games

In this section I will be placing pictures of the latest club nights, games, competitions, at the club and at other shows, and SELWG members. Have a look at the ARCHIVE section, and see if you can match any of the faces. [click on any of the pictures to enlarge].

General view of a normal Friday night at SELWG

Lord of the Rings

Announcements and prize giving

The above pictures were taken February and March 2005, giving you a generic view of some of the games we play at SELWG.

Jets, ariel combat

French Indian wars

Renaissance Cossacks v's Poles

Warhammer Ancient Battles

The SELWG 25mm DBM team at, Campaign Wargames show in Milton Keynes, the funny thing is, they won, in both of the divisions they entered, would you credit it. All I need to do now, is, see the loch Ness monster, and shake hands with visitors from another world, to say I have seen everything. Well done men I salute you, but DBM guys, noooooooooooooooo.

Pic's 1, and 2, are of yours truly, I wont say the webmaster, it sounds to Conan the Barbarian'ish for my taste's, in the old British naval base of Canton, now pronounced, Guangzhou, in SW China, not far from Hong Kong. Pic 3, is of Chinese re-enactors, at the Tomb of China's first Emperor, in Xian, northern China. Pic's 4, and 5, are taken in the peoples park, Nanning, and is of the large Krupp gun, brought in by the Warlord who ruled that part of China in 1900's, to defend against invasion from Vietnam. The Germans seem to be selling/making a lot of weapons in the early part of the 20th century, I wonder why.

They say a picture paints a thousand words, well, who have we here playing WAB, with Andy Snelgrove, it's Mr Paul, DBM, Greenwood. Come over to the dark side, have we Paul, you know it makes sense.The pic, courtesy of Dave Burn, an even more damming picture is on the article page, in the picture section.

WW2 game at the club, Oberst Von Mark George, contemplates a wide flanking movement with his panzers around the flank of the allies, or a wide flanking movement to the coffee bar, for another, cheese and onion toastie, a move he was later to regret, as when captured, retreating from the enemy, alone, by the SS police battalion, he was heard to utter. 'Just one more waffer thin mint.'

My thanks to Neil Hobday for taking these pics of some clubnight games in May 2006. See guys it can be done, other people taking pics. Just one tiny minute point Neil, like all thespians, one never mentions the Shakespearian play, MacBeth by name, always the Scottish play, as it is deamed to bring bad luck, so in the same vein, one never marks down a 28mm WAB game as DBM.

The Battle of Maria, SELWG's excellent Napoleonic game at Salute 06, admirably demonstrated by the Napoleonic section, Bill, Neil, Alan, and Darren.

1/200th, Air-War over Finland game, by, Martin Redway, Keith Schooling, and Steve Earl.

Perceptive club members will have noticed a series of games involving 1/200th scale aircraft at the club over several weeks. The games, mainly set in WW2 and Korea, are the brainchild of Martyn Redway and are our own rules derived from Air Combat Board Games and Rule Sets.

The latest development was a campaign of several games from the Russo-Finnish War to Operation 'Barbarossa', 1941. The players chipped in to purchase 'Hexon II' large scale plastic interlocking hex tiles, available from Kallistra, which allow several planes to a hex as well as catering for large wingspan bombers, a great improvement over the blue vinyl 50mm hex game mats we previously used.

The last game in this campaign, 'Fighter Finale', was to determine 2nd and 3rd places (both players tied on 17pt's each). Martyn had already won on 37pt's (Ace Extraordinaire!), yours truly was 'Tail End Charlie' (in mitigation, I missed a couple of games due to recovery from an operation I had recently). Martyn was Umpire for this one, yours truly was Deputy Umpire and four fighter planes each were assigned to the Finnish and Russian players to fight it out for 3rd place. The 4th player was already consigned to the title 'Dead Duck' (thanks gents, love you too!).

It is dawn over the Gulf of Finland. Operation 'Barbarossa', the German Invasion of Russia, is proceeding rapidly. Finland has launched an invasion in support of the Germans in order to recover territory lost during the Russo-Finnish War. During the German and Finnish advances on Leningrad, Squadron Leader Comrade Grigovitch was ordered to carry out a patrol with four LAGG-3 fighter planes to 'dissuade' any Finnish incursions in his sector. Grigovitch was an 'Ace' as well as a 'Hero of the Soviet Union' and had the following for 'Red Section':-

'Red One' - Ivan Grigovitch ('Ace/Honcho' Rating, +2)

'Red Two' - Wingman Georgi Sandvitch ('Regular' Rating, +0)

'Red Three' - Vasily Levovitch ('Regular' Rating, +0)

'Red Four' - Wingman Mikhail Levonski ('Green' Rating, -1)

'Red Section' was about 15 minutes out when four Brewster Buffaloes of the Finnish Air Force appeared dead ahead. This was 'Yellow Section', led by Squadron Leader Keith Schoolinsen, and consisted of the following:-

'Yellow One' - Keith Schoolinsen ('Ace/Honcho' Rating, +2)

'Yellow Two' - Wingman Guthrun Sigurdsen ('Veteran' Rating, +1)

'Yellow Three' - Haldur Larsen ('Regular' Rating, +0)

'Yellow Four' - Wingman Erkki Johansen ('Regular' Rating, +0)

Both sides spotted each other at 20,000 feet.

