Other People's Wargames - a "For Whom The Dice Rolls" AAR.

Richard S, who wargames in the Great Lakes area, has been playing "For Whom the Dice Rolls" in 6mm. He doesn't blog, but he did an FB post which he said I can share here. He and his friends played the "Three Bridges" scenario, which is in the FWTDR resources pack.

Our group really enjoyed our first game of, "For Whom The Dice Rolls" 6mm, division level "Los Tres Puentes" scenario today, May 18th. Danny and Michael commanded the Nationalist brigades, while Ted and Chuck rushed 3 Republican mobile columns forward to halt the mixed Legionnaire brigade drive towards Madrid. Winning the initiative and holding 14 command cards (10 + 4) to the Nationalist 8 (7 + 1), the Popular Army battalions and Socialist centuria surged towards the right and left bridges, playing jokers to bring in air strikes (mostly ineffectual) against the few Nationalist targets. The Nationalists hanging back to get a sense of the Republican threats, now saw the artillery units they'd brought forth taking hits which reduced their firepower. Seeing the situation slipping away the Nationalists committed their CV-33 tankettes in a rash unsupported frontal assault against the right bridge held by a worn Popular Army battalion, which failed its terror test (taken when under tank or air attack) and routed, leaving the tankettes in possession of one end of the bridge. A Nationalist Civil Guard battalion struggled forward under machine gun and light mortar fire to seize the centre bridge. Their casualty level made it unlikely they could hold it for long. The left bridge was firmly under Socialist Militia control, and the Falange Bandera facing them could not get organized and attack. The Madrid newspapers reported, "The Fascist advance has been halted!" In Rome it was headlined as a minor Nationalist victory with "More work to be done!' Not surprising for the Spanish Civil War!

The Commanders check briefings and ready forces for the battle of the three bridges. (Trebian: Great looking terrain board, BTW )

Republican forces rush forward towards the bridges with little opposition. The Popular Army Battalion on the top left moves to seize the right flank bridge after suffering casualties in an artillery bombardment. Another Battalion moves towards the centre bridge, while a Communist Militia column crosses the ridge. At the cross roads an Assault Guard Battalion in the fields gives light  mortar fire support to the Socialist Militia seizing the left flank bridge. (Trebian: Richard and I have corresponded about the effectiveness of light mortars, which his group thinks are over powerful when used by professional quality troops like the Asaltos. He may have a point, and is going to reduce the range for his next game).

A Medium Republican bomber misses its Nationalist artillery battery target as the Socialist Militia emerge from the olive grove by the left flank bridge. (Trebian: Nice blast marker. Better than my home made variety!)

CV-33s under Republican fighter-bomber attack (guess who had air supremacy?). The Popular Army Battalion in skirmish order holds the right flank bridge, but has suffered permanent hits (white rings) and unassigned hits (clear rings). This would hurt when those fanatical Legionnaire tankettes unpinned and close assaulted. (Trebian: strange and yet pleasing to see someone using the Resource Pack markers and unit quality labels! And those white rings I can't seem to get away from).

In the aftermath the victorious CV-33s have spent their third activation this turn, as have the Moroccan Tabor rushing forward.

End of game sees the Socialist Militia in control of the left flank bridge (bottom), the Civil Guard under bombardment (and look at all those white/permanent hits on them) holding the centre bridge, and CV-33 tankettes on one end of the right flank bridge (top), while a fresh Popular Army Battalion forms up on the opposite river bank.

Trebian: I really liked the look of this game, using the 6mm figures which Richard tells me are by Irregular. Marking the card activation suits on the unit command labels is a smart move. I should have thought of that, although I often play around with the eligible suits as the mood takes me. I also note that in contrast to me, where I use smaller scale planes than the ground forces, Richard has gone the other way.

EDIT: Richard has sent me a photo of his 6mm vehicles. They're so nice it would be a shame not to share it: