Operation Amber Watch - Asymmetric warfare battle report

 For quite a long time i wanted to tried Spectre operations and Spectre Operations 2nd edition and even i owned miniatures and rules i never quite conviced anybody to play it. That changed this year when we started playing INX and SO3. But i still wanted to try old Spectre ops or its newest incarnation. All that being said i read the rulebook and prepeared scenario. By that time we decided to play AW i had on mine painting desk two sets of model - more russian PMCs and Ground Branch Operators as i lacked US tier one element.

So we decide to run mission where Ground branch will be escorting VIP and in movie style they must leave before they i swarmed by enemies. So lets jump into briefing and then to the game itself

Briefing:

Abkhaz-Georgian border 2024

Your team has been sent to Abkhazia to pick up Russian scientist Minkovski Lavrentiy Fyodorovich one of the leading members working on the Manticore project. During the extraction, however, there was a clash with pro-Russian forces, and during the pursuit the escape vehicle was disabled. 

The US Army QRF is approaching the border but due to the nature of the situation they cannot cross the border. Your mission is to get Fyodorovich to the Georgian side of the border. ISTAR shows that your position is approached by Abkhazian troops but also by Russian Federation forces, there are no heavy armoured units in the area yet speed will be the key, as soon as they discover your position they will direct all available CSTO units there. 

The Reaper drone moves into position to provide support against any light armour that may appear on the battlefield.

The Game

The Team infilitrated area and escorted scientist through old trainyard avoiding Abkhazian patrols in area until some patrols bunch out around the border crossing. In that moment Fay give order „light´em up“ Grizzly answared light´em up!. The Saw and Carabines started barking and Abkhazian troops started falling down, however it wasnt enough and alarm was raised up.

In that moment GAZ Tigr and foot team of FSB troops entered the battle space. Team now locked up between Border guards and FSB in GAZ on flank decide to push through. Caught in open the fay was struck by deadly AK-fire. While Grizzly was hit by MMG fire from TIGR. 

Now to surviving members start to performing withdrawl using bounding overwatch tactic. The GAZ TIGR now must flank around the buildings and was hit by missle from Predator drone, the vehicle survived the blast but crashed into building and then exploded in burst of flames. Two Abkhazian squads entered the area and sporadicaly fired into SAC operatives but they managed safely withdraw with scientist from area.

Overview:

We played for the first time so some rules were played wrong but that is always, but overall we had great time, the game was quick and intense, the rules are solid. Now normally i am not fan of IGOYGO systems but here it work perfectly, you have chance the prepare to the enemy even by move deploying smoke screens etc. The game itself looks on paper were heavy but when you actually play it you realize how easy the basic system is which is fantastic.

On other hand we will be playing the Spectre Operations 3 game soon so will we be trying to compare those both system and then i will wrote article about it.

Here are some more photos from game

INXcountry narrative game - Clash in Adjakistan

-This is Hunter 2-1 for Crossroads, we are moving towards objective ETA 1 mike.

-This is Crossroads be advised substential enemy forces moving towards Kiritlar, expect contact with enemy in few minutes. ISTAR shows enemy mechanised unit also moving into area. CAP unit Raptor 2 moving onto station and will be availible in few mikes.

After very long time we played some INX we consider it good and solid system, and while its not as detailed as Spectre Operations or Asymmetric Warfare the games are fast and brutal. The scenario was pretty simple seize ground - 4 objectives on table 12" from center. When both Russians and US hold objective random was is removed - who controls more objectives win. We also have special rules after this happens both player rolls D3 after how many turns their support arrive. The Russian had Alpha Group Squad in BTR while Americans had F18 on station. We simulated airstrike by giving it two missle launchers, firing on normal or hard grip and needing to mark target by smoke otherwise random unit on table will be selected.

But now to the forces: US forces fielded 3 Ranger assault teams and Support element with AT4. 