'Ace Schoolinsen and his wingman veered to their right whilst Larsen and Johansen banked left. Grigovitch elected to do an 'Unloaded Dive' to 19,000 feet with his entire flight in order to build up speed (both flights appeared on the table at cruising speed 2). Schoolinsen noted his adversary's actions and signaled his companions to all climb to 21,000 feet. Grigovitch and the Soviets, however, continued their dive to 17,000 feet. The only variation to this manoeuvre was that Grigovitch and his wingman continued ahead whilst Levovitch and Levonski (sounds like a Russian version of 'Starsky and Hutch') veered right to face the Finnish Ace and his experienced wingman.

Quite why the Russian Ace had elected to remain at a lower altitude than the Finns was both a puzzle to his men and the Finns. Perhaps he intended to pass under the Finns, then climbed rapidly and turn to latch onto their tails. Grigovitch and Sandvitch passed under 'Red Three' but Grigovitch vacillated over climbing. 'Red Four' followed up to cover 'Red Three'. 'Red Three' and 'Red Four' accelerated to take on Schoolinsen and his wingman.

'He who has the height has the advantage' Schoolinsen's old Instructor used to tell him. He was to use this advantage to effect. Both he and Sigurdsen executed rapid dives and sharp turns to get down to 19,000 feet and latch onto 'Red Three' and 'Red Four'. Sigurdsen was slightly inside his leader's quarter and was thus first to shoot at 'Red Three' (in addition to shooting at an enemy at the same altitude, a player can execute a shoot in a dive providing he is in range and facing his adversary). Sigurdsen needs 0 or 1 on 1d10, scores 1=Hit!. Another 1d10 for damage, scores 7=Heavy Damage!. Levovitch starts seeing black smoke from his engine!. He failed to climb when Schoolinsen passes nearby and wastes an ammo counter ('Yellow One' at 21,000 feet, 'Red Three' failed to elect a climb to get a better chance to shoot him).

'Ace' Schoolinsen finishes off Sigurdsen's handiwork. A dive to 18,000 feet and at close range to open up with his machine guns. Heeds a 1-4 to hit, scores 1=Hit!.

1d10 damage score of 4=Light Damage!. Light plus Heavy Damage equals Shot Down!. The Finnish Ace picks up his sixth kill as Levovitch's LAGG-3 spirals out of the sky with the Russian bailing out. Fortunately his parachute opens and he drifts down to splash into coastal waters. Frantic calls from Levonski jolted Grigovitch to a new danger. Schoolinsen turns round and tries a shot at Levonski at 17,000 feet. 0 or 1 to hit, scores 1=Hit!. 1d10 damage score of 4=Light Damage!. Levonski has several bullet holes in his fuselage. The Green pilot tries to shoot at Sigurdsen (the Russian climbed to 18,000 feet in his turn next to try a level shot). He hits on a score of 3 and a 2 on 1d10 means Light Damage on 'Yellow Two'. Schoolinsen shouts a warning and Sigurdsen executes a left bank manoeuvre and dives to 17,000 feet as 'Red Four' roars past to get away from Schoolinsen by flying straight and away to terra firma.

Meanwhile, Comrade Grigovitch turns and climbed to 20,000 feet, closely followed by his wingman. 'Yellow Three' dives to 18,000 feet and veers left whilst 'Yellow Three' moves forward one hex and climbs to 17,000 feet, ending his turn with a partial left turn. The two Regular Finnish pilots were trying to stay on the Russian's tails.

Schoolinsen now chases the lone 'Red Four' from 18,000-19,000 feet. 0-7 to hit, scores 8=Miss!. Levonski sees the Ace on his tail as bullets fly uncomfortably close past his cockpit!. If he was hoping to have his leader come to his aid, he was to be sorely disappointed. Grigovitch was having problems of his own. His failure to take any positive evasive action had allowed 'Yellow Three' to turn right and line up for a shot at him. 0-5 to hit, scores 1=Hit!. 4 on the damage dice and Light Damage on the LAGG-3 (light smoke trail from Grigovitch's engine) as Pilot Larsen endeavours to gain his first kill. If that was not enough, Larsen still has movement enough to close in for a second shot. Another hit and a score of 4 on the damage dice means another Light Damage. Two Light Damages equals Heavy Damage and Comrade Grigovitch now has a heavily damaged crate belching black smoke and juddering violently!.

