The Day Of Battle

Several photos sent by Chuck S. vanished. I put them in again and after awhile they vanished again. I have no idea why. 
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Date: 28 January 2017 (Summer 1940)
Location: South Coast of Britain
Situation: 3rd BIG Battle of Britain Game
Pilots: RAF 6 and Luftwaffe 6 = 12
Scale: 1/285 and 1/300 (About 75 aircraft)
Terrain: Imagineered
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Thank You Father and
Thank You Everyone Who Prayed For Moderate Weather For Us
Using General Patton's Third Army December 1944 Prayer.
We Did Have Moderate Winter Weather
The prayer appears again in Closing Remarks
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Click on photos for larger viewing.

BEFORE THE GAME BEGAN

Main Table (6'x28')

The cumulus cloud and fog bank arrived before the game as a surprise for all pilots.
France is off image to the right. (2'x20')

Our imagineered Port of Dover and The White Cliffs too.

British Back Table (6'x20')

A different area of Britain. It's a little foggy there too. The tentish looking things in the background are player name cards.

Here are the same name cards rearranged so you can see how RAF pilots can pick up their box of aircraft and then go to their airfields. Assignments were not made when this photo was taken.

Another look at the RAF carrying boxes with D4 dice, action cards, movement templates, smoke trails, aircraft charts, Bogey Chips and more. Two players have not placed aircraft they are bringing.

 Commands for Nick and Chuck S. were similarly organized at Calais, France.

Ditto for Rob and Chuck L's Stukas and ME 109s in the red box lid.

For Bob and Morgan their commands were hidden from spies and spotter aircraft.

MY "FLIGHT" OF HURRICANES

Fighter Command ordered my six Hurricanes scrambled on a southeast heading to intercept Bogeys coming north over The White Cliffs of Dover.

My flight was held farthest north from the coast given our inexperience; two veterans (blue markers) and four sprogs (green markers). My chaps needed to brace up today learning from two experienced leaders whilst summoning the utmost from their personal skills.

Aircraft are GHQ 1/285 models on Check Your 6 flight stands. We are not using speed and altitude pointers. Altitude dynamics would make a big game like this unplayable.

Close up of Green Heath with four ME 110s coming in. (Courtesy of Chuck S.)
The White Cliffs of Dover are in the upper right of the photo.


JU88s oncoming too. (Photo courtesy of Chuck S.)

"Brown Deer Leader to Flight. --- Form two Vics."
(Two "V" formations)
"Follow me --- an' stay close!"

It did not take long for eight Ju88s to appear to our front northeast of Green Heath. The bombers are GHQ 1/285 aircraft on CY6 flight stands. The latter are double sticky taped to 3" wide Litko clear acrylic hexagons.

Section 4 headed in obliquely whilst Section 5 flew at 'em broadside. Luckily one JU88 had been downed by ACK ACK or a Flight of Spitfires off image in the upper right.

Nick K's JU88s had three Top Ace (red markers) and five Veteran (black markers) pilots.

As we flew in, the JU88s began to split their formation.

Aerial combat soon became chaotic as ME110s commanded by Chuck S. intervened. Another JU88 crashed as did an ME110. White smoke indicates an aircraft is sufficiently damaged requiring it to return home. Two of my Sprogs and one ME110 will be doing so on their next movement card.

We use Bag The Hun (Too Fat Lardies) movement cards to activate aircraft and many other entertaining circumstances.

Not far to our southeast, a Section of three 1/300 Spitfires commanded by Dan E. took heavy damage from another four ME 110s (not shown) commanded by Chuck S. Dan still had three more Spits which would intervene with the JU88s already seen. (Photo courtesy of Chuck S.)

The white marker designates a Junior Ace. The latter successfully bailed out to fly another day.

Five of my Hurricanes dangerously low on fuel pass through the foe. 

"Brown Deer Leader to Flight. Land at Hornby Aerodrome." 

"Roger Brown Deer Leader."

So we headed for the airfield seen a few photos back spending our very last gallons of petrol. All my pilots lived to fly another day.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1) Here we are....

