AEGEAN STRIKE - Part Four

Work commitments have meant that I haven't had chance to write up a full AAR yet. But in the mean time here is the first batch of photos to look at.

AEGEAN STRIKE - Part Three

The Forces

NATO

Day One (Saturday 17th September).
Table Two (Section A).
Mark F - Greek
Mark J - Russian

Mark F - Greek Armoured & Mechanised + Support

Armoured Brigade HQ
CO (90 Points)
FAO in M59 (45 Points)
FAC in Jeep + Radar (45 Points)
Recce in M24 Chaffee (55 Points)
Recce in Jeep (30 Points)

Armoured Battalion
HQ (45 Points)
2 x 81mm M125 Mortar (140 Points)

Armoured Company
3 x M48 105mm Patton (375 Points)

Armoured Company
3 x M48 105mm Patton (375 Points)

Armoured Company
3 x M48 105mm Patton (375 Points)

Armoured Battalion
HQ (45 Points)
2 x 81mm M125 Mortar (140 Points)

Armoured Company
3 x M48 105mm Patton (375 Points)

Armoured Company
3 x M48 105mm Patton (375 Points)

Armoured Company
3 x M48 105mm Patton (375 Points)

Air Defence Company
SAM Redeye + Jeep (80 Points)
FK20-2 Twin 20mm AA + Truck (45 Points)

Total 2810 Points

Greek 20th Armoured Recon

Armoured Recon HQ
HQ M113 & Jeep (45 Points)
FAO in Jeep  (45 Points)
Recce in M113 (60 Points)

Recon Company
3 x Infantry Unit - Elite (120 Points)

1 x M113 Transport (40 Points)

2 x Jeep (20 Points)

1 x Jeep + 105mm RR (75 Points)

1 x M125 81mm Mortar (70 Points)

1 x AMX-30 (115 Points)

Recon Company
3 x Infantry Unit - Elite (120 Points)

1 x M113 Transport (40 Points)

2 x Jeep (20 Points)

1 x Jeep + 105mm RR (75 Points)

1 x M125 81mm Mortar (70 Points)

1 x AMX-30 (115 Points)

Recon Company
3 x Infantry Unit - Elite (120 Points)

1 x M113 Transport (40 Points)

2 x Jeep (20 Points)

1 x Jeep + 105mm RR (75 Points)

1 x M125 81mm Mortar (70 Points)

1 x AMX-30 (115 Points)

Total 1470 Points

Greek Reserve AA

Reserve HQ
HQ (45 Points)
Recce Unit in Jeep  (30 Points)

Close Defence Company
3 x Infantry Unit - Regular (90 Points)
1 x Infantry Upgrade - M20 Bazooka (15 Points)
3 x Truck (30 Points)
1 x Support Unit - HMG (50 Points)
1 x Support Unit - 90mm RR (45 Points)
2 x Jeep (20 Points)

AA Battery
1 x Air Defence Unit - FK20-2 Twin 20mm (25 Points)
3 x Air Defence Unit - 40mm Bofors (30 Points)
4 x Truck (40 Points)

Total 420 Points

Greek Mechanised Infantry

Mech Inf HQ
HQ - M577 & M3 Halftrack (45 Points)
Recce Unit in Jeep  (30 Points)

Recce Unit in Greyhound (55 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Unit - Regulars (90 Points)

3 x M3 Halftrack (25 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Unit - Regulars (90 Points)

3 x M3 Halftrack (25 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Unit - Regulars (90 Points)

3 x M3 Halftrack (25 Points)

Close Fire Support 

1 x Support Unit - M106 107mm Mortar (100 Points)

1 x Support Unit - M125 81mm Mortar (70 Points)

Attached Anti-Tank 

3 x Support Unit - Jeep + 105mm RR (225 Points)

Attached AA

1 x Air Defence Unit - Light Truck + Artemis Twin 30mm (30 Points)

1 x Air Defence Unit - SAM I-Hawk (105 Points)

Brigade Support

3 x Support Unit - Jeep + Cobra ATGW (360 Points)

128th SP Artillery Battalion (off table)

3 x Artillery Unit - M109 (240 Points)

23rd Engineer Company

3 x Engineer Unit - Combat Engineers (180 Points)

3 x M113 (90 Points)

1 x Engineer Unit - Leopard AVLB (100 Points)

Total 1585 Points

Greek 20th Armoured Brigade

Brigade HQ
CO - M577 & M88 ARV (90 Points)
2 x HQ - AMX-30 & Jeep (90 Points)
FAO in M113 (45 Points)
FAC in Jeep + Radar (45 Points)
Recce in Jeep (30 Points)
Recce in M113 (60 Points)

1st Armoured Battalion

Armoured Company 
3 x AMX-30 (345 Points)

Armoured Company 
3 x AMX-30 (345 Points)

Armoured Company 
3 x AMX-30 (345 Points)

2nd Armoured Battalion

Armoured Company 
3 x AMX-30 (345 Points)

Armoured Company 
3 x AMX-30 (345 Points)

Armoured Company 
3 x AMX-30 (345 Points)

Close Fire Support Company

3 x 120mm Mortar (210 Points)

3 x AMX-VCI (90 Points)

Air Defence Platoon

1 x Air Defence Unit - Jeep + Redeye (80 Points)

1 x Air Defence Unit - M42 Duster Twin 40mm (70 Points)

Total 1905 Points

Next up Mark J's Russians (or were they East Germans)

AEGEAN STRIKE - Part Two

The Forces.

