Last night Myself and Terry Moran played our first game of the Modern wargaming, with Terry’s newly painted Empress Miniatures Australians and Taliban. The scenario was for the Australians (four bricks and and sniper team in overwatch) do to a simple sweep of the compounds on the northern side of the Rud. The Taliban of course were to try and disrupt the Australian advance and remain in control of at least two of the compounds.
So with no rules close at hand it wad pretty much make them up as you go however, I did roughly base our game using ‘TSATF’ system, including the same movement and shooting tables, which seemed to work quite well and allowed for a good fast game. But when it came to HE weapons i.e RPGs and 40mm GLA’s I was a little stuck. Though we did fight through and manage to work out a reasonable way to use them.
Two bricks and PHQ advance to cover just before crossing the Rud
While another brick quickly clears the first compound….all quite thus far
However the sniper team (Arnie and Willie) have spotted movement in one of the compound and radio through to the boys in the green zone to take cover.
The Taliban reveal their position and start to engage the Australians as they move into cover
The sound of small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades is heard throughout the valley.
The snipers in their overwatch position engage the enemy and get the first kill for the day.
Three of the Taliban are soon either killed or wounded by Australian small arms fire and the remaining two flee to another fire position.
Australians engage the Taliban from behind a stone wall
Forcing the last two Taliban to fallback into another well concealed position.
With TIC on the south side of the Rud the other Australian teams think they are ok and when attempting to move into a position of support they are engaged with automatic fire and RPG fire from the north. The Taliban have set up a kill zone……
With no more fire coming from the middle compound the Aussie advance quickly across the Rud in order to secure the compound.
But then more fire heavy machine gun fire is heard from the west and slows their movement down.
Another compound is secure and the troops move into fire positions
With two compounds now firmly secured and in Australian hands, there only remains one more to clear but it is proving a hard nut to crack. With no fast air and rotary wing in support the lads will have to do the job the old fashioned way….on their guts with lots of smoke.
Another Aussie brick moves up to support the next move
Where did they come from??
Increased pressure on the remaining Taliban has forced them to withdraw into the last compound and the Aussie are close behind.
With two bricks in overwatch and snipers moving into another position to support the final assault, the other two bricks move up into position. They use the old stone walls as cover and even though the enemy is firing in their general direction, none of the lads are hit.
“Alright boys on the count of three we are going of this wall”
But just before the boys jump the wall our sniper in their new overwatch position spot and kill the Taliban leader and the remaining Taliban either surrender or flee to fight another day.
This looks like so much fun, especially with all of this terrain. 🙂 The minis are excellent, I'm impressed with the camouflage on the Australians – camouflage makes me nervous. (I'm trying out some 28mm British Paras for WW2 as we speak)
Thanks Anna for your great comment, I have admit I do not like painting commoflage that much either.
You're quite welcome, Vinnie. Camouflage is the main reason I haven't done moderns yet. I tried some Elheim modern US, lovely minis, but my camouflage was "off" and not fun to paint. They would have been fine for a sci-fi force, but totally were not right for ACU. That's a big part why I picked 1/35th for my "Twilight:2000" idea. Bigger, and there are water-slide decals available in that scale.
I'm trying to get motivated to do my 15mm "Team Yankee" US Mech infantry. I primed them Black, then sprayed them NATO Green as a base, but I'm still gun-shy. 🙂
Gorgeous stuff!
Love the terrain and minis!
You're all set for when Fighting Season comes out.
James thanks for the comments and yes fighting season looks good…can not wait
A seriously impressive table and some lovely figs!
Looks good mate…….spacing the way they are one IED would have taken out two bricks thought you were more tactically sound than that mate lol.
Ha thanks Eddie…I was playing the Taliban.
Outstanding Nathan.
Have you seen these rules and lists let yet?
http://jayswargamingmadness.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/bolt-action-modern-version-20-rules.html
Thanks Spyros for the comments. No buddy I have not seen them as yet and thanks for the link I will check the site out soon.
Wonderful looking post Nathan and those figures look sensational. The terrain is superb as well mate. Hope Terry and yourself had a wonderful time mate. I am very much looking forward to Fighting Season as well!
Thank you Carlo for your kind words and good to hear from you again buddy.
You might also want to try FUBAR with their modern Afghanistan notes. Free on the interweb. Perfect for the size of game this is. https://fubarwargames.wordpress.com/downloads/
Thanks James I will check it out
Great and highly engaging read! Pics are top notch as well.
Terrain and figures look spot on Nathan. Roll on Fighting Season.
Thanks Pat
What an absolutely stunning sight. Great work!
Thanks buddy
No casualties for the Aussies ??
Only one KIA and three wounded. The Taliban had 10 KIA and six WIA.
Awesome looking table and figs!!!! Sounds like the game was big fun. If you want to continue with a theme of TSATF for your games you could try adapting some of the weapons and rules from the modern version "The Sword to Adventure".
Cheers,
JB
Sgtguinness.blogspot.com
Thanks JB
Gerry Webb of castaway arts has sent me a copy of the modern rules which I will most certainly use for our next game.