Russian forces controlled by me forced 2 Wagner Wannabe teams, Alpha Group Team and Alpha Group specialists with RPG.

Both forces advanced to center of table in hoping to secure the village with both players making use of cover so two turns without single gunshot.

Automatic fire pierced air along with loud shouts from nearby woods Тревога! Американская пехота! Огонь! Огонь!. Pvt Mays was knocked down by enemy fire while bullets were drumming on the wreckage of the vehicle from which the squad was taking cover. Meanwhile, Sgt Peterson rose from cover and barked the order - RETURN FIRE!

US forces now secured both objectives on their side of table but first Wagner team established firing position in small wood targeting Ranger team taking cover behind vehicle and struck down one ranger and pinning down the team. After some maneovering both sides now holding objectives the one on the Russians was removed chaning score from 2:2 to 2:1 in benefit of US.

Russian had no chance but to push towards US Rangers in order to win. Second Wagner team deployed smoke in order to cover their advance in center of board. The other wagner squad was still firing on Ranger team behind the wreckage and killing another US Ranger.

Alpha group squad tried to push through buildings on left trying to flushout Dugin Rangers and met with counterattacking Ranger squad where brutal CQB ensued . The Americans althought with heavy losses managed to almost wipeout Alpha Group unit.

The US Air support arrived on station and BTR was still turn away but we run out of real time and called it a day as US victory.

INX is great system for ultramodern skrimish, it is easy, have very good flow, and its enjoyable ofcourse if you want to add support you must come up with your own house rules but still you can beat the price - its free. Unfortunatly you cant get this rules from Enemy spotted studios shop but it is availible with all addons on their discord.

 

Heavy Gear Blitz! CZ Střet o důlní stanici A212

 Na záčatku srpna jsme hrali bitvu v Heavy Gear Blitz! a původně jsem napsal před nějakou dobou battlereport v angličtině nyní jsem se rozhodl že udělam tento report i v češtině.

Rok 1938 Terra Novanského kalendáře a Mezi polární válka zuří již 2 rok, protože hrozba ze Země se stala pro většinu pouze vzdálenou vzpomínkou nebo pohádkou, probudila se stará rivalita a Polarní supervelmoci zavlekli do války celou Terra Novu. Většinu planety tvoří tzv. Badlands a bitev se odehrává zde a nijak tomu nebylo během bitvy o Bako Basin. Malý oddíl výsadkových jednotek 63. Aeromobilního Heavy Gear pluku znamého jako Hellcats se snažilo udržet pozice proti svým rivalům z Jížní Republiky 45. Heavy Gear Pluku tzv. Swamp Vipers. Bojištěm bylo ospalé město Gray Reach znamé jenom díky těžební stanici A212. 

Armády:

Hrálo se opět na 125TV a oba jsme měli k dispozici 2 Combat groupy. Já použil General purpose a Strike zatím co můj protivník Dejv měl k dispozci Strike a Fire Support. Já použil objektivy Hold a Pave the way. Protivník použil Wipe them out a Pave the way.

Poznámka: V HGB! Typ bojové skupiny určuje které jednotky v něm mužete zvolit ale také k tvorbě scénaře protože každý typ má k dispozici jiné cíle mise v tom tkví pravě tvorba armády jasně že volíte jednotky aby jste mohli splnit své cíle mise ale zaroveň také tak aby jste byli schopni zabranit  protivníkovy v tom samém. Hold jsou 2 objektivy poblíž vaší deployment zony cílem je na kontrolovat a nedovolit aby byl protivník poblíž. Pave the way je o zvolení dvou nepřátelských combat group které musíte zredukovat na polovinu akcí. Wipe the out je objective při kterém musíte zredukovat na polovinu pokud je zvolená CG Fire support získávate další VP. bohužel později jsem zjistili že nelze zvolit Wipe them out a pave the way na stejné jednotky. Každopadně protivník zvolil Wipe them out na můj GP combat group.

