Antics Revisited – 3rd Plymouth Games Day
by Richard Marsh

Blimey! No sooner were we packing up at Exeter than it was back to Antics, with a smaller table, but just as much enthusiasm. This time round it was snow terrain and two games: one set on the Russian Front 1944 and the second in Alsace during ‘Operation Nordwind'.

The young gamers are multiplying in numbers and Tim's German army (featured in the last Antics report) has grown even larger. He even brought along a Maus and a giant Karlmorser! The latter made it onto the rear of the table in the first game as one of the Russian objectives.

Above: A general view of the table with Roger and some of the players. This shot was taken at an early stage when the Russian Recce force was the only Soviet unit on table.

In our Russian Front encounter game the Soviets had to push forward to a river line and capture two bridges; one a temporary pontoon crossing (plus capture the massive Karlmorser self propelled siege gun). To do this they fielded three forces:

Entering on move 1...

Motorcycle Battalion (Recce Unit)

1 x BA 64 Armoured Car

1 x M3 Scout Car

2 x Amphibious Jeeps

Tank Company (2 x T34/76)

AT Company (1 x 76mm AT gun + truck)

‘Scout' Battalion (18 figures)

Above: The Russian Motorcycle Battalion halts at the railway line. Tanks and gun from the collection of John Durston.

Entering on move (d6 throw)...

Advanced Detachment (battlegroup) Elite

HQ (1 x M5 halftrack, 1 x M17 SP quad AA gun)

2 x Medium Tank Companies (each 2 x T34/85)

Heavy Tank Platoon (1 x IS-2 heavy tank)

SP Artillery Battery (2 x SU 76mm)

Guard Motorised Rifle Battalion (43 figures, 2 x MMG, 1 x AT Rifle. 1 x 82mm mortar, 1 x 45mm AT gun + trucks)

Entering on move (d10 throw)...

Advanced Detachment (battlegroup)

HQ (1 x Sherman 75mm)

2 x Medium Tank Companies (each 1 x 75mm Sherman , 1 x 76.2mm Sherman )

Heavy Assault Gun Platoon (1 x ISU 152)

Assault Gun Platoon (1 x SU 85)

Rocket Launcher Battery (1 x Katyusha BM-13)

Guards Motorised Rifle Battalion (43 figures, 2 x MMG, 1 x AT Rifle, 1 x 82mm mortar, 1 x 45mm AT gun + trucks)

Air Support

LA7 fighter bomber

IL-2 Sturmovik ground attack aircraft

All units are ‘Regular' for morale purposes.

Above: John's Russian LA7 fighter bomber screams across the snowy landscape hunting for ground targets after driving off Tim's German ‘Uhu' OP aircraft.

To meet this unexpected thrust behind their lines and defend the bridges, the Germans had the following forces.

On move (d6 throw)...

Armoured Kampfgruppe (battlegroup)

Heavy Tank Company (3 x Tiger II)

Heavy Assault Gun Company (1 x Sturmtiger)

SP Artillery Battery (2 x Wespe SP 105mm,1 x Sdkfz 222 armoured car OP)

On selected move...

Airborne Force

Paratroop Battalion (20 figures, 2 x panzerfausts)

Air support

Fw 189 ‘Uhu' OP aircraft

Stuka (2 x 37mm AT guns)

All units are ‘Regular' for morale purposes

Above: not a still from ‘Most Haunted' but yours truly hovering behind the Russian players as they make they first moves. The spooky look is just me getting into the ‘spirit' of the Antics Fantasy department. ‘Rapid Fire' rules and the latest supplements share shelf space with the books behind us.

Outcome of the Russian Front Game

Without going into great detail, this was an interesting battle that was won by the Germans, who managed to keep the Russian forces away from the river and its vital bridges.

A bit of a German masterstroke was the Fallschirmjager (paratroop) drop onto the empty trenches on the Russian's left. Although very risky (as the paras landed right under the noses of the SU 76s and T34/76s) the Russian fire was pretty ineffective and once under cover the airborne troops held out until the Panzerjager IV company could reach them.

On the Russian right the T34/85s and IS-2 drove forward but were hammered by the Tiger IIs before they could reach the pontoon bridge. Perhaps a bit more urgency on the Russian side could have tipped the balance, but for a first attempt at being Soviet commanders the lads did well

The Nordwind Game

For this game we used the same terrain, apart from changing and reducing the number of buildings and re-positioning the woods.

An American force, made up of John Durston's growing collection of ‘winterised' US white-washed armour (mainly HaT) and Revell plastic infantry, defended the bridges. Tim's Germans (plus a battalion of John's Revell figures) attacked with Pz IVs, Tiger IIs and a Jagdtiger.

Despite all that German heavy metal the Americans held out until the game had to stop. Again, most of the attacking armour went for the pontoon bridge, but M-10 tank destroyers, Shermans and a patrolling Thunderbolt fighter bomber kept them at bay, despite heavy losses. The threat of entrenched US infantry rushing forward with bazookas (using the ‘Heroic Action' rule) also added caution to the German advance.

Thanks again to Antics and ‘upstairs supremo' Rich and all the staff for their help. Also to Tim, Jason, Karl, Nathan, David, Steven, Dale and many others for turning up and really getting to grips with the rules. And extra thanks (again) to John and Roger for their expert support.

The Antics group is close to being self running, so watch out for future news if you live in the area and want to get into W.W.II gaming.