NATO.

Day One (Saturday 17th September).
Table One.
Ian S - Portuguese
Andy T - Turkish

Ian S - Portuguese Motorised Brigade + Divisional Support

Brigade HQ 

CO (90 Points)

FAO in Chaimite (45 Points)

FAO in Chaimite (45 Points)
Security Company 
3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)
2 x Blowpipe Teams (120 Points)

Motorised Infantry Battalion

2 x HQ (90 Points)

120mm Mortar (70 Points)

Truck (10 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)   

3 x Chaimite (75 Points)        

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)    

3 x Chaimite (75 Points)       

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)

3 x Chaimite (75 Points)           

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Motorised Infantry Battalion

2 x HQ (90 Points)

120mm Mortar (70 Points)

Truck (10 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)    

3 x Chaimite (75 Points)       

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points) 

3 x Chaimite (75 Points)          

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)     

3 x Chaimite (75 Points)      

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Artillery Battalion

3 x M101 105mm Howitzer (135 Points)

Total 3385 Points

    

Divisional Support

3 x M101 105mm Howitzer (135 Points)

3 x 5.5" Medium Gun (180 Points)

Tank Company

4 x M47 (400 Points)

Div. Recce Company

HQ in M113 (45 Points)

1 x Rifle Scout Platoon (35 Points)

1 x EBR-VTT APC (25 Points)

1 x EBR 75mm (65 Points)

1 x Ferret (25 Points)

2 x Jeep/MG (60 Points)

Total 970 Points 

Reinforcements

HQ (45 Points)

Security Company 

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M113 (120 Point)

Artillery Battalion

3 x M109 155mm (240 Points)

      

Div. Recce Company

HQ in M113 (45 Points)

1 x Rifle Scout Platoon (35 Points)

1 x EBR-VTT APC (25 Points)

1 x EBR 75mm (65 Points)

1 x Ferret (25 Points)

3 x Jeep/MG (90 Points)

Engineer Company

3 x Engineers (180 Points)

3 x Truck (30 Points)

Mech. Infantry Battalion

2 x HQ (90 Points)

120mm Mortar (70 Points)

Truck (10 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)           

3 x M113 (120 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)           

3 x M113 (120 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)           

3 x M113 (120 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Anti-Tank Section
1 x M150 (215 Points)
1 x M125 (70 Points)

Mech. Infantry Battalion

2 x HQ (90 Points)

120mm Mortar (70 Points)

Truck (10 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)           

3 x M113 (120 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)           

3 x M113 (120 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)           

3 x M113 (120 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Anti-Tank Section
1 x M150 (215 Points)
1 x M125 (70 Points)

Motorised Infantry Battalion

2 x HQ (90 Points)

120mm Mortar (70 Points)

Truck (10 Points)

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)  

3 x Truck (30 Points)         

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points)

3 x Truck (30 Points)           

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x Carl Gustav upgrades* (105 Points) 

3 x Truck (30 Points)          

2 x Jeep mounted 106mm RCL (150 Points)

* Actual weapon was M67 90mm RCL but Carl Gustav stats used.

Total 5085 Points 

Andy T - Turkish Mechanised Brigade

Brigade HQ

CO (90 Points)

FAC (45 Points)

FAO (45 Points)

FAO (45 Points)

Recce Company

4 x Recce Unit 4x4's (120 Points)

Tank Battalion

HQ (45 Points)

Tank Company

5 x M48 105mm  (625 Points)

Tank Company                                

5 x M48 105mm  (625 Points)

Mechanised Infantry Battalion

HQ (45 Points)

81 mm Mortar (40 Points)

Infantry Company (Dismounted)

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M20 Bazooka upgrades (45 Points)

1 x HMG (50 Points)

1 x 105mm RR (60 Points)

Infantry Company  (Dismounted)

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M20 Bazooka upgrades (45 Points)

1 x HMG (50 Points)

1 x 105mm RR (60 Points)

Mechanised Infantry Battalion

HQ (45 Points)

81 mm Mortar (40 Points)

Infantry Company (Dismounted)

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M20 Bazooka upgrades (45 Points)

1 x HMG (50 Points)

1 x 105mm RR (60 Points)

Infantry Company  (Dismounted)

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M20 Bazooka upgrades (45 Points)

1 x HMG (50 Points)

1 x 105mm RR (60 Points)

Mortar Company

4 x M106 Mortar Carrier (400 Points)

1 x M113 + TOW (215 Points)

Artillery Battalion

3 x M44 SPG (240 Points)

Artillery Battalion

3 x 105mm Howitzer (135 Points)