Grigovitch's wingman, 'Red Two' (Sandvitch) endeavours to come to his leader's aid. However, 'Yellow Four' interrupts him (each plane has an initiative dice of 1d10, modified by pilot rating. The highest score can either move first or defer to allow an opponent to move first and interrupt him if he can shoot him). Johansen unfortunately just misses him. Sandvitch, however, does not and executes a smart turn to score (0-2 needed because of target angle) and a 2 on the damage dice means Light Damage on 'Yellow Four'.

Schoolinsen now opens up the throttle and closes in on the luckless 'Red Four'. 0-6 to hit, scores 4=Hit!. A 9 on the damage dice means 'Kill'!. Levonski is killed as his plane explodes into fragments and the Finnish Ace picks up his seventh victory. Down on the ground, Levovitch (who has been given dry clothes and a hot drink by local fishermen) shakes his fist. Whether it is at Schoolinsen or the incompetence of his leader, the fishermen could not say.

Grigovitch dives to avoid 'Yellow Three' and radioed his wingman to head home. He was too high to notice an army lorry picking up Levovitch.

Keit Schoolinsen and his flight turned for home. Two more kills for him and a badly damaged 'probable' for Larsen was not a bad day's work. Doubtless a medal would be waiting for the Ace.

It would be debatable as to what would be waiting for Comrade Grigovitch as he nursed his battered LAGG-3 to land. Hopefully he would have either a good excuse or tall tale of not less than 200 words for the airbase's Political Commissar to avoid a permanent vacation in one of Comrade Stalin's Siberian Salt Mines!.

Martin Redway, Keith Schooling and Steve Earl

(The others also game with 20mm WW2, Franco-Prussian War and Ancients, among other periods).

A report by those magnificent men in their flying machines, M. Redway, K. Schooling, and S. Earl, or if in the Italian WW2 airforce, their fleeing machines.

Pictures taken in July 06, the 28mm WW2 terrain, was hand built by club members, superb, infact, guys I need a new roof, any chance you helping.

Another Friday nights, hard wargaming in August 06, the usual mixture of, Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Warhammer 40K, care in the community DBM, the ohhhh so lovely WAB, for the more discerning wargamer, and would you believe it, a Shock of Impact, Persian, v's Barbarian game.

Some pics taken by Paul Baker, games include, Mordhiem, DBM, Warhammer 40K, WW11 aircraft, and PBI, [ new cure being tried by the care in the community people. ]

Another battle strewn Friday night in Grove park, Kevin Dallimore taking pics for Wargames Journal, in the background. More pics below.

Kevin Dallimore was there on the night, taking pic's for Wargames Journal, and took some excellent pics, thanks Kevin, much appreciated by all members of SELWG. An excellent 28mm WW2 game put on by Paul, his son Joe, and his brother, Steve, just look at all those hand built buildings,is that a Wargames trader near your buildings guys, count the terrain when you put it away. Chris and Joe with a lovely PBI game, I think Chris and others, built the scenery, Paul Baker's Hybrid game setup, and his WW1 British,and Germans, both superbly painted,I think the Germans won, then preceeded to advance and take over another 2 Wargames tables, before we could stop them [ what you mean typical. ] although there were no Americans taking part, they still said they won the game. A very nice Napoleonic game, run by Marshall of Tunbridge Wells, Bill Pavely, and the lads, [no not a cowboy Marshall, mind you, the jury is still out on that one.] Talking about cowboys, I now know what Martin Redway,and Steve Earl were in a previous life, cattle rustlers, as they sure rustled my table away that I booked for my WAB game, they put on a very nice WW2 aircraft game, well it was on my table. DBM next, with some very nicely painted figures, WAB game with some excellently painted figures, on both sides, Byzantine's v's Crusader's, and a nice 40k being played. Thank you again Kevin.

Friday nights gaming in February, 07, the usual mixture of games at SELWG. Card games, 40K, Battle-Tek, Fantasy Battles, PBI, and WAB. The first few pics, are off the WAB league that we are running at SELWG. The first game took part between, Imperial Romans vs Crusader, a young Mark Campbell, safe in the knowledge that his army was unstoppable, was, stopped, and soundly beaten, the remaining pics are of a couple of WAB practice games, the first game, Imperial Romans v's Sassanid Persians, a close run afair, but a draw, and Assyrians v's Alexander, where I think the Assyrians won. My thanks to, Neil Hobday, and Mike Young for taking some of the pictures.

Games night in March 07, lots of the usual goodies, PBI, WW2, 40K, and WAB. You may have noticed the large amount of 40K, and WAB games being played recently, well, that's because there are 2 competitions running at the moment, the 40K tournament is well under way, with the WAB players all managing to get in some practice games before the tournament starts, well not all, as the ever young looking, Mark Campbell, decided to get stuck in, and was himself stuck into, by some Imperial Romans, practice makes perfect, as they say Mark.