55 Days at Big Tinkle on Sea - FUBAR VSF AAR

This Yule  Themed Scenario has had two plays now and these pictures and summary are from the second one...I hope you enjoy!

Some 'period' photographs of the action...

Captain Darling in his Sopwith Steam Blimp targets Prussian Armoured Steam Wagons!

 Presents on the way to the children of Big Tinkle in on Sea...

 The Prussian Armoured Steam Wagons are in disarray..

The Armoured Steam Traction Engine and Battle Wagon Mk I Combination makes a dash while the HMLS Clueless keeps the enemy occupied!

The History:

England, Christmas Eve 1878

December 24 1878 on day 55 of the siege of Big Tinkle in on Sea the British relief force sallied forth just after morning tea. It broke through the enemy’s entrenchments with ease! While the men of the 1st Naval Brigade and local British Militia tied down the Russian and Prussian infantry the steam powered units of the relief column made their dash for the Port.

With Brigadier Gout aboard the Landship HMLS Clueless the armoured assemblage powered ahead at a majestic 8 miles an hour! At this rate Gout thought to himself they would be in the town square for a spot of lunch with the Mayor! Oh yes and be in time to give the rug rats their Christmas gifts…

He deployed his Landship away from the Armoured Steam Traction Engine and Battle Wagon Mk I Combination to draw any counter attack away from it while Captain Darling and his Wingmen of 266 Blimp Squadron offered the Steam Tractor close support.

It was with only a mile to go to the Ports defence perimeter that the Russian and Prussian intervention forces came into Brigadier Gout's view!  These vehicles under the command of Colonel Fullovshtzhy and Major Von Bung-Fritz were determined to stop the relief column.

Using the range advantage of its big guns the HMLS Clueless's forward turret belched forth smoke and flame and soon after the mighty shells crashed down on the lead Armoured Steam Wagon of the Prussian force, it was immobilised with several injured crewmen.

The Evil Empires vehicles quickly closed the range on their foes so their lighter guns could hit the Brirtish Landship and they opened fire with a devastating effect. Shot and shell rained down on the HMLS Clueless as the Steam Wagons found its range. One of the first casualties of the hits was Brigadier Gout, it was said his dying words to the Landship's First Mate, Lieutenant Fred Hardy were, "Care for a Pash Hardy?"...it was thought these words may well have been misheard! Several other men were struck down and a fire broke out near the magazine which was manfully extinguished in sort order! The stoic Landship continued erratic fire back at the swarm of Steam Wagons keeping them occupied.

While the British Landship struggled forward Captain Darling led his flight into action against the Prussian vehicles. The results were spectacular as their bombs scored direct hits destroying two of the three fully functional Steam Wagons and disabled the remaining one.

Engineer Smith used the cover of the HMLS Clueless and Steam Blimps to strike east unnoticed by his foes.

The Prussian commander Major Von Bung-Fritz had survived the explosion that had immobilised his Steam Wagon and he signalled to the Russians to redeploy as the British supply Tractor was moving rapidly east and would soon be out of his grasp!

Colonel Fullovshtzhy recieved the Prussian Major's request as his machines salvoes finally silenced the HMLS Clueless and reacted promptly ordering all of his vehicles to redeploy immediately. The now silent British Landship was still structurally sound but its crew were down and the damage to its systems was extensive. As the Russian Steam Wagons veered to chase the British Steam Tractor Driver 1st Class, Cheez Kransky accidently engaged top gear before changing direction and this resulted in a collision with the two Russian Fast Armoured Steam Wagons coming together and the ensuing explosion wrecked both. This halved the Russian strength in a single blow.

Fullovshtzhy's own Steam Wagon was the only Russian one that was able to add the fire from its guns to those of the Prussian in the barrage that followed after the 'fast' disappearing Armoured Steam Traction Engine and Battle Wagon Mk I Combination.

Their fire was ineffective and Engineer Smith was able to get the contents of his valuable trailer through to the Port of Big Tinkle in on Sea. Victory was secured for Queen and Country!

In the days after the great battle of Christmas Eve that ended the 55 day siege of Big Tinkle in on Sea the British Press trumpeted the Victory while the British Government distributed awards aplenty to the survivors of the relief column. The men of the 266 Blimp Squadron already heroes in the eyes of the citizenry were singled out for many of the decorations.

In the words of the British Prime Minister as he addressed Parliament regarding the action of the handful of men who had been involved in the relief action, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few..."

The AAR:

Turn One

British move with the Steam Blimps covering the tractor and trailer on the road while the landship HMLS Clueless entered centrally to cover any Russian or Prussian counter moves.

Turn Two

The Russian and Prussian armoured forces enter the battlefield making the best of the terrain for cover. The HMLS Clueless fires its forward turret targeting the Prussians, the result an immobilised Prussian ASW with 3 out of 4 crew casualties!

Turn Three

The HMLS Clueless fails its activation! Every Prussian and Russian ASW targets the hapless Landship hitting it several times leaving it with a light gun out of action, a fire on board, a steering hit, two speed hits and six crew casualties. The Steam Blimps manoeuvre toward the Prussians as they are nearest to the tractor and trailer.

Turn Four

Two Blimps of 266 Squadron get close enough to the Prussians to carry out a bomb runs leaving both the targeted ASW out of action, not a good day to be a Prussian! Meanwhile every other ASW targets the Landship raining hits on it inflicting 4 more crew hits and steering damage. The Clueless used its activation to put out the fires on board.

Turn Five

The surviving Russian and Prussian ASWs score more hits on the HMLS Clueless but none do any severe damage the surging crew man the guns and return fire albeit ineffectively. The third Blimp carried out its bombing run and immobilised the last Prussian ASW reducing its crew to two.

Turn Six

The British Landship is finally incapacitated. A hail of hits broke its steering, severely damages its engines, scored a kill hit but importantly disabled the remaining crewmen. So not destroyed but out of action which now allows the Russians and Prussians to turn on the Tractor and Trailer. This had meanwhile veered around the ruined Prussian force and was now speeding toward the Port covered by the Steam Blimps which carried out MG attacks on the ASWs without any tangible results.

Turn Seven

The Tractor keeps heading east and the immobilised Prussian ASW score hits causing some steering damage and injuring crewman. The Russia s are now completely out of position and frantically try to catch up with their quarry! The Blimps continue their ineffective strafing attacks.

Turn Eight

While the Prussians reload their guns one of the Russian ASW gets a shot in at the Tractor scoring no damage. Then disaster for the Tsars vehicles, one loses control and collides with another taking both out of the fray. Really this had little effect on the game’s outcome as they were too far from the Tractor to have any effect still not a good result! The Blimps continued their ineffective MG attacks. 

Uh oh a Breakdown Roll results in aRussian Armoured Steam Wagon surging forward straight into the back of another Armoured Steam Wagon... 

The outcome two wrecked vehicles!

Turn Nine

With the initiative and a successful activation roll the British Armoured Steam Traction Engine and Battle Wagon Mk I Combination exit the east edge of the battlefield clinching a victory!

A great game!

Next Time: Getting a move on with my Kickstarter kit...that Steam engine needs a home!