AA Battalion

2 x Bofors AA (20 Points)

2 x M42 Duster (140 Points)

Field Defences

12 Trenches (60 Points)

Total 4000 Points

Reinforcements

HQ (45 Points)

Tank Company

5 x M48 105mm  (625 Points)

Mechanised Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M20 Bazooka upgrades (45 Points)

1 x HMG (50 Points)

3 x M113 (120 Points)

1 x M113 w 105mm RR (100 Points)

Mechanised Infantry Company

3 x Infantry Units (90 Points)

3 x M20 Bazooka upgrades (45 Points)

1 x HMG (50 Points)

3 x M113 (120 Points)

1 x M113 w 105mm RR (100 Points)

AT Company

3 x M113 + TOW (645 Points)

Total 2125 Points

Air Support

2 x F4 Phantoms

1 x F5 Tiger

2 x AH1 Huey Cobra

Table One Warsaw Pact forces to follow in Part Three

AEGEAN STRIKE - Part One

On the weekend of Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September the Cold War Commanders gathered at the home of the Deeside Defenders Wargames Club in Broughton to play out another of our massive Cold War Commander (CWC) games.

Now into its fifth year the game was set in 1985 and focused on a Soviet attack in the Aegean and along the Black Sea coast. Forces for Aegean Strike included Russian, Bulgarian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Turkish and US. More on some of the forces involved in future posts. 

Unfortunately our numbers were down on what was originally planned due to illness and we wish Alan and Rodge speedy recoveries and we hope to see you both at future events. Also a couple of late withdrawals meant a bit of player shuffling and table reorganisation from the original four table layout to a two table layout. Thanks to Andy C and Mark J for swapping sides after such short notice. 

Table One (12' x 6') was set on the Black Sea coast with Warsaw Pact forces commanded by Nick G and Keith T where assaulting the beaches defended by a mixed force of Turkish and Portuguese commanded by Andy T and Ian S respectively. 

Table One

The landing beaches with early warning satellite dishes, a communications tower and a wind turbine

A Russian AIST lands on the Turkish coast (AIST by Scotia Grendel, part of their Ship to Shore range).

The river heads inland

Industrial units 

A Roman villa by Andy C acting as a Vineyard 

Photo showing all the great vineyards and olive groves created by Steve B especially for this game

Some of Alan M's great Timecast Southern European building

Another AIST hits the beach

The two bridges over the river that the Russians had to capture

Table Two (20' x 6') was split into 3 distinct areas to reflect elements of the original four table layout each with a terrain obstacle stopping forces travelling from one section to another section. First up was a clash between Warsaw Pact forces commanded by Mark J and Greek forces commanded by Mark F set near the Greek border. This was a return match as Mark J's Warsaw Pact forces had come up against Mark F's Dutch at the 2016 event. The central area of Table Two set near the Aegean coast saw a mixed NATO force of Italians commanded by Neil M and Spanish Marines commanded by Richard C trying to break out of a small bridgehead against superior Warsaw Pact forces in the shape of Steve B's Russians and Simon W's superb Bulgarians. Simon had done some superb little conversions and created BMP-23's and BMP-30's.

Bulgarian BMP-30 HQ unit

Bulgarian BMP-23 

The final table section featured an area of Thrace and saw a strong Warsaw Pact force commanded by Andy C assisted by Mike Y from the Deeside Defenders come into contact with a Spanish force commanded by Mike A.

Table Two with the area at the front of the photo being the first section and so on

The line of industrial buildings marked the boundary of the table section

Small village that was to see a lot of fighting between Warsaw Pact forces and Spanish Light Infantry forces for two days

Middle section of Table Two 

Close up of table section divider using a railway, a road and a line of industrial buildings

Another view of the table section divider

The first section of Table Two which was to see heavy fighting between Greek and Warsaw Pact forces

Great buildings by Timecast painted by Alan M who unfortunately couldn't make it as he is recovering from a stroke. Everyone at the Cold War Commanders wish him a speedy recovery and we all hope to see him back asap

Close up view of the village

So the scene was set for a great couple of days gaming. In Part Two I will detail some of the more unusual units that fought in Aegean Strike. Thanks for looking :-)

TERRAIN - A Little Bit of Coast

With less than a week to go to the big weekend CWC game I am nearing completion of 12ft of coastline needed for one of the tables. Originally Andy H had very kindly agreed to paint these up to match the Grimsby hills but due to my regular trips into hospital over the last three months unfortunately I couldn't get them finished in time to ship them up to Grimsby and get them back ready for the game. Base coats all done for sea, sand and land just need a dry brush and a bit of detailing and they will be ready to go. Look forward to seeing the Russian Amphibious forces landing on this coast.

TERRAIN - Telegraph Road

With the Deeside weekend only a couple of weeks away I have been putting the finishing touches to some of the terrain pieces I have been working on. I now have ready 27 x Red/White Streetlights, 50 x Grey Streetlights and 28 x Telegraph Poles. All these will be used to line the edges of rural roads and highways.