Wednesday 5 January 2022

GRIMSBY 2021 - Denmark 1985 (Part One)

 It was great to be finally heading to Grimsby for the Cold War Commanders annual get together at the Grimsby Wargames Society club. The 2020 event had obviously been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID pandemic so we had not been to Grimsby for two years. 

This years event saw a return to Denmark with the Warsaw Pact trying to breakthrough a line of NATO defenders along Highway 24 in Central Jutland. The Soviets were tasked with taking the docks and also securing the E45 road north to Aarhus and the airfield at Vojens. NATO had the Danish Jutland Brigade, elements of the West German 6th PzGren Division, the British 1st Infantry and a contingent of USMC. The Warsaw Pact had three MRR Regiments along with a Naval Infantry Regiment with an attached Spetsnaz force. A VDV Regiment was in reserve if required.

Friday afternoon was spent setting up the tables and meeting and greeting several of the players. Originally we were due to have a few more players but unfortunately during the weeks leading up to the event we had a few players, mostly Warsaw Pact, who were unable to make it for various reasons. This made sorting the scenario a bit of a problem as it seemed to change from week to week. After talking to  Stephen G at Grimsby we decided to go to a one big table set up and have all the action in Jutland rather than the original plan to have three tables with action in Jutland, Zealand and Mons.

Table looking west. Highway 24 runs along the northern edge of the table with the E45 running north-south near the town of Haderslev (top right)

Again looking west. Highway 24 can be seen running along the northern table edge with the E45 crossing the table north-south. Soviet Naval Infantry were tasked with securing this port to allow armour to be offloaded at the docks.


The airfield at Vojens. Another Warsaw Pact objective. Highway 24 running east-west in the foreground. This area was to see some heaving fighting between a Soviet MRR and the British 1st Infantry Brigade.

The town of Gram.

Looking north east towards the docks.

The railway running north-south near Vojens Airfield.

Looking west along Highway 24. You can just see Vojens Airfield in distance the other side of the bridge. 

NEW UNIT - Down on the Farm (Part Two)

 Firstly i'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Let's hope that we can get a few more games in this year. Quick update on the new unit. It's been slow going over the last few months as material delays, contractors who struggle to read a tape measure and delays due to COVID have conspired to put the unit way behind schedule. Although there has been some progress, the trenches for the mains electricity cables have been dug and the cables have been laid. Same for the water supply. The shutter doors have finally been fitted after a mistake when measuring meant that they'd made all the doors too big! Internal walls have started to go in and the materials for the roof have arrived. Unfortunately the electricity company have said it will be the end of January before the meter is installed so not much more can happen until that's done, but hopefully the internal walls will be completed and I can start getting materials in to make the tables. 

Hope everyone is well and I look forward to getting together soon for some CWC action. Hopefully using CWC II!