Seated left to right: Morgan E., Dan E., Chuck S., Jim H. (beard), Nick K. in a cloud! and John B. Standing left to right: Lewis S., Bob B., Matt L. and yours truly Brown Deer Flight Leader Bill P.

Not pictured: Rob O. and Chuck L who had to leave. On sick call: Bill K.

2) Ten pilots flew in three sectors; East where I was, Center and West. Each Sector had their own deck of activation cards playing at their own speed. I did not record prodigious actions occurring outside my own sector. My duties as Host, Rules Officiator, Mover of Clouds and Fogs and Music Disk Jockey precluded me from doing so. I can say that there were combats a plenty from 5pm to 10:30pm everywhere.

3) On the 29th I wrote to our pilots as follows:

Thank You very much Pilots,

For making yesterday's 3rd BIG BoB Game entertaining, visually appealing and playable. You chaps are terrific! I also appreciated chow and beverages provided by you. 

Additionally, John and Lewis supplied a lot of terrain to make the whole come alive. Plus, Matt, John, Chuck S. and Chuck L. had a lot of their aircraft in the game. 

I am very grateful for your interest and enthusiasm.

Respectfully,

Bill

Chuck S. wrote back saying....

Hey, Bill!

Last night was a blast. I think the game moved right along. 

Thanx again for last night. 

Chuck

Matt said....

It was lots of fun Bill thanks!

Matt

Nick wrote....

Hi Bill and All,

     I had a ball playing last nite. Everyone seems to have a good handle on the rules and cards, so play went smoothly last nite.  I hope to make the Big Battle of Britain IV game later this year. And hopefully at least one game before then also.

Talk soon,

Nick

4) Here is just one example of how our lads came together to make this a visual treat.

 After the game I consolidated John's 6mm structures and vegetation. Thank you my dear fellow.  Lewis provided another three dozen. We need more! Rob and Lewis also brought shipping.

5) Here is the stuff clouds and fogs are made of.

From a Michael's craft store. (USA)

6) Our prayer for moderate weather (and we got it) --- was adapted from....

GENERAL PATTON'S DECEMBER 1944 PRAYER
Our 3rd BIG Battle of Britain game on 28 January 2017 is in the winter. I hope for good weather by a modified version of: General Patton’s Third Army Prayer written by Chaplain O’Neil on 14 December 1944.

 “Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain [this] immoderate [winter] with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather…. Graciously hearken to us as [your children] who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may [arrive and return home safely after our activity].”

Feel free to privately pray this, if you please - anyone - reading this on the planet.

7) What rules did we use? Please scroll down through a couple of postings to find out. Lots of details there to give you the basics.

8) Can you do what our group did? Sure you can. Get cracking!

9) Your remarks are very welcome below at Comments.
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3rd BIG Battle of Britain Pre-Game

Date: Saturday 28 January 2017
Game Time: 5-11pm
Early Arrival: 4:30pm (Let's get one mission airborne before 5pm)
Pilots: 13
Areas: East, Center, West and A Western Side Approach Area
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Geography: Fictional, greatly compressed and "imagineered"
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This a "Spectacle Wargame" made possible only by the cooperation and interest of more than a dozen gamers pooling their resources. Anyone can do this too. Never say never.
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Luftwaffe:
1. Chuck S. CinC
2. Bob B.
3. Chuck L.
4. Rob O.
5. Morgan E.
6. Nick K.
7. Bill K.
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RAF
1. Bill P.
2. John B. (Flight Controller)
3. Lewis S.
4. Jim H.
5. Dan E.
6. Matt L.
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Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
1 player is aloft and formed up no closer than 30cms to the table edge.
The other is taking off from the airfield.

Dynamics:
1-2 RAF Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
RAF aircraft are on the Back Table airfield waiting for orders.
Not Shown: More terrain to the right of the factories.

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
Aircraft are aloft and formed no closer than 30cms to the table edge.

Dynamics:
1-2 RAF Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
RAF aircraft are on the Back Table airfield waiting for orders.

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
Aircraft are aloft and formed no closer than 30 cms to the table edge.

Dynamics:
1-2 RAF Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
RAF aircraft are on the airfield seen here waiting for orders.

