Bolt Action: Western Desert Boot Camp Live Blog – Saturday

Our historical editor Jim (@oriskany) has come over to teach us about the history of the western desert in this mini-series Scorpions Of The  Desert.

Kicking off, we take a look at some of the Basic Infantry Tactics used in this theatre of war.

We’re looking at some quick and easy ways to paint up the Germans as Oriskany finds out how the Afrika Korp are coming together with one of the Boot Campers.

When fighting in the desert, mobility is key.

In the second part of the Scorpions of the Desert, @oriskany takes us through the different ways the infantry got about this environment.

@oriskany and Justin return for the third part of the Scorpions of the Desert and this time we’re going to look at blowing stuff up!

We learn about the combat tactics used by the different forces fighting in the conflicts of the western desert.

The first of our Boot Camp Gongs has been awarded!

Ron has been lucky enough to score snake eyes on an order check, showing his Germans have nerves of steel and earning the Don’t Panic! prize.

Oriskany talks with Mick and Rob about their game which is using two larger armies to fight out a campaign game.

Here we’re seeing the two sides clash amongst the blasted ruins of a desert village. It seems like things are going very well for Rob and Mick is having a bit of bad luck with the dice!

We’re getting stuck into a bit of an asymmetrical battle here between the British and the Germans. A battle is going on between this very fresh set of Sikh recruits for the British and the grizzled Germans.

Have you played out any games like this where you’re learning the rules and like to feel it out with a scenario or two where you kind of throw the army creation rules out the window?

To finish off the Scorpions of the Desert series, @oriskany takes us through the various support weapons the armies brought with them to the desert.

It’s time to look at tanks, artillery, and all the other big toys.

Oriskany is running his campaign this weekend recreating Operation Crusader.

The first games of the campaign are underway and Oriskany shows us how the map is shaping up.

It felt about right for the Boot Camp members to get their tanks so they can start using some heavy armour on the tabletop, throwing in a bit of heavy metal to see what damage they can do.

The British got their hands on two Valentine MkII as well as a Humber MkII Armoured Car. The Germans snagged themselves an 8 Rad Armoured Car along with a Horch Transport Vehicle.

We shall have to see how much carnage they can cause across the rest of today and tomorrow!

Oriskany catches up with Mick and Rob to see how their game finished up. With this being a little bigger than the other games going on right now it was fascinating to see just how much artillery came down on the tabletop.

If nothing else…the trees got blown up. All of Justin’s hard work gone to hell…

Another GONG was won…or DONG which appears to be what Lloyd turned our board into. Here we have a winner who managed to completely wipe out his opponent.

Oriskany continues his Legends of the Desert series, telling us some of the amazing stories and incredible people who took part in the conflicts in the western desert.

This time, we find out about some of the legends of the German forces, as well as the Free French Forces who fought.