wargaming the Falklands

[Sunray]

A trip to Canada recently and an opportunity to wargame the Falklands in 15mm and 6mm. I have to say that Task Force Ops post the San Calos landing were skewered by the sense that the attacks only made sense under the cover of darkness. Otherwise the Argie firepower simply dominated the killing ground.

The best game in both scales was the initial Argentine invasion (2 April ) - helped by a copy of Major Mike Norman's origional  Tacmap -with lively action around White City and Government House - now there is a call for bit of Timecast real estate in 10mm ....

In the replay, we threw in the FIDF and a Marine unit with Milan.  Good games all round.

Be interesting how the scanarions develop in 10mm.

Sunray out

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Well, now I have my new Timecast Falklands terrain I await Techno's new figures with baited breath!

[Techno]

I'll post some pics tomorrow ! (If the sun comes out !)
I think Leon's got some at Pendraken HQ that I haven't put on the forum, as well.
Cheers - Phil

[nikharwood]

Excellent Phil - will be good to see progress on these 

[Leon]

I'll post some pics tomorrow ! (If the sun comes out !)
I think Leon's got some at Pendraken HQ that I haven't put on the forum, as well.
Cheers - Phil

Yep, I'm gonna spend a couple of days this week catching up on a load of orders, and then I'm hoping to be able to get some pics taken of all the masters, because we've got a veritable pile of them not previewed on here yet!

[Techno]

Fekk it !
I've just spent 3 whole hours twatting about trying to upload just two pictures on the forum....I give up completely !
Why do they keep trying to 'improve things'....If it ain't broke....don't try and fix it..It worked before.
Photobucket won't play any more....So neither will I.

I'll send the piccies to Leon and see if he has any better luck.

Mr Peed off.

[Sunray]

Don't fret too much Phil - we are all counting the days until we have your cast up figures alongside Barrie's real estate.   I see great potential as a demo game for a show.
As point of interest has anyone else gamed the Falklands in other scales? ...In the 1980s Matchbox issued a really neat box of 1/76 plastic of the paras.   They never added the 'red' forces. but the paras were great figures and generic enough to turn up in a lot of 1970s/80s games other than the Falklands.   

Sunray out

[Nosher]

I game it in 6mm using CWC @ 1 stand of infantry = 1/2 and infantry section.

For argies i use WW2 Yanks.

[Gran76]

I play Force on force in 20mm and soon 10mm will take over for the main battles using the 1 stand = squad ( 1/2 section) not played CWC only BKC but i reckon any WW2 rules could be adapted.

[nikharwood]

I've gamed it - skirmishing - with those very nice MoFo figures in 28mm

[Sunray]

Yes, I have seen the Gripping Beast range in 28mm. Nice figures and facial hair!  What a pity they got the rifle wrong.  The 'Royals' are cast with what looks like an FN FLA ,with a chunky muzzle brake at the end of the barrel.  The British version of the same rifle,  the L1A1 SLR  had a very slim flash eliminator - which in this scale would be like an exrta coat of paint. I know 28mm purists who have filed down the bulky brake to give an accurate look to the weapon.  The Argie version -  or at least the ones I saw were Latin American versions of the FN that had no muzzle break at all.

In another thread there was a debate about weapons being carried at high port. This was a standard drill when - in Operation Banner - British troops were tasked to patrol urban N Ireland streets on narrow pavements and meeting civilians. The sling was removed from the front swivels and secured around the wrist. This drill was done for four reasons (i) risk of sniper attack from above, (ii) risk of the barrel snagging on pushpacks and children if pointed down- (iii) it meant that no one could claim a gun had been pointed at them (iv) in event of a hostile crowd  and an attempt to snatch a weapon, the high port and the sling made it more difficult.   I have never seen then high port drill much used outside N Ireland,- perhaps in FIBUA training where 'hearts and minds' is an issue. But not in the Falklands.  What did linger even up to Gulf One, was the habit of the British soldier to cradle the SLR with hands clasped around the pistol grip and the magazine. Two reasons for this (i) it underplayed the weapon in tense situations like N Ireland and (ii) it was a comfortable way to carry the SLR with a Bergus ROC and heavy kit.   It was also the body language of a veteran, which said something about where they had served. You must remember that for a long time in the 1970s/80s, the BAOR were the only NATO troops to have been under fire.

Its funny that although we have gamed the period in a wide range of scales - 6mm, 15mm, 20mm and 28mm - we yearn for figures in 10mm.  I think it confirms this scale in general and detailed Pendraken in particular as the perfect blend of scale, detail and budget for a game that goes beyond a skirmish.

Sunray out

[Leon]

I'll send the piccies to Leon and see if he has any better luck.

More WIP pics now added here: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,4378.msg46138.html#msg46138