Dynamics:
This table is 6'x28'.
France is off image to the right.
Foreground: West Sector (Waters leading into Southampton)
Center: White Cliffs of Dover to The Beach
Far Away: East Sector
Somewhere: RAF aloft on Combat Air Patrol

Dynamics:
0-2 Luftwaffe Players maximum (to reduce congestion)
Aircraft are aloft and formed no closer than 30 cms to the table edge.

GENERAL PATTON'S DECEMBER 1944 PRAYER
Our 3rd BIG Battle of Britain game on 28 January 2017 is in the winter. I hope for good weather by a modified version of: General Patton’s Third Army Prayer written by Chaplain O’Neil on 14 December 1944.

 “Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain [this] immoderate [winter] with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather…. Graciously hearken to us as [your children] who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may [arrive and return home safely after our activity].”

Feel free to privately pray this, if you please - anyone - reading this on the planet.
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Equipment To Bring Please:

Tape measures in metric

Bring your own D4s and D6s, if you wish. 

Rob O. (Watercraft)

Lewis S. (D4s, Movement Templates, Watercraft, Train)

Your personal aircraft.

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Please Bring To Share

One small item of chow

or

Small amount of beverage

Can be British, French or German ethnic --- or not.

We will eat as we fly.

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Playability And Game Tempo 

 Game is a hybrid between tactical and strategic 

 We fly at the same combat altitude; unplayable otherwise 

 Meant to be a spectacle 

 Long flying times and return to friendly bases 

 No long debates or long speechifying --- please 

 Stay on task 

 Plan ahead and be ready when your cards are drawn 

 Vital Importance: Let’s play a lot of turns; get in two missions for some pilots too. 

 Have fun. Laugh. “Carry on.” 

 Don’t congest areas with too many aircraft. Reason: Bogs down (hurts) the game.

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 Coordination Between Player Pilots 

 Disallowed after takeoff. (You do this and I’ll do that) 

British ground can communicate with pilots. (That's John B.)

 Follow mission orders – hopefully written clearly 

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Formation Flying 

 RAF: Three aircraft minimum 

 Luftwaffe: Usually four, but three or two are okay 

 Formations Are Broken When: Minimum # of aircraft are not maintained Doing a Barrel Roll or Immelmann 

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Fuel Consumption (New) 

 When The Fuel Card Is Drawn Fighters and Stukas mark off one fuel box 

 Does not affect bombers or ME 110s.

 Fuel low? Must break off. Return to a friendly airfield.

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Tactical Tips

 “Make decisions promptly.” 

 “Act quickly even if your tactics are not the best.” 

 “Go in quickly – Punch hard – Get out!” This is how aces survived 

 Our home version of Bag The Hun is meant to be: Fast paced. Please play that way. Chaotic, sudden and very unpredictable. 

 All aircraft Bogeys move 60cms; ships 45cms). (No extra D4 movement) Be one as long as possible. Reason: To fly longer distances more quickly

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Respectfully,

Bill P.

3rd. BIG Battle of Britain Game

3rd. BIG BATTLE OF BRITAIN GAME AND --- YOU?

January 28, 2017

What does big mean?

The Main Table is 6'x28'. You see half of the length above. It is flanked by two Back Tables. Brand new scenery will be terra-formed for the next game and we have a lot more of it now.

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Date: 28 January 2017

Time: 5-11pm

Venue: Home of Bill/Dorothy P. 

Pilots: 12

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Painting and bringing your own aircraft is key for me.

Kind of like the satisfaction of using your own glove to play baseball.

Not everyone has aircraft. That's okay too.

We've maxed out at 14 pilots.
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Luftwaffe

1. Chuck S. (Luftwaffe CinC)

2. Nick K.

3. Chuck L.

4. Bob B.

5. Morgan E.

6. Rob O.

7. Bill K.
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RAF

1. Bill P. (RAF Fighter Command)

2. John B.

3. Lewis S.

4. Matt L.

5. Dan E.

6. Jim H.
7. Paul S.

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Misc.

(a) Flying School: Early-mid-January (1-2 evening sessions) to practice flying. 

(b) Early set-up: 1-2 weeks before the game so we don't do this on 28 January.

