino." 

V/R,
Jack

[toxicpixie]

They also have brilliant meat balls, if Ikea is anything to go by