CNCS (Sever):

1. Combat Group (General Purpose)

• Jaguar ve standartní konfiguraci 
• 2x Para Hunter ve standartní konfiguraci
• Wildfire Para Hunter
• Strike Para Hunter
• Para Cheetah

2. Combat Group (Strike)

• 2x Thunder Fire Jaguar (jeden z nich byl Task Force Leader)
• Para Cheetah
• Sniper Jaguar
• Rabid Grizzly
• Crossbow Grizzly

AST (Jih):

1. Combat Group (Strike)

• Command Brawler Jager
• 2x Longfang Mamba
• Black Mamba
• Brawler Mamba
• Longbow Jager

2. Combat Group (Fire Support)

• Command Jager
• Chatterbox Iguana
• Blackbox Iguana
• King Cobra
• Bushmaster Cobra

Hod na deployment jsem vyhrál ale přesto jsem nechal svého protivníka vykládat jako první vyložil svůj Strike CG na levé straně bojiště , na což jsem odpověděl vysazením svého GP CG pomocí Airdrop deploymentu zhruba doprostřed levé strány. Na druhou stranu u jezera vyložil svou druhou combat groupu a je vyložil mou na druhý hold objective také poblíž jezera abych ho zabral a mohl lépe reagovat na jeho akce na této straně bojiště.

Na levé straně se jížanské geary tvrdě pustil do mých pozic, jeden z Para Hunteru byl vyřazen ale zace vlastního Longbow Jager. Na druhé straně si Jih už tak dobře nevedl. diky špatnému umístění se ocitili jak na střelnici ale z boje byli vyřazeny obě Iguany a velitelský Jager byl poškozen. Jih se sice snažil opětovat palbu ale jeho střelba byla neefektivní.

Ve městě se pro severské síly začal situace rapidně zhoršovat. Jižanům se dařilo stroje poškozovat a ničit a nakonec i začit obkličovat. U jezera se však jihu podařilo zničit poškozeného Jagera. to jim uvolnilo ruce a Jaguaři se začali přesunovat aby zachranili a podpořili obklíčené výsadkaře.

Bohužel v tento moment z časových důvodu jsme museli hru ukončit a tak se nikdy nedozvíme kdo vyhral bitvu o stanici A212

Síly použité v tomto byli obsahem původního kickstarterového starteru ale na tento formát se bezproblému dostanete s 2-player starter setu. Severské síly postavíte i ze současného (kde chybí Kodiak a King Cobra) u Jihu by se muselo improvizovat ale tam by se vyměla King Cobra za druhou Spitting Cobru a přidal by se jeden Jager.

Chronicles of Terra Nova II : Battle of Bako Basin

 We played our third game of Heavy Gear Blitz! Again we pitted my North and South against each other. My friend is still building his Peace River force but for this game he still used my Southern forces. I finally managed to paint up my Kickstarter Kodiak so i fielded him as commander durning this game. The victory went to the North  3:1.

Bako Basin is small settlement located on outskirts of WFP. Durning Interpolar War the North and the South clashed numerously for this mining settlement. It was in late summer of 1910 North conducted a raid on Bako Basin, using sandstorm as cover, unfortunatly lone recon VTOL spotted Southern Task Forces and reported its position and bearing to the Northern Guard, which dispatched Strike team. Both Forces clashed at Bako Basin very next day. Captain Macwell was leading small detachment decided to attack throught ruins of old city from Concordat age and catch Southerners between buildings, to that he will establish firebase with his Kodiak and Grizzly of his 2IC, mean while  Gracier sisters will lead Jaguar strike force to clash into Southern left flank and outflank them forcing the AST to retreat.