(c) If anyone above has to drop out, let me know ASAP.

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Respectfully,

Bill

Next BIG Battle of Britain Preparations

Date: Aug 6 or 13, 2016   (9:00am - 4:30pm)
Venue: Bill P's Home
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WHAT IS THE GAME DATE? --- AUGUST 6th or 13th?

That depends on you telling me which works for you. Both would be best for maximum date flexibility. The sooner I know your personal choice(s), the sooner I can select the date and let everyone know. Please do this as soon as possible. See the list to the upper right of who can attend and when. Is your name there?

There is room for only twelve pilots. Numbers thirteen and higher will be on standby in case someone has to drop out.

Don't be slow like these lovely Gloster Gladiators still waiting to take off. 

Painted by Chuck L. 

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

This is the best of the books I've read for the BoB. It has usable maps, photos, personal stories, technical and historical details. It is engaging, highly readable, extremely informative (illuminating actually) and a darn good resource for designing our games.

Several misconceptions were altered and many questions answered. The Battle for France is also covered which was almost a shock in terms of disorganization, communication and losses.

One more thing. It was published in 2010. This must have given the author the advantage of several more decades to unearth information his predecessors did not find.

It has my highest and best recommendation.

TERRA-FORMING HAS BEGUN

Click on images to make them a lot larger.

Below are photos of Williamsport on the center table near the stairs.

Center (Main Table)

Your view is south toward the coasts of Britain first and then France at the top of the photo. Williamsport has a considerable number of residential homes, factories and a dock. Some buildings may need to repositioned at other table locations. (We need more structures.)  At this point Williamsport looks like a sizable town and not a village.

The British spell harbor as harbour. It's size allows easy addition of ships.... 

Coming or going in the greater bay. Williams Bay perhaps? Off the upper right corner are the stairs.

The river at the top of this photo is the current terra-forming boundary. The table beyond it is being terra-formed for a 28mm game. It will disappear sometime in July; replaced by 1/285 scale terrain for the August BoB game.

France is to the right. The Luftwaffe has at least three flight opportunities.

1. Come into the bay using the two lighthouses as landmarks.
2. Fly more or less straight at Williamsport from France off to the right.
3. Fly to the river at the top of the photo and alter course for the port.

 RAF fighters will come from the Back Table to the left of this photo.

CLOSING REMARKS

1) More 1/285 or 1/300 painted buildings and roads are needed. Anybody have some? Most structures have been thankfully loaned from the collections of John B. and Lewis S.

2) More aircraft are being readied hopefully arriving ready to fly before August 1, 2016.

3) We will have some weeknight flying lessons and trial raids at Williamsport in July.

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Your remarks are  welcome at Comments below.

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03/19/16 Battle of Britain Game Briefing

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Game Date: March 19, 2016
Situation: Battle of Britain BIG Game #1 July 1940
Scale: 1/285-300
Raison de Être: Spectacle War Gaming
Rules: Home Adaptations of Bag The Hun and Duel of Eagles

Future Games: 4 or more BIG Game Days plus occasional Weeknight Games

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BRIEFING

Nearly twenty regional gamers expressed interest in participating. Some test flew the rules, offered valuable suggestions, treasure, organizational and modelling skills. All have curiosity for something really different. Something like this....

Luftwaffe Airfield - perhaps in Holland. HE 111s are taking off for Britain.

Eight Heinkel 111s escorted by eight ME 109s cross the coast of southern Britain. Other groups of different kinds of aircraft are elsewhere en-route to cause mischief and mayhem.

Is Whitchurch where they are headed? Only the Luftwaffe knows but the British have Radar, Coastal Observers and....

Plucky chaps like these piloting Hurricanes on Combat Air Patrol; CAP to intercept.

Who came from this aerodrome.

DAKKA, DAKKA DAKKA!

• This is going to be different than anything we have experienced. New adventures.
• You'll have less control than you like. The author wants it that way, chaotic. Steady lads.
• All will fly. This is best for game health (speed) to finish many turns.
• George Washington's Rule #88: “Be not tedious in discourse.…” It slows down the game.

