Based on Huda (2003) and Martin Rapier: Race for Leningrad.
Wargaming
Wargaming and Military History are the interests I pour most of my spare time into. This section concentrates on the wargaming rules I’m interested in. I’ve got quite a lot on running wargaming campaigns. I’ve also got sub-categories on: Crossfire, DBx (including DBA and HOTT), Twilight of the Sun King, Engle Matrix Games, Megablitz, Liberators QPR, Field of Glory. All other rules are lumped together.
“Race for … X” Crossfire Campaign
A Race for … X mini-campaign can be used anywhere where two friendly forces are competing to reach the same objective – the “X” of the title. The campaign mechanisms are based on some work by Martin Rapier as modified by Huda (2003). I have tried to make it more generic than either of the originals, and also show how to apply the mechanisms in Crossfire.
Race Through Normandy – Crossfire Order of Battle
The forces in each session of the Race Through Normandy Campaign have to be arranged so the Allies have about 2 to 1 odds in terms of points – the Allies are expected to win, although it might be tough. What follows is the Orbat for a Huge campaign.
3 Round Kursk: A 3 Game Campaign for Crossfire
This is a 3 Round Campaign set at Kursk in 1943 and Crossfire as the tactical rules.
Krasny Bor Campaign: Phase 2 – Consolidate gains
Phase 2 of the Krasny Bor Campaign is for consolidation and each Soviet player has different objectives. It ends at 13.00 hours and is fought on the Rear tables.
Krasny Bor Campaign: Phase 1 – Break the line
Phase 1 of the Krasny Bor Campaign is the Soviet attempt to breakthrough the Spanish Front Line troops and get as many troops as possible into the Spanish rear for use in Phase 2. It starts at 08.00 hours and is fought on the Front tables.
Krasny Bor Campaign – A Crossfire Campaign featuring the Blue Division
In mid-2003 the guys at the Shed asked me to set up a scenario for a weekend bash. The parameters they outlined were: WW2, Crossfire, 8-9 players (optional umpire), 4 tables, 2 real days of gaming, and BIG. Krasny Bor appealed to me for a number of reasons:
- It involves the Spanish Blue Division
- It is very BIG
- There aren’t many tanks
- It is seemingly one-sided, and I wondered if I could still make it a good game.
3 Round Campaign
I picked up the idea of a 3 round campaign from the BattleFront: Kursk Campaign and the BattleFront: Campaigns in Flames of War page on the Battlefront Miniatures website. Essentially it is a serious of linked scenarios, with some pre-determined logic for which scenarios are fought depending on the results of earlier games.
Operation Widgeon – A Crossfire Scenario
This Crossfire scenario is based on ‘Operation Widgeon’ where 1st Commando Brigade Crossed the Rhine to capture and hold Wesel.
Scots Plunder – A Crossfire Scenario
This Crossfire scenario is based on the 8th Royal Scots Crossing the Rhine as part of ‘Operation Plunder’.
Rhine Crossing ala Rapid Fire – A Crossfire Scenario
This Crossfire scenario is based on the Rhine Crossing scenario by Durston (1996) although I converted it from Rapid Fire to Crossfire. Since then I have discovered serious historical flaws in the scenario. It might work as a game but the historical bugs annoyed me so I started playing with a couple of alternatives:
Malmedy and Operation ‘Greif’- A Crossfire Scenario
A Crossfire scenario set on 21 December 1944 and featuring Otto Skorzeny plus Panzer Brigade 150 with German armour disguised as American. See also Dick Bryant’s Battle Report.
Steven’s Russian Rifle Battalion
Once I had my Grenadiers of the Spanish Blue Division I had to get somebody to fight them. Russians of course, and the default unit is a Rifle Battalion. And of course this is for Crossfire.
Steven’s Blue Division Battalion
The Spanish Blue Division is what got me into WW2. Officially the 250th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht and comprising Spanish Volunteers, this unit was also know as the Spanish Volunteer Division, Division Azul, or the Blue Division. They are Spanish, of course, but I use them as Germans when needed.