Ultramodern Wargaming – Ukraine 2024
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About the Project
Lately, I've been running war games every weekend with members of the community via web conference. Players log on and play wargames with each other in real time, regardless of location, and we usually have at least a couple spectators as well. Many times it’s been Darkstar, but we’re also running wargames in Panzer Leader, Arab-Israeli Wars, and now Valor & Victory.
BoW/OTT community members @brucelea, @damon, @davehawes, and @rasmus have taken the plunge, leading battalions across thousands of meters of desert, starfleets in pitched battles across the heavens, or vicious firefights in the jungles of Vietnam, all without leaving the comfort of their home.
Hard-core, old-school command-tactical wargames can now be run (complete with spectators and recordings) in real time, with BOTH PLAYERS moving pieces across THE SAME virtual game board, thus maintaining player agency, speedy and instant results (no play by e-mail), interwoven turn sequences, any questions / feedback instantly received and addressed, and with the game being virtually recorded as it goes, a ready-made battle report can actually be created as we go.
All of this without the players having to install any new software on their computer, on any platform (PC or Mac). All that's needed is to agree on a time, a handful of dice, and a bellyful of courage!
Every weekend can now be a boot camp! All without costing me thousands of dollars in airfare, too!
Related Game: PanzerBlitz
Related Genre: Historical
This Project is Active
Productive September
It’s been a productive September. Since September 3, I’ve been grinding away at my “Pile of Shame.” A lot of these minis have been random purchases people were selling at the club or giving away or beat up old “orphans” in need of a second lease on life. In all, we’ve got:
(5) Leopard 1 MBTs in Ukrainian markings
(8) M113 APCs in American marings for Vietnam, Ukrainian markings, and Israeli markings for 1973 Yom Kippur
(1) YPR-765 APC in Ukrainian markings
(3) Jaguar APCs in Ukrainian markings
(3) Fuchs IFVs in Ukrainian markings
(1) Jadgtiger heavy tank destroyer
(1) Sturmpanzer IV
(3) trucks (technicals in desert insurgent markings)
(1) LVT-2 in USMC Pacific War markings
(3) T-62Ms in Russian markings
(1) ZSU-57-2 in Iraqi / Egyptian markings
(2) Wiesel 2 recon vehicle in Ukrainian markings
(1) Rolls-Royce armoured car for 11th Hussars, 7th AD, WDF (1940-41)
(1) BTR-152 wheeled APC in Iraqi / Egyptian markings
(1) IS-3 heavy tank for use with Egyptians in 1967/73
Desert Storm 1991 - Marine Corps Assault at Al Jabr - 15mm Wargame (Part 2)
Join us back at the wargaming table as we finish up our 15mm Wargame recreating part of the Marine Corps’ assault during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The system we’re using is a modified version of Seven Days to the River Rhine by Great Escape Games.
On the second day of the ground war, spearheads of 1st Marine Division (including Task Forces “Ripper” and “Shepard”) broke through the second belt of fixed Iraqi defenses in southern occupied Kuwait.
Backed up by Task Forces “Grizzly,” “Papa Bear,” and “Taro” and supported by Marine artillery, “Ripper” and “Shepard” cut behind Iraqi defenses until counterattacked by elements of the Iraqi 5th Mechanized and 3rd Armored Divisions.
This game includes quite a few special rules, victory conditions, and scenario adjustments to reflect the sheer amount of firepower the Marines brought to bear, and the wretched state of the Iraqi units facing them after five weeks of intense Coalition bombing.
But the Marines are on a VERY tight schedule, and can’t afford to lose more than a handful of units. Can the players recreate the historical blitz, or will the underdog Iraqis slow them down just enough to score a pyrrhic victory?
Operation Market Garden - 80th Anniversary
We’re announcing a LIVE STREAM wargame commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden, which started on 17 September 1944. Our live stream will be broadcast at 2PM East US time / 7PM UK time on Sunday, 22 September.
The system we’ll be using is Avalon Hill’s classic Panzer Leader, and the scenario will recreate part of the Battle of Nijmegen, fought by the British Grenadier Guards and American 82nd Airborne Divisions against German Waffen SS and rear area security units.
Historically, the Allies suffered some critical delays here against determined German resistance. Some say this was the fulcrum upon which the success or failure of Market-Garden was ultimately decided. Will the American paratroopers and British tankers effect the crucial breakthrough?
Find out as we recreate this battle LIVE on Sunday!
Desert Storm 1991 - Marine Corps Assault at Al Jabr - 15mm Wargame (Part 1)
Join us back at the wargaming table where we stage a 15mm Wargame recreating part of the Marine Corps’ assault during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The system we’re using is a modified version of Seven Days to the River Rhine by Great Escape Games.
On the second day of the ground war, spearheads of 1st Marine Division (including Task Forces “Ripper” and “Shepard”) broke through the second belt of fixed Iraqi defenses in southern occupied Kuwait.
Backed up by Task Forces “Grizzly,” “Papa Bear,” and “Taro” and supported by Marine artillery, “Ripper” and “Shepard” cut behind Iraqi defenses until counterattacked by elements of the Iraqi 5th Mechanized and 3rd Armored Divisions.
This game includes quite a few special rules, victory conditions, and scenario adjustments to reflect the sheer amount of firepower the Marines brought to bear, and the wretched state of the Iraqi units facing them after five weeks of intense Coalition bombing.
But the Marines are on a VERY tight schedule, and can’t afford to lose more than a handful of units. Can the players recreate the historical blitz, or will the underdog Iraqis slow them down just enough to score a pyrrhic victory?
M113s for US, Ukrainian and Israeli forces
Finished up some extra M113 APC 3D prints. I had eight extra so I decided to “bulk up the ranks” of some of my existing forces. Three were done for US in Vietnam, three for the Isrealis in the SInai Front of the Yom Kippur War, and two for Ukrainians in the current conflict. Tanks are fun and all, but you can never have too much transport.
Former Bundeswehr - Ukrainian AFVs 2023-24
Finally finished up my 1960s-70s Bundeswehr vehicles. I put them in Ukrainian markings for some “NATO-aid era” Ukrainian Army forces for use in 2023-24 scenarios, probably in in Seven Days to the River Rhine system. I’ve got some Leopard 1 MBTs, Fuchs 6×6 IFVs, one Dutch YPR-765 APC, Jaguars in different missile configurations, and some modern Marders.
"Big Red One" - 1st US Infantry Division, 28mm Warlord, 1943
My US infantry are done for now. Some more support teams and a few vehicles are coming to complete the force.
Battle of Skybyn, early Ukraine War, March 2022
We had another great game of “Seven Days to the River Rhine” today at Dask Krieg Haus gaming club, with rules and units adapted to recreate part of the Battle of Skybyn. Ukraine War, early March 2022. Thanks very much Mark for the great game!