• Rookies will likely fly bombers at first. Easier. Watch/learn fighter tactics of others. 
• Frankly all of us are still learning to fly.
• "They could teach monkeys to fly better than [us]. (Battle of Britain movie quip.) 
• Rookie pilots will be given about ten minutes one on one flight instruction upon arrival. 
• After that, take off learning as you go. There will not be long-winded rules presentations.

• Not a traditional dog fight game. It's more strategic with lots of flying time to targets.
• There will be dog fights stretched out over the landscape. 
• You will catch on to the rules fast. Easy, numbered and color coded.

• Three table surfaces approximating 11'x28'; East Center and West Sectors. 
• You will see the coasts of France and Britain and British inland areas too.
• Ignore altitude and speed indicators on flight bases.

Thank you very much for your interest in the BoB! We are going to have companionable fun.

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Your REMARKS are welcome at the word COMMENTS below.

7th Panzer Div. Near Dieppe, France

Date: May ??, 1940 (January 23, 2016)
Situation: After Dunkirk 7th Panzer Moves West
Rules: Blitzkrieg Commander II With Home Rules
Scale: 15mm
This Game Serves As A Prelude To Our Battle of Britain Campaign
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Click on photos to enlarge them significantly.

PRELUDE

After the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was evacuated from Dunkirk back to Britain, Rommel's 7th Panzer Division turned to the westward. Near Dieppe....

 GERMAN LEFT FLANK

A panzer platoon found a bridge over the Rivière  Brassard undefended and crossed taking advantage of a little cover.

Rommel (Morgan E.) rushed his tanks westward not stopping to attack and become bogged down engaging the French in the village of le Rocher.

French armoured vehicles came forward out of le Rocher. Fighting was intense in and aroundthe village. Rommel lost quite a few tanks and a Stuka was shot down.

However, Rommel continued advancing westward beginning a turn to the northwest spotting a small airfield at the top of the photo. Thinking it might be useful for resupply he....

Sent tanks and engineers to occupy the position. (A game victory condition)

GERMAN CENTER

To the right of the big bridge the Brassard continues north. German infantry lined the river viewing the defended village of le Rocher in the distance. They became reluctant to cross because....

A powerful force of French tanks arrived to hit Rommel in the flank. For the balance of the day, Germans and French traded shells indecisively. Toward the end, the French began a slow withdrawal because of Rommels capture of the airfield (far off the top of the photo) and because of events behind them on the....

GERMAN RIGHT FLANK

French infantry lined the Brassard to the left and right of this photo. To the far right....

Thinking a small bridge needed to be demolished, artillery fired upon it. The North Sea is just off image to the right.

Blitzkrieg Commander II has a Blunder Rule. Early in the game a "Blunder" occurred causing the French to retreat away from the river. The Germans then crossed to the other side.

The advance continued. What is not shown was a remarkable amount of luck for the Germans taking out defending French infantry. As a result French tanks arrived (top center) from the German Center to help.

At this point it was 4:00pm and the game was called with a German victory. Reason: The airfield was taken and other panzers arrived behind the French off image far beyond the top of this photo.

CLOSING REMARKS

1. The scenario was an adaptation of what happened in May 1940. Panzer Divisions broke through, moved westward as fast as possible mostly ignoring flanks to cause as much commotion and discombobulation as possible. Stopping in the minds of officers like Rommel and Guderian was unthinkable. Indeed they occasionally disobeyed orders to stop. Their senior commanders feared a grave possibility of being overextended --- way out in front. It didn't happen.

2. Harking back to earlier decades playing Tricorne, "Tactical Orders" were in reintroduced.

Before Turn 1 each commander in chief issued written mission orders to all players including himself. After this each player played his own game without tactical assistance or suggestions from others. This helped speed along the game and added more realism preventing total control via constant deliberation.

During lunch commanders were able to consult with their officers and change orders. No further changes were allowed after chow. One can only do this fairly if most players know the rules.

3. French: Jim H., Michael M. and Dan E.

4. Germans: Morgan E., John B. and Bill P.

5. All topographical names are fictional.

6. Thank you for looking in. Your remarks are welcome below at the word, Comments.
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