20mm Force on Force – Marines v. Taliban (Conclusion)

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.

To cap off our series commemorating the 250th Birthday of the US Marine Corps, we’re featuring a wargame run by Pete Panzeri, recreating the Battle of Derna in April, 1805.

Derna stands on the coast of what is today Libya, then the Tripoli province of the Ottoman Empire and for centuries an open haven for high seas piracy. During the First Barbary War of 1801-1805, the US Marines mounted their first overseas expedition and at Derna, they’d raise the American flag over foreign soil for the first time.

The moment is commemorated in the Marines’ Hymn to this day, with the opening line, “From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli.”

We’re back to finish up our 15mm wargame recreating some of the opening action in the Battle of Nasiriyah.
(recently played with the South Florida Miniature Games Club)

John’s Marines are doing well leveraging their superior firepower, but he’s running out of time to cross the table and reach his objective.

Mark’s Iraqis are also cooking up some nasty surprises with off-board artillery, and of course he still has his IEDs.

Yes, the Marines WILL win the battle … but will they break through in time, without losing too many units?