  The Forces

Northern Forces

Combat Group Badger (FS)

• Kodiak (CGL)
• Rabid Grizzly (2iC)
• Para Hunter
• Para Wildfire Hunter
• Para Cheetah

Combat Group Rhino (Strike)

• Thunder Fire Jaguar (CGL)
• Thunder Fire Jaguar (2iC)
• Crossbow Grizzly
• Sniper Jaguar
• Para Hunter
• Para Cheetah

Southern Forces

Combat Group Rapiéres (Strike)

• Command Brawler Mamba
• Blazing Mamba
• Blazing Mamba
• Longfang Mamba

Combat Group Enclume (FS)

• Razorfang Longfang Mamba (CGL)
• Command Jager
• King Cobra
• Bushmaster Cobra
• Chatterbox Iguana
• Blackbox Iguana

Objectives:

We both opted for Claim and Pave the way

Battlefield:

We deployed on longer edges the Northern force deployed on left and South on right

Deployment:

I deployed mine Rhino CG on my very left, while CG Badger containg Kodiak takes Center, Hunters and Cheetah taking cover behind big container. My opponent deployed everything on center trying to figure it what mine plan will be and react accordingly.

Turn 1:

South won the iniative roll and activated smaller CG first moving to the shanty town (on battlefield picture in top left half of board) with Blazing Mamba and Jager opening fire on my Cheetah and chipping of some armor. Second Long fang engaged the Top speed and tried to out hit kodiak who response with particle cannon fire but both missed. There was some manoevering, Main wing of Southern forces advanced forward, but still hiding from my forces.

Turn 2:

In shanty town the North Jaguars steamrolled the Mamba and Jager , destroying them both in process. On right flank South was advacning and crippled para cheetah thus north in this part of battlefield lost their EW cover. North managed to damage Bushmaster cobra now advancing on main road.

Turn 3:

The Heavy hitters of  both sides managed to destroy each other at beginning of turn, South also managed to blow up the Para cheetah on the right side of battlefield. Exchange between Grizzly, Para Hunters and Razorfang Longfang Mamba. Obviously the mamba exploded but crippling one of the Hunters.

On left another blazing mamba went up, and Jaguars moving towards the Bushmaster and Longfang mamba poising to kill. 

Turn 4:

Durning this turn North tried to mop up, South tried to salvage situation but with Jager, single mamba, and two iguanas the victory went towards the North .

After thoughts

This game was intense and brutal, but over the course of game North held upperhand, with superior firepower and more actions. 
I think hesitation of my opponnent cost him victory, also not opposing CG Rhino attacking through Shanty town was mistake, leaving me to pick his Mambas and Cobra one by one, but live and learn i guess.

Starší Battlereport Alpha Strike Operation: Clementine

Českou verzi naleznete pod Anglickým textem

Older AAR of engagement we played with my daughter sometime in summer. Company level battle
between 1st Crucis Lancers and Black Rose Mercenary Group.

Davion forces deployed following mechs: 

Orion,Jagermech,Marauder,Atlas, Banshee, Longbow, Hunchback, Raven, Cicada, Crab, Archer, Locust

Mercs fielded:

Griffin, Thunderbolt, Awesome, Dragon, Catapult K2, Centurion, Stalker, Blackjack, Jenner, Crusader, Bushwacker, Hellspawn

The Mercs deployed first forming in  left upper quater of the battlefield, Lancers formed battleline in opposite. the mission was easy crush enemy opposition. 

Bulk of Davion forces started advancing along the highway, while light lance move up along the ruins to flank advancing Black Rose Forces.While Mercs tries to counter moving the force along the road, While engaging in long fire with Davion snipers and missle boats.

First engagement was lost by Mercs , Griffin and Blackjack was destroyed. Crucis Assault lance tries to take middle but it was repulsed and two mechs made envolepment maneover thru ancient ruins. Assault Lance took heavy beating, even the Atlas went down.

With half of the company  destroyed and outmaneovered by house forces mercs retreated from battlefield.

Starší Battlereport Alpha Strike. V bitvě se utkali roty 1st Crucis Lancers a Black Rose Mercenary Group. Mise byla annihilace. 

