Ultramodern Wargaming – Ukraine 2024

A certain 30th Anniversary is coming up, involving a certain sleazy hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia . . . its rooftop sign now something of an infamous symbol of what happened 3 October, 1993. I’m preparing a game recreating a small part of Operation Gothic Serpent and “Blackhawk Down” – and so threw this together this evening.

At last we reach the conclusion of our Battle of Kursk 80th Anniversary series. Using Avalon Hill’s classic “PanzerBlitz” system, we recreate part of Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev, one of two huge Soviet counteroffensives planned into their strategy for the Battle of Kursk.

Remembering that the Battle of Kursk includes these Soviet counteroffensives (integral to STAVKA’s plan since three months before the battle started) is vital to understanding just how massive the Battle of Kursk actually was. It doesn’t end when the Germans quit at Prokhorovka, the Soviets get their “turn at the gaming table” as well.

This was originally recorded as a live game between myself and @yavasa, but the footage has been lost and I recreate the events of the game as best I can in this episode.

When one thinks of tanks trading blows in open battle, Vietnam is not usually the war that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what happened at the Ben Het firebase and special forces camp on the night of March 3-4, 1969.

Situated in the central highlands near the border junction of South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, artillery at Ben Het could shell key infiltration routes branching off the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Furthermore, “Montagnard” locals trained by US Special Forces could infiltrate into Laos or Cambodia and root out these infiltration channels at the source.

The People’s Army of Vietnam (NVA) realized they had to eliminate this threat, and soon mounted a tank and mechanized infantry assault against Ben Het. Unfortunately for them, there were also American tans there from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment. One of the very few actual “tank battles” of the Vietnam War was on.

As part of our continuing 80^th Anniversary commemorative coverage of Operation Husky (Allied invasion of Sicily in July and August 1943), we had a great 15mm wargame in Mark Ritchie’s Tactical Combat system depicting the Red Devils and their battle for Primsole Bridge, 13-15 July 1943.

Then Oriskany Jim’s hard drive melted down like the core of Chernobyl and all the recorded footage was lost. In a desperate effort to present at least the highlights of what was an awesome game, I humbly offer this wargame overview and discussion.

There’s some remaining footage of some other games still available, we hope to be back up to our usual level of production later on this week.

80 years ago this month, the Allies launched operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.  This game recreates part of the engagement on Biazzo Ridge, where badly scattered elements of the 505^th Regimental Combat Team (82^nd Airborne Division) held off armored spearheads of the “Herman Göring” panzer division driving toward the vulnerable American beachhead just established at Gela.

Had this German counterattack been allowed to reach its objective, its possible the 45^th Infantry Division could have been wrecked on the sand, threatening the right wing of Bradley’s II Corps (part of Patton’s Seventh Army).

We’re running this game in 15mm, using Mark Ritchie’s “Tactical Combat” system in 15mm.

Battle of Kursk – Prokhorovka: The Biggest Tank Battle EVER?  (Part 2 Gameplay)
Join us as we finish up (for now) our 80th Anniversary coverage of the Battle of Kursk, with the epic conclusion of our table-shattering uber-game of 15mm miniature Prokhrorovka.

Widely considered the largest single-field armored engagement in history (elements of ten divisions within 4-5 miles of each other), Prokhorovka marked the high-water mark for the German offensive during the Battle of Kursk.

But don’t kid yourself, this wasn’t the end at Kursk overall. It was barely the half-time show.

My boys “in country” have received some hasty reinforcements.

The gargantuan German offensive at Kursk hits its climax at Prokhorovka 80 years ago today!  Join us for a huge 15mm wargame where we humbly attempt to recreate just a sliver of the furious action seen at one of the lesser-known turning points of World War II.

Widely considered the largest single-field armored engagement in history (elements of ten divisions within 4-5 miles of each other), Prokhorovka marked the high-water mark for the German offensive during the Battle of Kursk.

But don’t kid yourself, this wasn’t the end at Kursk overall.  It was barely the half-time show.