For those that don't know (which included me until a couple of weeks ago), Memoir 44 is the WW2 version of the boardgame Battle Cry, more specifically it's about the campaign in Europe after the D Day landings in Normandy. The scenario we chose to play was the drive on Carpiquet by the Canadians of 8th Brigade facing 12th SS Panzer Division, Anthony and I have adapted Battle Cry quite successfully to 54mm for the ACW and Zulu wars but how would it fare with WW2?
More tomorrow, or the day after, perhaps.
The initial set up, the Canadians have five armoured and eight infantry units, The Germans have three armoured (two of which are elite) and seven infantry units all in well prepared defensive positions. The Canadians objective, the village of Carpiquet, is on the right hand baseline, half way up the table nestling behind the hills and woods.
Canadian infantry advance, probing the way for their armour.
On the Allied right, the Sherman tanks of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers rumble through the winding Normandy bocage......
......while the Panzer Grenadiers are dug in waiting for them.
On the Allied left the Canadians begin clearing the small villages of their defenders.
The seemingly endless grind through the bocage.
In the centre the Canadians make better going as the land opens to rolling fields.
The mat and toys were all Anthony's, infantry units are represented by six figures and armour by a single tank.
The mortar units look impressive, for the purpose of this game they count the same as any other infantry unit.
More tomorrow, or the day after, perhaps.
Hi Brian,
ReplyDeleteJust want to say how much I enjoy your narratives of our games! You conjure up a real 'feel' for the battle. Once again thank you for your hospitality on the day and for being great company. Well done for ensuring history repeated itself on the table top-oops did I give something away?!
Best wishes
Anthony
A pleasure as always.
DeleteFantastic looking setup! I always love seeing Deetail figures getting time on the wargame table. I know the mat isn't yours but any idea how big the hexes are?
ReplyDeleteOops never mind. I think I found the answer on a previous post!
DeleteI like the look. We've played a number of Memoir games (not 54mm) it can make for an enjoyable game but its fairly abstract and at a higher level than it looks and we found it hard not to start injecting more low level bits, extending ranges etc to the detriment of all.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I felt that the tanks dominated and the infantry didn't get much of a look in, also I was surprised how quickly it ended, it felt like we'd hardly started and then it was all over. Perhaps a different scenario with less armour such as Crete would be more challenging.
DeleteBrian, I fear that one reason for the game ending relatively quickly was my rashness in advancing without co-ordination. I've played the actual board game many times and often thought quite hard about my choices each turn. It's funny how playing with proper toys instead of game tokens changes my response to the game..!
ReplyDeleteDeetails rock! I used the Wild West sets some time ago for a large Wild West game, see http://snv-ttm.blogspot.com/2016/07/wild-west-in-54mm.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Phil, the mountains you have in the background are very effective and i love those old wooden western buildings. By the way the covered wagon you have was made by Cherilea and is quite hard to find.
ReplyDeleteYes, I got that wagon as a Xmas present asn as part of a larger set somewhere in 71 or 72. The foot soldiers are long gone (swoppet-style), but I always kept the wagon ...
DeleteAmazing tanks. What manufacturer are they?
ReplyDeleteHi Reese, the tanks all belong to my friend Anthony but I think they are mostly made by Tamiya (kits)
ReplyDelete