Davionovci nasadili :

Orion,Jagermech,Marauder,Atlas, Banshee, Longbow, Hunchback, Raven, Cicada, Crab, Archer a Locusta.

BRMG nasadila:

Griffin, Thunderbolt, Awesome, Dragon, Catapult K2, Centurion, Stalker, Blackjack, Jenner, Crusader, Bushwacker,a Hellspawn

Žoldnéřská jednotka se vyložila v levém horím rohu bojiště zatímco Lanceři vytvořili linii podel své strany stolu. Svůj hlavní útok Davionovci směřovali přes dalnici, zatímco Raven,Crab, Cicada a Locust se pokoušeli o obchvat. Obři vyzbrojení zbraněmi dlouhého dostřelu nyní začinají ostřelovat postup žoldnéřu.

Krátce na to se začalo manévrovat a střílet. První šli k zemi Griffin a Blackjack v barvách BRMG. Crucisští se nyní soustředí na střed kde se drží většina nepřátelských sil, a mezi tím se snaží obkličit nepřítele ze dvou stran a izolovat samostatné skupinky. 

V dalším kole však přichazí Lanceři o další stroje - především ty lehké , ale to samé se děje i u protivníka. Davionští nyní získávají převahu a jsou oproti žoldnéřum v dobré pozici. Je více než převděpodobné že v příštím kole by byli žoldnéři zdecimovani a proto zahajují ústup

Battletech Alpha Strike Clash on New Shiloh

 Yesterday i fought battle with my Daughter using Battletech Alpha Strike rules. We used Battlelines scenario from Death from above wargaming 250PV two lances each. Federated Suns (Green) vs Black Rose Mercenary Group (Red). It was first mission of our "Lockdown" Alpha Strike home campaing which take place on planet New Shiloh which is currently besieged by House Davion forces. 

Davion Mechs punching through Black Rose defenses

Federated Suns 

had Battle lance and Recon Lance. Battle Lance consisting of Orion, Marauder, Hunchback and Jagermech. Recon lance had Crab, Dervish, Locust and Cicada.

Black Rose MG

Two lances Battle and Recon. Medium Battle Lance with Skill 3 Wolverine, Skill 3 Griffin, Blackjack and Bushwacker. Recon Lance had Hellspawn, Jenner, Spider and Locust.

I played Federated Suns, and with options i have availible i opted for slow moving fireline and advancing towards the line hoping that i will be able to counter Black Rose skrimishers. Cicada and Locust run into BM Locust and Wolverine, And this was firefight that Davion forces lost. However, Orion and Dervish start pushing Wolverine to retreat and destroying locust. On other flank and center my Heavy hitters engaged the Hellspawn and Bushwacker destroying both in process.

My forces has been able to move Battleline towards Merc deploy. Mercs learn from mistakes try to make chokepoint and funel my forces into killzone but first lucky shot destroyed undamaged wolverine and Griffin and Blackjack quickly followed.

At this point Davion forces claimed the victory so next mission will be hold the line with Mercs as defenders

Thoughts on Alpha Strike

I was always very sceptic about Alpha Strike i tried original version when it has been released and wasnt impressed by it, but for some reason i bought Commanders edition at some point last year. Because my kids wanted to start some wargaming i thought big stompy robots should appeal to them. and it worked.

While the core mechanics are pretty simple, but game is very effective in "simulating" combined arms warfare in Battletech universe, and diving deeply into rules you will figured out that not you can play "historical" units from BT universe described in tons and tons of material that has been released durning the peroid over 35 years or create your own, and with Special Command Abilities you can really customize your unit - and even BT is about Big towering mechs loaded with deadly weaponery you can create army of tanks, with mechanised infantry and air support the choices here are limitless.

Tactics this is another place where AS shines - you have tons and tons different units, differnt formations that you can take so there will be nothing like two same armies.

If you looking for something different, which is fast, fun and tacticaly chalenging take look at Alpha Strike with optional rules the game is becoming something different