BruceLea vs. Rasmus – Panzer Leader in North Africa

Join @oriskany, @brucelea, and @rasmus as they finish up their desert scenario in Avalon Hill’s classic “Panzer Leader” system.  The scenario recreates one of the chaotic engagements during Operation Crusader, fought in Libya between the German and British forces in November, 1941.

Join @oriskany , @brucelea , @rasmus for a desert scenario in Avalon Hill’s classic “Panzer Leader” system.  The scenario recreates one of the chaotic engagements during Operation Crusader, fought in Libya between the German and British forces in November, 1941.

Operation Crusader was an Allied attempt to break German and Italian lines near the Libyan border and relieve the garrison at Tobruk, under siege by the Axis for months.  Once the front broke open, armored divisions wheeled around and behind each until finally forced to turn back and re-engage, from the opposite directions where they’d started.

We’re back to finish our 20mm scenario from last week, with elements of 1^st Battalion / 5^th Marine Regiment and Taliban insurgents in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

For our first scenario of 2026, the Sitrep Podcast is getting back to modern-era tactical wargaming with some 20mm Force-on-Force from Osprey Publishing and Ambush Alley Games.

The scenario pits infantry of 1^st Battalion / 5^th Marine Regiment against Taliban insurgents in the village of Nawa-i-Barakza’i.  This was part of Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword), launched in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in July, 2009.

The Marines, of course, enjoy huge advantages in firepower, tactics, and training.  But they’re restricted by very strict rules of engagement, limited air and no artillery support, and have to clear buildings and “hot spot” spider holes in a very short amount of time.  All while sustaining the minimum possible casualties, of course.

It’s a classic asymmetrical engagement, where the Marines will certainly win the battle . . . but can very easily fail in their mission.

We had a great game of Force-on-Force today at the South Florida Miniatures Gaming club.

Nawa-l-Barakzayi, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
July 2, 2009 – Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword)
1st Bn / 5th Marines vs. Taliban
Thanks Mark, Steve, and Milton for playing!
Video battle report coming out soon.

We’re back to finish our annual “Christmas Carnage” tabletop wargame!
Last week we saw the Russians open a bloody, determined assault on the Santa’s Christmas Workshop and Winter Village.

Can the heroic North Pole Defense Force continue to hold the line?

Once again, Santa’s Christmas Village and North Pole Workshop are under attack – and Santa must mobilize his North Pole Defense Force to save the holiday season for good little boys and girls everywhere!

That’s right, we’re back again for another year of “Christmas Carnage” – our annual tradition where a new army of miniature tabletop villains form up to attack Santa’s workshop at the North Pole.  This is the TENTH EDITION of our series, we’ve been running games like this almost every Christmas since 2014!

This year we’re going black powder, with a 28mm army of Crimean War Russians.  There’s almost 150 of them on the table, making this by far the biggest army (by figure count) we’ve thrown at Santa.

Can the heroes of the North Pole Defense Force hold out yet again?  Watch the video and find out!

Join Oriskany Jim at the hobby table for a quick paint job of some BTR-80 armored personnel carriers in 15mm, manufactured by Zvezda.  If you’re serious about modern-era wargaming, some BTR-series rigs should definitely be in your collection

Introduced in 1986, the BTR-80 is a great vehicle to have for late Soviet or modern Russian tabletop forces.  Currently in use by dozens of armies in some major conflicts around the world, it’s a great utilitarian tool to get motorized rifles quickly around the battlefield and up to the line of contact.